Author: thestampsinmypassport

A professional serving the travel industry for 25 years. Expertise and knowledge in sales, customer care and knowledge of the world. Sharing my knowledge, travel stories and tales from around the world in an engaging way.

A Monumental Anniversary

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If you have had the chance to visit Washington DC for any amount of time you realize how special a city it is. Not just because it is capitol of the United States and the most famous home in America, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, otherwise known as the White House, but for all of the other gems to see while you are there.

Washington DC size is just less than 70 square miles. To put that into perspective, The Walt Disney World Resort area is 47 Square miles. It is home to more than 19 museums all part of the Smithsonian Institute, 175 Foreign Embassies, and most impressive the monuments that honour the history past and present.

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All of these monuments are part of The National Mall. It is America’s most-visited national park, where the past, present and future come together. It is overwhelming at first glance, with the US Capitol Building looming over the city, to the Washington Monument, to Lincoln Memorial and Jefferson Memorial.

We walked from the White House towards the monuments to see the Vietnam Memorial and then onto the World War II memorial. It is a large memorial with many areas that honour the memory and dark time in history. The National World War II Memorial honours the 16 million people who served as part of the U.S. Armed Forces during World War II, including more than 400,000 who gave the ultimate sacrifice with their lives.

It is quite a large monument with many different areas of beautiful symbolism and significance. The perimeter of the monument has large columns with each state represented. Around the reflecting fountain are different areas honouring the heroes with quotes and statements of courage and heroism.

“The heroism of our own troops…was matched by that of the armed forces of the nations that fought by our side. They absorbed the blows and they shared to the full in the ultimate destruction of the enemy” – President Harry S Truman

As we were getting ready to walk to the Vietnam memorial we looked at one last piece of this space. It is the Freedom Wall. There are 4,048 gold stars that pay tribute to American lives lost at war. Each of those stars represents 100 American heroes lost. In front of the wall the plaque reads, “Here we mark the price of freedom.”

On this day, the 75th anniversary of D Day I am reflecting on my visit last year to this beautiful memorial of honouring the heroes of World War II. Heroes of all wars and conflict is something we should always remember and be grateful for. We are here today because of what they did for us.

I am grateful.

What is “Breaking News”

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Breaking news…it seems to be part of our way of our day to day life the past several years. We are all used to those words interrupting our day, social media feed, television programming and radio. Perhaps in some ways we have become immune to it because it seems to happen so often.

I remember last year after the van attack on Yonge Street I was talking to Heath on the phone that night, and he knew I wasn’t paying attention to the conversation. He knew I was watching the never ending loop on TV. He didn’t like me watching that, as he knew it affected me. We talked again, two days before he passed away about the shootings on the Danforth. Again, breaking news.

Something very random and strange happened to me on Friday night and has been playing on my mind over the weekend. As we approach #BellLetsTalk day tomorrow I wanted to be open about my mental health while dealing with grief.

Friday night I had gotten home after a long day of travelling home from Winnipeg. Once I was home and settled in my condo I was sitting on the couch with my iPad. CP24 has this “Breaking News” piece with the headline.

Hawaiian Airlines flight diverted after flight attendant dies mid-flight.

What the heck? Right? Of course I am now clicking on the post and reading the article. The article proceeds to tell the story of the plane flying from Honolulu to New York and being diverted due to the emergency on the plane. How they attempted to help the attendant but were unsuccessful before the plane landed where it was diverted to, San Francisco.

You may be reading up to this point and now are confused. I realize that as I am writing this that it may not make sense. Heath passed away from a heart attack on a plane. The plane was diverted from its final destination, much like this breaking news story.

I remember thinking back at the time about the passengers on the plane how they would be feeling, the attendants and people who unsuccessfully tried to help. These passengers landed in San Francisco and the article says that they were put on other flights. I would assume the same thing happened on the American Airlines flight Heath was on that day.

I am not sure why this particular article was such breaking news for a local Toronto Television station, for an airline that doesn’t even fly to Canada, for a route that wasn’t even coming to Toronto.

I wonder, was there a breaking news story in Pittsburgh on the day Heath’s plane was diverted there? Maybe there was, who knows? The event itself, for this flight attendant, for Heath and for anyone else affected, was of course newsworthy.  Breaking news worthy? Maybe due to the fact that this was a flight attendant, it’s possible. Who knows?

Why share this you may be asking? I guess it is for my own personal navigation. That these blind spots come out of no where and take a hold of you. Just when you think you are managing with the day to day, wham. It gets you.

In the spirit of #BellLetsTalk day, thank you for allowing me this space to share with you. It helps. It really does.

Until next time, live your best life,

Lisa

 

 

 

 

Life is short. Life is long.

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Before Christmas time Carson Daly was talking on the Today Show about losing both of his parents very close together last year. He said he had really changed his life perspective after the deaths. He said something that made sense to me and really helped me process the challenges I have been having with the concept of time since Heath passed away.

He said, “life is short and life is long”. Today is six months since Heath passed away. I think to myself, “holy crap it has already been six months” and then in the next breath, “holy crap it is only been six months”.

It is symbolic to me that I should be on my first business trip with CAA on this date at this time. Heath spent 14 years travelling for work. He spent many nights in hotel rooms and he ordered room service, A LOT. Something that I would think that many people who travel for work take advantage of during their travels.

Before I started travelling with him, I very rarely ordered room service. Many reasons I suppose, over priced, no where to really eat unless there is a table in the room, being at a resort that has many restaurant options included why eat in your room. Not with Heath.

On our trip to Mexico, we were at an all inclusive and we had room service everyday, sometimes twice. Yes, we had this amazing walk out room with a private pool so it made it really easy to order and enjoy. Bahamas we stayed in two hotels, room service in each. In Savannah breakfast room service was included, and we had dinner one night while I was binge watching Scandal (post to follow). In DC, no room service, but we did Uber Eats which again deserves its own post another time.

Tonight I went down to the bar and had a drink and toasted to Heath. Not his drink of choice (which I never understood) but something I enjoyed.

Now I just placed my room service order for dinner. I am in Winnipeg and it is currently -40 with the windchill so I will be in my room, enjoying my room service watching Grey’s Anatomy and closing out this day. It was a good day, meeting new team members and learning about my new company and role I have just begun this week.

Thank you for all your special gifts my friend, and my new found appreciation for room service.

Live your best life,

Lisa