Saturday, July 2, 2011

WONDERFUL (A - Z CHALLENGE)

To begin at the beginning; in this case, the end of the my last post.

This is a special message of thanks to all of you who have been so supportive during my challenges. While there are more things I need to do which will help me be whole, your support has encouraged me to keep moving ahead. And to not fall back.

That is WONDERFUL. So, I am going to talk about two more things which are wonderful.

First, July 1 was Canada Day — our 144th birthday as a Dominion within the British Commonwealth. Not quite as old as the United States (which began around 1776, as opposed to 1867), but we've been around for a while. As a student of history, I really do like tradition, as well as modernity.

We watched the official ceremonies from Ottawa (our nation's capital), which we try to do most years. (We also watch Remembrance Day activities in Ottawa, November 11th.)

This year's activities were particularly interesting because our Royal Newlyweds were on hand: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, aka Wills and Kate, who were married April 29th. This tour is their first official visit overseas; the third time in Canada for the Prince, but the first for Lady Kate. (Interestingly, during WW2, Kate's grandfather had trained in Canada for the Royal Air Force through the Commonwealth Air Training Program. Which means that her family has some Canadian history.)


Everyone was watching her to see how she would do as a Royal, and she wowed the crowd. Kate is a natural with everyone, and was given the nickname, by some, of "chatty Kate."


Ah, the joys of Royalty! For Canada Day, she wore a red "fascinator" with a maple leaf on top. You can't get much more Canadian than that!

A pretty good — exciting — start all together I'd say.

As for me, the second wonderful thing has been swimming. I have been swimming for years for decades, and I thoroughly enjoy it.

Our grandkids were here for a sleepover on the night of June 30th. And besides watching all the Canada Day events with us on the first, they went for a splash on the apartment building's swimming pool. Since neither of them is a terribly good swimmer yet, I got in the pool with them while they were in, to be sure they stayed safe. And I did a bit of swimming myself. It was good exercise which did not hurt any of my very "unhappy" muscles!

Now that I have found a way of exercising that is relatively pain free, I intend to continue doing it. And that will be fun.


So, all of this is called "progress," I think.

------------

Also brought to you by the letter W:
• wild
• weird
• wistful
• washing
• woodpecker


And from the New Poetic Alphabet: W for quits

18 comments:

Helen said...

Grandma 'Woonie' agrees ~ wonderful!

Unknown said...

I'm so happy for you Rob-bear...to feel the freedom of movement in the water!
My grandmama was crippled with rheumatoid arthritis and cherised her time in the pool.
Swim, swim, swim!
And as for KWills (my new name for them), to die for cute!

potsoc said...

Wondreful, Bear, keep on wishing for the best.
Grand kids are a great "fontaine de jouvence".

Frances said...

Ah Bear, this is a fun post from you.

W always signifies question Words for me.

Who, when, why, what when. Answer those and you've solved some mysteries.

Isn't that Kate a star?

Glad that you've been able to renew the fun of swimming. Must be ... no, I cannot say, how many years since I actually swam. Hoping I still can float.

xo

Brenda Susan said...

So glad you are able to swim regularly, it is the best exercise they say because it puts no stress on the joints or muscles. Swimming is my all-time favorite outdoor sport. Though my swimming, when i get an invitation is mostly a matter of soaking and floating around.
So glad for you! And happy Canada day!

Rob-bear said...

® "Wonnie": Thanks, Helen. Havin' fun.

® Jacqueline: I'll take to swimming like a Bear to water (in the middle of a salmon run). So glad your grandmama got relief from in pool exercise.
And royalty is grand!

® Potsoc: I'm looking at possibilities, Paul. And the grandkids do help us stay young. Even in the pool; especially in the pool.

® Frances: Too many Eeyore-type gloomy posts. We're making a change here.
The five W questions. My staple as a broadcaster/journalist. The "why" was always my favourite. About what people value, what they see as important; the ethical question.
And you're right; Lady Kate is such a sweetheart.
Also, I think swimming is like riding a bicycle; one never entirely forgets how.

® Brenda Susan: The fact that swimming puts minimal stress on joint and muscles is the reason I'm going for it. Plus the fact that we didn't really have access to a good "swimming" pool previously — as in a pool where one could swim lengths without bumping into people.
Thanks for the Canada Day greetings. I hope you have a wonderful 4th.

The Bipolar Diva said...

yea for swimming! What an uplifting post!

Rob-bear said...

® Diva: Thanks. And safe trip home.

The Blog Fodder said...

OK, Bear, explain the W for quits.

Laura said...

I am so happy to hear that you are feeling better! (and I'm happy to have found you again too.)

I saw a little bit of the Royals and I'm really liking William and Kate. I think that they are a cute couple.

Yay for swimming! I can't swim but we have a pool and I run around in it to get some exercise. :P

((Hugs))
Laura

Anonymous said...

Swimming is so good for you, for anybody. Hooray that you've rediscovered it.
Kate's just so darling. What a hat!

Genie -- Paris and Beyond said...

That Kate is a doll and she surely has won all of our hearts. I heard also that the jeweled brooch she wore was loaned to her by the Queen who wore it on her first visit to Canada.

What a wonderful day... Canada Day, grandkids, and swimming! Sounds just about perfect and glad that you have found an exercise that does not hurt.

Bises,
Genie

Jean said...

Kate is a smasher, no doubt about it. And it's nice to hear you sounding so upbeat - keep up the swimming - it's good for body and soul !!

About Last Weekend said...

Great to hear about this national day - still have not been up to Canada yet except for Toronto. Sounds like Kate was a real crowd pleaser - good on her! Plus must get back into swimming too, the weightlessness of it is really relaxing.

Rob-bear said...

® Blog Fodder: Double you or quits = Double of nothing.

® Laura: Thanks. Now, if we can at least get you into your pool, even if your can't swim, you can do some creative, gentle exercises. Or you could learn to swim.
(And here I thought that every Canadian could swim, climb, canoe, and ski; silly old Bear.)

® Dedine: Thanks. I used to swim a lot when I was younger. Now I've rediscovered it, but I'm not ready to go back to being a life guard.

® Genie: Glad you enjoyed seeing Kate. She is such a sweetheart.
The pin you mention is one that the Queen wore to Canada for Canada Day last year. She loaned it to Kate for this year.
And tell me, please, about all the wonderful swimming pools in Paris.

Rob-bear said...

® Jean: Kate is indeed wonderful.
Thanks to you Brits for loaning her and Will to us for Canada Day!
Swimming is good. I was in again today.

® Last weekend: If you've been to Toronto, Jody, you've been to the centre of the Universe. (I'm a refugee from there — but frankly, I prefer the hinterland.)
It would be good if you could get into the swim of things. I'm sure you would thoroughly enjoy it.

Sylvia Ney said...

Thanks for sharing the pictures - very cool! Best of luck with the swimming exercises - one of my favorite ways to keep in shape! ;-)

Wendy said...

Ahhh, and don't bears just love the water. So handy to have a pool so near by - all the better to take advantage of more often. It's often good to make a bit of a splash.
Brightest blessings.....W for Wendy!!!!