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I’m SO excited today. I’ve discovered an unrecognized and unpublished photograph of John McCrae. I hope to get permission to use it in my book. It’s McCrae and another officer taken at Valcartier and as far as I know, after all my research, the only photo taken of McCrae there.

I’ve launched into Part Three which has McCrae and his brigade sailing from England to France in February of 1915. Earlier, I had read horrible accounts of that trip but McCrae’s brigade and their troop ship, The African Prince, did not have a bad experience. It only took two days or so as it should, and after a stormy first night it calmed and the journey was completed without much discomfort. They were confident in their ship once they heard that one of its regular routes was around Cape Horn.

Other groups were not as lucky. It might have been Calgary’s 10th Battalion that had an ordeal of 5 days in a terrific storm which seriously injured men and horses. Many horses were so severely wounded that they were put down. So I was dreading reading McCrae’s diary of that part of the trip but it turned out to be fine, for the 1st Brigade C.F.A. anyway.

Now the men are getting close to the front and beginning to see the unsettling signs of the autumn and winter fighting of 1914/1915 that took place while they were still on the Salisbury Plain. It’s an eye-opener for them to say the least. I will reveal little known facts, such as one of the ingredients in the ‘manure’ fertilizer that was used, especially in Flanders. This mystery ingredient caused havoc when men were injured in the field.

Our Canadian soldiers were not well equipped yet and certainly not ‘seasoned’ at all. They didn’t even have helmets at this point, just wedge caps and hats, and they made hand grenades out of jam jars filled with nails and other debris that tended to blow up prematurely. At one point, John McCrae discovered antiquated guns that he actually remembered commanding in South Africa 14 years earlier!

When they disembarked from the train that they had taken up from the port of St.Nazaire, McCrae was, in his words, “desolated to find that Bonfire had been badly kicked on his off hind leg, cut and badly swollen…” It’s so amazing to me to know how much they relied upon their horses early on. The practical use of horses all but stopped once trench warfare took over except for hauling guns and supplies.

So, onward with Part Three as they get closer and closer to actual war.

I’ve been working away at this book and am just about to launch into Part Three. I’ve been reading John McCrae’s daily journals to colour in the events and times. It’s so amazing to read, ‘Kipling was in camp today,’ and, ‘he’s coming back tomorrow for lunch.’ Rudyard Kipling was a huge Empire booster and supporter of the war. He puffed up with pride as he told McCrae that his own boy, Jack, had joined the Irish Guards and was on his way to the front. Young Jack Kipling, was killed in the Battle of Loos and his father was devastated forever and I think, racked with guilt, too. I believe the younger Kipling was legally blind and should not have even been allowed in the army.

Sunday night I had a great conversation on the phone with the grandson of a colleague of John McCrae’s; McGill University, tropical medicine and parasitologist, John L. Todd. Doctor Todd gave Bonfire to McCrae for his charger in 1914. Todd had a stable of fine, fox hunters in Quebec and Bonfire was a top notch animal. Later in the war McCrae met an Irish groom who admired Bonfire and said he was a beautiful animal and “He’s done a power o’ leppin’.” Which is Irish slang for he’s done a lot of jumping or ‘leaping.’ McCrae got a kick out of the man’s language.

In Part Two that I just finished, the brigade has spent four months on the Salisbury Plain in the most deplorable conditions imaginable, especially for the horses. There was no shelter for most of that time and it was one of the most awful winters in memory. Out of 123 days it rained for 89. Horses began to fail from standing in mud and water and being exposed to the continuous rain and winds. Many horses died from exposure or had to be put down from the equine version of trench-foot, a condition called hoof-rot or gangrenous dermatitis.

I’m now beginning Part Three where they sail from England to St.Nazaire, France across the Bay of Biscay and then take the train north to Steenwerck. (St. Nazaire is where I began my journey up the Western Front last June by motorcycle.) From Steenwerck they were billeted around Meteren and Hazebrouck areas and were brought into their first battle on the flank of the British at Neuve Chapelle. Part Four will be entirely the 2nd Battle of Ypres during which McCrae wrote the poem, In Flanders Fields.

Stay tuned!

Many of you readers know that I composed music for the poem, In Flanders Fields and had it recorded in 2006. The song, arranged by Steven Baric and performed by a group of talented musicians I christened, The Bonfire Ensemble, debuted on CBC Radio in Calgary on November 6th, 2006, across Canada on the Corus Network via Charles Adler’s program on November 11th and on several other Canadian stations. It was also played internationally on Radio New Zealand. The song is an official fundraiser for The Poppy Fund of the Royal Canadian Legion. (you can hear a clip at www.inflandersfields.ca) The musicians are The Calgary Boys Choir Alumni, Foothills Brass, a five piece brass choir, Grade 1 level piper Cam Keating of Alberta Caledonia and drummers Kathy MacPherson (snare) and Lloyd Martens, (bass).

Well, I’ve been ‘stalking’ a certain musician for about 4 years to arrange and play another piece I’ve written to go with another one of McCrae’s poems, Isandlwana. My target is Keri-Lyn Zwicker, the amazing harpist who plays with the great folk group, Cowboy Celtic. She has finally committed as of about a week ago!! I never gave up because I’ve always heard this song sung and played by her on her harp. She has a particularly robust style that I love. So I’m really excited that she has finally committed to this project. Isandlwana is a touching poem about a young Welsh soldier who died in Zululand so far from his home while fighting with the British.

My goal is to produce an album for the 100th anniversary of the writing of the poem, In Flanders Fields which will be spring of 2015. I’ve composed a third piece, again beautifully arranged by Steven Baric and it will be performed by a male choir and sung a cappella. Now I just have to compose say, 3 or 4 more pieces for this album in the next couple of years and get funding! Go big or go home, eh?

There have been upwards of 100 versions of In Flanders Fields set to music, not too many of which (in my humble opinion) are true to the man, who he was and how he went through the world. I didn’t really set out to write the music that I did, it just kind of flowed through me when I was researching and writing about McCrae. I could hear it finished in my head and eventually had it executed pretty much as I heard it. Another musical version of In Flanders Fields that I absolutely love is by The Royal Scots Dragoons. Hauntingly beautiful.

The Bonfire book has first priority at present. I’ve launched into Part Two, where McCrae and his horse Bonfire leave Valcartier for England. 30 ships loaded with men, equipment and horses sailed down the St.Lawrence River from Quebec City in the fall of 1914. They struck out across the Atlantic, finally coming to rest on the Salisbury Plain where they would train for yet more weeks in preparation for war.

I know most people now take the internet for granted. In researching for the Bonfire book, I was reading a book by veterinarian, Ian Barker all about the Canadian Veterinary Corps in WWI and I had a question. I googled him, got his email and fired off my query. Three days later he was back to me with the answer. Some days I just give thanks for the internet. What a godsend for a writer on a ranch in Alberta! Stay tuned…..

As a writer of Canadian military history, both past and present I have prided myself on having pretty good general knowledge of this area and excellent specific knowledge about aspects of World War One, my main area of study and research. So I’ve been pretty shocked to have my eyes gradually opened about Canada’s involvement in the Viet Nam war. For one thing, although we were not involved ‘officially’ with sending troops into it, how many of you Canadians know that we made A FORTUNE, selling supplies and support services to the U.S. The other eye-opener was the discovery a couple of years ago, that somewhere between 10,000 and 30,000 Canadians fought in the Viet Nam war. I’ve even heard a figure as high as 40,000!

Since 2008 I’ve been studying with Dr. Ed Tick, the founder of the American organization, Soldier’s Heart. With that I’ve gone to several healing retreats with Soldier’s Heart and as many as 19 veterans; Viet Nam vets, Gulf War, Iraq and Afghanistan. I also travelled to Viet Nam with Ed Tick and 8 Viet Nam veterans travelling back for the first time since the war for healing and reconciliation. The 3 week itinerary was determined by each veteran’s former AO or Area of Operation. We went from Saigon, down into the Mekong Delta, back to Saigon, into the central highlands after flying to Pleiku, Dak To, Chu Lai, Da Nang, Hué, the DMZ area -Dong Ha, Khe Sahn and back to Hué from where we took the night train to Hanoi, Ha Long Bay and back to Hanoi for the flight home. It was an amazing and transformative trip for everyone.

My plan was to take what I’m learning from Ed Tick and transfer it to Canada and our returning Afghanistan vets. Haven’t really figured out how to implement this yet and it’s becoming apparent daily that the s@#t is really hitting the fan with these guys in ever greater numbers.

So, now to Canadian Viet Nam vets. Why don’t we know more about them? Where are they? Where are these tens of thousands of men who served with the U.S. in Viet Nam? Who are they and why are they so silent? These are large numbers. How can we not know anything about them?

Remember what happened to U.S. vets when they returned in the 60s and 70s? What an abomination that was. Drafted or enlisted, it made no difference. They were blamed, shamed, spat on and vilified. Denied employment and medical benefits. As of 2012 at least many of these wrongs have been righted. President Obama even paid homage to them in his inaugural address and was the first president to do so. He actually uttered the name, Khe Sahn. Finally.

So what is the story with Canada’s Viet Nam veterans? I’m coming to the awful realization that they are keeping their heads down; and many are suffering still, in isolation, keeping their mouths shut – because of us. I’m going to generalize here, but many if not most Canadians are up on their high horses in harsh judgement of any Canadian who would have gone to ‘That War.’ “What were they thinking? How could they have done that? Hmmph. Disgusting.” So apparently it was okay for us to quietly war profiteer and reap huge financial benefits but also to stand in brutally harsh judgement of any of our citizens who went to war with the U.S.

At one of these retreats a friend and VN vet paid me a huge honour by giving me a coveted American, Combat Infantry Pin. It was his way of thanking me for my devotion to veterans and ‘war healing.’ Another one gave me a small black pin with gold letters in remembrance of the 58,479 soldiers who were killed in action. I put them on the leather vest I wear as part of the C.A.V. (Canadian Army Veterans) motorcycle unit I belong to as a supporter. At a military function with the C.A.V., a younger veteran, ex-peacekeeper – early 40s, came up and squinted at the black and gold pin until he realized it had to do with Viet Nam. Then he turned up his nose and declared dismissively, “Hmmph, Viet Nam. That wasn’t OUR war.” He walked away and left me standing with my mouth open. I got exactly the same attitude and type of comment from a female Afghanistan vet at a Remembrance Day ceremony in Turner Valley, Alberta. What the hell?! Veterans are veterans. I also know of two professionals; one late 50s, one early 60s, who keep their service in Viet Nam a closely guarded secret.

Politics aside; (Please!) imagine what it must be like to be going on for 40+ years now, carrying this goddawful secret for fear of the righteous wrath of your fellow citizens. Not a healthy or happy way to travel through this life. Canada is considered a compassionate nation. Well, where is it? Where is our compassion? Who are we to judge these men? My, then 16 year old son was a welcome addition to our Viet Nam journey in ’09. The vets loved him. They loved him among other reasons, because he reminded them of how young they were and how little they knew of the world. It made them a little more forgiving of themselves.

Tragically, what happened to American Viet Nam veterans upon their return to America goes on in Canada to this day, albeit in a lower key, but malignant and insidious way. How does that make you feel; compassionate Canadians?

When these Canadian boys went to war, they were young. There were forces much more powerful at work in the evolution of this war than teen-age Canadian boys and their unworldly ways. It’s extremely overdue, but how about we cut them some slack? Let us not allow them to go right through this life without being ‘who they really are,’ with everything they’ve seen and experienced.

And you, silent Canadian veterans of the Viet Nam war, please don’t allow us to make you carry this burden alone any more. Look for support. For better or worse, you went to meet your destinies in the 60s and 70s, as we all do. There are people who care deeply about you and want you to live authentic lives. Godspeed all of you.

Although it’s in the U.S. www.soldiersheart.net is a place to start, but I’ll be exploring this subject more in the coming days and will put up other sites where support can be found, and not just for Viet Nam veterans but for any and all veterans who need help and support, from WWII, to Korea, Peacekeepers and Afghanistan vets. Stay tuned.

There’s a little story behind the pic of the two vets hugging. The NVA vet was very aloof when we first arrived at their village, stood with his arms folded and kept his distance. They are the Van Kieu, Montagnard people and desperately poor. The American vet started remembering details of his lengthy hitch in the mountains nearby and had a bit of a melt-down. The NVA vet spontaneously stepped forward and hugged him in a pure act of compassion. This was our experience throughout Viet Nam.

I started writing this book in 2010, have copyrighted it and am getting back on it right now in a big way. In fact I just fired off a book proposal today. At my writers group this morning, I read the prologue and the first chapter and it was really well received by the group. I hope it will be ready to launch in October of 2012. I am really excited to get back to this project.

This the story of John McCrae’s journey through World War One, from the perspective of his beloved horse, Bonfire, a 16.3 hh Irish Thoroughbred who was given to him as a gift on the eve of The Great War. It is fiction, but it’s based on a ton of historical detail and my several years of research into the life of our Canadian icon, John McCrae. This will be a more intimate look at the man than anything presently in print. I’m drawing on his own letters and diaries and also, the writings of people who knew him personally at the time.

Beyond McCrae’s and Bonfire’s actual experiences in WWI, my book will illuminate the service of animals in that war; horses, mules and dogs. John McCrae was a fervent lover of dogs and horses all his life. In 2006, I spent nine days in the National Archives in Ottawa reading all his letters and diaries. In one letter, when he was a teenager, he had read a book about the death of a dog. A character in the story asks,’Why should not his dog, Waif, who has treated him better than many of his human friends, be with him in Heaven?’ McCrae adds, “And why not?” In another letter about house-sitting the family home in Guelph while he was a student at the University of Toronto, he spoke with humour more than anger of family dogs. “Found all well, even Shane and Yarrow. By the way, the latter chewed up a couple of those books lying behind the library door this evening, just for jollification.” Love that word!

He wrote scores of letters from France and Belgium about Bonfire and a dog called Bonneau that he said, ‘Has adopted me…’ I think his love of these animals was a lifeline for him during the war. And I think Bonfire has the potential to become just as well loved as fictional equine characters, Black Beauty, The Black Stallion and Joey of War Horse.

So stay tuned for news about this exciting story; the story of a real war horse and his famous human partner.

From the book, 52 People by Jayson Krause – Stranger 2. “You can complain because roses have thorns, or rejoice because thorns have roses.” – Ziggy

“Rejoice because every thorn is like a rung on a ladder that leads to captivating beauty and a powerful sweet scent that clings to your soul as you travel through life.” – Jayson Krause

Yesterday morning I dragged myself out of bed at 6:30, made coffee, ran over and fed the cats and horses, who seemed surprised to be getting their hay in the dark, picked up a friend in Black Diamond and headed for Calgary to the monthly IPAC (Independent Publishers Association of Canada) meeting. The weather forecast was terrible but out here in Black Diamond, no snow. Not yet anyway.

I was kind of excited because I’d already heard some buzz and read a newspaper article about our guest speaker, Jayson Krause, who was to be the guest speaker today at the Danish Canadian Club. I’d heard about his book, 52 People, whereby he interviewed a different and random stranger every week for an entire year and wrote a little story about each one and delved into their lives in a meaningful way. It just sounded like such a great concept. And I of course, as a writer exclaimed to a friend, “What a great idea! Why didn’t I think of that?”

We got to the Danish Club where I eagerly anticipated the usual great Danish smorg breakfast. As I filled a plate, I was surprised there were not more people. Put off by the weather I supposed. Wimpy Calgarians. Here’s us intrepid characters driving an hour from Black Diamond! Hmmph. Well, what a gift that turned out to be. Instead of a roomful and a speaker at the podium as usual, we were an intimate group around one round table.

Jayson is a former three-time Canadian bobsled champion and has a certain competitive athlete’s intensity about him but what was most affecting was the passion he infused into his talk about the book and how it came into being. I won’t go into too much detail but briefly, his best friend of 15 years died of cancer. He was devastated and was disturbed to realize that he didn’t REALLY know him. All they talked about over all those conversations and fun times were superficial things; sport results, jokes, etc. Jayson realized that they’d never actually had a deep or meaningful conversation. So with his book, he contrived a set of 10 insightful, personal questions.

He used his own family as guinea pigs first. His own father, with whom he already had a pretty good relationship, upon being asked these questions opened up in a way that Jayson had never experienced. To this day, it has transformed their relationship in a good way. He tailored the list to begin with lighter questions and lead into the deeper ones toward the end. From #1) What is your dream job? to #5) What is the greatest accomplishment of your life? (The answer to that one popped immediately into my head as he read them out to the group. For me, the raising of a kind, independent, mature young man; my 18 year old son.) #7) What is the most difficult thing you’ve ever experienced? and so on.

Jayson is on a mission to establish meaningful connections with people and to get us all to do the same, and do it before it’s too late. I thought of my own father. When I was a lot younger I had worked my way into a career as a Geological Technician. With that, one of the perks was a membership to the Professional Club in downtown Calgary. I was totally chuffed to be able ask my dad out for lunch on MY own membership one day. It turned out to be one of the most awkward and uncomfortable hours I have ever spent with another human. I’d never had a close relationship with my dad and in hindsight I’m positive I would have had better dialogue with a complete stranger that day. How sad and what a struggle! If I could have asked my dad questions like those on Jayson’s list, who knows? Maybe over a couple of beers I could have cracked open this man who basically remained a stranger to me until his death.

Further to that, if my husband and I had ever delved into these kinds of questions with each other and really connected in these kinds of important, intimate and meaningful ways, maybe our marriage would have survived. It couldn’t have hurt, that’s for sure.

What Jayson’s talk did for me was reiterate something I’ve often harped about and that is, Don’t waste time. Now when I say that, I’ve usually been referring to following one’s dreams. But now I would add, get to know the people you love and surround yourself with in a REAL and meaningful way. Your spouses, your parents, your siblings, your children and your friends. Make it your mission to find out who they really are. What is important to them. What they believe. What their dreams are. What they’re afraid of. And with that you may really get to know yourself too. It can’t do anything but enrich your own life and the lives of the people you love.

True, meaningful connection; spread it around and out into the world. Oh, and get Jayson’s book, 52 People. It just might change your life, in a good way. His website is: www.drivenbypassion.com (Great name.)

This weekend I spent about 20 hours going through boxes in the garage. Since our place is for sale and we’re going our separate ways, it’s time. 28 years of accumulated possessions. Wow, what a gruelling and dusty task. But I really enjoyed wading through boxes of photos, cards and letters, journals. I had been looking for certain things over the years and had no idea where they were; a photo of my niece and nephew with my then, new bike in 1982. Found it! A couple of months later I took this bike on a six week solo tour of the U.K. and Ireland.

A kind of mystical photo of a seagull I shot on Catalina Island, California in 1980, probably the result of dirt on the lens, but special nonetheless. The seagull flies inside a rainbow beam of light. I had been on a week-long natural history course with The Cousteau Society. Jean-Michel Cousteau made an appearance but our actual teachers were from the biology department at USC. We stayed in the old Catalina Island School where the OSS had trained for WWII. We studied the kelp ecosystem; California sea lions, sea otters, Garibaldi fish. Fascinating and such a departure from my foothills home.

A picture of me in a bikini in the Galapagos in 1981. Hard to believe I was ever that thin. What an amazing life I’ve had so far! The Galapagos in 1980/1981 was positively one of the best trips I’ve ever taken.

We were a small group of 9 on a 72 foot schooner called The Encantada. The Galapagos were well protected and we spent our nights on this beautiful boat. Accommodation is not allowed on the islands themselves because it’s such a delicate environment. The cook delighted us every night with something different out of the sea; Corvina or Sea Bass, 4 different kinds of lobster, ceviche with abalone. Because of its isolation the animals of the Galapagos have no fear of people. We swam with sea lions, fur seals, sea turtles, hammerhead sharks. For a lover of wildlife it was truly magical. Earlier I had seen a documentary series on PBS called The Voyages of Charles Darwin. I was so captivated by the series that I resolved to go there. When we sailed into Academy Bay late one night with dolphins leading the way in front of the boat, I stood right in the prow and imagined what it must have been like for Darwin to sail into this unique and beautiful place.

Sometime in the 80s on a sunny summer day, I rode my motorcycle down to Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump in southern Alberta. Prince Andrew and Princess Sarah Ferguson were touring Alberta and were scheduled to be there. Along with that there was a huge powwow scheduled and many First Nations dancers, drummers and singers were going to perform. That’s what I was hoping to catch. Head-Smashed-In is an interpretive centre built into a cliff where First Nations people used to harvest buffalo for hundreds of years. Just before I drove the long road off the highway to the site, a brief rainstorm passed over. This is sagebrush country and I still remember the intoxicating scent of recently moistened sage as I rode toward the grounds. Heavenly. There were hundreds of colourful dancers dancing and preparing to dance. The picture is of a particularly beautiful and joyful boy who was getting ready for his turn.

The last of these varied pictures is of my son with our new Andalusian filly, Lucera in 1999. We had moved onto our farm near Black Diamond in 1997 and she was our first baby there. Exciting times as I immersed myself into the equine world; breeding, riding, showing and professionally videotaping horses. Rich and rewarding years on this farm.

Not long now and I’ll be leaving all this behind and moving on to new adventures; more travel, writing and creative projects, work with veterans and leading tours in Flanders. My destiny awaits!

We all know about the healing benefits of being with animals, particularly dogs and horses. I’m excited to announce that I’ve found a home for one of my three horses, Pachino, with Canadian army veteran, Christian McEachern. I was pretty sure that once Christian met Pachino this would happen! Christian has had a long struggle with PTSD after years in the army and events he was involved in or witnessed while serving in Yugoslavia and Rwanda.

Imagine being trained in the Canadian Forces to an elite level, getting sent to countries engaged in civil war and then being forced to basically stand by and watch helplessly while atrocities take place, without being able to intervene. To say this is devastating to the soul of a soldier is an understatement.

He told me he never conceived of the transformation that would take place once he began working with horses. I think connecting with horses circumvents all personal defences; suspicion, fear, anger and other internal ‘protective’ devices, and goes straight to the human heart. Christian was dating someone a few years ago who was a horse owner and this was how it all started. He told me he looks at old pictures of himself now when he was in the army and in ‘combat mode,’ and can’t even believe he was the same guy. He has changed so much, and for the better.

Now Christian will start working with Pachino, my four year old Dutch Warmblood/Andalusian cross. He wants to start jumping and Pachino seems to show the athleticism and interest required. He’s also a good height at 16.1 HH when last measured. He might grow a bit more too.

So this is fantastic news for me as I work toward selling our farm and getting rid of the last of my horses. Now I just have two left. I will follow the progress of Christian and Pachino, who will be going to his new home down near Brooks within six weeks or so. Stay tuned as the story of this new partnership unfolds. In the arena last week, Pachino took about 30 seconds to “join up,” with Christian. I look forward to watching their progress.

How do you want your 2012 to look? After a turbulent year where the rug has been pulled out from underneath me more than once, (I wasn’t paying attention!) the dust is settling and I’m starting to regain my sense of wonder, excitement and positive anticipation for whatever is coming. It has been a year of re-evaluation as to what my priorities are. “Where am I going and who is coming with me?” as Sarie the astrologer says.

We all have baggage; I certainly do, and I don’t mind at all as long as those surrounding me are sincerely trying to do better, learn from our mishaps and mistakes and work toward self-actualization. I did not survive catastrophic illness, mayhem, attempted murder and other perils in my youth to be diminished or thwarted by fearful people. This year I choose to surround myself with positive, inquisitive, inspired, brave, enthusiastic, loyal, spiritual, artistic, fun-loving students of LIFE and NATURE. As I approach my 60th year, still three years off, I choose to surround myself only with people who allow me to be myself, speak my truth – even the occasional vent/rant (we all have a shadow side), and accept me as I am and I do admit to being a tad eccentric!

My advice for 2012 is DON’T WASTE TIME! Don’t put off or deprive yourself of at least attempting to realize your heart’s desires. Remember that any saboteurs in your life simply lack the courage to do likewise. Like the Rumi poem; There is no death worse than just waiting around. Set your heart on the hero’s gold. And go.

As I regain my footing after this amazing and at times, traumatic year, I enclose a few of my favourite pictures from past magical trips and events. They remind me; Life is amazing. Life is beautiful.

I wish you all a fabulous, joyful and transformative 2012!

So much has been written, predicted and theorized about 2012 and the end of the Mayan calendar. It’s interesting but I don’t claim to understand it and I can only speak for myself. I have to say, this has been one hell of a year in good ways and also in some extremely difficult ways. I published two books; a motorcycle memoir, and with my writers group, helped pull together a collection of WWII memoirs by Dutch Canadians; Hope in the Colour of Orange: Dutch Civilian Memories of War and Liberation.

In April I went on a warrior’s pilgrimage to Greece with Dr. Ed Tick and Kate Dahlstedt of Soldier’s Heart, two Viet Nam vets, a psychiatrist and other assorted healers. This was an amazing journey; from a guided shamanic journey in The Cave of the Muses (it actually exists!) led by a retired colonel of the 101st airborne, to doing healing ceremonies at Thermopolis, Marathon, Sparta and Agamemnon’s fortress near Argos. It was a journey to rediscover the honourable warrior; ideally a guardian and protector and a vital part of any healthy society, I think.

Following that I took my motorcycle to France in June and followed the path of Lt.Col.John McCrae from where he landed with his artillery brigade in February of 1915, through the two battlegrounds he was involved with, to Boulogne, where he treated wounded at No.3 Canadian General Hospital and finally to where died and is buried in Wimereux on the Calais Road. Much of this will be the substance of further writing and possible tour guiding.

On the home front I’m dealing with the dissolution of a 28 year marriage; very difficult but timely and necessary for both of us as we follow our respective destinies. Our beautiful farm has gone up for sale.

I surprised a friend the other day by stating that I have continuously second guessed myself about this ‘military preoccupation.’ “What the hell is this about anyway?! Well, the week before last in one day, I had 3 coincidental things happen from different, unrelated sources and directions that had specifically to do with my WWI research. Goosebumps! I must be on this path for a reason.

So we’re on the eve of the dreaded 2012. To me it’s an exciting, transformational time and I plan to enter it with reverence and as CONSCIOUSLY and positively as possible. I’ll end these musings with a quote I was sent this morning by Pam Vipond in Black Diamond:
Those who dwell among the beauties and mysteries of earth are never alone or weary of life.
Rachel Carson.

John McCrae’s mother said of him, “He was first a soldier, second a student…” I like that. Maybe that’s one reason I feel we are kindred spirits. I hope never to stop learning. So many mysteries and beauties yet to examine and try to fathom!

I wish you all amazing trails and a magical and transformative 2012.