The World According to Glissando

Tag: history

  • Love You to the Moon and Back

    A Real Life Story by Glenn Hansen

    Dedicated to Sweet Judith, wherever you are in God’s universe.

    CHAPTER 8

    It was the start of a new day. This time, I was visiting early in the afternoon. The pleasant welcoming spring weather was still here. I knew the possible realities of my visits, but, as always, I tried to be positive in my hope that today we would be able to converse. That possibility always was encouraging and happening much more often.

    Since Judy was first admitted to Riverview, under the guidance of her wonderful doctor and her whole new regime of prescribed medications; and supported by the warmth, humanity and proficiency of the various nurses and healthcare aides in the ward, Judy made a stunning rebound from the terrible condition she was in when first admitted.

    I thanked God and His universe for this transformation as did Judy. How long these reclaimed days of her life would last was anyone’s guess, but we were making the most of it. After parking, as I walked to the entrance, there he was, the piano player in the window.

    Seeing him play brought me surprising joy. It was because of the joy he was emanating as he played. Music is a wonderful thing, whether you’re a player or a listener. It is one of the most universal and civilized things human beings do regardless of culture or position in the world. Music is the bridge for all people. One of my t-shirts reads “Make Music, Not War.” If only it were that easy.

    As I continued my walk to Judy’s room, I thought about what the circumstance might be for the piano player. Why was he here in this facility? He has his own story just like everyone on the planet. In going through life, we tend to be so self-consumed in our own lives, we forget each and every one of us has a story. Some stories can be happy. Some can be sad. Some can reflect goodness. Some do not. Some can harbour the spectre of a life that’s been lived selfishly, with meanness, and hate. My story is a work in progress in which I hope to elevate myself to become a better person and maybe set an example. I want to be a positive contributor to our world, but I’ve got a way to go.

    And there I was, again, at the precipice of Judy’s door. What was the verdict today? I quietly entered the room and Judy was indeed up and ready to get in her wheelchair and go outdoors. She loved the outdoors and I loved taking her out. After our tender hugs (she was fragile now from the cancer), it wasn’t a simple matter of her jumping out of bed and into the wheelchair. It took the expertise of two hospital aides and an amazing contraption that looked like a very large exercise machine like you would find at a health club. After being tethered to the machine, she was hydraulically lifted from a sitting position on the bed to a standing position, and then swung around gently and placed down in the wheelchair. It was remarkable. Who knew?

    From there, she was connected to a portable oxygen tank that gave us up to an hour and a half of together time beyond the room. I was always careful to regularly check the tank when we were out as I never wanted to cut it too close time wise in terms of running out of oxygen. We were now ready to go and what a lovely day it was to go outside. At first we went to the park all the time, but later when the warmer weather was here to stay, they opened up a very large and well appointed outdoor private courtyard for the patients, their visitors and staff. It was adjacent to the large window-filled indoor common room I mentioned earlier and looked out onto the courtyard. I revved up the engines on the wheelchair with a “zoom zoom” and started with a ridiculously fun little burst of speed with Judy providing the cornering sound effects. We would laugh and laugh as we did this. We did this many times.

    Once on the main level off the elevator, we wasted no time getting to the main doors and going outside. From there it was a pleasant stroll into the park. We would chat off and on, or Judy would close her eyes to rest and feel the air. I always told her that it was quite okay to do this. We were here together, and that was the point. Nary a word had to be exchanged if she wasn’t up to it.

    Being outside like this was reminiscent of our talks outdoors in the late summer and early fall of last year at our apartment building. At this point in time, Judy was physically unable to talk for long periods of time. We still greatly enjoyed our chats nevertheless. It was special as always.

    This became our routine when the weather allowed. Otherwise, we would sit by the windows inside the common room and look at and be nurtured by nature. We enjoyed being together anywhere in and around Riverview.

    Riverview Healthcare Centre also offered a variety of enjoyable programs. On our outings, when the time was in sync with my visits, we would partake of some of these programs. This included live music performances in the large indoor common room, and art presentations which featured an artist literally creating a sophisticated illustration right before our eyes in the “Kitchen”, the aforementioned common room that was a multi-purpose area in her ward at the centre. The artist was amazing. He probably excelled at playing the old board/drawing game Pictionary.

    These were two of our favourite programs. Additionally, Judy liked to play bingo in the “Kitchen.” She didn’t need me present to play and it was a diversion for her from what I would call her long dreary days. Her increasing amount of rest and sleep provided some escape along with my and the visits of others.

    Sometimes, in the later afternoon, we would have “dinner” in the common room by the windows looking out onto the courtyard. For a break from the healthcare centre’s meals, I would order food for us from the excellent restaurant service located in the Centre. “Dinner” was usually sharing some tasty fries along with a raspberry/cranberry fruit juice. Judy might eat ten fries at most with ketchup, but she really enjoyed having them. We would chat and laugh as we enjoyed our “meal” and this special time together. When “dinner” coincided with a music show or other events, we would laughingly call it “a show and dinner date.”

    In the back of my mind though were always two thoughts: what is her oxygen level and the realization that she was critically ill and the prognosis was her life was coming to an end sooner than later. I wanted her to have the most enjoyable time possible.

  • Revisionism

    History is a chronicle of human activity since the beginning of the written word. There was history prior to this, but, it was verbal or communicated via symbols. History is written by people, usually particularly intelligent people of the dominating cultures of their time. The pictures created by historians are usually reasonably accurate because of their intelligence and sense of a world much bigger than themselves.

    Revisionist history, which is taking place in Russia, China, and to some degree already, the United States; occurs when powerful authoritarian or authoritarian-minded regimes decide to rewrite history to accomplish two things: exalt and elevate their regime, and create a blinding nationalistic perspective within a country. A key part of creating revisionist history within a country is by creating a school curriculum that teaches this “new” history from a very young age. An example of this might be to say that African Americans in the United States were never suppressed.     

    Not all revisionist history is inaccurate. There are times when existing history is adjusted because of new discoveries of information such as archaeological findings; or, in a case where occasionally the historian turns out to be quite biased.

    Humans learn from accurate history, although they are often unwilling to “learn” from historical insight, usually to the detriment of humankind. Revisionist history is often a dangerous harbinger of things to come in a country with a powerful authoritarian regime, or a group seeking to become an authoritarian regime.        

  • Nazis

    If you are a Canadian or Mexican, here is one way to look at the United States versus Canada and Mexico. I ran the numbers. In the 2024 US election, there were 242,300,000 total number of people who could vote. In the election, Kamala Harris got 75,000,000 votes or 31% of total eligible voters. Donald Trump got 77,300,000 votes or 32% of total eligible voters (hardly a landslide victory). Of all eligible voters, 90,000,000 people did not vote which is 37% of total eligible voters.

    One of the first courses of action taken by Canada and Mexico should to be to immediately and aggressively in every way possible tell the American people that they are heading toward Nazism because of less than one third of the population. Canada and Mexico should hammer this point home now in all forms of media, be it social media, television, newspapers etc. around the world, but, in particular to Americans. I believe that clearly delivering this message would be a great start to defending Canada and Mexico. I think a large majority of Americans do not agree with being Nazis, and America being America, would not want to have their freedoms violated in a Nazi controlled country. This is an actual strategy for you, Canada and Mexico, as opposed to just worrying, complaining or screaming in a panic.

  • Canada

    O Canada. “The true north strong and free!” is one of the lines in their national anthem. It is no secret that Donald Trump, and indeed, a number of influential (rich) Americans would like to see Canada as the fifty-first state. Canadians have strongly rejected these overtures, but, here are some unsettling considerations for Canadians.

    Canada is coveted for its abundant supply of fresh water. Some suggest the figure is around twenty percent of the world’s surface fresh water. Remember, fresh water is imperative to the continued existence of humanity and many other forms of life on earth. Next, there’s Canada’s broad spectrum wealth of vital natural resources including oil, gas, and minerals, some of which are considered rare. Land suitable for sustainable agriculture and renewable hydro electricity abounds

    With this in mind, you have to remember that many a war was started by one group wanting what another group possesses. Such is the human condition. Canada has much to offer a potential invading country. But, could an invasion really happen? I believe it could, especially given humanity’s track record. For Canada, their problem is really obvious…it has a huge land mass with a small population relative to size, served by an inadequate armed forces. This is not a knock on the good, world-class people in the military, but rather, it acknowledges the lack of a large armed forces that are often ill-equipped.

    Number one on the potential list of invaders is the United States. They need what Canada has and they are Canada’s next door neighbour. Initially, the “invasion” may come via political channels, but, if push comes to shove, I think there could be a literal invasion. In light of America’s massive military might, Canada should surrender before the opening salvo is fired and Canadian lives are unnecessarily lost. Other potential invading countries include China and Russia. Too far away? Remember, access can be via the North Pole.

    I do hope this does not come to pass. Canada is a sovereign, democratically principled nation, with the right to exist freely. However, world affairs continue to careen everywhere. History is filled with countries that support another country and then reverse that support. Iran and the United States is one example. Russia and the World War II Allies is another. This has happened again and again through all of history. I would suggest Canadians consider that invasion by another country is plausible and make their plans accordingly in the hopes of preserving their great country. And, if it were to happen, there might be strong condemnation from around the world, but, don’t count on receiving help from any nation.