Mental Health Poster

My husband lost his battle of mental illness to suicide.
People often say someone committed suicide. I won't say it. Would you say someone committed cancer? People commit crimes. Suicide is the final result of a complex brain illness.
He suffered for over 25 years. He fought it bravely. I can't stress that enough. He was a man of immense courage, humour, integrity and intellect. The best husband, father, worker he could be.
He traveled the world to try to out run the illness. He worked 7 days a week. He checked himself into the psych ward. He went to weekly therapy. But he wouldn't take meds. Because he couldn't do his job with the meds.
So he self medicated with alcohol.
In hiding. Always in hiding. He was so ashamed for his perceived weakness.
I had stopped him from 2 attempts in the past. He was so grateful.This time was different.
The week before he died he said how hard it was to be him. The week he died his therapist was on vacation.
We talked at the funeral. I said its not your fault. ...my husband was so confused. Yes...the therapist said. He was dying.

We had an outpouring of support and love. Friends, family, coworkers, classmates. They had no idea he was sick. Everyone surrounded us with kindness. Its how we survived. It's how we survive still.
Please reach out if you're suffering. Or to someone who is suffering or surviving. You are not alone.

For those of you trying to shave time on your destination by avoiding the traffic light at Pillette and Wyandotte, your endangering children by speeding down Lawrence Rd.
Everyday we see speeders on our street. The Windsor Police were notified and are now sitting waiting for you. 3 CARS IN ONE HOUR GOT TICKETS .....enjoy your short cut ;-)

I just got a call about my Visa card being selected to have the interest reduced! Obviously, I know it is a scam because I don't have a Visa card. I play along to find out the end game here and, when asked to provide the expiration date, I tell them June 2018. He tells me I am correct and would like my birthdate as well. I ask him why he needs my birthdate for the card and he starts telling me my address and Postal code (like that isn't common knowledge) to prove he is legit. I interrupt him and ask what bank this was throough because I have two and he tells me RBC. I tell him I never had an account with RBC and he quickly states he made a mistake and he meant to say TD. He got flustered after that and ended up hanging up without saying anything else. The number (if you are allowed to publish it) is 905-793-3060. Please be careful to never give personal information over the phone! Tell them it sounds great but you would like more information sent to you in the mail or they could set up an appointment for you to go into the bank and discuss the matter personally.

http:/ / www.cbc.ca/ news/ canada/ windsor/ facebook-campaign-to-reunite-elderly-canadian-with-specialized-glasses-goes-viral-1.3063708

Link: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/facebook-campaign-to-reunite-elderly-canadian-with-specialized-glasses-goes-viral-1.3063708

Were you our waitress?
A friend and I were at The Twisted Apron on Tuesday for brunch. She had a chicken sandwich & soup, I had the breakfast poutine. (Sinful deliciousness by the way!) And you would probably recall me from my hair. We had a lovely waitress with dark wavy hair whose name I do not recall because I am awful with names. My friend was convinced that the waitress was interested in me. If she was correct - we aren't a couple! Lol I asked for one bill because we hadn't seen each other in a while & I wanted to treat her. And it didn't occur to me to leave my number on the bill (just in case) until after we left. Hoping to run into you again next time we are there!

Some of you may remember the story of Bella from December 2nd, 2014 titled " Dog given a second chance pays it forward". I adopted Bella from the Windsor and Essex County Humane Society on July 10th, 2014, she had been there for two months seemingly unwanted. I went there looking to adopt the 7 year old boxer "Jasmine" that was there, but she had already been adopted earlier that day. I looked at all the other dogs in the building that were up for adoption and none interested me. On the way out, the young lady that worked there named Nicole said "There is one more dog I want to show you, she is in the outside enclosure and she's a really sweet girl". Well I went to take a look because you never know right, and there was this rather large Anatolian Shepherd named Bella. This dog was standing on her hind legs bouncing off the enclosure barking and snarling at me. The first words out of my mouth was "Oh hell no, I am not going in there, it looks likes she's going to eat me for lunch!" Nicole went in along with my three friends Denise, her young daughter Brook and my friend Shawna. Being the brave soul that I am, I waited about 5 minutes to see if they got eaten first. After a lot of coaxing by the ladies, I went in, Bella jumped up, put her paws on my shoulders and started licking my face all over, it was at that moment my heart melted and she adopted her human.
Bella
Windsor, On
On July 10, 2014, Rob Sheardown adopted an Anatolian Shepherd from the Windsor/ Essex Humane Society. Her name was Bella and it quickly became apparent that she was an extremely obedient and well-trained dog. At the time, Rob thought he was simply coming home with a new companion for himself. He never imagined that rescuing Bella would in turn save the life of another person.
On a quiet Sunday afternoon in late November 2014, Rob returned to his Windsor apartment with Bella after their daily walk in the park. As always, Rob walked into his building towards the lobby with Bella by his side, and the duo proceeded to enter the ground floor elevator together. Being the obedient dog that she was, Bella would never stray from this routine or challenge any of Rob's orders. That is, until this day.
For reasons unknown to Rob at the time, Bella refused to get into the elevator. Instead, Bella tugged at her leash, pulling Rob away from the area and back towards the lobby. Confused by her bizarre and out of the ordinary behaviour, Rob tried to redirect Bella, ordering her several times to follow him, but no matter how many times he tried, she just wouldn't listen. Finally, Bella tugged on her leash hard enough that she was able to pull Rob away from the elevator completely and lead him further into the lobby, behind one of the couches.
Completely perplexed, Rob followed Bella and to his surprise, behind the couch on the floor lay an elderly man clearly in need of help. He was pale, sweating profusely, and distraught. Rob immediately helped the man up on the couch and asked him what was wrong. The man complained of severe pain in his chest it soon became quite evident that this man was having a heart attack. As quickly as he could, Rob called an ambulance and as they waited for it to arrive, Bella sat beside the man with her paw on his arm. Bella did not leave his side until paramedics arrived to take him to the closest hospital.
Thanks to Bella's keen intuition, persistence, and determination, the elderly man received the medical attention he needed just in the nick of time. In a situation where every second counts, the paramedics who arrived on the scene said that if the man had remained on his own in the lobby for much longer, he would not have survived. Rob, being hard of hearing in one ear, and knowing how empty his lobby typically is on Sundays, is convinced, no one not even himself would have discovered the man in time had it not been for Bella's keen sense that someone was in need of help and her quick thinking.
To this day, Rob continues to be amazed at Bella and how she was able to come to the aid of a complete stranger. When Rob looks at Bella now, he no longer sees a dog who was rescued, but a dog who is a rescuer.

To the lady in a black Land Rover on Ouellette Avenue at 10:45AM. your illegal 3 point turn almost injured people and could have harmed infants on a Transit Windsor Bus. I sincerely hope that in time you realize the world doesn't revolve around you and that common sense isn't a paid for commodity. You have indefinably been spotted!

My close friend Paul P is in London having a serious Operation today, and I would like to gather as many Happy Face icons for him as I can. You may know him, as he installs and repairs garage doors, and although you may not have known his name, he's tall, bald, and usually smiling. Great Guy. Please send one for Paul. Thanks.