Hide The Remote

My partner is the most loving, supportive, caring women and the best person for me. She loves to play little pranks on me. Over the years she has gotten me with some doozies.

In 2015 on Valentine's Day no less, she really got me. I was convalescing at home with a broken ankle and she wanted to go out. It was an extremely cold night. She called me indicating that the car wouldn't start and didn't know what to do. She said a guy indicated he would jump start the car for 200$. I told her to take a cab and we eoud figure out the car in the morning. That exact moment I heard the key turn in the lock and the door open. I was in a cast and didn't move fast enough and almost had a coronary.

She says Happy Valentines Day honey. Oh my did she get me good. I vowed to not get fooled again. Several months went by and she got me again and continues to get me over and over. I keep on making the same vow and getting fooled.

That saying "fool me once shame on me, fool me twice shame on you " doesn't apply in our world.

Recently her pranks have involved the remote control. For most males, the remote is the last bastion of manhood.

My partner is saying she never has access to the remote. She will even text me indicating that I didn't give her access to the remote. Her latest prank is to hide the remote on me. Professing that she never has access to the remote so how can she hide it. This carries on for 20-30 minutes. I check all the usual places and even unusual ones. One day I found it in the fridge, another day in the planter and yesterday in the microwave.

Even though I get annoyed with the premise of the pranks, I enjoy them. They keep me sharp, youthful and in love with her more and more everyday.

Before I met Shelley, I was insecure, had a lot of anger inside. I struggled to smile and especially laugh at myself. Now I am able to enjoy a good laugh even at my own expense and live life for everything life has to offer including a good natured prank. April Fool's has become a favorite day of mine.

I Am Hurting

I am hurting, I am hurting like most Canadians. The tragic events of Friday's bus crash which claimed 15 lives and left another 14 injured and hospitalized has hit me to the core.

I did not know any of the people directly involved, however, I know them indirectly. Hockey is the fibre and fabric of our country. It brings small towns and large communities together as one. The hockey rink becomes the meeting place. The place to be seen on game nights.

The young hockey players bond on the bus rides between hockey communities which are between 2-8 hours away. Cards are played, movies are watched, stories are told and even rookie initiation takes place. All along that bonding comes together to form a team that plays for the community as a cohesive texam.

I have rode buses to games on many occasions for hockey, basketball, rugby and soccer teams. I remember every one of these bus rides. Fortunately, nothing bad happened, except the bus driver getting lost on the turnpike west of Pittsburgh and spending 6 hours at the US border on the same trip when one of the boys proud of his heritage said he was born in Italy. This person now owns one of the most successful Italian restaurants in Winnipeg.

As the days, weeks, months go by the healing will occur the scars will remain. The Humboldt Broncos will rebuild and the town will be stronger for it. 

I will heal like all other Canadians will heal. We are resilient survivors.  

I was a mess this past weekend, co-workers asked the usual Monday morning question of how was the weekend. My simple response was rough. Rough and raw. I hurt physically, emotionally and mentally. I wept for every one affected by this tragedy. I wept for the town of Humboldt. I wept through the vigil. 

I wanted to hug those closest to me and not let go. 

A Heavy Heart

I have a heavy heart today. I am wanting to hug my grandson Oliver. I have hugged my lovely partner multiple times today.

The news came hard late yesterday afternoon out of Saskatchewan, a bus carrying a Junior A hockey team the Humboldt Bronco's collided with a semi trailer, killing 14 people and injuring another 14 people.

The coach/GM and the captain were among the deceased. Teenagers and young adults with dreams of careers/scholarships in hockey in the prime of their life taken way too soon.

In my 54 years I have ridden the bus to games in all types of weather and seasons of the year. Whether it be for rugby, hockey, basketball or soccer we never had any issues/incidents, however, the potential was always there.

I cannot fathom what the families of the people involved are going through. Hoping, praying for the best, however, expecting the worst. The gamut of emotions I don't want to ever experience. I have gained a wonderful family and do not want anything to happen to them. My stepchildren and grandson have become incredibly special and important to me.

Hug your loved ones today. Heaven gained some special Angels.