Month: October 2020

Straight as a Curve

The Oct 24, 2020 Saturday Night Live had a skit of young patrons visiting a Psychic (Kate McKinnon) imagined at the end of 2019 going into 2020. It was pretty funny as the ‘visions’ were completely outlandish for 2019 as we all were unprepared for the events of 2020 just around the corner. We all remember the toilet paper shortage of just a few months ago – who saw that coming?

The path in life is rarely a straight line. One of my favourite quotes is ‘plans are useless but planning is everything’. (Dwight D. Eisenhower
34th President of the United States)

We need to plan. We need to set our direction which mainly is a straight line to where we’re going. We can’t see the unforeseen unlike the SNL spoof on reality and time travel!

Along the way, things are going to change. Some will change because we make decisions and some things will change because STUFF (or insert stronger S word) happens!

THAT is when we must regroup, face our brutal facts and move forward one decision at a time. When we look back at our life charts they will probably look much more up and down with interesting curves back and forth as we move forward. In the end, however, we WILL be moving forward and that is what it’s all about.

Have a great week ahead.

Tags Chris Friesen, Christian Friesen, Dads and grief, eisenhower, grieving dads, loss of son, planning, planning is everything, plans, plans are useless, Randy Friesen, straight as a curve

Be The Best.

A little look back and a lot look forward

Post author By Randy Friesen
Post date October 17, 2020
No Comments on A little look back and a lot look forward

Interesting rereading this blog post from Oct 2010. Stair into Space.

It talks about a painting I had just received. Interestingly enough I’m looking at that same painting as I type, 10 years later on a different wall, in a much different home and country but still the feeling remains.

There is a past and you need to review your steps, but the focus MUST be the future. 10% where I’ve been – 90% where I’m going. We’ve aimed to make that the motto as we’ve made decisions again and again fine tuning the path ahead, drawing on history but marching forward, towards the light.

From the 2010 blog:

I’m looking at a painting tonight that I was given last month.
It’s a watercolour showing a wooden pathway through a forest leading to a glorious sunrise or sunset. You really can’t tell which one it is.
It’s called ‘into the light’ and reflects an image from Long Beach on Vancouver Island.
I love that picture.

The picture below is another view of the Fall colors in Michigan and also symbolizes the path to the light. I include simply because I can. 😉 I can’t get enough of these colors – and yes, that is the correct US spelling. And yes, I maintained the Canadian spelling of ‘watercolour’ from the 2010 blog post. It’s tough to ‘live’ on both sides of the border. Have a great week.

Be The Best.

Falling All Over Again

It happens each year so you’d think I’d get used to it.

You know, it gets colder, rains more and leaves are blown by changing winds. Yes, it’s the Fall. Fall in Michigan is a special time. So, in the middle of COVID, political unease, economic uncertainty and everything else, there is a wonderful ‘known’ that seasons do change, winters do come but with that the hope of spring and summer arrive once more.

As written many times year over the years and in this 10 year retrospective, grief and loss is never forgotten and Chris will never be forgotten, but seasons do change and beauty can be found in the change, just as the fall leaves remind us each year.

Have a great week.

All photos shot Oct 11, 2020. Oakland County – Michigan, USA

Tags Chris Friesen, Christian Friesen, Dads and grief, fall, fall colors, fall colours, good grief, grief, michigan, seasons, SFU christian friesen memorial fund, SFU lacrosse

Be The Best.

Boo Who?

Date: Oct 3

Halloween is in full production and display mode. Did you know that in the USA, Halloween is 2nd only to Christmas in dollars spent each year? Try 8.8 BILLION in 2019.

In the States, everything seems a little larger than life. Like why wouldn’t you want a pair of 20 foot tall skeletons in your front yard? This is not a stock photo. It’s a 3 minute walk from my house and it scares me every time I go by. Boo Who? The Who is 172 million people that participate in Halloween in the USA alone. Canada isn’t far behind as a percentage of population. If you need more detail, Stats Canada is here to help.

This year will be different, of course. The 4 million children looking to trick or treat in Canada will be making the rounds from the kitchen to the family room I presume, looking for an internal treasure.

Thanks to the great scrapbooking skills of my good wife, I found these precious photos and snapped a few shots so I could share with you. Chris in a bumble bee costume is the winner. 4 years old in 1997. You can see by 2002, it was wild hair, a pig’s nose and hockey jersey. What? I know. Max went with the classic ghost in 1997 and Mike Reno from Loverboy or something for 2002. (YAH, LOOK IT UP – the kid is hot tonight etc. Think 80’s!!) Editor note: After lengthy discussion with final judge and wife, we could not remember exactly what that costume was. Most likely grab anything you can wear and grab some candy.

THOSE are memories that I’m looking for and if takes 20ft skeletons to remind me of the cutest 4 year old bumble bee I’ve ever seen, so be it. 😉

Have a great week.

Amazing time trick or treating with our good family friends, the Funks.

	grace@gracewulff.com on Shake it up – 10 years…
	Grace on Back to the Future
	grace@gracewulff.com on Leaf it to me.
	grace@gracewulff.com on Falling All Over Again
	Mark Funk on Boo Who?