Tradition

I grew up in the UK (Scotland) which is so entrenched in ‘tradition’ and it’s historical record, that I think it often struggles with moving on into the future. Canada seems to do a better job (to me) when it comes to admitting to, respecting and or admiring the past that has shaped this country all the while, adjusting and ever changing as we move ahead to an unknown future.

It doesn’t mean that ‘traditions’ mean any less here. Even with our diverse multi-cultural society, certain things pull us all together, and one of those things is Remembrance Day.

I will admit to not ever attending a ceremony in person.  I usually watched it from the comfort of my home, and instead enjoyed the ceremony at my kids school the day before….those one’s always got me sniffling.   I missed THAT this year due to working.    I was impressed by how much my kids seem to be soaking up at school about WW1 and 2 leading up to the ceremony yesterday and Tara loved connecting it all with her Great Grandfather who was a Seaforth Highlander – Forestry and seemed to spend most of the war in Scotland hanging out with cute Scottish women, including my grandmother.   Gramps never saw any action and felt it wasn’t his place to attend any of the ceremonies but was always happy to raise a glass to his fellow vets at the Legion, and my mom and I used to accompany him there too.  That was HIS tradition.

Tara, our youngest, seems to understand the important of traditions moreso than her older siblings.  She organized Thanksgiving this year, getting the table ready and telling us where we were supposed to sit and what to do.  Rules seem to be quite important to her.  Thus I think I was not too surprised when this morning she woke me up early and asked if we were going to the Remembrance ceremonies.

It would have been crass and shameful to say ‘heck no! we stay in our pj’s and watch from home’ to her, so up I got, called my mom to join us and leaving the rest of the family home, off we went downtown Vancouver today.

Due to the large crowds, we couldn’t actually SEE much of the ceremonies, but we could see the soldiers – old and new- at attention and sang ‘Oh Canada’ and listened to The Last Post and watched the Fly-Past.  Tara took it all in with much gravitas.

I was very touched by her need to be part of this.  She pointed out very matter of fact that this was NOT a holiday…it was Remembrance Day and THIS is what you do on that day.

Thanks Tara.   Traditions are in good hands with kids like her to keep them going.