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konnichiwa

ogenki desu ka

Don’t give up!

Keep at it until you accomplish what you’ve started

The key to achieving something is to stick to it, If you are able to continue something from start to finish, you will be sure to accomplish it no matter how difficult the task is. (PL2014.5)

I drove to Toronto yesterday. I have never in all my years driven to Toronto on my own, NEVER. I have been there many times, even lived there years ago. But either I was with someone, or I took a bus, train, even plane, but never have I driven there.. it is a 5 plus hour drive, and Toronto is a BIG action packed city. Cars everywhere and going at amazing speeds… highways beside highways, criss-crossing , man, I was to overcome with the magnitude of my situation to even think about it, I just had to live it.

Sometimes we just need to live it. My trips to Japan, and my memories of the Chinatowns I’ve been in over the years had me wanting to be in a milieu that was “Asian”… In Toronto there are huge communities, marketplaces, shops, restaurants that have that “familiar” vibe. My “draw back” was I didn’t take into consideration the time change factor, the month, days are shorter, etc. I had rendez-vos at the start of the day so didn’t leave Ottawa till almost 9 and Toronto is a good 5 hour drive.

AND I had a place to be (which required me to be back home) for 8 pm. Let me tell you, I got to have many little chats with myself yesterday…. and to examin my need to do things as they pop up in my gray cells. Then the jewel on the crown, when I got home, the road was closed right in front of my house, I had no access! (well I did, but I had to be coming from the other direction, and it was a very small opening!!) and I have mentioned it was pitch black out, and had been since about 4:58 pm. ok maybe 5:15…

It is pretty scary when the guardian angel is the big white truck in front of you that has lights not only along the bottom of his truck, but at each corner of his truck at the top. I offered up a silent prayer to his guardian angel in thanks and to keep him safe. Those super highways are D A R K !!!

A big thank you to my nephew who came along as I was staring in disbelief at the big road closure fences barring my way home… He ran over and saw that by going around and coming down the street from the other direction, I could squeeze the car through and into my laneway.

I was blessed with friends who checked in on me along the way…. in spirit I was never alone, and I did have a sense of accomplishment when I finally threw myself on the bed to end the evening with a well deserved “sleep”… ^{(Bedtime stories are heaven sent)}

Oh and.. onStar (service in my car) guided me every mile along the way, I even learned a new way to leave the conservation area, to the Queensway (super highway here in Ottawa)….

Oyashikiri

would I go back.. yes that was a tease.. but I would time it better.

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True spirit of the holidays

I went out. All was going well until I encountered a tree knocked over by the high winds (over a hydro power line) to avoid the tree I maneuvered to the left to go around and slid off the road coming to rest against another tree. This tree prevented my opening the door of the car, and the car being on an angle I couldn’t get out the passenger side.. which is just as well since when the fire dept and police arrived, it was discovered it had fallen over a hydro line.

To say I was a tad “upset” … would define my reaction. I had just fed the crows, and had a satisfying visit with them… so simply sat in the car at first not knowing what to do first. It was a country round with few homes on it.. it led to a dead end (parking lot for the Mer Bleue bog) A crow flew over and looked into the car.. that startled me into action) I pushed the On Star button on my car, within seconds I had an operator on the line…The responding agent was very good, he stayed calm, and walked me through what he was going to do, and what he needed me to do.

Of course #1 was … was I hurt… did I require medical assistance. He already knew from my Gps exactly where I was, he was able to give the 911 agent, the coordinates in detail. That took away any of the anxiety or stress I was getting from the questions she was asking. He answered technical questions on my location, where I was in relation to the map she was looking at, how many kilometers I was in from the main road etc. Then he stayed with me while we waited for the emergency crews to get to me. It was very reassuring. He did not leave me till the fire department and police arrived.

I think it is the first time I have watched a fire truck approaching me with all its lights going and felt such a sense of relieve. The police car was right behind the fire truck. As soon as the fire personnel arrived and he heard them talking to me, only then did the ON STAR agent sign off.

The men who responded were so kind, calm and responding to the situation with such a professional yet warm manner that I was immediately at ease with them. My car was wedged tight against the tree in the ditch. I could hear them talking over their options. The police officer who took the lead in dealing with me (the “victim”) also asked me whether or not we needed the medical/ambulance to come.. I assured him I was OK, I did not need medical attention. the ambulance was canceled, it could be needed elsewhere after all, there were accidents all over the city.

With no damage to city property, it was decided I should call a tow truck, but…. bless their hearts the men (Fire Department) gathered around the car and together, got the car angled so it could be driven out of the ditch an unto the road. They were AMAZING. AND somehow while all this was happening a few of them managed to clear the tree from the road. They checked to make sure the car was ok to drive, and sent me on my way.

Then while I was at the feeders, I saw the truck drive by the round about slowly, turning itself around to get off the side road…. it made a second drive by, I waved and believe me… I was sending them a lot of love and gratitude. It is so easy to take for granted what these men/women do, we don’t engage with them unless we have a problem like I did today.

Their professional and effective/efficient way of dealing with would could have been a very serious and life affecting situation made the incident one I won’t forget, AND left me feeling very good about the world I live in. Too often we hear only of the negatives… The police and the firefighters do a lot we don’t see or hear about – they impact a lot of lives… we are richer as a community for their services.

Yes I had an accident, Yes, it was stressful, BUT I came away with a feeling of joy and happiness at having had that encounter with men who knew their jobs and were not only good logistically at what they needed to do, they were kind and generous of spirit.

They ( the operator at ON STAR, Fire Department, and Ottawa Police) were angels in disguise. For me it was a Xmas gift I will never forget.