Exciting Day

Today, along with Evelyn's birthday, is the day that our granddaughter Shea celebrated her grade six farewell. She had a beautiful dress, shoes with heals, a hair doo and twelve year old dreams. She was georgeous - too georgeous for a little girl. I was reminded of her pictures as a little child and a little nostalgic for times gone by. I thought back to the day I left grade six and went on to grade seven. There was no fan fair when we left the school. We didn't get a certificate for successfully completing elementary school. We just received our report cards and went home. I remember the anticipation and fear of going to Junior High is one that I remember very clearly. I wonder what kind of thoughts are going through her mind tonight.

Last night I was surfing the net and found another memory. It was not mine but that of my father's step father who happened to be my grandfather's brother. I never knew my grandfather since he died before my father was born so my father's step father was grandpa to me. We called him "fubro" - I think it was some kind of Norweigian nickname. While surfing I found a website where I was able to download a record of his enlistment papers from January 8, 1916. At that time he was just a few days from his 21st birthday and about to begin a journey that would take him through army boot camp and eventually to the war front in France. It was there he was gased with clorine gas which left him permanently disabled after the war. I never knew my grandfather to be well. He was confined to a wheel chair for many, many years and suffered from rheumatoid arthritus and serious respiratory problems for the best part of his life after the war. It was very neat to see his signature on the "Attestation' papers that he signed prior to enlisting in the army. I would like to know more about his life. I do not know much about his life when he was well.

We all have milestones along the pathway of our lives. Shea had a milestone today that was very significant to her and us. In 1916 my grandfather had a milestone in his life as he began his journey into the Canadian army. I wonder about her thoughts now and his thoughts then.