May 20 2012

             The May holiday in Canada is known as the May two-four weekend in honour of the Queen of England who also is the Queen of Canada. We won’t debate the reason for that but let us say it is the first holiday weekend of the summer. I think the two-four is a reference to the standard box of beer people use to celebrate summer in our many camp grounds and where else they welcome summer.

           This weekend has been a glorious one in southern Ontario. The sky has been clear and free of clouds, the temperature in the mid 20’s, the days are long and tranquil. The nights are anything but quiet with many people blowing up fireworks. The noise is jarring but what can I say, I guess they are happy or stoned, who knows.

           Suppose you are a person with a beautiful black Kawasaki motor cycle you are becoming confident riding looking forward to a weekend of dry roads and time ride with the wind. What could be better? Now, suppose you are the same person with a daughter in her mid-teens with a medical problem that is not easily diagnosed. You are a single parent; there is no support to share the burden.

            The nearby hospital is usually busy with people lining up for appointments, specialist treatments, surgery or whatever attention people need. It is a different place on a long holiday weekend, the corridors are empty, the rooms are the empty, nursing stations are quiet and the nurses have time to be helpful without the appearance of rushing.

            I’ll paint the picture in brighter colours. The black Kawasaki sits in the garage, the sun shines high in the ski, the birds are singing in the green leafed trees making their babies, you are in the hospital room with your teenage daughter who is becoming more and more irritable as she struggles with the confines of whatever it is that is restricting her to this place. Did you get the image clearly in your mind? I hope so.

           Is this an ode to the May two-four week end? No, while most of our fellow citizens are enjoying the gift of the perfect summer weekend some put their personal desires on hold for others. Children are special others and let us hope they learn to appreciate their parents and the sacrifice they make for them. It is usually in later life that such realization happens and I guess all parents learn to live with that reality.

I posted this to honour my special friend who is the mother sitting in that deserted hospital room. She is one of the good ones and one day the dry roads and the soft wind will welcome her and the black Kawasaki as she fulfill dreams long suppressed.

Love you Kim.