Tears to my eyes

Admittedly, I read the news too often - whether the "teen killed at 16th birthday party" stares me in the face from the floor or I simply am perusing the front section on online version - I find that the news frequently leaves me feeling disappointed in my fellow humans. A few days ago, I found an article that actually brought tears to my eyes - and renewed my faith in humanity. The story was about a little girl who played hockey and went from being healthy to being diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer over the span of a few days. This is naturally a heart breaking story - nice family, nice kid - horrible thing to happen to anyone. What brought tears to my eyes was the overwhelming response of her community to help her and her family get through this. They raised money - other kids shaved their heads (again to raise money) but also to make her feel less bad about loosing hers to chemotherapy drugs. Its too bad it takes a tragedy to bring it out of us sometimes - but its there - the thing that makes us worth saving for all our ugliness and stupid wars - we have the capacity to do great good as well and sometimes the newspapers remember to report it.

:D

As for me, my daydreams lately seem unusually filled with plans for outdoorsy stuff and camping and canoing and hiking. I think Awenda in early may with all the trilliums in bloom would be nice and I really want to do some canoeing in Northern Algonquin Park. I'm not sure I'm in good enough shape the tackle the Cloche Mountains Trail - but I'd like too. Over the past year or so, I've been known to take a few hours and hunt through the provincial and national park system websites looking for new and interesting parks to visit. Maybe I'll get a chance to do Pukasaw (sp?) or Quetico or Sibley .... sigh in the mean time I'm going to work my butt off as much as possible so I can grab a few days here or there between my field work and literature review writing this summer and get some camping in. Any suggestions for good places I should try camping?

Cheers,

Jennith

P.S. I tried to post some paintings with this blog - no luck, then some spring flowers... still no luck... so blog without picture... sorry

Sunday Bloody Sunday

A long time favourite song of mine, U2's Sunday, Bloody Sunday - continues to retain its relevance so many years later. There are people in the world who dedicate so much of their lives to doing good - from volunteer firefighters to candystripers to those people who pick up their lives and move to war torn 3rd world countries to do what they can to help. Conversely, there are people who's greed, stupidity and apathy constantly cause misery and pain. I can understand those who are willing to give up their cosy North American life to make a difference, and certainly I can see circumstances that lead people to a life of being a desparate criminal - but again, out there are true sociopaths - some with power (Hilter, Sadam Hussain) and others simply random psycho's who feel no remorse for raping, killing, stealing or destroying lives, familys or the world. This I cannot begin to understand. This is why I cringe when reading the newpaper - even in the relatively safe world of the GTA - mothers are shot dead when they open the door, children are abused and works of art and history are destroyed for quick cash. Alas for the human race.... hopefully one day we'll find ourselves a better species.

Jennith