Celebration of life or an ego trip?

There is an old song by Ricky Nelson, called Garden Party. In the lyrics, Ricky sings about the time he went to perform at a concert at Madison Square Gardens in  New York City.

I went to a garden party
To reminisce with my old friends
A chance to share old memories
Play our songs again
When I got to the garden party
They all knew my name
No one recognized me
I didn't look the same

But it's all right now
I learned my lesson well
You see, you can't please everyone
So you got to please yourself

People came from miles around
Everyone was there
Yoko brought her walrus
There was magic in the air
And over in the corner
Much to my surprise
Mr Hughes hid in Dylan's shoes
Wearing his disguise

But it's all right now
I learned my lesson well
You see, you can't please everyone
So you got to please yourself

Lot-da-da
Lot-in-da-da-da

Played them all the old songs
I thought that's why they came
No one heard the music
Didn't look the same
I said hello to "Mary Lou"
She belongs to me
When I sang a song about a honky-tonk
It was time to leave

But it's all right now
I learned my lesson well
You see, you can't please everyone
So you got to please yourself

Lot-da-da
Lot-in-da-da-da

Someone opened up a closet door
And out stepped Johnny B Goode
Playing guitar like a-ringin' a bell
And lookin' like he should
Now if you gotta play at garden parties
I wish you a lotta luck
But if memories were all I sang
I'd rather drive a truck

And it's all right now
I learned my lesson well
See, you can't please everyone
So you got to please yourself

Lot-da-da (lot-da-da-da)
Lot-in-da-da-da

And it's all right now, yeah
I learned my lesson well
You see, you can't please everyone
So you got to please yourself

This is a wonderful song about the need to be yourself and be true to yourself. I wish people who decide to hold celebrations of life would be true to the person they are honouring. Many are but some are not. I don't think it is because people are trying to be disrespectful but I think they need to be reminded to be true to the values of the deceased.

At my age, I am starting to lose friends and have had the opportunity to go to a number of celebrations of life in the past few months. All of them are nice and respectful but a couple bothered me. 

At the latest one, the Minister said at the beginning words to this effect. "We are here for three reasons, the first is to bask in the glory of God, the second is to be reminded that Jesus is in the way of the light and the third is that Jesus is our saviour." My first thought was what about the person who died, are we not here to honour his life. I knew the deceased was an atheist; later in the service the Minister, who did not know the deceased said, "Although (the deceased) might not agree with the words in the bible, the deceased did embrace the underlying principles of the bible when he lived his life as he was a good, caring, compassionate man." 

I watched his wife who is religious and the Ministers words seemed to comfort her. His sons did speak about their father as a man and honoured his life, but in the two-hour celebration of life, only about 45 minutes were specifically about him. The rest of the service was about god.

I only wish that when planning a celebration of life, be true to the person you are honouring so they can go out on their terms.

Happy Birthday to my daughter

 My daughter lives in Australia with her partner and our grandson, and today is her birthday in Canada and yesterday was her birthday in Australia. We hope she had a wonderful day and can celebrate her birthday on both days. We love you and miss you, and we are looking forward to seeing you again in January. Love Mom and Dad.

Today is World Humanitarian Day

A global challenge for climate action in solidarity with the people who need it most

The climate emergency is wreaking havoc across the world at a scale that people on the front lines and in the humanitarian community cannot manage. Time is already running out for the world’s most vulnerable people — those who have contributed least to the global climate emergency yet are hit the hardest — and millions of others are already losing their homes, their livelihoods, and their lives.

With most climate campaigns focused on slowing climate change and securing the planet’s future, World Humanitarian Day 2021, will highlight the immediate consequences of the climate emergency for the world’s most vulnerable people and ensure that their voices are heard, and their needs top the agenda at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in November.

Therefore, everyone is invited to join #TheHumanRace, which is the global challenge for climate action in solidarity with people who need it the most; and to put the needs of climate-vulnerable people front and centre at the UN climate summit (COP26).

Stand in solidarity with the world's most vulnerable people by using these hashtags in your social media activities #TheHumanRace #WorldHumanitarianDay

Run, ride, swim, walk or do any activity of your choice for a cumulative 100 minutes between August 16 and August 31 in solidarity with vulnerable people and to tell world leaders that they expect developed countries to deliver on their decade-old pledge of $100 billion annually for climate mitigation and adaptation in developing countries. If you don’t wish to take part physically you can ADD YOUR VOICE.

Background

This day was designated in memory of the 19 August 2003 bomb attack on the Canal Hotel in Baghdad, Iraq, killing 22 people, including the chief humanitarian in Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello. In 2009, the United Nations General Assembly formalized the day as World Humanitarian Day (WHD).

Each year, WHD focuses on a theme, bringing together partners from across the humanitarian system to advocate for the survival, well-being and dignity of people affected by crises, and for the safety and security of aid workers.

This year, we highlight the immediate human cost of the climate crisis by pressuring world leaders to take meaningful climate action for the world’s most vulnerable people

#4500

 When I started writing this blog way back in 2010 I wondered if I could find enough topics to write about every day. This is my 4500th post. I started writing to keep a connection with my grandson who had just been born. My idea was that I would start writing about events in my life that were of interest to me and through which he would learn about who I am or was. He is now 11 years old and going on 12 and is a smart, articulate and athlete young man. I am very proud of him as he should be of himself. He is approaching puberty and the hormones that kick in can wreak havoc with your mind and your body. We all went through it and we all survived. So, over the next few years, he should know he is loved and will continue to be loved.

Every day there are new adventures to be started, new journeys to plan for, and new places to explore. The world is a fun, and exciting place, where there is joy and wonder everywhere. Now, I know that there is sadness and pain as well. Life is full of both, but it is our approach and our attitude toward the events that happen to us that determine how we survive.

I enjoy writing and will continue to write every day and am looking forward to writing my 5.000 post on January 11 2024 or thereabouts. By then my grandson will be 14 and starting on a new adventure having shared a few more with his grandmother and I.

Thank you to all of those who read this blog and give me comments that help me understand the world a bit better.