Realism - more than Patriotism
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michaelmaltby
Colonel
Valdur's Passage
Valdur Soomet passed on Friday, November 20, just shy of his 99th BD. It was merciful. Below is Leks' obituary and a couple of snaps:
Valdur Soomet fulfilled many roles throughout his long and productive life. He was equal parts Isa, Vanaisa, and Vana-vanaisa to the respective members of his immediate family, myself included. He was a fisherman, an engineer, a gardener, a chess player and a Bridge player.
Between the years of 1916 and 2015, he watched the world unfold before his very eyes. And despite witnessing nearly a century of change within the span of one lifetime, he never allowed the world to change him. Nevertheless, when faced with the challenge of learning to cook for himself at 80-years of age, he predictably rose to the occasion. Preparing hand-written grocery lists with military precision, he and I would faithfully go grocery shopping every other week, with exact change always in hand. Even today, his grocery lists remain crystal clear in my memory: rye bread (two loaves), extra-large brown eggs (one dozen), pork hocks, and of course, Smarties. When he was no longer able to accompany me on our shopping expeditions, I knew I could always count on his meticulous instructions to guide me down those seemingly endless grocery aisles with confidence.
While it is true that chocolate was his currency of choice, it can equally be said that kindness was his stock-in-trade. He always made sure that no Birthday or Christmas was missed when it came to his two children, three grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. Indeed, the greatest gift that he has given every member of his exponentially growing family is the gift of a better life in Canada than the one that he had to leave behind in Soviet-occupied Estonia during the Second World War. For this gift, we are thankful beyond words.
The world is a smaller place today than it was a week ago. Valdur's absence from the physical world leaves an immeasurable void, and the responsibility now falls on each and every one of us to fill the space that he has created for us to keep his memory alive. We will all remember him for what he meant to us: the fisherman, the engineer, the chess player. To the son of a farmer from Virtsu, Estonia, I offer these final words: "Negemist Vanaisa. Aitah."
Valdur Soomet passed on Friday, November 20, just shy of his 99th BD. It was merciful. Below is Leks' obituary and a couple of snaps:
Valdur Soomet fulfilled many roles throughout his long and productive life. He was equal parts Isa, Vanaisa, and Vana-vanaisa to the respective members of his immediate family, myself included. He was a fisherman, an engineer, a gardener, a chess player and a Bridge player.
Between the years of 1916 and 2015, he watched the world unfold before his very eyes. And despite witnessing nearly a century of change within the span of one lifetime, he never allowed the world to change him. Nevertheless, when faced with the challenge of learning to cook for himself at 80-years of age, he predictably rose to the occasion. Preparing hand-written grocery lists with military precision, he and I would faithfully go grocery shopping every other week, with exact change always in hand. Even today, his grocery lists remain crystal clear in my memory: rye bread (two loaves), extra-large brown eggs (one dozen), pork hocks, and of course, Smarties. When he was no longer able to accompany me on our shopping expeditions, I knew I could always count on his meticulous instructions to guide me down those seemingly endless grocery aisles with confidence.
While it is true that chocolate was his currency of choice, it can equally be said that kindness was his stock-in-trade. He always made sure that no Birthday or Christmas was missed when it came to his two children, three grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. Indeed, the greatest gift that he has given every member of his exponentially growing family is the gift of a better life in Canada than the one that he had to leave behind in Soviet-occupied Estonia during the Second World War. For this gift, we are thankful beyond words.
The world is a smaller place today than it was a week ago. Valdur's absence from the physical world leaves an immeasurable void, and the responsibility now falls on each and every one of us to fill the space that he has created for us to keep his memory alive. We will all remember him for what he meant to us: the fisherman, the engineer, the chess player. To the son of a farmer from Virtsu, Estonia, I offer these final words: "Negemist Vanaisa. Aitah."
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michaelmaltby
Colonel
Kentucky police show how to hit a deer ....
Video: Police footage shows how to react when a deer crosses the road - The Globe and Mail
Video: Police footage shows how to react when a deer crosses the road - The Globe and Mail
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- #606
michaelmaltby
Colonel
How Canada drains ....... drainage as art
Vast, interconnected and stunningly beautiful: A view of Canada's waterways - The Globe and Mail
Vast, interconnected and stunningly beautiful: A view of Canada's waterways - The Globe and Mail
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michaelmaltby
Colonel
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michaelmaltby
Colonel
vikingBerserker
Lieutenant General
Is that you and the Mrs?
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- #610
michaelmaltby
Colonel
HaHa .... good one.
vikingBerserker
Lieutenant General
Yikes! That's your new Prime Minister isn't it?
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- #613
michaelmaltby
Colonel
None other .... 
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- #615
michaelmaltby
Colonel
Violent Lake Erie .... shallow but wild
See an Ontario photographer's majestic photos of Lake Erie's 'amazingly violent displays of beauty' | National Post
See an Ontario photographer's majestic photos of Lake Erie's 'amazingly violent displays of beauty' | National Post
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Wildcat
Major
Great shots! Thanks for the link.
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