Leather Pass Chronicles

News Views and little known truths from the Canadian Rockies... 

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DECEMBER 2007

A morning with the Cookie Guru

NOVEMBER 2007

Lest we forget

OCTOBER 2007

If you go into the woods today...

SEPTEMBER 2007

Artists On Rails

I am Albertan

Tuktu Prayers

Vampires in the Basement

Brian Patsy and Moses

A spontaneous Artwalk

Artists in the Pines 2008

JULY 2007

It's a Francophone July

Canada Day - with an accent!

JUNE 2007

Jasper is a Creative 'City'

The Centennial approaches!

A YEAR IN REVIEW

~a look back at Jasper's Centennial Year~

APRIL 2007

21 Caribou

MARCH 2007

Living on Sunshine

Video Made in Alberta

FEBRUARY 2007

Family Day, CN and Marshmallows

CN STRIKE

JANUARY 2007

Jasper Community Mission Impossible

Jasper in January

The Year in Review, in advance!

DECEMBER 2006

Victorias Secret, Caribou and Indian Giving

NOVEMBER 2006

Ah, November - its all about the weather

OCTOBER 2006

Community museums are key to culture 

The Who, Trailer Park Boys and Mel Hurtig

SEPTEMBER 2006

Tom Thomson and the Pine Beetle

Is that a Mexican Flag on the Banff Springs?

Green Party on the right track

AUGUST2006

Neufeld Watchel and Watchel

UNESCO's Indigenous Peoples Day

Heritage Day

JULY 2006

From Fiddler on the Roof to Fiddler on the Rails

Traditions made new again, First Nations art

JUNE 2006

Bikeology and Caribou

MAY 2006
Centennial Dollars well spent...

On MountainTop Rock

 

 NOVEMBER 2007 

Lest we forget

Updated November 6, 2007

I grew up in an era where independence and self sufficiency was impressed upon me as a youth.  As such, defying authority and questioning everything was almost a creed. (much to my parents chagrin) 

So when November 11th rolled around I often wondered what 'Lest we forget' meant.  Shouldn't that be 'let us forget'.  Why remember such horror - why an annual 'celebration' of war?  Get over it.  Why do we continue to put our young men and women into armies that foster such ideologies?  Didn't someone say 'You can't simultaneously prevent and prepare for war?' 

This distaste for this annual day of remembrance stayed with me into my young adult years.  Until I found myself doing something at the local Royal Canadian Legion.  Tacked to the wall of memorabilia was a letter addressed to a soldier - dated 1980ish.  It was from two sisters in Europe to a Canadian soldier.  They wanted to thank the Canadian for his part in saving their lives during the war.  At that time they were only children - aged 10 and 12.  Even after 35 years they had sought out the soldier that had saved them from something I as a Canadian can only imagine - the terror of being 10 and in a war torn world.

So, having been 10 once - and if I remember correctly my biggest stress was deciding what to do first on summer vacation - swim or go boating!  And having a daughter of my own...I never questioned this annual day of remembrance again.    

This November 11th remember - remember swimming or boating or any other freedom we as Canadians have.  And what the heck - go to your local Legion.  You never know what you will learn.

The Night Before Christmas

 T'was the night before Christmas,
 He lived all alone,
 In a one bedroom house,
Made of plaster and stone.
I had come down the chimney,
With presents to give,
And to see just who,
In this home did live.

I looked all about,
A strange sight I did see,
No tinsel, no presents,
Not even a tree.

 No stocking by the mantle,
 Just boots filled with sand,
On the wall hung pictures,
Of far distant lands.

With medals and badges,
Awards of all kinds,
A sober thought,
Came through my mind.

For this house was different,
It was dark and dreary,
I found the home of a soldier,
Once I could see clearly.

The soldier lay sleeping,
Silent, alone,
Curled up on the floor,
In this one bedroom home.

The face was so gentle,
The room in such disorder,
Not how I pictured,
A Canadian soldier.

Was this the hero,
Of whom I'd just read?,
Curled up on a poncho,
The floor for a bed?

I realized the families,
That I saw this night,
Owed their lives to these soldiers,
Who were willing to fight.

Soon round the world,
The children would play,
And grownups would celebrate,
A bright Christmas Day.

They all enjoyed freedom,
Each month of the year,
Because of the soldiers,
Like the one lying here.

I couldn't help wonder,
How many lay alone,
On a cold Christmas Eve,
In a land far from home.

The very thought brought
A tear to my eye,
I dropped to my knees,
And started to cry.

The soldier awakened,
And I heard a rough voice,
'Santa, don't cry.
This life is my choice.

I fight for freedom,
I don't ask for more,
My life is my God,
My country, my corps.'

The soldier rolled over,
And drifted to sleep,
I couldn't control it,
I continued to weep.

I kept watch for hours,
So silent and still,
And we both shivered,
From the cold night's chill.

I didn't want to leave,
On that cold, dark night,
This guardian of honour,
So willing to fight.

Then the soldier rolled over,
With a voice, soft and pure,
Whispered, 'Carry on Santa,
It's Christmas Day, all is secure.'

One look at my watch,
And I knew he was right,
'Merry Christmas my friend,
And to all a good night.'

This poem was written by a peace keeping soldier stationed overseas.

The following is his request. I think it is reasonable.

PLEASE. Would you do me the kind favour of sending this to as many
people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our
Canadian service men and women for our being able to celebrate these
festivities. Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe. Make
people stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for us.

Interesting short animated film on war... http://www.shortsnonstop.com/video_view.php?videoId=45

EFFORTS HAVE BEGUN ON ARTISTS IN THE PINES 2008

Check out the 2006 calendar (just to see what you missed!) and get ready to be entertained, educated and pampered - in the PINES next autumn.  

NEW to Artists in the Pines - for 2008, the art of Japanese drumming on the shores of the Athabasca River and FiddleMania.