Scrub Jays Rule The Roost

Cape Coral wished to use a small piece of land for a park extension. During the environmental impact study it was discovered that this land was the home to 6 scrub jays. These birds are of the endangered group and the city was given an option. Relocate the jays at a cost of $650,000 or forget the project.

Now if the birds had flown away during the study the financial problem would not exist. However they were home at census time and this project will go forth. The cost will be over $100,000 per bird. I have seen many scrub jays in our area but they are scarce. The cost of relocation some miles away and the acquisition of the new land is a hefty price. It seems that birds are more important than the kids who would use the park. There are state funds to help and federal grants so the impact on the taxpayers of Cape Coral will not be great.

Every time I see these situations coming before the public I wonder how it will turn out. In this case the Scrub Jays rule the roost.

Packing For Home

We are five days away from departure time but already we have been busy with all the things that have to be done when you leave one home for another. Theresa has all the paper work and there is plenty with cancelling the TV, Internet and the dozen accounts that have to be settled. I pretty well do the outside work with shutters, water, pool and trees to be put to bed. We are fortunate to have a neighbour to look after our grass cutting and pool maintenance.

We used to have a contractor do this work but they are so bad we had to make a change. Since summer makes this place seem like a greenhouse the maintenance is very important. Our trees and grass grow at an alarming rate and a missed week could be real trouble. We have these vines that grow everywhere and if not controlled they take over. Last year they covered our white bird of paradise to a height of twenty four feet. I had a big job of ridding it but this summer it will come back even stronger.

This is the time of year with one more garbage day, you have to rid yourself of all the things you collected and never used. Our garage fills up every six months. We fertilize the trees and lawn and then pay to have it cut and trimmed. There is something wrong with this picture and I intend to correct it next year. There are plants and bushes that are native to the area and need little care. People think they are not pretty or green enough so they don't catch on. With the water shortage they will become very popular in the future I am sure.

As we wind down our social life is pumped up as everyone invites you out for one more drink or dinner. I wish these engagements were spread out over the whole winter. Well I must get busy and get my work done as it is going to be around 90 this pm and I need a swim and a cold drink to pass the time away.

The Duck Is Calling

Each year around this time I receive a letter from The Duck. He has a real name but for 65 years or longer he was known simply as The Duck. Now he is long retired as we all are and he keeps our group together with phone calls, pictures and letters about the upcoming reunion. This is rather special as it is our 55th and a special program is assured.

Our particular class of Normal College has been getting together without fail for every year since our graduation. He and a faithful few work to plan an interesting program for all who attend. This year we are going to seek out entertainment in the little village of Parrsboro. A play by a noted company, dinner and several visits to local cottages will fill in the time before the real reunion in Truro, N.S.

For some of us it is the only time we see each other but for the gang who live nearby they get to see each other frequently. Our group is getting smaller as death has taken a few of our number each year. I personally feel the reason we get together is to keep up with the latest gossip and to feel that special bond we have created over the years. It is fun and Theresa and I manage to attend quite often although we are far away from the main group.

I have attended many reunions for schools and groups but I never get the feeling I enjoy with the PNC Gang. Together we experience happiness and joy from the renewal of friendship and a little sadness when one of us is missing from the festivities. There will be much communication before the event and sharing of pictures after but the important reason will be experienced through the hugs and kisses and exchange of stories on the weekend when The Duck will rule the roost in his basement in Truro.

Earth Day

Earth Day has been celebrated for about forty years and the results are significant. The fact that there is a designated day when we center our mind on planet earth has created interest in making our area a better place in which to live. Young people are impacted to most and are dedicated to making a difference.

We as youngsters celebrated Arbour Day and we planted trees and cleaned up around our school or nearby parks. In a way this was the beginning of awareness day or Earth Day. Stories depict our earth as a sick place which needs fixing. There is still time and will to make the changes necessary.

We live across from a single dad with a ten year old daughter. They relate well and are together much of the time and I hear conversations from time to time. Last week as she arrived home from school she confronted her father and asked what they were going to do for Earth Day.

He asked her what she wanted to do and she said, "something together to make the earth a better place". He seemed interested but said he was very busy and he would take care of it on the weekend. This satisfied his daughter for the time. Come Saturday morning I could hear the loud voice of the little one saying, "you promised me " and I knew he was trying to bypass the promise.

Almost to the point of being rude she pushed the point and they left to buy a tree to be planted in the backyard. Two hours later the tree was planted and the yard cleaned up. I overheard her saying to her dad, "thank you, and we will do this again next year". It was the school awareness program which made that event happen in yards all over Cape Coral.

The youth of the country will lead us through the future and make this earth more healthy for the next generation.

Amaryllis

Each year I grew an amaryllis at Xmas time when I was in Ontario. Here in Florida where they grow outside I get two showings a year. I was on my bicycle with Theresa riding through our area after Xmas in 2004 when I saw this orphan plant thrown out with the garbage. It was a amaryllis which had flowered and thrown. Naturally I took it home and nurtured it back to life. When I went home to Ontario I buried it in my garden hoping it would live.

When I arrived back in October it not only survived but had a second bulb attached to the main one. I dug them up, cut the tops, cut many of the roots and wrapped it and placed it in the fridge for a while. It felt strong and I planted it and the baby bulb in a pot and within weeks we had a bloom with four heads and later the baby did the same.

Quickly I cut the leaves and buried the two which I separated and waited. After I came back after Xmas I planted the bulb and the baby and we had another show. Since then we have had amaryllis twice a year and we now have three good strong bulbs with all having babies. They really are beautiful and I have had them for many years but this is the first time I had the same ones for six years and counting.

Plants with beautiful flowers enhance our lives and give us a chance to recognize the wonders of nature. Theresa and I love our flowers, specially ones as beautiful as the amaryllis.

Cuban Neighbours

When we bought a home in Cape Coral there were few homes in our area. There was however one home directly behind us and living there was a family of three. A young couple with a young son made up this very happy family. As we got to know our neighbours we were amazed at their story of survival. Leaving Cuba on a rubber raft put them in harms way and they risked death rather than bring up their very young son in a country which was not free.

Shortly after leaving the shores of Cuba a storm filled the raft in water and Yvette had to hold her son above water for several days. There were three other people on the raft which was made for two people. Without power and little food they drifted in the current and finally they were picked up by the US Coast Guard. They were returned to the naval base in Cuba and after processing were permitted to come to the USA.

They took up residence in Miami with friends but preferred to live in a less crowded city so came to Cape Coral. Gus was a master electrician and quickly built a lovely home and became a valued employee for his company. All this was done for their son. Time quickly passed and they became good friends of our and we share food and laughter together. When they become serious they recite their tale of their decision to come to America.

Their son turned eighteen this year and is a scholar. He was admitted to a university on scholarship to study space science. He begins in September and when he does the family will really live its dream of a free life in the USA. We have been enriched by their friendship and they have asked me to write their story for reference in the future. I was happy to oblige and will complete the task in the fall.

They are friends and neighbours and our life is better for knowing them. Only in America.

Neighbours

From the time I left home I always tried to know my neighbours. Sometimes it was difficult but I always persisted in winning them over and becoming a true neighbour. A true neighbour is like a true friend and is always there when you are needed. I will give you a good example of a good neighbour when I was living next to a single , cranky lady who only talked to me when she was in trouble.

One night at about 3 am I received a call from madame x and she said that a skunk had fallen into her basement and was running around and she could not sleep. I realized that she had been having a few drinks and assessed the situation. I left my comfortable and friendly bed and made my way to the house next door in pyjamas bottoms and a house coat.

On meeting her at the back door I was shaken up by her concerned looks and asked again what the problem was. Now I had been known to get rid of skunks by a method I only heard about but bragged it really worked. I asked if she had a box and a flashlight and I would take care of the situation. I was told that a skunk will not spray if it is in a confined space and has no way out. With box in hand and a flashlight in the other I opened the basement door and crept down the open stairs carefully ( fearfully ).

I saw the skunk and shining the light on the bandit I scared it into a corner which had piles of boxes filled with bottles of preserves. The skunk tried to climb the mess but missed and a avalanche of bottles spewed over the earthen floor. I quickly passed the box over the skunk and actually had no fuss from the skunk. He or she was content to lie in the confines of the small box.

Now that I had it trapped I needed something to put under the box to confine the skunk to it's small prison. I asked madame x if she could help me find a small piece of plywood to slide under the box. She placed her cigarette in one hand and said she was in no condition to help. Not wishing to cause a fuss but wanting to wring her neck I spy ed a flat piece of flooring in the corner and asked her to get it for me. She said she didn't want to walk on the earth floor in bare feet. I shouted for her to help and she finally did.

I slid the flooring under the box and carefully carried the box and flooring up stairs and out the door. I released the skunk in the back yard and it raised its left leg and sprayed. The skunk walked slowly to the back fence and disappeared down to the river. It is now an hour later and I say goodnight to my neighbour and go home smelling like a skunk. Madame x thanked me with a wave of the hand and a thank you.

Returning to the friendly confines of my bed I said to Roma, I hope she appreciates what we do for being a good neighbour. That Friday madame x gave us a couple of bottles of wine and smiled at the same time. From that time on we were friends and neighbours. By the way I was called upon to remove another skunk from her basement. What are neighbours for?

Television Comes to City Council

The local television station in Pembroke called me to ask if they could broadcast the regular meetings of council live. I was mayor at the time and it was in 1976 when this became routine for other communities. I was happy with the request but had some reservations about how it would be accepted by the aldermen.

I brought the request up on the regular agenda next meeting and the motion was passed . Before the meeting of the first broadcast I had a short session in camera to explain the procedures and to make everyone comfortable with the cameras. I asked if everyone could have something to contribute on the introduction of TV in council.

Everything went well during the meeting even thought some more verbose than other aldermen hogged the limelight and spoke too long. As the meeting was about to close I noticed that two Senior aldermen had not spoken. I knew special orders was coming up and took the opportunity to thank the TV station for their new innovation.

I also caught the eye of the two alderman to give them a chance to speak and get their feet wet on TV. One older alderman stood and said he had a question to ask of his friend sitting next to him but he did not know what it was. He spoke, rambled on and nodded to his friend to answer the question. His fellow alderman stood and said since his fellow alderman did not know the question he would do his best to answer it. Everyone in the audience smiled, smirked and burst out laughing. The alderman was not put off and took his four minutes to answer the question that was not asked. Before sitting down he thanked his fellow alderman for the opportunity to clear up the answer to the question bothering him.

After a moment of silence I closed the meeting with the words, "welcome to live television every Tuesday , it should be fun if this is an example of our meetings."

Those two alderman were my good friends and have since passed away but they had a little stage fright and their actions that Tuesday were not indicative of their tenure on council.

Income Taxes

Making out your taxes when you are out of Canada used to be a big problem. Today our government makes it much easier with a short form and easy to read instruction manual. Pity the poor Americans with the complicated forms and the earlier date for return. Come tax date here in Florida there is a collective groan until midnight on the 15 Th of April. Heavy penalties are given to people who do not file on time and in a proper manner.

Theresa makes out all three of our forms and up until now she had been perfect. We Canadians pay more taxes than our American friends but we get much more for our money. Healthcare alone is worth the effort as everyone has universal coverage. The horror stories of people here not getting good care or going into debt to pay for coverage is common. There now seems to be some movement towards universal coverage and it cannot come too soon

Personally I never complained about paying taxes because the alternative is being out of work and that is not good. Our taxes support a social system that has faults but the good far outweighs the problems. There will still be a mad rush on the few days before closing at the end of April but we should be proud to share our wealth for the collective good of all.

Loose Ends

Saturday mornings are market days and as usual Theresa and I went to our local market. We never really needed anything but fresh flowers but we went anyway. The season for Snowbirds is over and you can tell as the numbers were not there today. We wandered through to see our regular vendors and to wish them well.

The bunches of carnations were beautiful and we bought two. This will do until we leave. Fresh corn and cucumbers were our other items and away we went. We looked back to see the place where we had many moments of fun going through the vendors tables when I spyed some large grapefruit. we went back and made our last purchase.

All the vendors said this was the worst year on record but they managed.The Plant City strawberries were selling almost half price as the fields ripened all at once. I share my feelings with Theresa about the resilience of our farmers. Too good a crop and the price drops, to poor a crop and nobody wants to buy as the price is high. Come to think of it, it is probably the best example of the free enterprise system in our capitalistic world.

Arriving home I am faced with a decision about our own produce. I will pick the carrots, beans, cabbage and whatever is left and give it away. Not a bad idea as everyone likes fresh produce. The last three weeks has our city green and lush as we already have been given over 20 inches of rain when the average for the whole winter is less than two.

They are predicting an active hurricane season but I think the east coast should be prepared for a bad summer and fall. Every year I make a prediction on the basis of the water temperature in the Arctic. So far it has been better than the hurricane center who derive their predictions on computer readings and the water temp in the south Pacific. I will never live it down if I am wrong.

Theresa and I are going dancing tonight with friends at the Elks Lodge. A little pre-anniversary get together and a chance to say so long for six months. I always feel at loose ends when we leave our home here or in Ontario. We seem to be in transition as we seek eternal sunshine but we never get bored as a result.

Making a List

This morning I was to complete a few tasks around the house and I did so rather to quickly as the new list is even bigger. Every year before returning to Ontario Theresa and I make a complete (almost as we always forget something) list of tasks to do. This list is our wish plan for the time we leave until we return.

There are many events for us to attend to as 2010 marks the anniversary of special occasions from the past. One such event is the 55th year since graduation from teachers college and there is a special celebration planned. Our wedding anniversary is in there somewhere and my daughter and granddaughter are going to Africa to help build a school. This will be the second such mission for our granddaughter and this time she is taking mommy along to take pictures and look after things.

We want to get to the Maritimes to see family and friends and there are a few weddings we wish to try to attend. Along with golf, gardening and writing there is not too much down time. By planning we are able to enjoy the thrill of anticipation. Theresa is the detail planner and keeps good records so we don't miss too many important items.

Before we leave our checklist is growing and there is the usual panic before the calm. We always seem to have a day of rest as everything is packed beforehand so we leave early. This Friday is the panic day but come tomorrow all will be well.

I don't do this often but I would like to share a happy moment. Friends of forty years phoned me last evening and expressed joy from the engagement of their only daughter. I have seen these friends in many situations, but I have never witnessed happier parents than these two people with the joyous news. In life there are a few special occasions and I was part of one as they shared their joy with me.

There is something to be learned here... share your joy and make the world a happier place in which to live. Thank you Don and Susan.

Mother's Day in Ardbeg 1957

Ardbeg was a village hidden way back off the beaten path. By nature this town was special; a small grouping of houses far away from a main road but on the main line of the CNR. This small village had a one room school and very little else except children.

I was the principal of the local school and a lay preacher at the time and was called out to take service from time to time, to help the resident minister who had a five point charge. My minister was having a special Mother's Day service followed by a luncheon and family activities at his main charge. He asked me if I could take the service at Ardbeg. He warned me that it would be a service like no other I ever had and not to expect too much.

He gave me some short and long prayers which he deemed appropriate. I wrote a casual sermon extolling the virtues of motherhood and so on. I asked my girl friend to come along and read the long prayer which I wrote. It was a long drive and I never knew the way on the back roads. She was from the area and was familiar with the village. She also knew what to expect. Service was to begin around 1:30 pm and last for a while.

We arrived at the schoolhouse and it was locked. A young chap at the adjoining ball field said he would get the key. He was gone for quite a while but returned with his mother and six children. She apologized but said that she thought there would be no church as there was to be a ball game there at 2 pm.

I told her I was the preacher for the day and yes there would be a service. We waited nervously in the classroom and tried to give some order to the room to make it look like a church. After half an hour some children wandered in and a mother who looked so poorly I was shaken. There were now two women, twenty seven children attending and every seat was filled. I scrapped the service order and we opened with a short but caring prayer followed by several well known hymns sung and led by the haggard lady. She also played the piano and led the children in their little hymns.

At sermon time I sat on one of the desks and talked to the children like a school teacher and we had a discussion about mothers. These little children told me more about what a mother was than I ever realized. I never knew at the time that this little town was where many unmarried ladies lived with their children away from the prying eyes of the holy. At this time church society was not so kind to people in this situation.

I had a living moment in the trials of people who never met the mold of church society. The two ladies made Freshie and produced from nowhere cookies for the children. After closing the service I was reminded by a little red headed boy that we never took up the collection. I said it was alright this week but he insisted as it was his turn. We took the collection and had the little hymn and he proudly came and gave me the collection in an envelope. $.35 he shouted, better than last week. We all smiled and understood that here was a real living church with needy people. I was reminded of the well known verse which said that wherever two or more are gathered in my name I am there also.

We shook hand and said goodbye and Roma and I never spoke for a while. I helped out many more times taking service but I never left at the end of the day feeling like I did on Mother's Day in 1957.

Bird of Paradise Gone To Paradise

We planted several bird of paradise palms five years ago. They were in a one gallon pot and were two feet high. We planted them as a privacy barrier around our pool. They not only grew but multiplied. A fast growing , beautiful palm which flowers all year and every new branch brings a new flower.

These flowers are large and colourful and last for about a month. When the flower goes to seed it provides food for the birds. A regular visitor is the yellow bellied sap sucker who comes, sings, eats and drinks and leaves with a full gullet. Other birds come as well to eat the profusion of insects drawn to the palm because of it's abundance of sugary sap.

These two palms have to be taken down before the hurricane season as they are next to the neighbours screened in pool cover. They have grown to 24 feet in five years and will not be missed because there are nine baby palms ready to spring forth. I hate cutting good, solid palms but it is a necessity. Their life span usually is about ten years before they are in danger of being blown down.

Theresa and I will complete the task and be a little sad to lose such a good flowering tree and will take care of the offspring for another cycle. I guess it would be fair to say that the Bird Of Paradise has gone to Paradise.

Found Treasure

Theresa and I had to visit the green house and purchase several trees to replace the ones killed by the frost this winter. Later that day we were having our evening bicycle ride when we came across a discarded flower pot which contained a variety of ferns and a philodendron. This find would be worth nearly a hundred dollars at the nursery.

We went home and came back with the van to capture this treasure and make it part of our landscaping. With a little care the old soil was removed and the flowers and tree replanted to grow in harmony with our other flora.

This was not the first find we made as people discard many plants and trees which can be nurtured back to good health. We have rescued many and have offered many to people who wish to share. Often at yard sales you will see surplus flowers and trees given away for free. Our yard in Ontario is filled with plants given to us by neighbours and family. What a good way of getting a gift that lasts . Theresa's mother gave us trees for gifts on our anniversary and now she can view and enjoy the fruit from these trees.

Many garden clubs have regular exchanges among members to broaden their inventories of plants. Every time you plant a living tree or flower you are helping to keep our planet green.

Poland,,, How Sad

There are many tragic events on our mind at this point in time. Haiti, Chile, earthquakes, China sand storm only to mention a few. For Poland the recent crash of an old plane took away a large segemant of the elite leadership of the country. Paradoxally this plane was travelling to commerate the tragic event of the second world war.

On this occasion the leadership of Poland was rounded up and confined to a small area in Poland. Priests, members of the government, intellectuals, writers, military generals, the head of the polish Navy, professors and municipal leaders were slaughtered during a few days of ethnic cleansing. 22,000 Polish people died during this few days of carnage and were buried in a woods nearby.

At this time it was thought that the German military were responsible but facts released later showed that in fact the Russian KGB were the ones responsible. This event made relations between Poland and Russia very difficult and there never was a proper recognition of this tragic crime. This year the president of Poland, Kacznski was invited along with others to meet and have an opportunity for healing. This was the 70 th anniversary and was to be a memorial service to begin better relations with neighbours too long seperated by hatred and distrust.

The plane crashed very close to the spot where the massacre occurred. How difficult for the Polish people to accept another tragic event. We can only hope that the new leadership will complete the task begun by those who lost their lives in the woods of Poland in the service of their country. Peace often carries a heavy burden by those who struggle for world peace and we should be thankful that there are people who accept the challenge.

The Ugliest Turnip

I plant pineapples by cutting off the tops and letting them dry for a day or so and planting them in wet sandy soil. About half the time they root and we are rewarded with a pineapple. After Christmas we were having guests for dinner and we made a turnip and carrot vegetable dish. The next day when I was putting the peelings in the compost I noticed that the turnip top was beginning to sprout.

I planted the turnip top in the garden with the beets and in a few days I had a flourishing turnip. I wondered if a real vegetable would result from the experiment. Two months later I pulled out the plant to see if it grew. I grew alright and became the ugliest vegetable I ever saw. Club rooted and very large but hardly something you would like to put on the table.

I think I shall try this again by cutting the turnip top in many pieces like you do with a potato. The result could be interesting.

Amazing Palms

We have about thirty types of palm trees on our property and two of them are quite amazing. Doris bought a Sago Palm four years ago when it was just a tiny plant in a one gallon pot. The Sago grows in a special way. At he center of the plant is a bulb like structure which is covered in thorn like picks. For four or five months it is also covered with a yellow spongy material. It appears dormant until it becomes active and in a matter of six days it pours out of its foamy material and comes to a perfect cone.

The cone on close inspection is made up of about 25 tiny branches which appear impossible to be a leafy branch of the Sago. Overnight the dome explodes and out pop these perfectly formed ferny branches which reach out about three feet in a few days. These palms are slow growing but strong against frost, disease and bugs. As each new row appears the bottom row becomes dormant and eventually drops off. Most people trim them but it is best to let nature do its own job.

The other favourite palm is a spike palm. It grows quickly and if you are fortunate you will be blessed with a huge mass of flowering seeds at the top of the spike. These spike palms will grow indoors as well but will not flower unless they are in a large pot. Ours flowered this year and will remain beautiful for about a month. The flowers become tiny seeds and birds love them. While in flower they are covered with bees and insects.

I shall print a picture when the Sago is in full bloom. Nature sure is fun.

West Virginia

The tragedy at the coal mine in West Virginia tears at the heart strings of all people but particularly to those who are able to understand coal mining. Our family members were brought to Canada to toil in the coal pits of Cape Breton. Many like my father went down the pit at the tender age of 11 or twelve. Boy helpers they were called and being taken out of school in the seventh grade to help your father for a dollar a day was no way to start your life.

Mines were unsafe and the companies that owned the coal rights were often from off shore, in our case from England. Working twelve hours a day to pay the company store was no better than indentured slavery. Working conditions were harsh and dangerous. Many miners were killed annually but many more were injured and maimed. Nearly every miner had scars to prove or remind them of an accident.

My father had a dangerous job as a loader and later a chuck drawer. Coal dust was polluting the miners lungs and the disease of black lung ended many lives at an early age. When you heard that steam whistle blow and heard the ambulance rush down Pitt Street you wondered who was injured. As a young person I remember the town standing still for a moment when that whistle blew.

The tears and sorrow suffered by the families of miners cannot be imagined if you never lived it. In our town the main mine was called Princess Colliery but the company called it # 1. It was the largest submarine coal mine in North America and operated for a hundred years. During the war there were 1,000 men working there. I do not know the exact number of miners involved in accidents causing death but there were many.

There was a short story written about the price of coal and we studied it in grade school to help us understand our fathers job as a miner. The price of coal was paid by the blood of the miners. The miners knew the risks and the danger but there were no other jobs so my great grandfather, my grandfather and my father all worked in the pit. Back in the old country they were miners as well.

Miners and their families belong to a special clan and come together during times of pain and suffering. Funerals for the dead miners draw the whole town together in silent mourning. After every accident there is the usual investigation and the companies are found to be in violation of the codes but in the long run little is done. There is a strong code but it is not enforced. Inspectors are not permitted to shut the mine down while the company is in violation of the code so we will have many more terrible incidents like this latest but they are not accidents but preventable incidents.

My heart goes out to this little West Virginia town and I sadly remember my life as a coal miners son. My father vowed none of his sons would go down to work in the pit and none of us did. Dad broke the cycle by helping us to get an education.

Winter Break in Florida

Our area is a destination for those college and school kids who can afford to come here for their winter break. With perfect weather , around 85 degrees every day and not a cloud, the beaches were filled to capacity. we often criticize our youth but this year they deserve an a plus for their behaviour.

Besides making money for various charities and being environmentally conscious they caused little action on the part of the policing authorities with a handful of misdemeanor's and only a few arrests. Underage drinking accounted for most of the few problems. The Fort Myers Beach association planned many activities and entertainment venues for the students. The exact number of students was not given but an estimation put it at many thousands

The local students also joined in and everyone had a good time. There was not one driving incident and this is rare. Overall this year the area saw a drop in all levels of crime and our city of Cape Coral was named as the safest city in Florida. We had a drop of nearly 20 percent in all levels of crime.

As a candid observer of the youth who came our way I would say we should be proud of them. It was a far cry to the rowdiness of past years where many communities banned students during the spring break. The economic benefit of this spring activity is enormous and weeks like we had here this year will help heal the wounds of the past. Well done Florida and students of the north.

Turning Fifty

This week I reached a milestone. One of my daughters turned 50. This is a joyous occasion because many people don't even have a daughter. For we who are fortunate to have family and friends , a birthday is a reminder that there is somewhere out there that matters. For Theresa and I there is nothing more exciting than our discussions about our kin.

Our fifty year-old has given us numerous occasions to be proud and thankful for a wonderful relationship. With three others reaching fifty during the next few years we will be blessed many times over. All have good or reasonable health, all provide us with moments only family can provide and of course the security in knowing we have a safe haven when we start to age.

On our cruise Theresa and I had time to take stock of our lives. We were able to realize just how blessed we were and the satisfaction of living close enough to our kin to benefit from their love and support. We do live far away for six months of the year but with the telephone and Facebook we pretty well are able to keep up with their world.

On a personal note I remember when turning fifty was a big deal, now with the baby boomers fifty is the new forty. we associate regularly with active people who are well into their eighties. Today your real age is not a number but the physical and mental stage you are in. We frequently say things like, "I feel like a forty year old" or "am I really that old?". What you are really saying is I want to live life to the fullest without the restraints of age.

So there we feel awfully young to have a fifty year-old daughter.

New Hobby

I have always been interested in boats of all sizes. Last year when I had some spare time and materials from the garage I built a couple of boats for fun. I designed the boats on plywood and developed a plan. For tools I used what I had and although they were primitive it is surprising how you can hide errors with good sanding.

I wanted to build a sword fishing boat so I began to think of the small boats anchored at Lockmans Beach in Cape Breton. With very thin one and two ply wood I managed to get a hull that worked. I used the plywood over ribs and decking from a cigar box to complete the hull and deck. A coke can was used for the props and white piping cut thin for the portholes.

I furnished the area below deck like the fishermen did and left the cabin roof unfastened so you can look in. I have a sail boat finished and it would be described as a island trader. Gaff rigged with three jibs up front made it look like you could really fly along with the trade winds.

My latest effort is going to be a motor cruiser when completed. After that I will have to find a new hobby and build rockets or airplanes or such. Working with your hands is fun and it helps the arthritis.

My Friend Doug

Doug is a common enough name but if you add friend to it, it takes on a new meaning. I have known this man for 44 years and our relationship has passed the test of time. We don't see each other very often but when we do we carry on the conversation left unsaid from the time before.

We have mutual interests in family, the environment, gardening and the Detroit Red Wings. We differ politically but Doug is younger so he has a few years to become a little more Liberal as he catches up to me.

Doug is a caregiver and I admire him for the manner in which he has accepted his responsibility as a husband and best friend to Patty. I would rather see him recognized for his dedication than most who receive rewards as a hero. Doug still has time to play hockey three times a week, look after several hundred trees he has selected and cares for and tries to catch fish on the beautiful Madawaska River.

Doug had a mishap this week and has taken himself out of the role as caregiver to a receiver of the same. A serious leg injury requiring surgery will keep him off his feet for a number of weeks. Right at gardening time and spring cleanup. He never complains about the role he plays nor the hand he is dealt and this setback will add another challenge to his agenda. He will have more time to watch the Wings make their way through the playoffs and keep an eye on his beautiful plot of land as it grows without his help for a while.

Patty will keep him in line to make sure he does all his physiotherapy , even though it is painful. I expect to see Doug up and around by the time I get home in May and have a visit. We will not have to worry about counting our golf scores as that is not on our agenda this summer.

Enough said Doug. Enjoy your down time and let other people help you for a change, you deserve it.

Fresh Carrots

After the killing frost of January we decided to replant some of our garden. We were discouraged but thought we would give it a try. With the cooler than average temperatures the root crops flourished and our little garden is giving us a great harvest. The carrots are the best but the garlic, lettuce, and beans are fine and we should manage to eat all of it before the May deadline. You are not permitted to take vegetables over the border and as a matter of fact many states have the same rule.

Talking to the nursery people at the market , they say that everything is 4 to 6 weeks later than usual. The citrus crop will be off schedule and the other seasonal crops will meet the same fate. The frosty weather was a boon for the producers of replacement products like ornamental palms and bushes. For every negative there is a positive in the agriculture industry.

We have to replace at least a dozen palms and we will be able to do a better job of choosing proper trees because of our experience. The added rain this year has filled the ponds and lakes and even the drainage ditches are filled to capacity. Water birds are having a bumper crop of babies and the wood storks are building their numbers after three years of dismal production. Nature left to itself would do a good job of balancing the numbers but like it or not man has to have a place to live too and that causes the clash with the natural order.

I am looking forward to my garden in Ontario in another month and can visualize the pleasure of working with nature to our organic vegetables.