Lately something strange, funny or powerful seems to be happening almost daily.
Last Saturday morning (Nov. 2) three military cadets almost overwhelmed this long-time singles鈥 shopper when leaving his weekly Walmart re-provisioning.
They were standing straight and tall between the two sets of exit doors, south side. Poppy trays and coin containers were suspended from neck and shoulders, rather than rifles.
They looked so proud, confident and well-turned out you could not help but almost skid or trip to a stop. From top service-caps to mirror-shining boots, their unit looked almost 鈥榮tunning.鈥
The third soldierB次元官网网址 now Canadian cadet head-covering was the traditional Sikh 鈥榙astar,鈥 high, black and tightly-wrapped.
One side of his chest shone with a bar of 鈥榤edals鈥 or course-proficiency awards, sun-flashing like gleaming gold.
One young woman and two male soldiers, the leading female 鈥榗adette鈥 (?) occupied the first-hit harder-to-say-no or ignore position.
The middle back-up male seemed taller and protective on her right, all their uniforms a newer forest-green in rugged, tough-looking 鈥榖ush鈥 or safari style.
How could you not stop, and drop a coin or more in return for the deep-meaning Remembrance Day poppy?
One cane-holding hand and the other wallet-digging into his tight jeans, the senior(ish)-shopper said, 鈥淲ould you please hold these鈥?鈥
He handed the attractive young lady his weekly supply of four good-price Swiss chocolate bars, freshly-bought from his local 鈥榙ealer.鈥
The bars were exchanged for a blue bill which, miracle of miracles, rose to the occasion from his tired wallet. The girl, surprised a little by the bill he thought, said a genuine, 鈥淭hank you.鈥
She folded the note a few times to make it fit the smallish bubble coin container as if a foreign currency. Then proudly, competently, she pinned the powerful poppy on the older shopperB次元官网网址 left breast.
鈥淭here should be more military in this country鈥,鈥 the donner offered. 鈥淲e鈥檙e too soft鈥. My father 鈥,鈥 he started, but could not continue.
He wanted to tell them how his father spent the first five years of his own life during the Second World War although not overseas. He was too old to enlist for combat.
But as a 36-year-old lawyer and newly-commissioned RCAF Squadron Leader (Major) officer, he was mostly stationed at various bases across the country. War or no war, he continued to prosecute and defend air-force members who were now subject to the military legal code.
Recovering his emotions, the 1939-born wartime second-generation sweet-toother prepared to leave the distinguished trio.
But the scene was so intense and moving in the streaming morning sunshine, he could not depart without a cheerful, near-tearful comment:
鈥淵ou guys! 鈥, You look Wonderful 鈥! So impressive!鈥
