There but for the grace of God, go I...

My spare period had me in a nearly empty cafeteria line deciding if I should choose the regular honey bun or the honey bun with the white icing; I couldn't help but turn back as the sound of running and screaming began to fill the hallway. As I looked towards the entrance to the cafeteria line, I saw a dozen students run by, and heard someone shout, "He's got a gun!"

As I tried to understand what was happening a self proclaimed rebel (and I suspect anarchist) sauntered right behind the fleeing students, looked at me, and said, "It's not a real gun, it's a fake". And then he was gone.

As I imagined what I would do, where I could hide, and how I could escape if in fact a gunman did appear at the entrance that I was fixated on — I heard a gun shot.

Leaving any thought of a honey bun with white icing behind, I hurried to the cafeteria.

May 25, 2017 by Jason Spencer  Brampton Guardian

It'll be 42 years ago this weekend that the first school shooting known to have taken place in North America occurred.

The traumatic event happened May 28, 1975 when Michael Slobodian, 16, entered Brampton Centennial Secondary School with two rifles. He killed teacher Margaret Wright and student John Slinger, 17. Slobodian also injured 13 people and killed himself.

A sculpture set to be unveiled Saturday, May 27, at the school will be a sombre reminder of the historic tragedy and an earnest attempt to alleviate the wound that remains years later.

The stone sculpture was created by artist Mary Ellen Farrow. It displays a pair of benches that face two figures that appear to be consoling one another.

Brampton Centennial Memorial Committee member Pam Hand explained in an email that one bench has the name of the sculpture, The Healing Place, carved into it, while the other bench reads: "On Wednesday, May 1975, all of us learned to love one another just a little more."

"We needed a place to go to reflect and to think and to heal," Hand wrote in an email about the sculpture.

The outdoor memorial has been a long time coming and was made a reality by fundraising, Hand noted, including a donation for $25,000 from Trinison Management Corporation.

The public is invited to attend the ceremony, which begins at 9 a.m. Speakers include members of the Peel District School Board as well as others affected by the tragedy.

The school is located at 251 McMurchy Ave.

***

I found myself heading into my art class shortly after all of this, and could not help but notice the marks that bullets leave when they hit brick.

There but for the grace of God, go I.

iamgpe

Keep that heart of yours healthy...

It was strange, almost cliché, when I heard myself say, "But... I was just riding with him two hours ago." 

The symbol for love, loyalty, compassion, and conviction, as well as character and fortitude, it is also the organ that pumps blood through your body for a lifetime — The heart it seems is something that embodies the human condition.

A dear friend of mine just had a heart attack, and although a little intense, he was in good shape, ate very well, didn't smoke, and watched his weight. He just didn't come across as a candidate.

Being a man of great heart, his family and friends rallied around the situation; we did what could to support him in his time of need. Modern medicine, the grace of god, and his will to live, had him "up and about" three days later, and as someone put it, "Holding court in one of the waiting rooms". Stabilization, diagnosis... and now the treatment; heart surgery for sure, although the details of what that will be are up in the air at the moment. He is a man of great heart, so I am most certain he will get through whatever is decided.

As I reflect on the situation (which it seems we all do in moments such as these), I can't help but ponder all those symbols that this fist sized organ embodies. The heart keeps us alive to be sure, but I think the aspects of our character, conviction, fortitude, compassion, and how we love, are the reflection of how we live.

My dear friend lives life large in my opinion, and when they finally do what they need to do, I look forward to seeing him. After all, we have some riding to do.

There but for the grace of god, go I.

iamgpe

The journey and the goal...

Yesterday was the official start of my 2017 road biking season; similar to previous official starts, the day was sunny, warm, and spring was in the air. And like the last three years, it also marked the beginning of my road training for an upcoming 212 km ride in June to fight cancer.

As with previous years I have the honour to ride with three of my good friends, and if I'm not mistaken they too have started their journey and the countless "rpms" that come with preparing for the ride. Sometimes we train together and sometimes alone, but in the end we will ride the 212 kms as a team.

Our goal in all of this is to ride with 5000 other people in the Princess Margaret Ride to Conquer Cancer, raise awareness, raise money, and beat cancer in our lifetime. This is the 10th Anniversary of the ride and it will be an amazing event. About the Ride

As I made my way on such a beautiful day I was re-introduced to my bike after a long winter; the wind in my face slowing my progress, the twinge in my knee working itself out, and the feel of being in the saddle again (as I periodically shifted for comfort). As the kilometres melted away, I could not help but reflect on the small journey I was embarking on; all those other training rides in my future and my desire to be prepared for the ride. My goal in all of this is to support those people who are on a very different journey... a journey where they are battling cancer each and every day.

Our lives are full of journeys and goals; some of them are small and some of them are life changing — Starting university because you want to be an engineer and build bridges. The dream of becoming CFO coming true shortly before the CEO voices her dream of going public. That six month sabbatical that is for nothing other than travel. Dating again after four years because it's time. When the oncologist tells you there is no cure for the metastasized small cell lung carcinoma. And when you ride your bike for the first time to start preparing for a ride to defeat cancer in our lifetime.

These are our journeys. 

For the next two months my journey of preparation will have me riding as much as I can — I will endure the rain, the wind, the odd flat tire, and on June 10th I will ride like the wind. And as I ride, I will think of Janet, Garth, Paul, and Ray whose journey was cut short by cancer.

I have included a link to my personal page if you would like to donate to my ride.

Thank you 

iamgpe