Get me out of here

clothes

I know that look because I’ve been guilty of it myself. He was only about ten years of age and his face said it all. The last place he wanted to be was in the clothes section of Target trying on new shirts. Mum had other ideas.

It was yesterday and I was just walking past but I couldn’t help noticing the way his contorted face told his sad story. It was the kind of face that pleaded for the ground to open up and swallow him. Given the option, I don’t think that there would have been too many places that he wouldn’t rather have been. There may be exceptions but most young boys do not enjoy shopping for clothes.

Seeing that young boy reminded me of a moment from my youth that sometimes comes back to haunt me. You see, there’s only one thing more boring for a young boy than going clothes shopping and that’s going shopping for women’s clothes. No, I don’t mean buying women’s clothing for young boys. I mean being dragged along while women shop for clothes.

Mum was taking my sister shopping for clothes. For some reason I was tagging along. I guess that being the youngest child in my family I was the only one still too young to be left at home alone. So there we were, deep in enemy territory, and by enemy territory I mean deep in the girls’ clothing section. I reckon my face must have been displaying that tortured look and no doubt I was complaining about the experience.

What mum said: “We’ll go and look at some boy things soon.”

What I heard: “We’ll head over to the toy section soon.”

What mum meant: “We’ll go to the boys’ clothing section of the shop soon.”

I can still remember the disappointment of the moment I realised what mum meant. At that age, clothes weren’t something you went and bought. They were functional things that just turned up in your wardrobe.

Times change. I don’t mind shopping for clothes these days. It’s still not something on the top of my most enjoyable activities list but it has certainly moved up the scale considerably. I can still recall the time that the worst thing that could happen for a young boy was to open a Christmas or birthday gift and discover clothes inside. These days, I’m thrilled to receive clothing as a gift.

So to the young boy in Target yesterday, I feel your pain. Hang in there. It won’t always be this way.



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Lest We Forget – ANZAC Day 2014

Olsens in Uniform

ANZAC Day, the 25th of April, has been described as Australia’s most important national occasion. While many public holidays are just about getting an extra day off, ANZAC Day has real significance for many Australians.

It marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War. ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. While the date is aligned with that event in the First World War, the day is a remembrance of all those who have been to war to protect our freedom.

ANZAC Day goes beyond the anniversary of the landing on Gallipoli in 1915. It is the day we remember all Australians who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations. The spirit of ANZAC, with its human qualities of courage, mateship, and sacrifice, continues to have meaning and relevance for our sense of national identity. On ANZAC day, ceremonies are held in towns and cities across the nation to acknowledge the service of our veterans.

Sadie OlsenMy parents served in the Royal Australian Air Force during the Second World War. (You can click on any of the photos for a closer look. As well as the individual photos of my parents, the top picture shows my dad on the far right with his father and two of his brothers.)

I’ve watched television coverage of many ANZAC ceremonies over many years. After all these years the support for these commemorations continues to grow as the stories of heroism are remembered. As I look at the faces of those who served our country I see the pain as they remember their service during the dawn services as well as the joy of being remembered as they travel the route of the marches along city streets. When they see the faces in the crowds and hear the cheering as they pass, they know that this country is grateful for their sacrifice and the sacrifice of those who didn’t make it home.
Tom Olsen
War is a terrible thing, and I’m glad that I’ve never had to fight, but I am grateful for the courage and sacrifice of those who fought for our country. I shudder when I imagine what it would be like to face a hostile enemy, knowing that any moment could be my last.

I would hate to have to go to war. I can’t even imagine what it would be like to say goodbye to my loved ones, not knowing if I’d ever see them again. Having kids of my own, I don’t even want to think about the parents that have seen their children go to war. My hope is that we will continue to work towards finding better, peaceful ways to overcome conflict. War should never be the answer.

ANZAC Day isn’t about glorifying war, it’s about paying our respects to those who put their lives on the line for their countrymen and the generations to come.



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