Thursday Golf

I don't play golf on Thursday unless I get invited to a game from a friend or just about anyone. Today was just such a day. I had planned my day before I received a call from my grandson for a game. We usually have a day each summer when we do something special but this time golf. I was surprised as we have not played before but I heard he bought some Callaway clubs, new shoes and a rain jacket. This sounded like a challenge.

This summer was rather strange as I played only 7 times. We travelled and were busy and I just needed a break from the game as I play all winter. I made tee times for 7.45 at Saw Whet and I knew Adam liked to sleep so I phoned him at 6.30. He did not answer but called back right away. I boiled the water and made green tea and poured two cups in a thermos to get the lad awake. I told him I would pick him up at 7am and try to be on time.

As I drove the three kms to his home I wondered how good he was. Would I be embarrassed or whatever. I was early as usual and Adam showed up at 6.59 am. We were off to a good start. He liked the tea and as were drove to the course I was struck by the fact that he told me he was exactly 50 years younger than me. If that was not a signal to hedge my bets nothing was.

We checked in but these young people are slow on the draw so I treated him for the game. I actually owed him a game and we warmed up. He was so fast, swinging like Tiger. I was still at the trying to stretch time. We were unable to have a few puts because we we were up and we were able to play without partners. From the first I knew we were going to have a great day and the game went on and the conversation became more important than the golf..

We kept score but the score was not important. All through the three and a half hours we were able to exchange ideas and talk of his courses at university. I love the contact with the grand children and this was no exception. Every senior has this dream of connecting with their grand children and we are so fortunate as we see them often. It was golf Thursday but for me it was pure pleasure playing golf with Adam.

Election Fever

It is that time of the year when we are bombarded with election fever. Signs appear on lawns, poles, fences and every available open space saying vote for me. It is exciting for some and really should be for all to make sure we have the correct people in place to represent us on the numerous elected positions. It is a sad state of the country when sometimes 20% of the voters elect people to important positions.

I personally am very interested and excited by elections and politics in general. During the past few days I was able to have a visit from no less than five people who are running for office. I love these encounters and I like to play the devils avocate with each.

I have a set of rules when dealing with people who are offering their services and seeking your vote. First I feel you have to understand the scope of the office or position. Every sought after office has limits as to their power and responsibility. Every canditate must understand this and limit their promises and plans to fit their elected position.

When a candidate faces you just listen and say nothing. This is the first test for a winner. How much is about them and how much is about the saught position. When they run out of steam wait and see if they engage you. What do you see as issures etc. This gives you insight as to the type of person you are committing to.

Take over the situation and ask them how they feel about your issues if you have any and listen carefully to their answers. If there is a real contensious local issue find out their stand and see if it is consistent with their public stance. Find out if they are a team player or a loose cannon. We need people who can work together. If their plans are outside their responsibility challenge them. If they bad mouth other candidates can them. Make them accountable for past decisions and keep a sense of comic relief when you see flaws so apparent you could not support the person at your door. Respect all people who are willing to put themselves out there to represent you and be polite when people appear to be out of their league but still trying to make a difference.

This time of the year is important and at least we should be among those who want to participate in the process. You dont always deserve what you get but we do not have grounds to complain if you don't do your part. SO GET OUT AND BECOME PART OF THE SOLUTION AND VOTE.

Terry Fox

We are by circumstances given the opportunity to meet people who really impact our lives. Terry Fox was one such person. I wrote a blog last year about this person but he deserves to be recognized every year and even more . By a set of circumstances I was president of the Pembroke Cancer society the year that Terry made his historic walk for the cure of Cancer. Every year we set a goal for the Cancer Society to raise awareness of the disease and the need for a cure. A financial goal was made and every year it was reached. That year it was surpassed by many times our objective.

What was so special this year was Terry's decision to walk across Canada to help find the cure. Terry was a schoolboy in B.C. and a super athlete. He was found to have a rare type of bone cancer and lost his leg. Terry was a hockey player and to lose a leg meant the end of his goal at being a professional player. He had a hero named Bobby Orr and he admired him for his ability to play through pain when he was the best hockey player in the NHL.

Terry decided to do something special about the disease which robbed him of his future. Along with his brother and family members , a few sponsors and a desire to do something no other person ever did , he with his artificial leg began to train for a cross Canada walk. He with little fanfare dipped his foot in the cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean and began his trek.

Day after day he walked the distance of a marathon and thus his walk became the Marathon Of Hope. Although he was disappointed at the small amount of publicity and money raised he entered Ontario to a rousing salute and the money flowed. Every town was lined with people and he became an immediate magnet for the Cancer Society and his spirit was lifted.

He entered towns, villages and people came out in droves to give money and to meet this curly haired boy. By the time he arrived in Toronto he was a hero. He gave a simple message when he met the children with cancer in Sick Kids Hospital. I am doing this for you and to beat this disease, I am not the hero but you who are battling this cancer. Terry was surprised when he had a visit from Bobby Orr and said it was the highlight of his walk.

Terry began to cover the Northern hills of Ontario and when he was within sight of Thunder Bay he was again struck with cancer. He had to go home to Vancouver and died not long after. The place where he ended his marathon of hope is a sacred place now with an appropriate life sized monument and a plaque telling his story.

As a school principal I placed Terry's picture in my office and in the hallway. I took every opportunity to use Terry as an example of the best we have to offer when it comes to unselfish service and he was my hero. He was and is Canada's hero and up to now the Terry Fox fundraising walks and runs raise millions of dollars for a cure for Cancer. Although Terry never completed his walk across Canada it is symbolic that his wish for a cure for Cancer is also not finished. This is the reason that his marathon of hope is just that. Hope for the cure.

Yard Sale For Africa School

Tomorrow morning my daughter, actually most of our family will be involved in a yard sale to raise funds and awareness for the need for schools in Africa. This project was the outcome from involvement by our grand daughter and her mother in helping build a school in Kenya. One of the requests was for groups to try to raise $5000 for the project.

We have used this yard sale as a means to de clutter our home and garage. With no trouble at all we garnished two van loads of treasures for the sale. There is a win ...win situation here as we will do what we should have done long ago by getting rid of or recycling unwanted or unused articles. We looked at golf clubs kept for occasional use by guests, camping gear, pots and pans and extra dishes as dollars for the project. It will be fun to deal with those people who want to get everything for nothing. We can hone our bargaining skills to deal with the ruthless public and exact every penny for the cause.

We for one will be better off after the sale and doing something unselfish will make us feel good. I imagine the amount of money raised will not be great but our involvement will bring awareness of the need of others less fortunate than ourselves to those who participated.

Proud Grandfather

My grandson Troy began his high school career this September and decided that football was to be his major fall sport. He is a little fellow but has put on many pounds of muscle this year by joining a gym with his dad. He was named Troy after a famous football star who played for the Dallas Cowboys. It was only logical he would be a football player. I have a picture from my football days as a varsity player many years ago. Troy would look at this picture in my pool room and say that one day his picture would be there as well.

Today I was given a call by my daughter saying Troy's first game was today. I went to the new field at his school and the million dollar field was absolutely the most beautiful I saw at a high school in Canada. I walked the field and felt that I would have liked to have a place like this to play football when I was young.

The players came on the field in a rush as only 44 young junior kids can. I spotted number 22 and watched his every move leading up to the game. He was the backup quarterback and clearly the smallest player on the team. His enthusiasm for the game was evident and he put his heart into every phase of the warm up drills. I smiled when he stood beside the guard and he was only up to his armpits. The game got started and there was no sign of Troy but his team went ahead 21 to 3.

As a grandfather I was anxious to see him on the field and near the end of the game he ran on to the field as quarterback. He looked nervous but carried out three plays in a row with two first downs and a flawless outing. It was enough to wet his love for the game and as he came to us after the final whistle his first words were," boy was I ever nervous but it was great".

I was happy to see Troy enter another phase of his life and become excited about his team and school in general. His Mom and Brother were happy for him as well and shared the day with our youngest grandchild.Who knows, he might become another Troy Aikman or just be a good sport and play for the love of the game.

Moving Towards Maturity

Every once in a while I get the feeling that everyone I am close to is either sick or experiencing a personal crisis. The past weeks no less than four of my good friends has begun an adventure into a health issue. I get the usual feeling of sorrow, pity and self indulgence until I realize that this is real life.

People are confronted with challenges all the time but it is the manner in which they approach the situation which sets them apart from the poor me people. In my life I have not had to face real tragedy without strong support. The life struggle of my wife Roma in earning a second chance through a lung transplant was indeed a life lesson to me and our family. It was the way she attacked the opportunity of a life extender that gave all of us a fresh view of life. Never was there a poor me attitude but thanks for the chance to receive a gift of life from a stranger. How this changed our life.

Her attitude and demeanor made it easier for us to cope with the final outcome. It is with this in mind that I am able to support my friends in a positive manner and be there when I am needed. Inner strength is there for all of us if we seek it through staying above the dark side of life. In the next years , because of my age I will move towards maturity in understanding and accepting the challenges of growing old gracefully.

For my friends who are called upon to meet these challenges at this time I have confidence that they will receive the strong support necessary for a full recovery.

Talking Stick

When my daughter returned from Kenya this summer she brought me a special gift of a talking stick. She wanted me to have a gift with meaning. The Masai tribe is a highly organized society, strongly patriarchal in nature, with elder men sometimes joined by retired elders, deciding most major matters for each Masai group.

The chief held the symbolic stick which gave him the power to speak without interruption. When the stick was handed to another he had the floor and respect of the others and was able to speak. This small stick gave order to the gathering. The chief traditionally held the stick to show his authority much the same way our First Nations people wear headdresses.

When my daughter wished to get one of these sticks it was given because she told them that I was once a chief (Mayor) in our land. The stick is hand crafted about 18 inches (45 cms) long. It is bound with decorative fine beadwork. The tiny beads have been the mainstay of the Masai women for centuries to show their identity and position in society through body ornaments and body painting. It is curious that in the 1800's the beads that had been made for centuries from raw materials (clay, seeds, horn) were replaced with opaque glass ones from Europe.

Would it ever be wonderful if our governing bodies had a similar system where respect would be shown to speakers in a similar manner. I treasure this gift and will produce from now on at family gatherings when the rhetoric becomes heated. We can learn much from cultures where good manners are valued and rules maintained by traditions kept for their true value.

Reconfiguration

Every few years I look at my back yard and realize that it need a change. Like we need a haircut I guess. The trees have grown, the grass needs fixing up and the vines have taken over areas where they are not supposed to be. This year is one such time. With the help of my neighbour we lowered the cedar hedge from 14 feet to 5 feet. It looks awful now but it will recover. That fence line now looks naked and the privacy I once had vanished.

We now are exposed to our people next door and when you can see your neighbour you naturally converse with them. This is a real bonus as these folks are from a far off land and have interesting stories to tell. We have lived side by each for 8 years but it is only now we have what I would call close friendly relations.

We have enjoyed the food given to us with that great curry accent and the girls have eaten some home cooked muffins made by Joyce as well. Culturally our neighbours have enriched the area but it only when you actually take time and interest in them that you derive the benefit. Since we live in a rich culturally divergent society it makes sense that we participate and take some ownership for its wealth of opportunity.

As we reconfigure our back yard we also have reconfigured our relationship with our friends next door and are richer for the experience.

Composting

In the last ten years there has been a concerted effort to make the system of collecting garbage and sorting recyclable materials for further use. Our dump (land fill site) is state of the art and we the people benefit from the effort to redirect usable materials. All across Canada there is a move to use the science to make us aware of the impact we have on our environment. Large cities and small villages are doing their part to make it work.

As a believer in the science and a follower of re cycling mode I have since the opportunity availed itself made the pilgrimage to the landfill site to reap the benefits of the program. Every year Theresa and I go to the land fill site and bring a donation to the food bank and load up with compost. They say seven bags but since I use barrels I get large bags of compost. It has made my garden and trees very happy and we look forward every year to belong to the program.

Our town has being doing this for 11 years and every year I have been a participant. The difference is that eleven years ago there were a few people and now there is a lineup. What a wonderful way to make garbage a viable product and everyone who participates a winner. We love the program and wish everyone would join.

Fall Comes Quickly

This year we experienced a quick turn around. One day we experienced 30 degree weather and the next rain and 10 degrees. Theresa and I immediately looked at the calendar and saw work to be completed in the next few weeks. Our big project this fall was to completely uproot our patch of strawberries and reorganize them in some kind of order.

After we dug all the plants we divided them by age, discarding the old ones and carefully keeping the year old ones for replanting. Some of the plants had runners that stretched up to seven feet and some even to the neighbours yard. I then roto-tilled the earth and fertilized it with a mixture of sheep and cow manure. Another roto-tilling and we had a beautiful patch. Rows were dug and each plant covered to the correct level and tucked in. We left 16 inches between the rows and will be putting 4 inches of mulch there for weed control and a space to walk while picking the fruit.

We never really had an organized patch before as we just planted the dozen from the green house and let them grow and multiply. By the second year we had a mess. Hopefully this time we did it right and the plants will reward us for giving them some organized breathing room. My back was sore after the job was completed but I felt good to see the plants all in rows, something like back at school with the kids all orderly in those old seating arrangements.

Three Musketeers

My sister Glenda lost her husband the last couple of weeks but she has much to be happy about. She has a daughter who has three of the most active boys you can imagine. They are so full of energy that sitting still is not their nature. However during the memorial service they were so well behaved I was amazed. They missed there papa but were aware of the situation and made a great impression on all who attended.

The oldest son who is 15 loves soccer and is great at the game but it was evident that he loved his Mom and brothers even more. He was like a nanny to them making sure they did the right thing and being well behaved for their Mom and Dad who were grieving.

I am always surprised when I see such a reaction from children at such young age but happy that this behaviour does exist. I do not know these grand nephews well enough but will make an effort to correct this situation. This family are building a new home near my daughters and will become a closer member of our clan.

I call these boys the three musketeers as they are all for one and one for all. They will give me many happy memories in the future.

Trip To The Valley

Home after a whirlwind visit to the Ottawa Valley gives me a great appreciation for the wonderful country in which we live. Staying with trusted friends for a few days and catching up on all the news makes one realize that distance is only a word. We feel like we were never apart and carry on as if we were together the day before. I think that is what real friendship is all about, a wordless connection between people who have similar feelings. You know it and feel it when you meet as there is no need of introductions but just a look and off you go and take off where you left the time before.

Theresa and I have a few friends like that and we cherish the gift. Over in the Valley we have several and we are never able to visit all of them each time but manage to have a quality visit with a few each trip. This was no exception and with Joan and John serving great food and drink we got off to a good start. We talked of the old times and the people here and gone that impacted our collective lives in one way or another. Around midnight we realized we have been conversing for seven hours over some good cards and a few drinks.

Leaving we left with some blue plums which made great jam and a whole lot of plans for the winter in Florida . A memorial service for our brother in law was on the agenda for the next day and a reunion with the family and friends. It was an appropriate service for a man who made a big impact on the community of Petawawa. His family were proud of Joe's life and the highlight of the service was a tribute by his daughter Lori who delivered a moving goodbye to her father. Her tribute touched all who were there and I felt her insight was exceptional and captured the essence of her love for Joe.

We travelled then to Arnprior and a home on the mighty Madawaska. This is home to our close friends Doug and Patty. Trees, flowers and gardening fill Doug's time with a little hockey thrown in until he blew out his knee. Doug is caregiver to his wife Pat who battles MS and along with his family have made life a caring one for many years. We love to visit here and this time brought some strawberry plants and two trees. A walnut and lipstick tree. He may not thank me for the lipstick tree as it can grow way beyond its boundaries. In return we left with a quart of valley maple syrup. I would say we got the better of the bargain as we love the taste of syrup on pancakes.

This short visit was terminated after our lunch as we had to make our way down to Ottawa. Next visit to Doug's will be in the spring and we hope to renew our golf game which has been missed over half the time because of poor weather. This time Doug had a legitimate excuse as he showed me the scars of his knee operation.

Arriving at our daughters home in Ottawa we immediately unloaded the flooring for a bedroom which we were going to install. We did take time for greetings but I had a mission and wanted to get right at it. By next day at noon the job was completed and after another great lunch we left for Oakville. It was so good to talk with a teenager, Shawna who is doing so well and has shown that maturity which comes wit 16 year olds.

On the trip home Theresa and I made plans for the next few weeks before we go south. Most of our conversation was about our garden and appointments . We had a busy time but a good one. Life is really wonderful when you have your health and have the freedom to move about. We thank our lucky stars and feel for those who have issues with health. Finally we spoke of the good friends we have and were looking forward to our next visit.

Joe's Memorial

Joe was my brother in law until a few days ago when he passed away after nearly four years in a rest home /hospital. I first met this man when he began to hang around our store. He was always perfectly dressed and groomed and I thought he was there to see me as we always had good conversation. Actually he was there to see my sister who lived in the apartment in the back. After a while they became good friends and married.

He brought stability to the marriage and was a good father to Glenda's two children. He nurtured them as best he could and adopted them as his own. Many happy things happened in their life and Joe was so proud of his kids. For Joe to see his son graduate from university was a thrill and his daughters become mothers made him a happy grandfather.

Joe was a person who had several loves. He rarely had a negative expression but dwelt on his positive relationship with groups. His first love was for AA who he said saved his life and made him a productive and whole person. His work in this organization has been recognized over and over. I attended camp meetings with Joe as a speaker and saw first hand his contributions. In a humorous way he tried to recruit me but I told him I would stick to the Liberal Party instead. He always laughed at my response.

Joe loved the Rotary club and tried to live up to their code of conduct. He was very active and was awarded the highest honour the club can give. He served the club and the community with distinction.

Joe loved his work as a moving company manager. He gave me advice one day when he told me never to show your political colours when you are in the moving business. Well some people wear their heart on their sleeve but Joe wore the Tory Blue on his shoulder patch ... unless the customer was a liberal, or and NDP. You see Joe was a Valley Boy and had the gift of the gab.

Joe loved family and often spoke of his Mom and life on the farm in Renfrew. He loved his siblings and his children and he loved Glenda until the day he died. We in the Brown family loved Joe and shared his suffering and his good times alike. We were all better off for knowing this family member.

Spaghetti Time Again

Every year Theresa and I say we are going to cut down on our canning and making of jams, sauces and jellies. This year was no exception but we had such a great crop of tomatoes we had to use them. Our daughter (III) looked after our home while we were away and faithfully picked and froze these tomatoes. What were we to do ?

Saturday evening we got everything ready and made the sauce according to no special recipe but by 11 o'clock we called it quits and decided to bottle it next day. We made 12 quarts and 12 pints of delicious sauce. Enough for us this year and to share with the family. Next year we swear we will cut down even more. We used to make 48 quarts so we are keeping our word.

The Young And The Old

Our family celebrates everything but last Friday we were called upon for a double Header. Darcy was off to University and Doris was celebrating her 93rd birthday. For Darcy it was a big step as she will be on her own (not really) for the biggest step in her life. The beginning of a educational adventure that will leave her filled with a lot of questions and not many answers. It is often the most exciting event in ones life. She is taking it in stride and I know she will do well. We had to get together to give her a big sendoff. Before she left the house was a shambles with all her gear packed and ready to go but order will be restored come the next day.

Doris on the other hand was going nowhere . She is contented to be right here in the mix of things with family and friends. At 93 she has lived a full life and has had her share of travel and adventure. She just came home after a three week visit to her old stomping grounds in New Brunswick where she was given a early birthday party with her family and friends there, She looks and acts more like 39 than 93 and we treat her that way. All the best to both of them. D and D are important blocks in our family and it was a privilege to celebrate with them on their special days.

Bathtub Racing

Back in the seventies bathtub racing was quite a popular sport. Nanaimo used to host the greatest race of all from Nanaimo to Vancouver, a distance of nearly fifty miles over rough water. The Canadian National Exhibition also held races every year.

Pembroke was planning special Sesquicentennial celebrations that year and included was a bathtub race. Some of my friends and myself got together and built a bathtub boat to specs and entered it in the big race at the Marina. I was the pilot and managed to get around the course fastest due to the help from our mechanic who was a whizz at motors. I won the cup and $300 which I split among the team members.

The next year My late friend Al Morrison sponsored me in the CNE races . Here all boats were exactly alike and since there were many competitors you had to qualify for the title. This time I was lucky to make it to the finals. That year the great Boston Bruins defenseman Bobby Orr was the official starter. He was a boy playing pond hockey when I was principal of a school in Magnetawan. He was so outstanding even as a boy of twelve he played on the adult intermeditate team before going to Junior.

In between races I was talking to Bobby about old time hockey in Parry Sound and having a laugh at the conditions during those early days with outdoor hockey when the whistle went for the final. There were eight boats and when I looked at the numbers four (4) stood out. Bobby Orrs number with the Bruins. Another person had the same idea and we had a tussle for the boat. I was bigger and got my way.

It was a moving start and I was crowded out so I plunged into a gap and at the gunshot was clear. Three times around the long course and with my motor sputtering I managed to cross the line a little ahead of the rest. A bag of donated prizes were given and the small lunch with drinks completed the day and my career as a bathtub racer. It was fun.

Hidden Treasures

Down East scenery has long been recognized as some of the best found in Canada. Places like the Cabot Trail have been mentioned in the lists of the most beautiful in the world with just cause. There are however many less known places which can capture your eye. Theresa and I had a small glimpse of an area two years ago and vowed to return for more of the same.

This summer we added an extra day to our journey to explore more of the Parrsboro area. We were treated to Bay of Fundy scenery from the hillsides and unique rock formations along the coast. Only a few people ever travel this road as it is off the beaten tract. It is called the Glooscap Trail. Every turn in the road gives you a different vista and you are impressed with prestine beaches and countryside. It is here where the highest tides in the world reveal the floor of the ocean when the tide is out.

Locals and tourists alike dig for clams in the sandy ocean floor and people follow the tide in along with fishing the stripped bass in the swirling pools created by the incoming tide. Don't get caught in the oncoming rush of water as you will surely get your feet wet at best. Every area of the world has its secret beauty and this part of Nova Scotia has many to share with all who come to visit.

Hadfield..Canada's Great Astronaut.

The space station is a place where dreams become reality and although few are able to experience the thrill of actually going there we have a man in Canada who will command the space station for six months.



Astronaut Hadfield was a visitor to Ikaluktutiak ( Cambridge Bay, Nunavut) while I was the SAO. His mission to bring a presence to the Inuit children and area became a discovery of food which I understand is standard on the space station. I hosted this amazing man for a couple of days and was impressed with his capacity to communicate with the people of Nunavut. In making his stay comfortable and interesting while up there we went on a ride in the tundra on ATVs and he saw muskoxen and caribou up close. He was a smaller man by some standards but super fit for missions in space.



Requirements are so rigid that years of training are required before going into space. His physical build and level of fitness impressed the Inuit when he told of the programs for his preparations. He was in space two times and helped to install the Canada Arm. While in our hamlet he visited the meat plant where caribou and muskox Mipku (dried meat) is prepared. Mr. Hadfield took a quantity with him for analysis and it was found to be very nourishing and suitable for space food.



Personally I enjoyed the visit and helped give out souvenirs to the people we talked to. I could not have enough time to ask my numerous questions but felt privileged to walk and associate with this interesting man. When taking pictures we assured him we would send pictures as there was no official photographer with him on this part of the visit. He gave me official badges and keepsakes which I in turn gave to my Grandson as he is very interested in flying and space.



When I drove him to the airport one of the last questions I asked him was if he would be going back in space. He said a childhood dream he had was to be captain of a spaceship. His dream came true as he will be commander of the Space Station in 2012. Canada's Greatest Astronaut.

Last word On Asbestas.

Now that Premier of Quebec and the Prime Minister have given the go ahead for the building of a new asbestos mine in Quebec . I will only hope that it will not be successful in exporting death to third world countries. Figures released by world health organizations claim that over a half a million deaths were caused directly by asbestos. The number in Canada is also staggering. Every organization in the world has condemned the product as toxic and there is no known way it can be handled safely.

These business men who wish to operate these death mines are there for one reason...DOLLARS. These mines should be closed and sealed as if they were as toxic as nuclear waste. This product has caused more deaths than all the fallout of atomic bombs and nuclear fallout. Canada can be less than proud of this record and I hope our leaders will change their mind and back away from this horrible product. I know that both of these leaders know the evidence. It is a political decision and one on which I give them a failing grade.

Four Birds With One Stone

Next week will be a busy one for us as we have to travel again just after returning from our vacation in The East. We planned to visit our friends in the Valley but on our own time. A floor had to be installed in our daughters house sometime this fall and our brother in law passed away so our family will attend the funeral . All these events are important to us so we decided to do them all in one visit.

Our good friends in Pembroke have been hosting us for visits for years and this year is no exception. We have time to catch up on news and what is happening to all the kids. We play cards and eat well but the real time used is just getting together and keeping in touch. Phone calls are great but an actual visit is special and we get renewed vitality in our relationship with these get togethers.

The funeral for our brother in law is the closing of a painful door as he has been ill for several years. Joe was a community minded fellow and well known in his village through his service. My sister has shown great strength through the years and will be able to cope with the loss with help from close family and friend ties. We will have an opportunity to visit with people we have not seen for years and will benefit from the fellowship following the service.

The next event will be the sharing of strawberry plants with our Friend Doug and this year I have a walnut tree to add to his collection in his forest. A squirrel planted this tree in my garden and as I pulled it out thinking it was just a weed I discovered a walnut at the end of the plant. I planted it in a small pot and again in a larger one as it had a life of its own. I hope it will join the family of trees already growing in Doug's forest in the Valley.

Going further down the Valley we will be putting a hardwood floor in my Niece's bedroom. My daughter (2) bought this floor in Oakville and we will transport it to her home and help install it. My son in law has the muscle to carry it to the second floor and do all the heavy stuff as I help make the job a good one. Of course we are looking forward to the visit as well but first things first.

Fall is supposed to be on it's way but the heat is still on and a summer presence is still here. I really look forward to the few days away and accomplishing the tasks on hand. We seem to get busier as we get older or is that just the impression. At any rate I want to kill all four birds with one stone and return home to prepare my garden for fall and winter.

Gun Registry

As an owner of firearms used for hunting, I was skeptical about the registering of long guns. As a law abiding citizen I registered each one and paid the fee. The government agency returned the money at a later date when they found that the fee was a barrier to the poor in registering their firearms. With the registering my personal long guns I also became aware of the careless manner in which I looked after them and the manner in which I protected ammunition.

Because of this I installed a proper vault and separate place for ammunition. This made me a responsible gun owner. During my life I have seen first hand the careless handling of weapons that have lead to serious accidents. As coroner in the Arctic I investigated incidents where long guns were the accidental cause of death. Well meaning people were careless because for years it was part of the northern culture, and a necessary tool for existence hunting.

With a little training in proper use and storage of these guns few accidents occured. A program was started whereby gun cabinets were made and distributed to owners of long guns and proper security was taught. During my years up north very few accidents were reported.

Today in Canada we have an excellent registry after years of chaos and wasteful problems. Every law agency and group except the NRA and similar groups laud the registry. Police are protected and warned of guns in a home before they visit a situation in a home where there is a possibility of violence. People who are mentally unstable are denied the purchase of firearms and the list goes on.

Very soon the Government of Canada will vote on the disbandment of the gun registry. There is a call by the RCMP to continue the registry, but a small voice backed by a right wing conservative minority who are determined to vote it down, have the power to do so if they get the support of a dozen NDP members. If this occurs it will be the third Billion Dollar mess this year by our politicians. We trust better thoughts will prevail from all sides and we keep this important tool for our law enforcement officers in place.