Memories Of Paris

France likely would have preferred a cloudless day with stars shimmering overhead as night approached. However, life doesn't always give us what we want. And in the end, the rain at the unique outdoor opening of the Olympic Games added not only sparkle amid vast glimmers of hope but also a sense of cleansing that the world seems to need right now. Yes, the games are about sports but they are also about overcoming and collaborating while competing with mutual respect. I was inspired by the inclusive, remarkably creative, vibrant and bold opening ceremony, concluded with a soul-gripping performance by Canadian singer Celine Dion who had her own health issues to overcome. The events unfolding on television reminded me of my 2010 visit to Paris when a smudge of moon met a beam of light from the Eiffel Tower and I took pictures.

   

Explore more at Poets and Storytellers United, SKYWATCH and Saturday's Critters. 

Check out my sites: Postcards from Penelope Puddle and Musings of A Puddlist In B.C.

Because the state of our planet is the most pressing issue of our time, link up and learn about the  Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Report.

HOLD ONTO THE LIGHT

Last Minute Trick

People world-over are in midst of critical decisions. The choices are imperfect but some are better for the health of the planet. And while some seek to curtail polluters, others vote for short-term gain, putting life on Earth at further risk. Global warming is hard to ignore when I step out the door and sometimes smell smoke, depending on which way the wind is blowing. Although not near me, fires are raging in my province of B.C. and in neighbouring Alberta. If only we could correct past mistakes with the magic snap of a finger. Instead, I hope for a dousing of rain to magically materialize. Extremely late in the climate change game, solutions feel so very "last minute", the word-prompt at Poets and Storytellers United that inspired some wishful thinking, (poem at bottom of post), followed by a morning walk where the sun played tricks with light and shadow. 

    

Explore more at Poets and Storytellers United, SKYWATCH and Saturday's Critters. 

Check out my sites: Postcards from Penelope Puddle and Musings of A Puddlist In B.C.

Because the state of our planet is the most pressing issue of our time, link up and learn about the  Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Report.

HOLD ONTO THE LIGHT

Read more

O Canada!

"Canada is broken, axe the tax ..." are chants courtesy of the Conservative Party seeking power by denigrating the carbon tax effort as well as the entire great country of Canada. Yes, like in all countries there are problems. Despite the flaws, according to the 2023 Best Countries ranking by U.S. News, Canada had been rated second-best in the world overall. (The "broken" mantra inspired a poem at the bottom of this post.) 

As Canada drifts into the election in 2025, I suspect climate change will dawn even on some refusing to accept its human causes and seriousness. The tax (rebated to folks of modest income) is just a small piece of what needs to be done. Coastal communities like Crescent Beach are particularly vulnerable to storm surges and sea rises.

There has been much thought given to how to mitigate the inevitable and/or prevent damage to the small seaside community as described HERE.

Meanwhile, people are also enjoying their precious moments on Earth. When breezes appear so do the sailboats.

For the curious there is much to explore and do.

There's also lots to protect inland, including forests and park lands where fire is always a fear. At Crescent Park, a walk amid rustling leaves as songbirds flit through the trees, and breathing in the mossy woodsy scents beneath a canopy of green, never ceases to inspire serenity and respect for the natural world. Indeed, trees are on the front lines, drawing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, storing carbon in trunks, branches and roots. Canada has an estimated 318 billion trees ... but who's counting and who can we count on to do what is right for life on this improbable planet that is our home.  

Canada isn't broken but problem-solving can break down regarding key issues, especially when opposing factions seek to erode confidence, create wedges, distract and solve nothing. Despite this, to those who know history and what true freedom means, Canada remains strong, free and a beacon. "O Canada! Our home and broken land!" sounds like the wrong song to be singing and for which we need not stand.

Explore more at Poets and Storytellers United, SKYWATCH and Saturday's Critters. 

Check out my sites: Postcards from Penelope Puddle and Musings of A Puddlist In B.C.

Because the state of our planet is the most pressing issue of our time, link up and learn about the  Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Report.

HOLD ONTO THE LIGHT