Although it’s only Tuesday night I’m already halfway through my week which is strange. I keep thinking that it must be Wednesday. It’s because we all have a day off on Friday and that’s something that I’m not used to as an ex-Montrealer. Friday, which is the 11th, is Remembrance Day. In the province of Quebec it’s not considered a holiday. We always did the minute of silence at 11 am but that was pretty much it. Kids had school, people worked, and you hoped that you’d remember to stop at 11 and, well, remember.

Here in Nova Scotia and everywhere else across the country it’s a bigger deal. It’s considered a bank holiday and as a result many companies are indeed closed that day so I won’t be at work. All the schools are closed; any Remembrance Day services in the schools are on the 10th because the kids will be at home on Friday.

I like it. I mean, I like it for all the obvious reasons like having a short work week and a longer weekend, but it’s more than that. I like that a day meant to celebrate all of those who have served in wars and to remember their sacrifices is a day that doesn’t require us to cram all of that gratitude into 60 seconds of silence.

I do plan on sleeping in on Friday but I’ll definitely be up in time to pay proper respects.