I would like to say the first thing is make large donations to charity and help some relatives but vacation comes first.  Maui for a couple of weeks or months with my family. 

Then I would open a non-profit charity for Native American single moms and make a large donation to the local high school.  And without saying share some of the winnings with my family. 

Paris, Greece and back to Maui with my husband and sons to bike down the Haleakala volcano.

Unless PBS is considered infomercial, I bought a few books from their specials. 

The most romantic place should have been in Maui, the air is so encapsulating and mystical but the time change (5hrs) conked me out at like 8pm and waking at 5am, on the otherhand, it suited my husband fine.

By far, the most romantic place was in Cuba, my husband - boyfriend at the time - and I broke up, so I decided a little TLC would cure my ailing heart and went over the Christmas holidays. 

Note to all broken hearts do not go it alone.  By the second day, a woman asked to join me at dinner, politely, I nodded yes.  She proceeded to tell me all men were jerks.  In a defensive mood,  I mentioned my knight in shining armor would probably show up to join me to her dislike. 

The next day, he showed up and we spent remainder of my holiday making up on the beautiful beaches of Cuba.   That’s when I knew he was the one. 

The bullying began in grade one and ended in grade eight.  My parents spoke to the other parents to no avail.  My mom always taught us to walk away or turn the other way, which was hard when the group of unruly cousins taunted you on the bus or at school.  I was not their only victim, they bullied just about anybody. 

In grade eight, my confidence surged and my circle of friends became bigger and tighter, until that is, the bully surfaced.  She took my desk from our group and put hers in my place.  I mustered ever ounce of courage and moved my desk back and made a date to settle this once and for all.

The entire school got on my bus to watch the bully triumph.  I said nothing as the entire bus shuffled off at my stop.   I told the girl it ended today and slapped her across the face and pushed her down. 

She never came back to school to her mother’s horror.  My mom said that was karma for all the rotten things she did.  I stood up for myself and it felt good.  Life was good after that.  I taught my children to first look the other way, after three times, they had my permission to slap/punch the bully in the face.  In my older son’s case it worked like a charm and the bully later became one of his closes friends.  Bullies are just as scared or more than their victims and taunt kids usually for attention.  Give it to them by standing up for your self.  

I don’t think there is a difference in the range of medical doctors, the difference lies in the wait time as someone commented earlier.  As for a shortage of doctors, yes, that’s true and it affects your wait time to see specialists.  A third tier medical system is creeping up across the country called pay as you go, needing little explanation.  A large majority of the population have group insurance covering prescription drugs, eye care, etc.  If not, some provinces make you pay an annual fee for prescription drug insurance and it depends on you income.  With all its qualities, good or bad, it’s often not the case where you hear of people losing their home or going bankrupt over medical costs taking one less stress out of your daily lives.

Oops, what happen to my comment? 

The first thing I would do is cry, let it out and move on quite quickly looking for the silver lining in it.  There is always a reason, most times only obvious if you want to know it what it is.  

Years ago, I worked for my family’s business and my brother fired me, typical sibling rivalries, even so, to hear the words were painful.  By Monday, he cried to my sister asking when I was returning, something that did not happen.  That was four years ago.  Hard lessons later.  I sulked for months, was bitter for longer but one day I recognized the silver lining in all of it.  I learned to be resourceful, examining the good, the bad, and the ugly about myself. 

In the end, I silently thanked my brother for letting me go because it led me to my writing.  A passion I kept dear to me since high school. Today, a pink slip would not be so devastating, less paralyzing then in the past, it could be an opportunity if you allow it.  Have a great day.