of the 11th day of the 11th month, the guns finally and truly went silent over noman’s land.
The war to end all wars, the great war was over. Although, it would be another year before my Great-Uncle Grover got back to Nova Scotia from Europe.
This summer, I received the requested copy of the page of remembrance from the Canadian Book of Remembrance which bears my Great-Uncle Earle’s name. (He was reported missing on October 31, 1917.) Each day, in Ottawa, a page is turned; Earle’s page is on display in mid-June.
I fell short of a complete countdown using posts I’d done since the inception of this version of my blogging in September, 2016 on the theme of Veteran’s/Remembrance Day and WW1. I do want to share what I missed, when I went missing from this commitment. So, there will hopefully be counting up from 11 posts.
This year, I did finally start a “head narrative” which has always intrigued me: what if Great-Uncle Earle didn’t drown in the mud of noman’s land on October 31, 1917. . .. I’m sure this isn’t a “novel” or “novella” idea, but one that has shifted my narratives from a fictionalized medievalish sort of world tinged with eld magic to present day internet discoveries and recoveries. . .
November 11, 2021 at 10:40 am
Oh wow! What a fascinating document to finally receive ….. you must treasure it so I suspect. And yes, for the tragedy, the horrors, the grief, … still, the wonder “what if” …..
This “story” of your great uncle is clearly one that is important to you – so yes, go gently into the night and follow your heart, it won’t lead you wrong, my friend.
And yup – all these wars, past and current – and still, what have we learned and come to know and appreciate? “Mankind” has long lost the art, rite and rights of kindness and peace. “comedic” sadness – such as most “great” tragedies are.
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November 11, 2021 at 11:17 am
Thanks, btw, for the wonderful boyton birthday images. I was in the city yesterday communing with Dali (new incredible art), Van Gogh (first time, I think, seeing Starry Starry night), and incredible windows which made looking out like artwork. So, I am still digesting your latest email. But, thanks, and I am still ears and shoulders. Even though slugs possess neither . . .
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November 11, 2021 at 11:35 am
sounds like you had a wonderful excursion – fascinating and curiosity inducing …. as well sparking creativity :)
no worries about emails … I’m fine enough …. and more than happy to wish you b’day greetings, each day of the year ;)
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November 12, 2021 at 3:27 am
Same to you . . . though you are nearing a reset for unbirthdays?
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November 12, 2021 at 9:00 am
end of Dec. …. hahahaha! time marches on ;)
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November 14, 2021 at 12:20 am
I thought right! A reset to 364 unbirthdays. Leap Day doesn’t happen until 2024 — I checked.
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November 14, 2021 at 1:09 pm
good to know – about Leap Year – and yeah, almost time to reset the calendar ;)
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November 14, 2021 at 3:54 pm
BTW: at some point (maybe already) a small something should show up in your mailbox. Think upon it as an early b’day or any unb’day something, something as Pooh was wont to say.
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November 14, 2021 at 4:30 pm
oh you shouldn’t have …. but thank you! I’ll make it a point to walk the small walk ;)
(and thanks for the most recent email – I so appreciate your thoughts – I’ll get back to you – busy catching my breath [quick trip in/out] and I’m wiped!)
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November 14, 2021 at 7:17 pm
I sent two other packages to Canada at the same time. The one to BC arrived on Wednesday; the one to Ottawa still hasn’t. So, who knows . . . Anyway, don’t wait until Christmas or your b’day. It’s definitely something for an unb’day.
Rest up. Later, gator
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November 15, 2021 at 9:52 am
no worries! Yeah, even here, stuff coming from out west seems to arrive much faster than stuff “locally” – seriously, it’s surprisingly weird – at least that’s been my experience for awhile now ….
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November 16, 2021 at 1:36 am
Last year a package my friend in Ottawa sent never arrived here. Eventually, he got a refund on the cost of mailing and the contents. Took months to get that settled. Meanwhile, someone enjoyed a nice gift. Supposedly made it across the border (or was at the border), but Canada Post coughed up the refund.
It’s just as bad here, and getting worse. I try not to use the post office in my town — it’s now the place USPS sends the misfits and rejects. As they say, “the stories I could tell ya . . .”
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November 16, 2021 at 8:49 am
I believe it – knocking on wood like a maniac – so far, I’ve been pretty lucky with things …. and speaking of packages – holy carp – I REALLY must get my carp together and put together your thing – but I admit, I’m dreading the post office ‘thang” – of course, it’s also about timing – hard to get to it (has to be on an errands day) and the hours of operation don’t often jive! My bad. I’m such a slacker.
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November 16, 2021 at 9:21 am
Well, I’m a slug! I understand being in the country with services a drive away. Lived like that for several years, and it ain’t easy. If I walked about 2 miles (maybe more, maybe less) I could catch a bus that ran between several communities, the university, community college, hospital in another town, etc. But it didn’t run late at night, etc. Back then, our vehicles were the old valiant, an old Chevette I bought from my dad for $1. I should find this great picture I took of the two cars and at least one of the ponies that used to reside on the farm.
So no worries or hurries. Whenever is whenever.
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November 11, 2021 at 9:20 am
We must never forget, mind you half the world is still at war so sad 💜
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November 11, 2021 at 10:13 am
The irony of the “great” war, and the “war to end all wars!” Here, it’s also anniversay years for 9/11 and desert storm (gulf war).
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November 11, 2021 at 12:15 pm
No to mention all the other less publishised wars all over the world.💜
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November 11, 2021 at 4:33 pm
Exactly! There have always been wars, as far as I can tell, even before homo sapiens became the dominent species. I’m glad of my Neanderthal dna.
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November 11, 2021 at 5:31 pm
Me too💜
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