Thanksgiving Dinner

 Thanksgiving Dinner

Thanksgiving dinner, 

It's the dinner that's the winner,

Before the meal you're thinner, 

And after, you feel fat. 

When the turkey's stuffed,

And the pastries puffed, You never eat enough, 

But after, you feel fat.

Veggies pass you by,

Mashed potatoes to the sky, 

Why once a year, just why? 

Later, you'll feel fat.

There's some gravy on your shirt, 

And your stomach starts to hurt,

Oh look here comes dessert, 

Now...you're fat.

~Laurel Farrell

2012

Truffula Trees and Brown Barbaloots...A Point

     Today was the last day of school before the long weekend, and the four day break I'm getting is well appreciated by my body. However, as much as I was itching to get home and relax this afternoon, something small at school  inspired me, causing a thought trigger.

     We had Science as our last period today which proved to be very interesting, seeing as we got to watch a movie. To finish off an Ecology packed week of learning about HOPIC, Invasive Consumers and cycles, we summed it all up by watching and educational film known as none other than The Lorax. I'm not talking about the 2012 adaptation featuring Danny Devito and Taylor Swift, I'm talking about the 1972, twenty-five minute original cartoon. 

     As I was filling out my question sheet during the film I found that I was smiling to myself at the mention of Swomee Swans and Humming Fish and the infamous Barbaloots that munch on Truffula Fruit. All in all it's an adorable short, but as simple as it is, the message is really important and specific to what we've been learning for the past few days.

     Unless. In the end of the movie the Lorax leaves what was once a "Glorious Place" and in his spot remains only a pile of small stones with one word engraved on them-Unless. Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, things aren't going to get better. They're not. -Dr. Suess.

      The more I think about it, the more I realize it's true. Things do have a great potential to get worse on this planet, and they will if we continue on our current demanding track. I'm not insisting we all go 'green' and renovate our houses to be decomposable, in fact, I'm the last person to be pro environment. However, I'm saying that if a children's poem can be so simple and still motivate as many people as it has, how many equally simple things can we do to help out in our ecosystem? 
Like this blog entry, it's just another small thing to think about...

The Flight of Time...A Point

Six months. 
Twenty-six weeks.
One hundred and eighty-two days.
Four thousand, three hundred and eighty-two hours.
Two hundred, sixty-two thousand, nine hundred and seventy-four minutes.  
fifteen million, seven hundred and sixty-eight thousand seconds. 

     Time is a wonder. So much of it, but so little at the same time. Why do hundreds of trillions of minutes soar past us so quickly? Already today marks the half year time stretch since my last birthday, yet I remember everything as if it was yesterday. Finishing dance class and getting hugs and birthday wishes from everyone before putting on my dress and going for dinner. Six months since I sat at the Italian restaurant and tried to decide over a dish for my dinner. Six months since my little sister surprised me with a copy of The Hunger Games and I was exploding with astonishment and happiness. Six months since I sat on my Aunt's couch and opened what is now my favourite hoodie. It's incredible how long ago it is already.

      I've been going to high school for one month exactly as of tomorrow, but in reality it only feels like two weeks. Already we are eleven months away from summer and only a little less than three months away from Christmas. Why time? Why are you going so fast? Stop for a little while won't you? 

     People have asked me, after reading one of my first blog entries, why it is that I cry on Christmas. It's true, every Christmas Eve for the past few years has brought me to tears. This is the reason. I cry because time has slipped so easily through my fingers, it has gone away forever with no way or hope of ever getting it back. It's slowly, day by day, minute by minute, becoming a little farther out of my grasp and disappearing from my view. I can go through my life smoothly, shallowly and without concern but every once in awhile it hits me like a rock again, how far I am in life and how much I've been missing. 

     It makes me upset and truly, scared to think that each day is all I have. I wish so badly that I could freeze where I am now and live in it forever, where there is no tragedy, heartbreak or hardship. Where all of my relationships are good and everything is perfect. Coming into September was extremely hard for me because I was terrified that I would lose every good thing that had happened over the summer-friendships that had become one hundred percent better than they already were.

     But looking back, I see that all of the worrying was pointless. If anything, the friendships have become even stronger and the good things have grown into positive experiences that I will remember for the rest of my life. Yes, time does fly past us and no amount of wishing or begging can slow it down, this is sad. But the one thing we can do to make it last, is live to the fullest in every single moment. As hard as it is, forgetting tomorrow, putting aside next week and thinking only about the present minute, that's what we should do. No matter what happens today or any other time in the future, take what you're doing right now and rejoice in it because it's a beautiful gift from God, no matter how short it is. 

Puddicombe Farms...A Pearl

  Much to my delight, autumn has been exceeding my expectations. Today we took a pleasant little trip to Puddicombe Farms, a cute area just a few minutes from here. It's actually quite surprising how much they have there, not only is it a Pick Your Own orchard-where you can currently harvest pumpkins and apples-but it also has several different kinds of animals, all of which have been rescued. From pigmy goats to peacocks and a cow that has a liking for snuggles, we had a lot of fun meandering around. They also have a little train with quite the history that takes you on a tour of the farm all the way to the back of the escarpment. It's actually fun, although we didn't go this time around. 


     Today I broke down and bought some fudge for the family, I'm looking forward to indulging in the chocolate caramel sensation later. Apple picking was really a lot of fun too, but then...who doesn't like picking their own fruit? The best part about it by far is snacking on the job-empires are delicious this time of year-and biting into a juicy, crunchy, delight. Whenever we pick our own fruit, for some bizarre reason, I always eat more of it. Maybe it simply tastes better knowing how much fun went into the experience of it all. 

     I'm an animal lover, so of course, the petting zoo was my favourite part of the day, especially since they had two ponies. You can assume I was ecstatic when the little one just kept sticking its head through the fence to let me stroke his muzzle and give him a scratch between the ears. The cow, believe it or not, was begging for attention! He pushed his head right up against the fence and held it there while we massaged his forehead and every time we stopped, he nudged the fence for us to continue. I have never seen a cow do that before. It was completely, entirely entertaining and adorable!

     Emmah and I also got to pick a pumpkin, it feels like forever ago since we did last! There were quite a few to choose from and you should have seen the way my face illuminated at the sight of a perfectly round pumpkin sitting in a ray of sunlight. I insisted it was the perfect one because of the cuteness factor...if it's possible to find that in a pumpkin-which I believe it is. But after a few minutes, we agreed on a another one instead. It was smaller than some, perfectly round, and Emmah was able to carry it with not more than a little struggle which means it was just the right weight. After plopping it onto the scale and paying the 'man' we climbed into the car with our harvested crops and fudge and began the five minute journey home. 

   

  All but one family member home, cool, crisp, weather, no homework, leaves starting to change and one amazing day after another...yes I think the autumn odds are in my favour.