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Thank You for Our Freedoms |
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FOLLOW BRAD ON TWITTER: @BRADMARSHNHL
The blog that I usually write on Wednesday did not get posted. It did not seem right to do so. Whatever I had to say did not seem to matter, and that bllog could wait for some other time.
I am 56 years old and I have so much to be thankful for. I have been able to live out my childhood dream of playing in the NHL. I have a wonderful family. I have been successful,
but I also have failed. Throughout my 56 years, I have experienced so much and with each of those experiences I have always had the ability to grow from them and to learn from them.
I remember the excitement of asking my first girlfriend out on our first “date”, but I also remember the heartbreak of our breakup. I always excelled in school; I remember having the ability to choose my own classes in High School, something I am sure that we all take for granted – stay away from Shakespeare. Big mistake – I failed!
People always ask me about my hockey career, how did I make it or how did I get so good that I could play in the NHl. The answer is simple. I could play hockey whenever or wherever I wanted. In the summertime I played road hockey and in the winter I played on the rink my dad made for me and my brothers. On the weekends, the game was moved from our front yard to the corner pond that froze over.
One of my fondest memories of my childhood was when me and my friends would take the bus downtown to visit the sporting goods stores. We would go to the stores to look at the hockey equipment, test out the hockey sticks and most importantly begin to make our list of Christmas presents that we would be asking Santa for. I also remember Victoria Day like it was yesterday, not because we were celebrating the Queen’s birthday but because we got to run around with sparklers and, once we became of age, we could set off firecrackers.
The highlight of the night was always the burning school house. All the kids in the neighbourhood cheered for this one. I point these simple memories out simply because so many people in the world have never experienced anything like this.
My teenage years were, I think, much the same as most teenagers. The only difference was that I was playing junior hockey and none of my friends were, so I made new friends. During those teenage years I experienced a few more girlfriends and, yes of course, a few more breakups. I drank beer at an early age, my hair was long and in Junior hockey I experienced many big wins but also a few heartbreaking losses.
My NHL years were wonderful. My family and I loved every minute of being a professional hockey player. Yes, there were many ups and downs but in retirement those ups and downs are very much a distant memory to all the good times. I enjoyed everywhere I played, because for me it was all about playing the NHL – it really did not matter where.
My last season in the NHL brought me to Ottawa, when it was the Ottawa Senators first season back in the NHL (Ottawa had a franchise in the early 1900’s). We had a dismal season, a great
group of guys but not a very good team by NHL standards. Sure it was disappointing that we were not competitive, but I was able to keep things in perspective. I was still playing hockey and I was still living out my dream.
My retirement years have been interesting. First of all, I am not retired! I am retired from hockey but not from the work force. The ups and downs that I had during my hockey career have been more like peaks and valleys in my retirement. Big peaks and valleys, but the key thing here is that I have been able to choose and decide on what direction my life went.
Let me say that again - I was able to choose and decide. Right or wrong, good decision or bad decision, I had the freedom to make it myself.
Who do I have to thank for that? In my life I have been fortunate to have had great role models and mentors. Coaches, teachers, teammates, co-workers and friends that have helped me along the way.
With the events of this week in Ottawa, I have come to the realization that I have to thank another group that has always been there. The simple word of thank you does not seem to be enough or even adequate, because at the end of the day I would not have been able to make any of these choices if I were not safe.
It's not that I ever took my freedom for granted, but the events of this past week here in Ottawa have really put things in perspective. While others helped me on my path to success, I would never have the opportunity to pursue success if it were not for the first responders.
The first responders of our world have kept all of us in the free world safe - safe to pursue our
dreams and our goals. The police force has kept our streets safe, the fireman have rescued us for years and most recently the paramedics have been instrumental with their emergency scene heroics.
Additionally, I wish more people understood what the Canadian Armed Forces have meant to Canada over the years. It is safe to say that they have been the backbone of Canadian society for decades.
I was left numb by the actions on Wednesday, October 22. A gunmen shot and killed a Canadian soldier who was standing guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. He then stormed
his way into the Parliament buildings/ Just like a scene from the Old West, a raging gun battle unfolded. The entire parliament, including the Prime Minister, was but a few short yards away.
Not only do I say thank you to an incredible group of first responders but an entire nation says thank you as well. In closing, I honestly feel that it is not good enough to just “live” in this free society. In my opinion the best way to honour those that we have lost (not only this week but over the years) is to thrive in this free society that so many gave their lives to make that way.
Carpe Diem – go out and be the best that you can be!
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