A Little Band of Gold

When we got married, Theresa gave me a gold wedding ring. It was her mother's husbands ring and had a simplicity about it that was perfect for me. I practically never take it off and it suffers from rough usage when I am working or playing golf.

Back four years ago I was trimming trees in our Ontario home and pulling weeds and filling many bags for recycling. I discovered that the ring was missing. Before telling Theresa I worked frantically to try to find the ring. I emptied all 11 bags and carefully examined everything more than once. My neighbour Frank joined the search with no luck.

I explained the problem to Theresa and she went into high gear. My mother-in-law joined the search and as the day wore on we felt defeated. One more time we took everything out of the bags and gave up. An in house search next was carried out just in case I was mistaken as to how it disappeared.

Next day the bags were to be put out curbside so I got up early and looked once more. As I was closing the final bag I caught a flash of something yellow and there between two rocks was the ring. I was so happy and decided to never have this problem again.

Well it happened on our cruise. As we lined up for departure Doris had a medical event and required help from the paramedics. I was helping and as I lowered Doris to the floor I discovered that my ring was missing. Immediately with all the confusion a couple of hundred people started looking for this ring. Some even wanted to look in her clothes. Bags were opened, mats lifted, corners examined and I was helpless with Doris.

After Doris was stabilized and was permitted to board the ship after a disclaimer was signed I felt the impact of the lost ring. A report was filled out and description carefully documented with all the details. We began our cruise.

As we returned and I decided to make a claim on my insurance for the lost item I visualized the new car I would buy with the insurance money. I put off the call for a day and decided to phone after golf. As I prepared to leave the driveway on my was to Royal Tee Golf Course I dropped a golf tee between me and the door. Without looking I reached down and felt something familiar. A ring held between the seat and the post was my surprise. I was extremely happy and thought I should run in to tell Theresa. It was 6.45 so I drove off. I formulated a plan to have some fun.

I was going to put it in Theresa's jewellery box, no better to put it in Doris' and then the best idea came to me. At swimming time Doris always stays at the shallow end so I would put it there and hope she would find it.

All this time I was bursting with happiness. We swam, Doris found the ring and Theresa knew I put it there. End of story but I can assure you I will have that ring downsized so it will never again fall off and give me anxiety. Who would believe a little band of gold would capture our attention in such a way. I guess it is the bond that helps to keep marriages and people together.

We Should Be Thankful

Having visited a number of island communities over the years I am reminded of the struggle the people who live there have each day. The poverty, the health care and the living conditions are so far removed from our standard of living it makes us thankful for our life style. One feature that leaves a lasting image for me is the smiling faces of the children.

There appears to be a radiance coming from their faces and a genuine feeling of happiness. I always wonder how those little school children, dressed mostly in white, attend school looking like they just jumped out of a catalogue.

One church caught our attention in the small town where hurricanes devastated the land several times. We entered the church and met an old pastor who filled us in with a story of survival. Three times the church was destroyed. The congregation decided to build a church from concrete blocks brought in from the mainland at great cost. Since 1923 this church has been standing and acts as the safe house during bad weather. Every thing in the church was made by hand and donated to the church by thankful people in the community.This Presbyterian church has become a centre of interest by those who visit the island.

Our ship took us to a remote part of Cozumel Island and gave us an opportunity to visit the ruins and historic sights. Part of this island is so developed it looks like cony island and looses it's appeal for many visitors.We loved the whole cruise and will have another in the future. Travel by any means is good but in a luxury liner is priceless.

Cruising The Carribean

I have been away from blogging for about 10 days and have missed reading and writing every day. Theresa and I have been thinking about a cruise with our 92 year old mother as she loves to cruise. We used a line which featured special attention for seniors and we fitted that requirement. It was only a three hour drive over to everglades port and our ship.

Nearly new and carrying 3200 passengers and 1600 crew, the Crown Princess was a great ship. Everything you could dream of was on board. Swimming, golf, exercise rooms and of course 24 hr. restaurant service. The weather was a break from the dreary weather we experienced in Florida for much of January and February. Our ship was smooth and you never realized you were sailing unless you were leaning over the rail looking at the waves going by.

Our first stop was at Grand Cayman where the warm sun made us feel at home. Excellent shopping and prices on this island because there were no taxes and no duty. We were interested in the town and did not shop but were tempted, however the history and sights were really interesting and we were happy with a walk about.

Four other ships were there as well putting the population at 10,000 more than before we landed. These cruise stopovers are very important to the people living on these islands.

The people were very friendly and everyone felt secure and happy to share the day with the local population. Many guided tours are available but we chose to go our own way. As we boarded our ship at 3.30 to move on to the next island we felt well served by the experience we had in the Grand Caymans. We were off to Roatan in Honduras. We sailed all night and arrived there next morning. This turned out to be my favourite place as it was pristine and offered us a glimpse of how the island looked years ago.

Here we walked to the little village and saw the shops with local art and crafts. Everything was well priced but there were few people buying. Most were taking in the tours and experiencing the water activities. Snorkeling, scuba diving and all sorts of other water fun. This day ended as the rest with us returning to the ship for a magnificent meal and dancing. A professional show was performed in the Princess Theatre twice every night. It held 1,000 people and was always filled to capacity.

Theresa and I loved the smaller clubs with different musicians encouraging us to dance. Every night we sat on our balcony as the ship plowed through the blue water and watched the moon. There is nothing better than to spend a late evening with a drink with your loved one and exciting conversation about the day and planning more of the same tomorrow.

Packing Again

We are off to a 7 day cruise of the west Caribbean. Pack the camera , field glasses and all the things we need to make this a great adventure. Personally I could go with a few pairs of shorts , socks and underwear. However I am going with a 92 year old lady and my wife who are believing that we really will have dinner with the captain on his special night.

That means that we have to take all the best togs we have and will never use but it makes everyone happy except me. I see the trip as a visit to the islands and the opportunity to see the people as they really live. No package trips at $100 a pop but a local taxi driver who will show you the island as the locals see it. I give the extra money to the driver and not the cruise line.

We are excited and Doris the old one will not sleep this night but will be ready an hour before we have to leave. This is really a Doris trip because I am very happy that she wishes to go on one more cruise. She has seen Hawaii, Alaska, The Panama Canal and more but wishes to have another with Theresa and I.

We are fortunate to have Doris wishing to come along and I personally am going to make sure she has a wonderful time. Theresa is so happy that we are in good health ( she is a nurse ) and are able to walk and explore in the off ship ventures.

I will be off the blog for a week but will give you a day to day account with pictures when we return. Have a good spring and we will greet you in seven days.

Lemon Tree

Our neighbour has several lemon trees. These trees are mature and produce huge numbers of fruit. He is unable to use even one percent of the fruit so he picks them up from under the tree and throws them on the empty lot next door.

Theresa and I see this as waste and wish he would put them in a basket and place them along side of the road as so many do. People here are very good at recycling and we all follow the rule that our surplus may be someone elses need. We picked some of the fruit he threw away and the girls made lemon desserts. Lemons also keep well in the fridge and can last for months.

We juice them and have a ready supply on hand for cooking fish and other things, like ribs. We were going to plant a lemon tree but we could never use the fruit and being here for six months, there would be waste.

Some states have gleaner clubs who officially glean fields after the regular harvest and donate them to the food banks. In Texas we saw this program at its best where thousands of tons of food are gleaned and given to worthy causes. Here in Florida I know of no such organization but groups in the agricultural belt do glean for their food banks.

It always seems like a shame where waste is present and the needs in this country so great.

Census

Every ten years the USA holds its census. This very important count determines the federal grants to the states and local governments. Florida and other sun belt states have a severe challenge in making sure everyone is counted. There are millions of illegal people living in fear of being deported so they avoid the count.

For every citizen or person living in a state the federal government doles out $1200 unconditionally to help pay for services like fire, police and education. It is required that everyone be counted as in Florida there are estimates as high as several million people who miss the count. Last census there was only a 73% return of the forms circulated.

With the USA having a population of somewhere around 330,000,000, a percentage point represents a huge number of people. This year the government has simplified the forms, swear anonymity and are spending huge dollars to get it right.

Another side affect is the migration of people from the north to the south. Seats in the house are determined by population so there is a power shift as well. It will take time to see the results but it will be interesting to see the changing ethnic patterns and population shifts in America.

Out On A Limb

This is the time of year when eagles try to get their young to leave the nest. Our eagles are one of the daily treats we experience here in Florida. I write about them frequently as we like to share our joy of having these wonderful birds so close to us. Yesterday was no exception except the move is on to have the fledglings leave the nest.

The mother is now smaller and seems very tired after several months of caring for her brood.This year two babies were born to this pair and that makes 10 over the last six years. Her babies are now larger then the mother and still stand in the nest and beg for food every time one arrives at the nest. The male is a good hunter and frequently arrives home with a large fish. He presents it to the female who tears it apart and feeds the open mouths of the babies.

Young eagles are very competitive and if three chicks are hatched it is not uncommon for two of the babies to kill the third. Nature can be cruel but I believe it is a matter of having the mother overstressed with having to look after three. The mother of the chicks makes a decision to send the babies packing when the wings of the chicks are strong enough to enable them to fly.

The process is quite simple. On a particular day the parents decide to stop feeding the chicks. The chicks are relegated to a place outside the nest and are not permitted to go back. The place is usually on a limb adjacent to the nest. The parents roost away from the nest as well. Every day the babies venture further from the nest and are left in this situation until they decide to fly.

We have seen this take up to two weeks before they fly. Often the boldest will fly in a few days. The parents stand by with encouraging calls to try to entice them to come fly the friendly skies. Finally they do leave and it is a magical moment. We have observed it and on one occasion an eagle dropped from the limb and began to fly in and erratic manner. Just before hitting the ground it got its bearings and took to the open sky.

As if released from bonds it flew high and higher, tumbled and dove flew in every direction and was joined by it's family. For half an hour they played and flew in unfettered majesty as only eagles can and then returned home to the nest.

This almost ended in tragedy as the first landing was a disaster but the fledgling recovered its footing and dignity. Theresa and I will be watching for this years show and hope to have a repeat of the great one from a year ago.

We Got a Blast From Ice Fishing

While living along the Ottawa River ice fishing was one of the winter pastimes enjoyed by many. In the winter some hundreds of ice shacks appeared at the mouth of the Muskrat River. I owned one of these shacks. Mine was rather large by local standards and was 12 feet by 14 feet. It was mounted on two large logs so it could be moved from place to place during the winter.

The furnishings were sparse as I had a card table in the middle and four fishing holes, one at each corner. A wood stove and a gas lantern completed the job. One small window kept the shack dark so you could see down the holes and observe fish. The fish were few and far between during most times.

There was a card game being played non stop to keep us entertained. People dropped by for a drink or to play cards or just fill in time with fish stories that were mostly lies or exaggerations at least. One evening a number of us went to the shack after council dressed in fine clothes with the intention of playing cards and not fishing.

Eight of us scrambled to get a chair but one had to sit out. Our gas lamp was flickering and we knew more gas would be required. One of the boys decided to run home to get another tank but when he returned he had a 35 pounder. Our gas light used those small bottles.

One of the guys said he could fix it up to work. I was skeptical but went along with the plan. The repair was done , the gas turned on and a very bright light was produced. He used a rubber hose to attach the propane tank to the light. All went well until one of our number lost his balance and as he went down he grabbed the rubber hose.

There was a loud blast, a blue flame and two wall were moved from our shack. A flame continued from the hose and it flew around like a snake. I finally got the gas turned off and assessed the damage. The covering over the window was still burning, walls were charred black and all of us were minus eyebrows. One beard was written off and the fancy clothes used for council were perfect on the back but burned on the front.

Minor burns to hands and face was all I sustained. Within minutes the fire department was on sight and were concerned as they heard the blast several hundred meters away. We were lucky nobody was injured or even killed. After a lecture from the fire captain and a signed report we quietly put the shack together again and called it a night.

No fish were caught that night but we sure had a blast. I was the last one leaving that night and as I swept the floor of my fishing hut I managed to pick up quite a little money. You see everyone forgot about the poker game. I just decided I won the last hand.

Who Scared Who on Moffat Street

In 1968 we lived in an old three story home along the side of two rivers. Actually we were on the point between these rivers and the land came to point, hence the folks who lived on this street were called pointers. At this time my mother-in law Marg was living with us and would look after the children when we were working.

On this particular fine day my daughters Dar and Glenda were playing with the neighbours when they burst through the door of the summer kitchen. "Grandma, Grandma there is a bear chasing us" they shouted, and began to put the knife in the door. We had no locks on our doors or keys either but we did put a knife between the door and the door frame for security.

Marg entered the kitchen and tried to settle the kids down by saying that it was not a bear but raccoons. We had raccoons in our yard every day and night. Dar was not content with the explanation and continued with Glenda to protest.

Marg had enough and picked up the broom and proceeded to go to the back door to chase away the intruders. As she opened the back door, there was a huge mother bear standing on its hind legs with a cub by its side.

Marg screamed and slammed the door, the bear looked shocked and bolted over the back fence. The cub climbed the fence with difficulty and both ran down the bank of the Indian River and swam across to the high school playground where a track meet was being held. The thousand or more students parted faster than the Red Sea as the bears ran across the field and on away to the river and safe wilderness.

To this day we talk about this event and discuss it in detail. We still wonder when Marg opened the door - who scared who ... Marg or the bear? My money is on my mother-in-law.

Rain, Rain Pour Down - Chase the Tourists Out of Town

The tourist industry in Florida is second only to agriculture in economic terms. This year we have had the coldest weather on record from Xmas and the tourists are staying away in droves. This week we had two days when the mercury reached 80 and the beaches were crowded and everyone sang, happy days are here again.

On Thursday we heard of a rain storm coming. It is now Friday and we received more rain already than we would have in the first four months of a normal year. Over five inches have fallen so far and we expect that much or more in the next two days.

Baseball camps for the pros are cancelled, golf courses closed, beaches deserted and restaurants and movie theatres full. People from the north who come for a week of fun in the sun are shocked.

Personally I love the rain as it fills our wells, lakes, ponds and wetlands. Our gardens like the rain but not a flood. My pool will be filled to capacity as it has already risen 5 inches. Climate change or a fluke? You be the judge.

This year the hurricane center is predicting an active year with 15 storms, 6 of which will be major and reaching the USA mainland. Mother Nature is expressing unhappiness with our stewardship of mother earth - and she is revolting.

Great Women Unrecognized - Until Now

This is Women's Month and I was moved by a ceremony I watched this week on TV. During the WWII many American women flew planes for the war effort. These women were never recognized as Air Force even thought they performed numerous and dangerous missions. When they were killed or died they were not given military honours. When their service was complete they had to pay their way home.

These women flew dangerous missions ferrying new craft to Europe and all around the globe. Today these gals are all between eighty and ninety years old. This week nearly two hundred of these aviators were drawn to Capitol Hill where they collectively received the highest military award, The Congressional Gold Medal

These women classified as Wasp's, Women's Air force Service Pilots weren't considered military pilots but on this day they stood, saluted through the playing of the Star- Spangled Banner many still wearing their dark blue uniforms and bathed in the honour they so richely earned.

It was a moving moment for these ladies and a moving moment for all who observed and wondered how this could have happened. One lady in a wheelchair commented that they served their country without thought of recognition or reward. It was nice however she said with a smile that told another tale.

In Canada we had a similar corp involving women - bush pilots and a smattering of people who did not qualify for war service in the regular sense because of age or health. Hundreds of these people did great service without the great rewards from being in the regular service. I think of the Merchant Marine where losses at sea surpassed all other branches per capitol.

Hurray to the Wasp's and all others who served without formal recognition. Congratulations to the women who received the highest military honour, SEVENTY YEARS LATE.

Car Top Fishing Boat - The Punt

As a youngster, fishing was one of the activities you could engage in for free. When you live by the ocean, a big pond and numerous trout streams you are that much luckier. Our part of Cape Breton was a natural wonder when it came to fishing and nearly all my friends shaped their spare time around this port.

We fished in the creek running into the big pond and had great catches of speckled trout in the spring. The docks at North Sydney were treasure troves for large smelt and perch. Everywhere you looked was a fishing opportunity. Dad was not satisfied. We travelled fifty miles down north to a place called Breton Cove where the trout were numerous but hard to reach without a boat. We travelled to Lake Anslie where you could fish from shore but how much better if you had a boat.

In our crowded garage Dad began his plan to build a boat. Not any boat, but one that could accommodate three people, light enough for him to handle alone and one that could fit in the back of our half ton or on the roof of our car. No small order but a challenge for Dad.

From materials he had on hand and one sheet of three eighth plywood (new ) he began the task. Dad had no problem as he had built boats before, and this was a small one. Within days it was completed and he made sure it was water tight by filling it with water. If it held water it would hold out water.

With paint from the garage he painted it green on the sides and black on the bottom. A small front seat with a main rowing seat and a back, full width rear seat completed the task. Oars carved from some wood and a rope with a piece of metal for an anchor completed the equipment.
As I recall we never used life jackets because they would get in the way while fishing. The trial run was made with three of us adjusting to the instability of the small craft. As a joke Dad said you had to keep the gum in the middle of your mouth or it would tip. We named it the Punt and at eight feet long and nearly four feet wide, it was awesome for us; freedom to get to the fish.

That little craft answered a dream for Dad as much as a thousand dollar boat would today. During my youth the Punt was the center of activity when we fished, had a picnic or just swimming from it as a floating platform. It was our family cruiser and we were proud of it. Years later Dad had boats up to forty feet long and we enjoyed them but no more than our tiny punt. One day it had to be retired but before we did, Dad said that he caught enough trout to fill the Punt and it owed him nothing.

My life was centered around water and boats all my life and I truly believe it was the influence from the pleasure we had with the Punt that made it possible. I would give anything to have a return visit with my dad in that small punt.

Tuesday Golf

For the last five weeks my golf was terrible. I managed to bring my handicap down to 16. This is not the normal handicap but a special handicap whereas you get points for a boogie, a par, a birdie and an eagle if you are very special. My handicap runs around about 18. This means I am a boogie golfer.

This morning I was free from the pain of arthritis and was ready for the challenge. The weather was perfect and our gang of golfers were eager to go after seven weeks of 40 degree weather at starting time. We tee off at 7am. Today the temp was 64 and we were hot to play.

Bets were made and away we went. Since this was a personal experience and there are no challenges to their truth I can say as I wish. However every golfer has a code that dictates telling the exact score. I started off with a par, a boogie and a par. My companions looked at me and said I was in for a good game. All my golfer buddies know that I can be real good for three holes but not for nine or eighteen.

For the next six holes I had two more pars, two bogie's and two others. There is water on the course. At the end of nine I had my best game so far this year with 11 points. At the turn I managed another par, two others and another par. With five holes to go I was focusing, something I forget to do on nearly all occasions. The next five holes give me two more pars and two bogie's and another. There is still water on the course.

I end up with 21 points, my personal best. I was so happy and everyone gave me credit for a game well played. I paid $61.50 to play the game and I made $16.00 for the effort. Golf is a game of bragging rights and for one week and one week only I have them. This was the first and only day I had this honour and I was so proud.

We had a glass of wine and I returned home to tell Theresa of my success but she was telling her Mom about the bargain she received at Kohls so I was quiet, realizing that golf is for the golfers and not the shoppers. In any case I was content to play over my head for once. This will not happen many more times I am sure.

Fence Poles

My father built a small sled from wood with steel runners for use in winter. It was about 5 feet long and three feet wide. It was hand pulled and Dad acted as the horse. One Saturday the snow conditions were perfect and we decided, or Dad decided it was a good day to go get a load of fence poles for the pasture. Every year our pasture was used for an ice rink and in the evening fires would be lit and fence poles were sometimes used as fuel.

With Dad doing the pulling and me riding we made our way down to the Big Pond and a wooded area at the head of the pond. Here there were trees of all sizes and Dad said it was Crown Land. In any case he used a hand saw and ax to cut down several trees. Dad preferred Juniper for fence poles as they could stand the moisture and not rot.

These trees were tall and straight and several fence poles could be gleaned from each tree. My job was to use a hatchet to cut off the small limbs to make the pole smooth. Dad with the large ax would sharpen the end and have it ready for use next spring. The sled was loaded with over a dozen poles and it made a heavy load. We were a mile and a half from home and after crossing the ice on the pond it was all up hill.

The sled ran smooth on the ice and Dad invited me to ride. My hands were cold and I was starting to complain. Immediately Dad removed me from the sled and sped up his pace. Without saying a word I had to struggle to keep up. I was perhaps eight or nine at the time. My effort resulted in me getting warm in a hurry. This lesson I never forgot.

We moved off the ice at the bottom of what we called the big hill as we used it for coasting and sliding. The load became heavy even for Dad, and I moved to help. I was not much help but Dad let me think it was. We managed to arrive home at supper time and we were having lamb stew. As we sat down to eat Dad announced that we brought home many poles for our pasture fence and Henry was a big help. I was proud to do some work and receive some recognition. Dad was tough and did not hand out praise readily. That made it special as I still remember my day cutting poles for our pasture with Dad.

Florida Weather At Last

What a difference 10 degrees makes. The sun shone and so did the landscape and peoples faces. We got up and out early this am as it was market day. Instead of very cold weather we were greeted with a sunny warm morning. We decided to do a few things we chose not to do during the cold spell.

The market was busy and the vendors seemed happier and more cheerful. Even the produce was better and in greater supply. Some of the vendors who did not show for a couple of weeks returned and it was just great.We buy fresh flowers every week and the Ladies are the best. They have words of advice for all and their flowers are beautiful. Three dollars buys you a bunch of carnations which will have at lest sixty buds. They sell out every week.

The market is dog heaven and there seems to be a dog for every couple. Next we went on the yard sale circuit. Good weather brought numerous people cleaning their homes and having a sale. My sole purchase was four pool cues for a buck.

Home and on our bikes for a trip to see our birds. There were two young eagles instead of only one. Mother was pouting and left the nest to watch her kids from a nearby tree. She looks worn out trying to feed the babies who are larger than she.

Finally to the owls who were invisible. No adults or even a sign of the yellow chicks. By then we had had enough so we decided to get home to do some work. I replaced a door handle on the lanai and built a magazine rack for the library (bathroom). It was so nice we decided to get the heat pump going after two weeks of rest so we can get swimming and back to our routine tomorrow.

Our day ended with a cookout on the barbie and some wine. Just another perfect day in Paradise.

Garage Fruit Baseball.

Florida is home to many professional baseball teams spring training camps. Here in our immediate area we have the Boston Red Sox and theMinnesota Twins. They're about 18 pre-season games and we are able to see our favourites several times. The Toronto Blue Jays are further north but about 2 hours away.

Many people come for their holidays and make it to the park every day to watch their team practising. There is no charge and you can get up close and personal with the players. While here the players take time out for autographs and talk to the fans.

The players work every day and quit after the noon game. There usually is a mad rush to the golf courses and fishing holes. It is reported that there is an economic advantage to this spring training to the tune of some $30,000,000. This helps the motels, restaurants and other venues to be busy.The ball parks that they play in become home to the local triple A teams which play here for the whole season.

These parks have four to six practise fields adjacent to the main field and become magnets for university and secondary tournaments.There is rarely a vacant seat during the practise season and entry to the games are between $14 to $30. Attendance runs around the 10,000 to 15,ooo. When the Yankees come to play Boston they open the gates for hill sitting for $10. This means you can bring a chair or blanket and sit on the grass adjacent to the game and watch. It is surprising how popular this is.

All over Florida the papers are full of the reports and the forecasting as to where they will finish in the fall. It is truly America's sport and a good one it is. Play ball!

Graduations

It seems that every year some of our grandchildren are graduating. This year we have a grandson who moves up to secondary school and a grand daughter moving up to university. The decisions they make will impact their future life and economic status.

Both of these students are looking forward to their new adventure. Starting secondary school is a big step and that first year is so important. The course selections will lead to a path which narrows the further you go .I say this in spite of the opposite being true since today there is so much specialization and emphasis on the academic free choices are few.

In the past students were treated to more cultural activities such as music and drama. Physical education was mandated up to the eleventh grade and extra curricular activities were encouraged. In Ontario the five year secondary program has been compressed into four years and students have to fill their timetables with compulsory programs and courses leaving little room for the things that made secondary so much fun.

Universities are called upon to offer more and more specialized programs and the general BA, so common in the past is almost worthless if more years are not added.Our grand daughter has applied to five or six Canadian universities and hopes to be accepted in her chosen field. Because it is difficult to get into some programs without a high academic rating, students are choosing courses to meet this requirement and often through necessity avoid the cultural programs.

Developing the whole person is every educators wish but we are often called upon to make those choices which makes it almost impossible.We look at our young children and see a difficult road into the future. My worries will be just that because the students are growing in a modern environment and will meet the challenge just as we did half a century ago.

I look forward to many more steps up the ladder for our grandchildren and will live vicariously through their efforts and achievements.

My First Publication

Daughter Lynda promised me a surprise for my birthday and a surprise it was. Yesterday while I was home (golf cancellation) the door bell rang. I answered the door and was presented with a package from San Fransisco. I eagerly opened it, and there - was a beautiful book.

This book looked familiar as the front and back covers were our photos. On opening, I realized it was a book of my blog posts. I immediately began to read these musings and enjoyed them as if for the first time. Seeing my work in print was a great motivator as I have been working on my own book with the help of my daughter Lynda, for several years.

Sometimes in your life experiences you get a jolt, and this gift was a jolt. I shall work ever harder and with a renewed energy to complete my work and have this same feeling all over again. I would encourage you bloggers to have your work put in book form for your own enjoyment.

Thank you Lynda, for making me feel happy about what I am doing, and helping me along with my dream of completing my book this year.

After Glow

The Olympics are all over and what a great event it was. People of the world came to know Canada a wee bit more and better as we showcased our beautiful country. As I watched the games on American TV I thought there would be a bias shown. The NBC Network did a marvelous job in depicting the games in a fair and decisive manner.

Actually, I never had the sense that it was an American Network as the commentators gave glowing accounts of the venues and the games. I had the feeling that the American broadcasters were reaching out to the Canadian and American audience showing just how valuable and deep our friendship really is.

Time and time again our mutual interests were emphasized and the relationship beyond sports was highlighted. I came away from the two weeks with a much prouder feeling about Canada and a greater understanding of our relationship with our best friend and great neighbour, the United States of America.

I feel a little sad it is all over but I look forward to the next games in Russia and can bask in the after glow of games well played in my home, Canada.

Slavery

Theresa and I were driving to the supermarket and stopped at a red light. As we were waiting we saw this flatbed truck with an unusual load. It was carrying an old wooden boxcar from some railway company. Although we talked about it we never reached a conclusion as to what it was doing in Cape Coral.

We received the answer next day when we were riding our bikes past our local Middle School. There in the play yard was this boxcar. It was part of a display teaching the students about the holocaust. It was one of a few remaining railway cars used to transport people to the death camps in Poland. The boxcar was windowless and small by today's standards and if it were able to talk, think of the tragic stories it would tell.

Large posters were displayed telling the stories of some of the survivors and brought home the cruel realization of mans inhumanity to each other.Jews and other people were picked out to be slaves and worked until they were no longer of any use and then killed. Children seeing this display and hearing first hand the tragic stories were made aware of this horror from the past.

Exactly one week later Theresa and I cut through the local Catholic church yard to observe our eagles and saw a delivery truck in the parking lot. This truck was surrounded by many people who were reading posters and information articles about this particular truck. This truck was about eight feet wide and sixteen feet long with a metal roll up door at the back. There were no windows, bathroom or furniture in this delivery truck compartment. It was the home for slaves, not a hundred years ago but in 2008.

Here in Florida slavery was alive and well in the tomato fields of Southwest Florida. This truck box was the home for twelve migrant workers from Mexico and Central America. They came with a promise to work. Their papers were taken, passports destroyed and enslaved by greedy men who worked them without pay. Any attempt to escape was met by beatings and chains.

This display is making its way around Florida to educate people of this tragic situation. The people who kept these men in slavery were arrested and put in prison for a long time. Conditions have improved in the agriculture industry partially because of this incident.

In ten days we saw slavery and brutality from two different time frames. It was ugly then and is even uglier now. We were shocked when we read about this in the paper and saw it on TV but it is so much more tragic when you see it in the raw.

Slavery is an everyday occurrence in some parts of the world but we never expect to see it in our own back yard.