I decided that after spending so much time on the negativity of US politics, I wanted to finish the year with some positive notes. So here are 6 short takes that made me feel good, and I hope they will do the same for you!
Happy New Year!
2016
The Province — Two children seized from their British Columbia home on Christmas Eve weren't overlooked by Santa thanks to a couple of Mounties and a businessman.
RCMP in the Interior city of Trail say the constables visited a local home on Thursday to check on the well-being of five- and nine-year-old girls.
The visit resulted in a social worker with the Ministry of Children and Family Development apprehending the children and taking them to a foster home at 10 p.m.
So Santa has a bigger wardrobe than just that red suit with chimney soot on it! Click through for the rest of the story.
Upworthy — No matter where he is in the world, Santa Claus appears to be a popular guy.
Case in point: His recent visit to a shelter for migrants and refugees in Sarstedt, Germany, on Christmas Eve. The facility has been a temporary home for those from war-torn Syria and Afghanistan.
Santa's pit stop there shows that, regardless of where they are in the world, children go through the same stages of excitement when Santa comes to town.
Click through for more pictures of Santa's visit to a refugee centre in Germany.
The Province — When Erin Barrett decided to take her personal battle with ovarian cancer to Facebook, she had no idea her message about the “silent killer” would travel the world and be shared more than 240,000 times.
“It made me sort of a bit anxious putting it out in public like that — I’m a very private person,” the 35-year-old Vancouver mother of two told The Province, as she sat waiting for her third and final chemotherapy appointment at the B.C. Cancer Agency on Tuesday.
But Barrett felt a “moral and ethical responsibility” to post about the disease, because she considers herself lucky for being diagnosed at stage one — most women don’t get the diagnosis until stage three or four, when it’s often too late.
She was diagnosed early because she was in “overwhelming pain” during her second pregnancy, so her doctor ordered some scans. On Sept. 21 he found the tumour, which was “bigger than a volleyball.”
Erin Barrett cuddles her daughter Edie, born on Sept 24.
Three days later they delivered her daughter Edie while also removing Barrett’s left ovary, Fallopian tube and the nearly six-pound tumour.
Thinking beyond herself in hopes of helping others. Her reward, not that she was looking for one, was a show of support from people around the globe! Click through for the rest of the story.
CBC — A recent strong solar storm is expected to give Canadians across the country a special New Year's Eve northern lights show.
The aurora's swirling colours may light up night skies as far south as 50 degrees geomagnetic latitude, says the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. This means that cities along the Canada-U.S. border and farther north might get a chance to see the display.
Photographer and tornado hunter Greg Johnson took this photo in Saskatchewan. The photo was taken at night, and the lights seen are the from the full moon and aurora borealis.
Finland
Norway
Alaska
Iceland
It doesn't get much more beautiful than this! The first time I was the northern lights was in the summer of 1960 in central Ontario. I have seen them many times since, especially when I lived in the north . . . almost a daily occurrence especially during the winter where the light reflects off the snow.
Huffington Post — "Some teacher reflexes never cease."
So said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's photographer, who captured this sweet moment between Canada's leader and a young student sitting on the steps of Parliament.
The boy was "having a bad day while on a school visit," and Trudeau — a father of three who once worked as a French, drama, and math teacher — hunkered down for a quick heart-to-heart.
When I first saw this story, I was proud to call Trudeau my Prime Minister. Don't get me wrong, he's not perfect and I don't "worship the ground he walks on". But he looks at the seemingly inconsequential like this boy, and takes the time to listen. This has shown up also as he greeted refugees. The greatest gift we can give to another is our time, our heart and listening.
Upworthy — This kid has a point. About life. About relating to other human beings.
This lad is spot on! I am learning Persian and when I use a few words at the market or at physio, faces light up. I have noticed the same when I greet Julio and Alberto at the grocery store in Spanish. My pronunciation is not perfect, but I try. It is about respect.
My Universe —
6 Responses to “Squatch’s Open Thread 31/12/2015”
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Thanks for these positive stories to start the New Year with, Lynn
1. A good cops story at last, to remind us that most of the cops in most countries are really decent folk.
2. It doesn't matter if Santa lives on the North Pole or hails from Syria, children love him in all shapes and backgrounds.
3. A struggle with health and even possibly death while having a newborn to look after would leave most depressed and exasperated, but not this mum. Kudos to her for turning it into a ray of hope for others.
4.Northern lights: one of the things I'll probably have to put on my bucket list some time in the future, as I never seem to get so far North at the right time. Beautiful pics.
5. Trudeau, a man of the people and for the people, it seems.
6. Sorry, videos are not for me these first two weeks of this year.
My Universe: But I can't get enough of cats. A bigger basket will be my choice.
Wonderful stories, enjoyed them all.
Thanks, Lynn.
Best to all this day!!
thank you and especially good luck to ms barrett in 2016 and onward
Looking good Squiatch! Happy New Year!
Province – He still wears red, though – the biggest difference is the hat.
Upworthy – Impressive how far the image goes. Neither Syria nor Germany has exactly this image in their tradition, yet he fits right in. Be nice if we would welcome refugees the way refugees welcome Santa (by "we" I mean the US since Canda seems to be there already).
Province 2 – Fortunate Mom. Fortunate baby too. Six pounds and still stage one? I had a tumor bigger than that but mine was not malignant at all, nor was it painful. Pain exists for a reason.
CBC – Lovely – I'm sure no picture can do them justice.
HuffPo – No one is perfect, and worshiping the ground on which politicians walk got us into World War II (and could start World War III)But credit where credit is due, and it's due here. "Some teacher reflexes never cease" – but not every teacher has them. Only the good ones.
Upworthy 2 – I have occasionally told American studenta to approach written names that are unfamiliar as if they were Italian – expecially the vowels (which we massacre) – and added that if you do that, you won't always be right, but the mistakes you make will sound educated (and more respectful) rather than ignorant. That trick would certainly solve the vowel in the name of his college. It's especially helpful for languages that aren't written in the Roman alphabet normally so that we are seeing a transliteration. It won't give you the syllable stresses, of course. Listening will always be necessary for many reasons. It's just a tiny head start.
Universe – I love Mr. Party Cat. He may not have a natural tuxedo coat like our TomCat but he's right in there trying. (And I vote for the bigger basket.)
All good stuff…but that cat needs to be put on a diet, for its own sake.