Giving Thanks, Part Deux

American Thanksgiving gave us a second excuse to eat turkey and pumpkin pie, and more importantly, Thursday afternoon football. By tradition, Detroit always hosts a nationally televised game on US Thanksgiving, and this year welcomed my Chicago Bears. I attended with a co-worker, who happens to be an avid Detroit Lions fan. The scene was set.

The Windsor tunnel bus provided low stress and easy access to the game, as well as an interesting melange of fans from both teams sporting varying degrees of team garb. Full points to the guy that wore a full on bear head and claws as a hat. We arrived in downtown Detroit pretty early (10am), in plenty of time to catch some of the pre-party and general Thanksgiving festivities. We even found some local Michigan craft beer in the stadium, a much nicer alternative than the obligatory Bud Lite.

The game itself started well, with the Bears charging out to an early 14-3 lead.....before the Lions clawed back and took over. They eventually won the game 34-17 with a dominant performance, to the delight of a very enthusiastic home crowd. After a chilly wait for the tunnel bus, we were whisked safely under the river and back to Canada....

Tailgating with Turkey!

Ford Field Festivities

Our seats - three rows directly above the Meijer sign

Dragonmead's Erik the Red

The National Anthem

The Bears on defence...

...and on offence...

Half Time Show

Lonely Bears Fan, aka Ginger Bear

Aftermath

A free towel to dry my tears....

Lest We Forget

I know, some of you are wondering when I joined the Air Force....yes, technically still federal public service, but no.....this is my grandfather in his Royal Canadian Air Force days in the early 1940's.

Keith Cole

Jane's grandfather drove a tank in World War II and defied the odds during the Normandy invasions on D-Day in 1944.  Noble service and sacrifice notwithstanding, one cannot help but boggle at the odds that these two brave men (among a host of others) survived war to beget our parents, and in turn, enable Jane and I to even exist. Fate is both fickle and fragile.

Al Larose

I visited the War Memorial in Ottawa for the first time last summer, sadly the site of the recent tragic events surrounding the senseless murder of Corporal Nathan Cirillo, as he stood guard at the monument. Cold stone and stark sculpture evoke remembrance and elicit gratitude. Please take a moment this Tuesday to remember those who serve - past, present, or future - family, friend, or foe.

War Memorial in Ottawa

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier