The marijuana battle is smokin....

Believe it or not, once upon a time physicians thought that smoking was good for you...and there were no negative health benefits....freshened your breathe too!

A few weeks ago I was on a panel of "citizens" that was formed to glean our views on some issues such as the legalization of pot.

I realize that the wave in favour of full legalization is rolling over all of us.

But, when the smoke clears, one must examine some of the evidence why full legalization is NOT a good idea.

So, the quiet voice of reason pops up every now and then.  It tells us:

• Marijuana use linked to cardiovascular complications and death
• The Truth About Marijuana: Health Risks Trivialized(Op-Ed)
• 5 Pot Facts for 4/20
• 'Casual marijuana use changes the brain,' researchers say
• Marijuana use linked to schizophrenic-related brainchanges

 

 There is more out there.  Not to say that there are not studies that suggest some health "benefits".

As Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum stated:

"...because information like this has not been part of the discussion on marijuana legalization thus far, and when health issues come up, they are often trivialized by the pro-marijuana lobby. People often see marijuana as a "healthy drug" or a "natural drug," and some people even claim it can cure disease, not to mention treat pain, decrease nausea and increase appetite. Of course, marijuana does benefit some people who have these issues. But we need to step back, take a breath and consider the big picture."

Yes indeed.  Time to look at the big picture, rather than rush head on for full legalization.

The Way

Marina and I attended the Vernon International Film Festival last night, just to check out the Canadian Premiere of "Walking the Camino".

We first heard of the El Camino de Santiago or "The Way of Saint James" when we saw the Martin Sheen movie, "The Way". An amazing movie BTW.

I love this write-up that states:

The Camino de Santiago or the Way of St. James is a spiritual journey that pilgrims of all faiths and backgrounds have traversed for over a thousand years. The pilgrimage originally began at one’s doorstep, though modern trekkers today would find that rather difficult, particularly American pilgrims needing to cross the Atlantic. While there are a number of established routes leading to Santiago from all directions, the most popular is the Camino Frances, which crosses the Pyrenees Mountains along the Spanish-French border starting in St. Jean Pied de Port.

This Camino route covers 800 kilometers that traverses an idyllic northern Spanish countryside. By following the yellow painted arrows marking the road, a pilgrim can expect to walk 12-15 miles a day to reach the next town for the night. At this pace, a pilgrim can reach the Cathedral de Santiago in 6 to 8 weeks time to attend the Pilgrim's Mass held at noon each day. Some take more time, others less. Some choose to travel by bike, and some have done the Camino on horseback. Along the way travelers encounter albergues, refugios and casa rurals that cater specifically to the thousands of pilgrims of all ages that take this journey each year, immersing themselves in the local food, culture and history dedicated to this experience.

Pilgrims walk the Camino for various reasons. Some to seek penance, others enlightenment, and still others for a sense of adventure, yet all progress toward the Cathedral in Santiago where it is believed the remains of the apostle St. James are held. Most pilgrims choose to carry a scallop shell with them to symbolize their journey in honor of St. James. According to legend, scallop shells are said the have covered St. James’ body after it was found on the shores of the Galician coast. Another, perhaps more useful symbol is a walking stick to aid a weary pilgrim on his or her journey. Most pilgrims also carry a document called the credencial, purchased for a few euros from a Spanish tourist agency, a church on the route or from their church back home. The credencial is a pass which gives access to inexpensive, sometimes free, overnight accommodation in refugios along the trail. Also known as the "pilgrim's passport", the credencial is stamped with the official St. James stamp of each town or refugio at which the pilgrim has stayed. It provides walking pilgrims with a record of where they ate or slept, but also serves as proof to the Pilgrim's Office in Santiago that the journey is accomplished according to an official route. The credencial is available at refugios, tourist offices, some local parish houses, and outside Spain, through the national St. James organisation of that country. The stamped credencial is also necessary if the pilgrim wants to obtain a compostela, a certificate of completion of the pilgrimage.

Regardless of whether a pilgrim’s journey begins for religious, spiritual or cultural reasons, the meditative nature of the Camino offers the perfect landscape in which to dedicate contemplation. Pilgrims follow the path amidst the villages, towns, rivers, mountains and fertile valleys that have changed the lives of millions of pilgrims who walked before them.

Last night's documentary was a great look into the lives of 6 pilgrims...a little of their stories, and how they were changed by their pilgrimage.  We tried to get into the 7:45 showing, arrived early to get tickets, and discovered it was Sold Out!  They offered a second showing, unheard of for the Vernon Film Festival, and so we thought..."we're here...why not stay and just lounge around until 9:30?"  So we did....and loved the movie.

Sooooo...here's my plan, dream, bucket list item, or whatever.  I am soon to be 54 years old.  Lord willing, I would like to walk this when I am 60.  In 6 years.  I figured that would about the time I might have the freedom to leave and make this quest for about 6 weeks.  Our youngest will have graduated.

As is said about doing the Camino: "The Camino, by its nature, serves as the ultimate metaphor for life. Footsteps along a well-trodden path may be our guide, but do not shield us from the questions that most of our busy everyday lives prevent us at times from fully recognizing. The road offers very little to hide behind. The process of life is life along whichever road, path, Camino, or Way we find ourselves on. Our humanity toward ourselves and others, our history and our future is what defines us. Take the journey of life. Buen Camino!"

Personally, I think it would be great...very hard, but great.  Marina has some pause due to the physical difficulty.  But who knows?  It's nice to dream.  This is just one of my dreams...I'll leave this one up to God to both provide for and make happen.

And if not?  Perhaps one of my kids will read this and make the trip instead of me....and may their lives be changed!   Buen Camino!

"The devil got Stalin"

Growing up my grandmother would tell me the story of a conversation she had with my grandfather on the day Stalin died.

For the record, Stalin died on this day, March 5, 1953.

My grandmother went out to the orchard where my grandfather was working...at this time of year he was probably pruning.

She told my grandfather: "Paul, the devil got Stalin!". My grandfather's response was "No....we must never say that....it is not our place...it's up to God".

Imagine!  Here was a man who could have hated Stalin with a passion, given his entire family was shipped off to labour camps in Siberia..with no word if they were dead or alive.  And he still allowed the final decision about the fate of Stalin to be placed exactly where it should be...in the hands of God.

That keeps something my Dad used to say to me in perspective.  Dad was all about "Everyone has to answer for himself".  I saw my Dad live that out in his own life time and time again...even when he had good reason to be angry or upset over some way he was treated.

When my Dad was in the hospital for the last time, shortly before he died, folks would come and visit and if the discussions moved towards someone who had wronged him, he would still say...."Everyone has to answer for themselves."

These two men...my grandfather and father...I am in awe of them. How they lived their faith...no matter what.

Stuff

When both your parents are gone, the difficult task of going through "stuff", or personal posessions, has to take place.

I was starting to look at things and say "These don't belong to me, they're Mom's.  I don't want them!", or, "I shouldn't have these, they don't belong to me!".

Funny.  My sister was thinking the same.

We found the odd thing of Dad's too.  It's been rough.  Finally, everything was cleaned out of the apartment by February 13th. I guess it helps to have a deadline.

Embrace grief.  That's what I've been told. 

Both parents are gone now.  A strange feeling indeed.

And at the end of the day, I miss them both so much.

The Great Story....

The things that began to happen...were so great and beautiful that I cannot write them. And for us this is the end of all the stories, and we can most truly say that they all lived happily ever after. But for them it was only the beginning of the real story. All their life in this world and all their adventures in Narnia had only been the cover and the title page: now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story, which no one on earth has read: which goes on forever: in which every chapter is better than the one before.       -C.S. Lewis: The Last Battle

A difficult season once again....

The fall of 2013 started out like any other...then, unexpectedly, my Mom took ill...and was diagnosed with cancer on November 9th, 2013.

Oh how I hate that word.

In 1992, cancer took the life of my Dad at the age of 59. My Mom and the rest of us were devastated.

We would have 2 months with Mom. We hoped and prayed we would have 2 years...but it was not to be.

On January 9th, 2014, in the early morning, my Mom, Margaret Gerk, went home.

Oh how I miss them.

In an age where everyone complains about their parents, and this and that...I want to tell anyone who will listen that I had good parents.

Strict, yes.  But they loved us.  The took care of us. They were the best parents anyone could ask for.

How I miss them.

Until we meet again!

Remembering a friend....

There are people that come into your life and you never forget them.

When I was 6 years old, my best friend was a chap named Robert Dorssers.  We called him Robbie.

I remember Robbie in the school yard, being carried around pretending he was Superman.

I remember being invited to his house for his birthday, April of 1967.  We played with his GI Joe in the bathroom sink.

I remember how kind his parents were.

Sadly, I remember the day he died....hit by a car while riding his bike.  I was at the Church...receiving my first communion with my Dad...when I noticed one of Robbie's brothers walking toward the Church...letting our Priest know that Robbie was in the hospital...and could he come quick...

That was June 24th, 1967.

June 27th, 1967...my birthday, I was a pallbearer at Robbie's funeral.

Through the years....as I have had my own children, I have often thought of Robbie.  I can't imagine the utter devastation the family must have gone through during this time.  Even as my own children struggled with life, including one needing major surgeries, whom we almost lost.

I can't imagine.

But I remember Robbie.  I just need to say that I have not forgotten him.  That his friends remember him.

The poem inscribed on the back of Robbie's funeral card seems abt:

Lord he was yours...

And not our own...

You have done us no wrong;

We thank you for the precious loan

Afforded us so long.

I do indeed look forward to seeing my friend again...

I have not forgotten you Robbie!

Our grandson: Carter Levi

Well, life has a way of getting out of control.  Earlier this year, we were blessed to have a new grandchild, courtesy of our daughter Becky and her husband Brandon.

Carter Levi arrived on the scene...and he has to be the happiest little boy on the planet!

He has a great Mom and Dad...so no wonder!

A great addition to the family...we are loving watching him grow and experience new things!

The Book Project: Done

After many, many years...the book is finally done.  There were so many kind people that assisted me in my quest...and I could not have done it without them.

I was 18 years old when I told my grandmother I would be writing a book about my grandparents...and what they went through to escape Russia.

It grew to include how the family even ended up in Russia, and now includes data on Gerk's all over the world.

Adventures?  I've had a few.  Working in former Soviet archives and even visiting the site of where my grandparents were born and raised, as well as standing in the abandoned cemetery where so many of my ancestors were buried.

I kept my promise.

Kimmy's Grad

So our dear daughter Kim has now graduated....here is a wonderful shot of my girls, minus Stephanie and Natalie....who were out of town at the time.

I love each and every one of them....and at this time I just want to say how proud we are of Kim and all her hard work!

You are More....

In Memory of Georg Gerk

 This is an example of what a typical file looks like of someone in the Soviet GULAG.  It is the file of an older brother of my grandfather, Georg Gerk.

I wrote about Georg in a previous post.  This past week we received an official copy of his labour camp file.  Imagine....after all these years...through the wonder of technology, we now have a copy of a secret file that authorities of the day never dreamed would be made public!

My previous post about Georg stated:

Georgiy Georgievich Gerk Was born the 27th of December 1897 in the village of Josefstal, near the Volga River in Russia.

He was an older brother to Paul Gerk, my grandfather.

Married 6th of January 1916 in Josefstal to Kristina Rausch. They had 4 children, Georg born 1916; Jakob born 1927; Johannes 1929 and Elisabeth born 1937.

Georg had moved to the Caucasus area of Russia in order to work and provide for his family.  He was, as all Volga Germans, caught up in the mass deportation of Russian Germans to Siberia and slave labour in August of 1941.

Here he was sent to the Easten-Kazahkstan region, Shemonaikhinsky area, Spassky village council, kolkhoz Ilyk. Then he was transferred to the “Chelyabmetallurgstroy” (Chelyabinsk Metal Factories) - a mass labour camp that had over 40,000 prisoners.

As was the case with another brother named Jakob Gerk, and written about here, our family had no details about his death.  Just one of the nameless victims of communism who was lost in Russia's vast Gulag.

But, alas, there is no photograph of Georg Gerk.  I have recently found some of his grandchildren who have emigrated to Germany and asked them if they have anything.  I will post the response here.  In the meantime, all we have left is a complete set of fingerprints as part of his GULAG file.

A copy of the complete file can be found here.

All that remains of a life lived.

Our family remembers this hero.