Nostalgia

Last night I was talking with a friend of mine online and we both mentioned that we had recently watched a video I made a few years ago in which I incorporated bits and pieces of silly videos I had filmed of himself and all our friends back home in New Brunswick. It seems that being away from home has had us thinking about many of the good times we had back home back in "the day" so to speak. I myself had actually just watched all our old videos just hours before and found myself feeling quite nostalgic. I found it quite a coincidence that we would have both been reliving our memories by watching this video within a few days of each other.

After I had finished talking with my friend, who also lives outside of New Brunswick now, as well, it occurred to me that the days we filmed some of the clips in this video are either over, or nearly, five years old now. It was at that point I had a classic "Where has the time gone?" moment, as people often do when thinking back on days past. It's just so hard to believe how long ago these days where. I'm sure before I know it I'll be looking back on these videos again realising it's been ten years feeling exactly the same as I do about it now. In one sense those days do feel like they were a long while ago because so much has changed in my life since then, but on the other hand I still can't believe some of them were filmed nearly five years ago.

It is sad sometimes looking back on one's memories and realising that no matter how hard you try you'll never be able to relive those days. The best one can do is make the best of to-day and hope they will be remembered just as fondly in five years time. That being said, like it or lump it the good memories of years gone by are past, and your life will never be as free as it was back in the days you had few responsibilities and nothing to worry about other than keeping out of trouble and what silly video you're going to film next...

Goodbye CFLRS; Hello CFB Borden!

Well, I did it! I survived Basic Military Qualification (BMQ) at CFLRS! I would be lying if I told you it was a breeze to get through. I can honestly say it was one of the greatest challenges I've gone through in my life. Not just physically, but mentally, as well, especially in the beginning, but I made it! There were certainly times in which I doubted whether or not I was going to be able to get through the course, but, in time, everything came together and just over a week ago my platoon mates and took to the parade square for our graduation parade!

I was pleasantly surprised to learn a few days before our graduation that I was chosen by my instructors as my platoon's Most Improved candidate, which meant I was given the honour of carrying the Commandant of the school's pennant, which awarded at the end of every BMQ course to whichever platoon on each course that out-preforms their sister platoon during the course. So, when our platoon marched out on to the parade square on grad day I was right up front carrying the Commandant's pennant for my platoon.

And that was that. The next morning I was up out of bed at 03:00 preparing to clear out of CFLRS. Hopefully I'll never have to set foot in that building as a student ever again, or as an instructor for that matter. And so it was that at 05:00 on March 4 I hopped on a bus and made the eight hour trip from Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Québec to CFB Borden, Ontario, where I'll be spending my time for the foreseeable future while I wait to begin my ACS Tech course and then while I actually take said course.


Life here at CFB Borden is 100 times better than it was back at CFLRS. When I get up every day I actually feel as if I am going to work now. I'm in my proper Air Force dress of the day, complete with my name tag, olive drab slip-on for my epaulet, and a proper Air Force cap badge on my beret; I finally look the part for what I've chosen to do, which, though it may seem like a big deal, feels really good. And that's just the start of it. I'm finally working proper military hours, and when we're dismissed for the day I'm on my own time. I can change out of my uniform into my civies, and I can even be so incredibly sinful as to sleep if I want to! I say sinful because, back at CFLRS, if you were caught sleeping before 23:00 you'd have thought you had committed a capital offence.

One thing is for certain. Life can only get better from this point forward. In time I'll be able to finally buy my first new vehicle. In fact, I already have enough money to just about cover my insurance when I do finally choose a vehicle, which I hope will be very soon. I may start looking for something after next week. We're just going to have to see what goes on. All I know is, for the first time in a long time, I'm excited for what the future holds!