MILD - AGE - LAMENT; MAJOR - AGE - GRATITUDE

23 June 2022 ~ MILD - AGE - LAMENT; MAJOR - AGE - GRATITUDE

“It sucks to be eight.”  The response of our youngest when her request was turned down by her mom.  That 8-year-old now has her own wings and is a flight attendant.  Our older daughter is expecting her first child this September.  Both enjoying life in their upper 20s.  Our oldest is a boy; well, he’s a man in his early 30s and is enjoying his career in the military.

Where does that leave me and my lovely bride, Jane, of 36 years?  Old.  Not Jane; me!  She’s still a foxy lady in her 50s.

My version of old, when young, was turning 64, a-la Beatles.  I am bloody here!   I have arrived!  My brain is ‘time-locked’ in my 30s/40s, but my body knows where I am on the old-geezer scale.  Though wiser with age, the trade off is living in an older body, that took a beating as a younger body.  When I was living in that younger body it allowed me to go crazy; I played all kinds of sports with football (soccer) as my favourite.  Mobility was only ever an issue when wearing a plaster cast from a sports injury; I had a few of those.   Along the way I accrued a couple of replacement artificial knees and there’s other hardware (plates, screws, etc.) in various locations.

Mild-Age-Lament

Therefore, my mild lament on age is just that; mild. I am slower now than I was then. But, at 56 years older than 8, I can still get from here to there. The treatment is easy for an ageing body; move it. I would prefer to live in a younger body, but you can’t, however by exercising daily, I still have periods of the day where all aches and pains are drowned out by the endorphins of well-being because I am so mobile and still able to exercise.

This mild lament is not about me living in an older body, it is more on watching others living in younger bodies and not using them to their full potential.  Not everyone, of course.  But I would love to be able to run a 10K again.

Major-Age-Gratitude

Age is the ever-changing sum of the constant totalling of time.  With age, I have lost friends and family members.  Some took their natural course of events; others were cruelly mis-managed by the sands of time.

For me, my nemesis of age is just a worn-down body from enjoying life to its fullest.  No regrets.  And incredible gratitude for my health and my life and my 64th birthday!

Still, when I must go up the two flights of stairs to retrieve an item at home, I always ask myself whether it could wait until I really need to!

COVID; COUP DE MAIN

COVID; COUP DE MAIN

Sitting and pondering all things COVID-19.  WHO declared this deadly virus as a global pandemic on 11 March 2020.  So, if top scientists all over the world have figured out exactly what is needed in order to combat said virus; like telling us to mask up and wash up and keep your distance or stay home; why would some “nations’” leader think they’re smarter than said experts?  Let’s remind ourselves that a leader, at least in democratised nations, is essentially a public servant of the people!

Now, a tremendously lousy leader would deny their expert advisors and decide they are not as smart as the all-wise-all-knowing leader; and it certainly makes the leader look very… sort of… ‘leadery’ doesn’t it.  Okay then; the leader knows better in everything.

As I write it’s 30 June 2020 and this virus is getting quite worse in some places here in North America.  It is 100+ days later and we don’t have it fully contained; this is too big of a mistake!

I am an AME and I deal in the maintenance of aircraft.  We get diseases on our aircraft too; corrosion for example – and let’s not forget Cladosporium Resinae!  But I digress.  If we had an issue with an aircraft’s system, and we had to troubleshoot to fix it, we wouldn’t continually repeat the same process over in order to find the fault; you gotta change it up a bit until you get the right fit! 

It is now self evident to be true that I know two things about the medical/biological world; one is nothing and the other is naff all.  But let me tell you what I figured out; if you wear a mask it will slow down the virus, which will help us all eventually break free again.  I know this and I’m a self declared dumb-ass of ‘medicsy’ stuff!

It’s bad enough a leader would be in contempt of their expert advisors.  But surely when this dumb-ass has listened to the same advisors and come up with the same conclusion as they have; it would beg the same question time and time again.

And so, I ask this question to any world leader who has managed to read down this far; wouldn’t it just piss you off, if you are/were a leader, to discover that even the dumb-ass people below you have all got this figured out and you don’t?  You, leader, are somewhat non compos mentis when it comes down to two very important things; one is COVID and the other is common sense.  Mask-up, wash-up, keep your social distance when out, and if you don’t need to go out please stay home.

We’ve already had one coup de main when COVID-19 struck the world.  Let’s have another global coup de main by having everybody wear a mask; at least!

 

definition of insanity;

Doing the same thing over and expecting a different outcome

 ~~~ Albert Einstein

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definition of life;

Life is the struggle to keep death at a respectable distance.  Death wants to move in prematurely. Life's job is to keep pushing back!

 ~~~ Jim Rohn

CELEBRATION; LOVE, LIFE, MEMORIES

It was a year ago, in England, on a late summer’s day; Saturday 15th September 2018 to be exact. Helen, my lovely bride’s sister, was getting married to Elaine. And when they tied the knot in front of family and friends, it was a day worthy of celebration. We also celebrated the lives of the brides’ fathers whilst cutting the cake. Sadly, Jack and Les are no longer with us; and yet there they were, front and centre, with photos of their handsome faces smiling back at their daughters by the cake. It truly was a day when love was celebrated in all its glory. A day that showed all in attendance that love is love and it really is all around us.  Their dads can rest easy knowing they love, and are loved, by each other.

Now, one year later, Helen, Elaine, Jane and I had more milestones to celebrate; to do so, we all met up in Mexico. We celebrated love and life once again. Jane and I had our 33rd anniversary, Helen her 50th birthday and Helen and Elaine’s 1st anniversary. And where better to do all this than in paradise itself. 

For me, personally, it was an opportunity to spend some time with Elaine. Usually when we go back to England, to visit everyone, the pace is brisk to say the least. It is a time when Elaine is constantly busy with all the laundry and the ironing and the putting of the kettle on and the making of teas and coffees; she never stops! But here, under beautiful Mexican skies, we had a chance to chat and chuckle and get to know each other better. Helen has certainly picked someone special with Elaine; a beautiful lady inside and out.

The Yucatán Peninsular is spectacular; especially along the Maya Riviera. No need to search for paradise anymore; we found it just south of Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico. Sun, sand, cervezas and celebrations! And when that sun rises above the horizon of the Caribbean Sea it’s a sight to behold! On the beach at 9:00PM we watched newly hatched turtles scurry from their nests towards the sea under the light of a full moon. More new life happening right before our eyes.

Cervezas and sunrises, mimosas and full moons, milestones acknowledged and memories made; enough to last a lifetime.

MOTHERS' DAY & FATHERS' DAY; CARPE DIEM

My late dad & mum ~~~ Alan & Amy Freeman during their better days

Fathers’ Day tomorrow!

But first; Mothers’ Day.  Mothers’ Day is an age-old tradition; for me it’s a Christian thing because in England it always falls on the fourth Sunday of Lent, halfway through Lenten Season.  Here in Canada and the United States it’s celebrated on the second Sunday in May.  Fathers’ Day also has a long history, though not as long as Mothering Sunday.  I’m only aware of celebrating fathers on the third Sunday in June but I know it has other dates in other countries.

My lovely bride, Jane, and I celebrated our first parent-type day on Mothers' Day 1990.  This year we’re both celebrating our 28th Mothers' Day and Fathers' Day!  During these events we have received many gifts and tributes from our three kids, Martin, Zoe and Alex; all adults in their own rite now.   Over the years they have made us proud, made us feel loved, taken us to levels of frustration I didn’t know were imaginable, blessed us always with their individual triumphs, required our assistance in the capacity of emergency-response-team and the list goes on.  However, like with any true relationship, it's a reciprocal one. 

Last year my son, Martin, and my youngest daughter, Alex, joined me at my airline’s annual golf tournament in Toronto.  Martin flew all the way across the country from Vancouver Island in British Columbia to join us.  A great day, and Alex even won lady’s closest to the pin. 

In that week after golf I almost choked to death on some raw almonds.  My fault, I put too many in my mouth and then suddenly I couldn’t breathe; my airway was blocked.  Thank God my family were all in the house.  Zoe noticed it first and called out to everyone that dad is choking and tried to clear it using the Heimlich manoeuvre; bless her heart but she wasn’t big enough to get her arms round my portly torso!  Martin took over and was heaving on me for all he’s worth, Alex picked up her phone and called 911 and Jane could only stand there holding on to Zoe and watch.  I was watching too, and I was thinking I wish I could just say that I am so sorry and I love you all very, very much but I couldn’t.  I was fading but Martin kept on heaving and eventually, as if fired from a sling-shot, something that resembled a scotch egg flew in to the air.  I still couldn’t breath.  Martin kept up his work and finally cleared the last obstruction and I could breath. 

My life was saved.  I can’t help but think of the irony that it was his mother and I that gave our children their life and in return they gave me back mine. They all had a part in it but without Martin’s size and strength I dread to think of the outcome.

On 2nd May this year at Grand Bend in Ontario our Irish Setter, Maggie, fell into a river that flows in to Lake Huron.  She went under twice and I couldn’t stand it; I leapt into the six-foot drop down to the river after her.  That water was bloody cold as well as deep and there was also a strong current.  I will save this story for another day.  The irony is this; if Martin hadn’t cleared my airway and saved my life, I wouldn’t have been there to save Maggie’s life.  I believe that is what Clarence the angel said to George Bailey in the classic Frank Capra Christmas movie, It’s a Wonderful Life. 

Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Birthday, Christmas Day, Easter Day, any day; I believe each and every day is a gift and must be treated as such.  Some people are just trying to get through their day instead of trying to get something from their day.  Some say you should live this day as if it is your last.  How about living it as your first?  Every day is another gift; it can even allow you to make a fresh start, if that’s what you need.  So, if you have to, use it as a new beginning.

Life, to me, means everything because of my beautiful family.  How lucky can a guy get?  I have three adult children who amaze me and a lovely bride who has shared my days for over 32 years.  For me, personally, my thanks do need to be to God.  But that's my belief.

Happy Fathers’ Day!

Carpe Diem.

 

NEW YEAR, FUTURE; I SEE IT NOW! 

I will be ringing in the New Year in beautiful British Columbia (BC) on Vancouver Island; my lovely bride, Jane, and I are out here visiting with our son, Martin, and his girlfriend, Cara.  It’s the first time out here for Jane and we have even had sunshine and blue skies so she got to see the pure, natural vistas that makes BC so beautiful.  We decided to fly out from Ontario and spend this special moment in time with them.  However, Martin and I need to get our game on with respect to playing cribbage; these gals are killing us at cards!

As I type it is 15:30 here on the west coast of Canada.  Home, in Ontario, it's 18:30.  Back in England, where I moved from in 1988, it is 23:30; all my family and friends will be getting ready to bring in their future year of 2018.  Here I have still got a while to wait; in fact, we’re not even leaving to go to our celebrations for another five hours! 

On Baker Island, in the Pacific Ocean, it is barely lunch-time on New Year’s Eve, yet about 2,000 kms south-east in Apia, the capital of the Samoan Islands in Polynesia, it’s already past lunchtime on Monday 1 January 2018; at 13:30 their hangover should be well and truly a thing of their past.  Yup, they have a past where we’ve had no future as yet!  We’re just sitting here in 2017 on the west coast of Canada waiting to get to started!

The future?  Yes, I sure can see it; right now, it is on the Samoan Islands; and it looks wonderful too!

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Wherever you are in this wonderful world of ours; Happy New Year!!!

23 Jun 2015 ~ HAPPY BIRTHDAY; ANOTHER JOURNEY ROUND THE SUN

 

LIVING AND LAUGHING ROUND THE SUN

 Once more I go, round the sun; keep living and laughing everyone!

Life’s journey’s shorter than ye think, so dither not,

lest ye upon that final blink, discover life is done.

 ~~~  Paul Freeman 23 June 2015  ~~~

 

 

I am somewhat overwhelmed by all the birthday wishes.  It is quite humbling, really.  In this digital era there sure are many different ways to communicate. 

 

Greetings were received, through Skype, from as far away as Moscow, Russia and Shymkent, Kazakhstan as well as places in the United States.

 

A lot of birthday wishes came from friends and also my Liverpool family on Facebook.  I even got a text message from my ‘techno-grandma-mum-in-law’, Brenda. 

 

Friends, made through my profession, that are now friends on Facebook, also sent me wishes from places afar; Ecuador, Germany and Holland.  There were even greetings, by way of LinkedIn, from some of my professional colleagues. 

 

Truly remarkable the way our world is so connected in this day and age.  I am happy and humbled, indeed; and I thank everyone that cared enough to brighten my day with their (mostly) kind words!

 

My birthday started with breakfast in bed whilst unwrapping gifts and reading cards.  So what, you may ask, does one get for a guy who has been on this beautiful planet for 2.85 score years?  Fear not; a selection of Britain’s finest ales (thank you Zoe), a selection of bold dark-roast coffees (thank you Martin) and a commitment to take me golfing, which includes beer and hot dog (thank you Alex) fits the bill perfectly.  Even my lovely bride of almost 29 years got me a power tool <insert manly-man type grunt here>; it is an oscillating saw (thank you Jane).  I think that the key here is to ensure that I use this after drinking the coffee and not the beer…

 

After these early morning festivities were complete, I bade farewell to my lovely bride, Jane, as she took my 20-year old youngest daughter, Alex, to the hospital for some surgery to remove her tonsils (that’s gotta hurt!).  Zoe was the designated driver for this mission; she is my 21-year old daughter and has “been there and done that” earlier this year.

 

Once they were safely on their way, I headed for the fang-snatchers (dentist) for my 65th filling on this, my 57th birthday (maybe not quite that many… fillings that is – not birthdays).  Upon arrival I collected my mobile phone’s voice mail from my son, Martin, who got up extra early on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, to wish me a happy birthday; I wasn't able to answer my phone whilst driving - it's the law!

 

For those of you that are about to celebrate your birthday, and are fortunate to still have their mother gracing this planet of ours, I would like to give you some good advice… remember to call your mum on your birthday; it’s a big day for her too.  Sadly, at 57, I do not have that option anymore.  But if you do; do it.  You won’t regret it; I promise.

 

In closing, I believe that God's greatest gift bestowed on me is the gift of life.  I have also had the very good fortune to share this most precious gift with some wonderful people; friends and family.  If you're reading this and you are in my life, I thank you for that.

AVIATION, “ANSWERS AND JUSTICE”; AND PERSPECTIVE

I’m angry. 

As a Canadian licenced Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME), aviation has been my life; from twelve years in the Royal Air Force (RAF), to being an apprentice in Canada after I emigrated from England, to my time as a licenced AME. 

In recent times we have been plagued by tragic incidents in aviation; very tragic indeed.  In light of this, I felt compelled to address what has transpired in the last seven days. 

 

Tuesday, 24 March 2015

Flight 9525 Germanwings ~ Airbus A-320

Passengers         144

Crew                     6

TOTAL                  150         all killed

RESULT                                more broken hearts than anyone could

                                              possibly imagine

 

Sunday, 29 March 2015

Flight 624 Air Canada ~ Airbus A-320

Passengers         133

Crew                     5

TOTAL                  138         all walked away alive

RESULT                                class action lawsuit to sue for ‘physical

                                              and psychological harm’

 

They walked away!  Perspective?  I’m not so sure.

 

The following is a clip from an article (Gulliver Business Travel) in The Economist...

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Britta Englisch, who flew with the airline the day after the crash, posted her experience on Facebook (translated from German):

“Yesterday morning at 8:40am, I got onto a Germanwings flight from Hamburg to Cologne with mixed feelings. But then the captain not only welcomed each passenger separately, he also made a short speech before take-off. Not from the cockpit, he was standing in the cabin.

He spoke about how the accident touched him and the whole crew. About how queasy the crew feels, but that everybody from the crew is voluntarily here. And about his family, and that the crew have a family, and that he is going to do everything to be with his family again tonight. It was completely silent. And then everybody applauded. I want to thank this pilot. He understood what everybody was thinking. And he managed to give me, at least, a good feeling for this flight.”

The pilot, Frank Woiton, also volunteered to operate the Barcelona to Düsseldorf route the day after it ended in disaster.

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I am sure that his late colleague, Captain Patrick Sondenheimer from flight 9525, would have been proud of Captain Frank Woiton’s approach to the passengers. 

Just wishing I could say the same for the passengers of flight 624 who have chosen to sue Air Canada for their physical and psychological harm.  Some of these passengers are, apparently, “seeking answers and justice”.  I have one answer for them; they walked away.  If you want more answers and justice, perhaps you can start by asking the bereaved relatives of flight 9525.

And that’s why I’m angry.