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.
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Also brought to you by the letter W:
• wild
• weird
• wistful
• washing
• woodpecker
And from the New Poetic Alphabet: W for quits
