Blessed Samhain!

For those of you looking at today's date and wondering what the hay is Samhain, go look it up. If it sounds negative, look further, then read some more. In short (very short) it is the time to think of our ancestors, celebrate death as part of life, and start the New Year (celtic).
I had a great time taking the kids out for what I call the "children's ritual" and everyone else calls "trick or treating." It was so much fun...beautifully decorated homes, lots of scary trees, fireworks, so much ambiance.
I hope that you are having a wonderful time of year.
Take a few moments to think of those that have passed before us. Think about what you would like to change in the coming year (or, if you are perfect, what you wouldn't change for anything).
Think about life and it's many aspects.


Happy New Year!!

A few days ago my sister, Tara, and I took her two daughters and two of my sons (I have 3) to the Vancouver Aquarium. We had loads of fun and all learned something (not sure what but since it was during a teacher's strike I hope we all did).
Doing the "touristy" thing we got the above picture taken. From left is Jason, Me, Jacob, Alessa, Aiyana, and Tara.
Hope you like it.

I want to share my new fave band and song. The band is OMNIA from the Netherlands. The album and title song are called, "Crone of War." Way too cool!!!

I can't sleep. Mind you, I only got off work 2 hours ago. I just finished looking at my brother's blog ...it is more than just a blog though. He shows some of his work on it. I wonder if he would get mad if I put some on here. Oops, too late...there it is ...on the side....see (on the right)? I guess I should put his blog address here too... http://www3.telus.net/paquette/blogger

The painting on the right is named, "No Reservations" and it is one of my favourites that Aaron (my brother) has done. To me it looks like the Goddess with no inhibitions. Fully being. Fully loving. No reservations. I don't know if he meant the painting to mean that or not, but that is what it means to me.

Good night for now. I am getting sleepy.

Aahhhhh! I nice sunshine colour for today. It rained all day, but it was so pretty and makes things so nice and green. Also, I worked today. After work we decided to go visit my sister and her family, without really letting them know we were coming. We stopped at the BEST doughnut shop I have ever found and bought 7 jumbo hot chocolates, 1 jumbo coffee, and 2 dozen wonderful doughnuts. When we got to my sister's, nobody was home. The kids had been talking about The Ghost Train at Stanley Park so we decided to go check it out. I LOVE this city!!! It was so nice. The theme is Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), the Mexican holiday celebrating death and our ancestors. There were dancers and devils, skeletal humans and animals (made from pressboard cutouts...but oh so pretty all lit up) and lights, LOTS of lights. The music for the train tour was all Mexican except for the end, when my 13 yr old son said that he thought the horror would never end...it was a skeletal Avril Lavigne and her music was playing. After the tour we went for a short walk in the gentle rain (to the loo, actually). There, a family of raccoons found us and we exchanged delighted sounds with each other. Under an Arbour of lights was a Shrine to our ancestors and my family and I went there to remember those who have gone before us. We said "HELLO" to our Mathew, my father Johnny, and my brother...and left offerings at the alter. It was so much fun and we will definitely go back. For YULE too!

A dear friend (very) recently mentioned that I seem sad lately (after reading my blog). I didn't mean for that to happen. Really, I am not sad. I've been introspective lately though. Thinking about where I want to go in my career and a number of other things. There are a few options that I can see. I could stay where I am. When a position opens at the "head office" I could apply there. I could go to the school board as an educational assistant, youth worker, supply teacher, or even as a teacher. It's all very confusing. Not sure what I want to do.
I've been thinking about other goals too. Learning a new trade or craft (currently working on guitar and tin whistle). Taking some sort of martial arts class. Get a tattoo ( I have been thinking of it for over 20yrs and almost have an idea...lol). The image below might make a nice tattoo. More pierces? I definitely am getting the old wanderlust back, which means that soon I will HAVE to take a plane somewhere, anywhere. Who knows? The world is open to me and there are so many options.
In the meantime, I am pretty tired and am going to "hit the sack". Good night. I am okay.

I think this will be my last post today, but I am not sure. I was just thinking of my recent posts. I am wondering if I am thinking about death more this month as it is October. October 31 is Samhain, a very important Sabbat for me. The veil is thinner. My ancestors can and will speak to me. Maybe they are making me think more this month. I know that I am thinking very important thoughts lately and those thoughts are leading to changes in paradigm.
I am going to take the time right now then, to thank them...for Thanksgiving. Sort of a melding of Thanksgiving and Samhain. Thank you all my relations, for everything that you have given me and will give me. I only hope that I will make you proud.

Now, I don't know Poppy Z Brite (author), but my husband sorta does. Long story. I don't know her but I will mourn with her. When she had to evacuate New Orleans she had to leave many of her beloved pets behind. Poppy and her husband Chris rescue pets (mostly cats I believe) and care for them in the best way that they can. Just after the disaster a rescue group went in and saved some of their pets but weren't able to get to the feral cats. Today, Poppy found her beloved Ivan on the kitchen floor, dead. So much has happened to New Orleanians. Many have lost family members, temporarily or permanently. Homes gone. Jobs gone. I believe that for Poppy and Chris the animals ARE their family.
Certain images always remind you of a tragedy. Media flings those images at us at breakneck speed. You almost become immune to them. I know that I will remember Ivan on the kitchen floor (Poppy described the scene almost too well).
I love cats too. I had a number of black cats that looked like Ivan. Like I said, I will remember Ivan.

Happy Thanksgiving! Luckily I am Canadian and not American (nothing against Americans...I am sure they are nice people...a little misguided...but sweet). Therefore, I am not celebrating the invasion and takeover of the America's. I am celebrating all the blessings that I have. I am thankful for my children, my husband, my parents and siblings and friends. I am thankful for the great food that I have to eat and the beautiful home that I have. There is so much more I am thankful for, but I would be waxing poetical.
One of the traditions that we had when I was growing up was to go around that Thanksgiving dinner table and everyone would say what they were thankful for. It was a prayer. Serious sometimes, more often than not, funny.

I had to write today because my friend, Hawk, reminded me that I don't write here very often. I began to feel like I was neglecting this poor thing. Thank you, Hawk. That too I am thankful for.

Blessings

First Nation girls commit suicide 6 times more often than the national average. Why? I was talking with some friends of mine on an egroup the other day about Kathleen Beardy and other First Nations women who either kill themselves or go missing. Typically, they were of the opinion that they bring it upon themselves. Oh, yes please, please let me live a life that makes me want to kill myself when I am only eleven. Oh, yes please, please let me live a life on the streets to try to feed myself (food, void, etc) and get myself kidnapped and murdered. Oh, yes please, please let me live a life where I get lost in some depressing miasma and my family can't find me.
Give me a break. First Nations bring this upon themselves? Now say that about any other disadvantaged group anywhere in the world and see how far you get with it.

Usually my blog is about the beauty of where I live. Today it isn't. My brother, Aaron Paquette, recently mentioned on his blog that he is worried about racism and how First Nations women are treated in this country. Today, even though I don't know her, I am mourning Kathleen Beardy. Eleven years old and she hanged herself. It is heartbreaking. My youngest son is that age and I can't imagine what horrors would make a child want to end her/his life. Yes, I can't, because it would be too horrible to try. Later, I will think about it and I know the tears will flow. However horrible it would be, it still wouldn't equal her parents' torment. I can only offer them my condolences and blessings (prayers if you will).
This country MUST stand up and erase racism against aboriginals. Canada must start loving and caring for First Nations women. It is a travesty that a culture is all but abhorred in it's native land. It is heartbreaking that hundreds, maybe thousands, of First Nations women have gone "missing" and nothing is being done about it. Mark my words, if white women were disappearing at the same rate everyone would be up in arms. Government; Federal, Provincial, and Civic would be pouring dollars into the right coffers to find these women and to make sure that more didn't go "missing".
Interestingly enough, I am fair skinned, blonde, green eyed. But, I was raised as a First Nations woman. My siblings and I do not look alike at all. Unfortunately, when my sister and I go shopping (especially at higher end shops) the salesclerks inevitably ask me first whether I need help or not. Sometimes they eye my sister as though she isn't in the store for honest shopping. We were raised in the same family, have similar education, and our families are financially on par. Be that as it may, there is absolutely NO reason why my sister should take this disdain and she doesn't. My sister's middle name is the same as the lovely little girl that felt somehow that she couldn't make it on this planet. We should all be ashamed.


Kathleen, you sweet innocent...may you rest and be remembered.