My Journey With Health And Fitness – A Day To Appreciate Our Freedoms

I’ve come to realize that if I work out tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday then I will have done so every day we have been here except the first day which was reserved for shopping and setting up the condo. I have to admit this is the best I have done since I have found in the past that I tend to start waning the last week or so as I realize the fun in the sun is about to end. This time however I decided it was time to overcome that attitude and just keep going. Ok, I acknowledge that doing the Workout To Conquer Cancer campaign probably helped.

Today I reflect on the fact that it is the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the landing on the beaches in Normandy, France which brought about the beginning of the end of WW II. This day is important to me because my Dad actually participated in D-Day and landed at Normandy. He never talked about what he saw that day and it wasn’t until I saw the film Saving Private Ryan that I understood why. Seeing that film also made me understand why he would have PTSD. He did relate a funny story though, apparently James Arness (of Gunsmoke fame) was on one of the amphibian boats first sent out. He was the first into the water because he was 6′ 7″ and he was testing the depth of the water.

My Dad was very young when he landed at D-Day, only 21. He had started trying to enlist when the war broke out but of course he was too young. On 2 separate occasions he had runaway to sign up only to be brough home by my Grandfather. On the 3rd attempt my Grandfather gave up and at the age of 17 my Dad joined the war effort. At the time my Grandfather also joined despite being over 60 but he did what Dad did, lied about his age.

Today I appreciate all those who served in the Allied Forces during WW II particularly the Canadians. It is because of them that I enjoy the rights and freedoms that I have. With everything going on in the world right now including wars and the rise of racism, I look at what brave, young soldiers did to ensure our freedom and I send all of them my thanks.

I remember being in Reno not that long after 9/11. My sister and I were at the Elks Lodge and a US gentleman was talking about retribution against the Taliban. We had told him our Dad was a vet but I mentioned that I was a pacifist. He got very upset and told me my Dad would be ashamed of me. I laughed and explained hell yes he would be rolling over in his grave at some of my stances but he would be exceptionally proud that I was allowed to have those stances and the right to talk about them.

Thanks Dad!