• Home
  • About
  • Categories
    • Motherhood
    • Teaching
    • Writing A Book
    • Wellness
    • Random Ramblings
  • Shop
  • Contact
    • Instagram

this lovely chaos

because settling down is a whole new adventure

Weeping in the cheese aisle

November 11, 2015

Poppies Grow In Fields Ahead Of Armed Forces Day...CORBRIDGE, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 23: Wild poppies grow amongst a crop of rapeseed in fields on June 23, 2011 in Corbridge, United Kingdom. The vibrant poppies are the best in years according to locals after a warm Spring and have bloomed in time for Armed Forces Day on Saturday. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

Remembrance Day.  Typically on November 11th at 11am, I would be in a school assembly with my students, honouring Canada’s veterans through songs, readings, and the presentation of class wreaths.

This year I was in Costco.

(Sidebar: Do you have any idea how many people are at Costco on a Wednesday near 11am??? A lot.  Like a few people short of mayhem a lot.)

And of course I left the house in the jacket that didn’t have a poppy on it. ‘Mum dumb’ is a real thing, people.

I did, however, take note of the time when I entered Costco, knowing that 11am would come while I was inside.

Anyway, there I was in the cheese aisle, contemplating the Balderson 2 year old cheddar, when I heard a trumpet playing on one of the televisions at the front of the store.  (Volume must have been ca-ranked!)  The Last Post.  Without looking at my watch phone, I knew it was 11am.

I stopped and bowed my head, silently begging my son to not lose his mind because the cart had stopped moving.  Right away, I became aware of the stillness in that behemoth of a store.  Costco is never quiet. It is certainly never still.  I couldn’t help myself – I had to glance around.  What I saw caused me to weep, right there in the cheese aisle.  Every single person was still.  Every. Single. Person.  Every ethnicity, men and women, old and young.  Everyone had stopped for that moment of silence to honour the people who fought to make (and keep) this country the amazing place I am blessed to call home.

It started with a lump in my throat and tingles in my nose.  Then the burny sensation behind my eyes followed and the pooled tears that blurred my vision.  Yep, it was happening.  I was crying in Costco.  Looking at my sweet, chubby-cheeked son only made it worse, and thinking about a very special war veteran I befriended several years ago when he was 99 years old pushed me over the edge.

The moment of silence came to an end and Costco started to move again.  I stayed in the cheese aisle a little lot longer than was necessary for selecting cheese.  I needed the cool air from the refrigerated shelving to cool my face and help me regain my composure.

Next year I will be in another school assembly on Remembrance Day.  It will make me smile to know, though, that everywhere – even in Costco – people are stopping to show respect for our veterans.

Filed in: Motherhood, Random Ramblings, Writing • by thehappilyanchorednomad • 1 Comment

Comments

  1. Megan

    November 12, 2015 at 4:49 pm

    Goose bumps!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Well hey there! I'm Kelly - a teacher, author, wife, and mama. Also: a highly-sensitive person and wellness junkie, slightly obsessed with stationery supplies and anything to do with organizing. I've had a lot of adventures in my life, but none compare to the wild ride of 'settling down'. Join me here as I share my stories and seek connection with like-minded folks.

About me

  • Instagram

Search

SUBSCRIBE

Never miss a post!

Categories

Popular Posts

Here’s What I Know About Writing a Book

When the cast of Schitt’s Creek helps you make an announcement, you know you’re kind of a big deal

Loading

FOLLOW

@this.lovely.chaos

this.lovely.chaos

Only one fiction read in this summer’s pile - yi Only one fiction read in this summer’s pile - yikes!

My brain is craving more learning, though. A perspective change. New ideas. 

Anyone else gearing up for a summer of non-fiction?

#summerreading #booktok #bookstagram #read #readersofinstagram #teachersofinstagram #bookreel #bookishmom #teachersonbreak #nonfiction #happyplace
My 11- and 12-year-old students understand this. W My 11- and 12-year-old students understand this. Why can’t everyone? #loveislove #ally #internationaldayagainsthomophobia #acceptance
#hereforagoodtimenotalongtime #hereforagoodtimenotalongtime
***CLOSED*** A treat for one lucky winner, just in ***CLOSED*** A treat for one lucky winner, just in time for the May long weekend!

Whether you’re heading to the cottage for the May 2-4 weekend, or just enjoying an extra day of much-needed downtime around home, this giveaway has a couple of your essentials covered!

(Um, because what is a long weekend without caffeine and a good book?!)

The winner of this giveaway will receive a copy of my newly-released novel, That Weekend We Were Millionaires, and a gift card for their favourite coffee spot (…er…that is, for Tim Horton’s or Starbucks…). Winner’s choice!

If you’d like a chance to win, just follow these steps:

⭐️ Like and save this post
⭐️ Tag a friend - each tag is an entry
⭐️ Sharing to stories is appreciated but not compulsory

T&Cs
Open to Canadian residents only • Closing date Wednesday, May 17 at 3:00pm • Winners will be contacted by me via DM • You must be willing to share your email address with @this.lovely.chaos • This giveaway is in no way affiliated with Instagram • Be wary of scammers - I will never ask you for money • Winner will be chosen at random

#bookgiveaway #thatweekendweweremillionaires #canadiangiveaway #newfiction #bookstagram #booktok #teachersofinstagram #momsofinstagram #timhortons #starbucks #longweekendfun #thankyou #newauthor #middleschoolteachers #booklove #read #librariansofinstagram #bookworm #bookish #win #entertowin #goodluck
Load More Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2023 · Theme by Blog Pixie