Eye of the Beholder

Queen Street and McCaul Street, Toronto

"Remember how in that communion only, beholding beauty with the eye of the mind, he will be enabled to bring forth, not images of beauty, but realities (for he has hold not of an image but of a reality), and bringing forth and nourishing true virtue to become the friend of God and be immortal, if mortal man may."- Plato,

I must say I was home last night after my weekend in Toronto (I still have one more day off), only to return this morning with my Nephew Nick, is visiting from Columbus, Ohio. Nick is my second oldest nephew from my sister. Nick and I have a special bond well I have special bond with all three boys due to I practically brought them up from birth until they moved to Ohio. The Youngest Michael lived in Canada with me until he went into kindergarten because their father wasn't able to take care of him because he worked all the time. My sister has not been in their for a very long time, my sister has addiction and mental health issues that she has not come to terms with. They have not seen her for over 9 years. My nieces (which you will meet on Thursday or Friday because it is girls day one day in Toronto and it will be the first time they have every been so fun is about) have not seen her since they were 3. This is entire my sister choice not ours we have offered her so much help but she refuse to take it. I personal have not seen her for 2 years again her choice. I actually went into addiction and mental health to see if I could understand her and try and assisted but she refuses all help.

I must say that it is sad all around; my sister has not seen what her children have accomplished in their lives so far. Franco 21 is goes to Ohio University pursuing a career in music, Nick 19 goes to Ohio University majoring in Geography and history, Michael is 15 and is a genius no really he is and is a self proclaimed chef who wants to be the next Jamie Oliver (he has all the Jamie Oliver books, lets just say I like to encourage my boys to follow there dreams), the twin girls are 13 and well they are teenage girls they are into makeup, boys and going to the mall. Really she has missed out on so much, but I must say or they would say they have a positive female role model who them loves them with all her heart and encourages sometimes to much. I guess they love me because when I write everyday on their facebook page that I love them to the moon and back (yes I still do even at 21, 19 and 15) and they don't delete but say I love you back for all there friends to see).

Okay, went on another tangent there lets get back to Nick and Toronto. Nick is doing an assignment on Toronto of all things. He wanted to take some pictures (he did like some of my photos and will use some but he wants to take his own, I must say he has a wonderful eye for it) and interview one of my mother (his Grandmother) friends that used to be in the Urban Planning of the city.

This morning we were sitting in a cafe and having a coffee (you know he is going to want a beer for lunch or dinner due to he is legal to drink in Canada, in the USA the age of majority is 21). Nick wanted assistance in opening a Flickr account, when I came across a photo of someone I know and this person has the most striking eyes I have ever seen. Not only are they're eyes stunning to look at but these eye tell the most beautiful stories with their photographs that always leave me wanting more which made me think of the saying eye of the beholder. Once we walked out of the café this was staring at me and thought is my beauty of the day. To some people it is not beauty but if you think about it without it, it wouldn't be Toronto now would it.

**Update at 1:30 pm: I gave in and let him drink a pint with his lunch.**