School's Out for Summer?

Well, maybe not quite.

It's well into August now and raining outside. No kidding.

I stayed up late into the wee hours last night, hoping to catch a glimpse of this meteor shower everyone seems to be talking about. I caught about 5 falling stars, which considering I live in the city and can barely make out the Big Dipper anymore, is nothing to complain about. 

Oh, but it's not the same. 

As I sat outside on the deck gazing up at the night sky, I was suddenly back to my childhood summers spent camping with my family and cousins. All of us kids would struggle to stay awake as long as our eyes would let us to watch this phenomenon. After we were bored of campfire songs and the fire burnt out, we would all grab our blankets, lawnchairs and sleeping mats and sprawl out in a large clearing where the trees seemed to present the sky proudly. Sprawled out in a disorderly circle, our heads touching, little outstretched arms pointed out spotted satellites, and one by one we would nod off. 

Yes, even a satellite was a big deal. They were nowhere as near in abundance as they are today, which is sort of a shame. 

Falling Stars were unlimited and satellites were few; today, the opposite is true. 

So as I sat there last night trying to spot the burning lights shooting across the dark sky made light again from the city, I was able to relish a time I will always hope to return to: when everything was carefree and the life was as wondrous as the night sky.

Life Lessons From Randy

Many of us would find it difficult, if not impossible to conjure up an image of Randy Todd not smiling; it's almost as if the two cannot be apart from one another. If one were to ask those of us fortunate to have known Randy, to name one feature that really defined who he was, the answer would be his smile. Not only was it his most identifiable characteristic, it also told of his personality. It defined him.

Many of the reflections left by visitors to his Facebook page pay homage to his cheerful, fun-loving demeanor. People thank him for being the first one to show them kindness in elementary and high school, for getting into trouble with them (and no doubt helping them get out of it), for being a part of their memories. His humour was second-to-none, his character infectious, his zest for life contagious. He made friends with ease. There was no criteria for his friendship, you just had to be there and be willing to have fun. He was kind, fair and a friend to all. 

Trying to piece together rumours I had been hearing about Randy, without anyone to confirm what I had hoped wasn't true, I searched news articles of events that happened over the weekend in Calgary. Instinct had told me that the story of a young man who had died in a motorcycle speed-race, was the written end of Randy's life. It wasn't even that it involved a motorcycle, or that it was a race, it just seemed to be a spur of the moment opportunity that Randy would take. And it's not to suggest that he was reckless, as many inconsiderate readers with anonymity were blatantly stating, because he was not; no, it was simply an observation of the Randy Todd that I knew. 

He seemed to embrace what so many of us fail to see—that life is full of chance and opportunity. With that shine in his eye and smirk on his face, he would seize the moments that presented themselves to him. His own hobbies of music, skateboarding and BMX biking as a kid will attest to this and it was a rare moment I didn't see him participating in any of those activities. This side of him didn't change even as he got older when he discovered his love for cuisine and became a chef. His endeavours saw him move out to Calgary where he began to establish his life. Not one to accept the status-quo, he was a go-getter and after working as a manager at the Cactus Club restaurant, he decided to try his hand at real estate. Risks were not something he was afraid of, instead he pursued them. 

Randy was crazy about his family and the pictures and stories he leaves behind confirm this. I know that many of you who loved Randy are experiencing bouts of anger mixed in with your sorrow. No doubt some of you are wondering why he would put his life at risk when he has such a wonderful, young family waiting for him at home, when his life was seemingly perfect. Not one person who has spoken to him since he was married and welcomed two wonderful little boys into this world can deny that he knew how blessed he was. The Randy we all know would never chance losing that. But he was confident and full of fire and in the high of his life, the last moments of his life, took on another opportunity that presented itself. 

LIVE is both a verb and adjective. Randy took on both meanings. He understood to truly live meant to taste, savour and experience life to its fullest—to be ALIVE.  He was also lively, full of energy and pursuit. He taught us all, as adults and as youngsters what it meant to be present in the moment; what it means to grab life by the reins and go for the ride. When you want something, you have to go after it, because an idle moment is wasted life. 

Hopefully we all have had moments in our own lives when we have experienced euphoria, a tremendous feeling of great happiness and well-being. It is in these short lapses of time that life is suddenly simple and carefree again. The urge is there to take it to the limits and to live with abandon. Some of us make it our mantra for life, others heed more caution. But we all make decisions without really thinking them over. We all feel over-confident in our capabilities, especially when life is going well and the cards are in our favour. If we had the ability to see where our decisions would lead us, we might think twice. If Randy thought for a second that this challenge would change the course of his life and that of so many, we all must know he would not have gone ahead with the race. 

But speed is a thrill and thrills let us experience life to its fullest even if there is an element of risk involved. And I believe that is what Randy saw on Saturday night, July 19th. A chance to celebrate LIFE for what it was and what was ahead. After all, it was so good. And it was. 

Thank you for being part of our lives Randy, they are better for having known you.