Remembrance Day is coming and while there have been many stresses in 2020, I’m almost certain the late 1930s and 40s has this year beat.

In spades.

Both my grandfathers were there on the front lines and at the age I’m at now, after having fought in a world war, were boarding ships to come to Canada.

They wanted a better life for themselves and their family. After the sacrifice they made for their country, they made another to leave everything behind and start anew.

I think to myself, would I be so bold as to venture completely into the unknown?
To give everything familiar up?
To have to start again in the middle of my life?

I marvel at them because they didn’t think twice. This is what they had to do and were willing to pay any price to make it happen.

There was no choice—it was here or nothing.

How comfortable have we gotten where we forget that a price was paid for us to be here?

That someone is still paying that price?

It’s a price that many of us will never know.