You Matter. They Matter. We Matter.

We have a builder and I really feel as if I made a great choice with Bassi . I had the pros and cons conversation end of last week with our adjuster and assessor. This builder said he could start immediately and was large enough with staff to do it and, well, talk about hitting the floor running!  This morning I went to the house to pick up a few things and as I turned the corner, the amazing feeling of elation that hit as I saw numerous trucks lining the street with our contractor company name on it was indescribable! I drove into the driveway and had a few workers wave at me, but when I walked into the house and saw people everywhere, well — there are no words. They were packing more stuff up, protecting all surfaces and containing the areas they wanted to protect. The emotion that hit was overwhelming. Finally!  I can't begin to tell you what it felt like to know that the work is now on its way. There's a lot to do, yes, but they're doing everything they can, deali...

2 months ago today at 6:00 p.m. the news later reported that a high EF-2 tornado touched down in Arlington Woods with wind speeds reaching 220 km/h damaging several homes and trees and causing “catastrophic” damage." Actually, using the EF scale which states 218–266 km is an EF-3, I am blown away (excuse the pun) and how wind can be so strong for just seconds, wreak such havoc and then disappear! Two months ago today. In some ways it seems as if it happened years ago and in other ways, it seems like time has stood still. Every day I meet people I haven't seen since the tornado who ask, "Are you all settled into your temporary home?" or, "Was your house badly damaged?" and, the ever present question, "Were you home at the time?", it all comes back and then some. I remember it as if it just happened. The sounds that are embedded in my mind forever, that train-like noise as if you were standing just next to the tracks and it was coming right at ...

Yesterday, as I went back to the house to check on things and pick up the mail, I bumped into a young woman walking her 3 dogs and pushing her toddler in a stroller. She paused to ask how the progress on the house was going and that we were settled somewhere and OK. That's happened a lot of late. We live on the corner entrance to this part of the community and know so many people, not necessarily by name but by where they live or through their dogs. Being a dog friendly area with an off leash run nearby, it's almost a crime not to have a dog to enjoy it! As we no longer have our Toby, I get my dog fix through everyone else. A couple of weeks ago, another woman stopped her car as she was driving out of the area, parked, and came over to make sure we were OK. They had some damage to their home and would have to relocate for a short while, but shared that her husband had dementia and was blind and she didn't know what would be worse, being in a hotel that was unfamiliar...

Fireflighter clearing debris taller than he was Right now it's a waiting game — waiting for all the ducks to align before the work can even start. Scope to finalize, estimates, bids, lists upon lists, and as patience is not my strong suit, I figured I'd take the time to reflect on the gifts I've been given in the midst of it all — the gift of people who we met along the way who have our backs. I've lived in this neighbourhood for 33 years. It defines the word community. In the middle of the chaos, our neighbourhood pharmacist, Kamlesh Gandhi from Shoppers Drug Mart  went door to door telling anyone who was a customer that even if he didn't have power, if we knocked on the door, he and his staff would make sure we had our medication. The staff from the  TownePlace Suites Hotel in Kanata  where we stayed temporarily, checked in every day to see if there was anything they could do to help. One evening, when I went downstairs to make a cup of tea, I happen...