Eleven Times Three

Well, it finally arrived. It came, it saw and it... passed.

11:11 on 11.11.11, the date that Nigel Tufnel has been waiting for his entire career.

Nothing significant, other than a handful of superstitious folks grasping at '1' shaped straws, getting married on a once in a lifetime date or holding parties like it's the end of the world.

November 11, 2011 is a sui generis date, sure, but aren't they all though? I mean, every date is unique, that's what helps us tell them apart. The fact that they all line up as ones can only happen once, and it can only happen in our lifetimes, which I suppose is novel. It even prompted me to write about it, so it's not that insignificant. I would, however, say it's forgettable.

Tomorrow, nobody will care about the date. Well, except for maybe the people who got married in haste. I'm pretty certain that nobody will be celebrating the unique nature of November 12th with such fervour.

What seems to be overshadowed by this anomalitic date is the fact that it is Remembrance Day here in Canada (and other parts of the world) and Vetran's Day in the US.

Today, many people are participating in parades, ceremonies and taking time out of their day to think about and remember the people who sacrificed their lives in the many conflicts around the world leading up to today. There are many people with loved ones and friends that are currently serving overseas putting their lives on the line. As a former soldier, Remembrance Day is particularly significantly to me.

Each November 11th my thoughts are with the men and women I served with, remembering fondly the friendships and times we shared in the military. 25 years later, some of these people are still serving. I am proud of them and think of them often.

For me, Remembrance Day is not overshadowed by the fact that today's date is neat. And, I am happy that our nation acknowledges our veterans on our coins (a move so bold it was thought to be a spy tactic by the US, LOL) as a reminder to everyone.

So, please take a moment today, if you haven't already, to remember our great-grandfathers, our grandfathers, our fathers and mothers, friends and neighbors that put on the uniform in the name of our country and for the sake of our freedom.