Frank, The Polish Prince

Frank is our neighbour and lives across the street from us. Sunday morning he passed away after a lengthy battle with several health issues. I knew Frank for 12 years and interacted with him on many levels. We both like to garden and keep our homes well managed and you could see Frank every day trimming his lawn or helping his neighbours do the same. We often crossed the street in the morning to discuss the sports events from the day before. Frank loved the Yankees and followed every game. He was a small man physically but played semi pro baseball and earned his spot on the team as a catcher. Look at his hands and you saw hands that betrayed the arthritis as he said nearly every finger was broken at one time or another while playing baseball.

Frank was a collector of memorabilia and had a collection of baseball uniforms, pictures, bats and autographed balls which amazed my grandson who was invited by Frank to watch he and I engage in our friendly snooker games. He was good at that as well and always smiled in a knowing way when he won the best out of three. I knew he played golf and invited him to come and spare with my group who played every Tuesday. He came and conquered. He won the money on a regular basis, so often I used to accuse him of not knowing how to count. At one time he was a scratch golfer.

The Polish Prince loved his wife Renee, his dog Molly and his parrot, Mr. Beeks. This was a small family but he extended it to include his long time neighbour Grace who knew him better that most of us. He sometimes came across as gruff and tough but we all knew that was a veneer to cover up his soft spots. He had a cache of dog biscuits at his driveway and every dog knew it and stopped for a treat, He used to tell me of the gifts he bought for special occasions for his kids at the crossing of the school he guarded daily. He was tough there protecting his kids but loved the job and loved his kids.His kids loved him and showed it at Christmas when they filled his car with gifts to show thanks for a job well done.

Frank will be missed by his wife Renee who watched over him so faithfully during his battles with health issues. He will be missed by the folks who live on Falgarwood as he was a good man and neighbour. He will be missed by me because he was my friend.

Colonoscopy

This may seem like a bad topic for a blog but I feel obligated to recognize the importance of this procedure.This morning I had my regular procedure as it was five years since the last one. My Mother was a victim of Colan cancer and it would have been preventative had they (Dr's.) had the procedures in place at that time. Today everyone had the ability to read and understand that this is the second greatest killer cancer and is 99% preventable.

While I was in the Dr. office I read the statistics for Ontario. Over 7500 cases a year and over 2500 deaths. There is one simple reason for this cancer to be so deadly, ignorance and apathy. A half hour procedure, painless and performed in a clinic or hospital setting could save your life. If by chance during the procedure a polyp is discovered it is eliminated right there. What could be easier. A polyp could develop into cancer in ten years or earlier. You may have a sedative to ease the tension but I chose not too for the last two times and was able to walk out half an hour after the procedure. If your Dr. does not perscribe a colonoscopy when you turn fifty or even forty if there is a history in the family of cancer of this type, ask for it.

It gives me a good feeling to walk out of the clinic and realize that I am safe from this problem for five years. I have a legion of friends who hide away from this obligation because of the nature of the procedure. The alternative is not pretty to you or your family so get up and get busy and make sure you are protected from this #2 cancer. This add is sponsored by children and friends of people who are neglecting their responsibility.Because of the nature of this topic....no pictures are available.

Senior Moments

Have you ever second guessed yourself about important issues?I left Florida in a big hurry and had a check list a mile long. As I completed each task I stroked it off. The list was down to the stage where you shut off all the services and make sure the alarm system is working and the bug control program is ready to be actuated as you scamper out of the house and wait to hear the signal that all is well. This year it did not happen just like that. At the very last moment before leaving our home I started all the spray cans to control the bugs and spiders when we are away. This time however I turned on one can right under a fire alarm. As I closed the door for what I thought was the final time I heard this horrible signal.....the spray actuated the fire alarm.

Not to worry I had a minute to go back in and turn off the offending alarm. On re-entering I was met with this powerful smell of bug spray and my eyes quickly watered. I did find the main security box but it read..police on the way. I reset the alarm and made my way out leaving my hot chocolate and melting arctic bar on the kitchen counter. Once outside I  decided enough was enough so I never went back for my travelling treats,

Knowing that the police were on their way I waited by my van hoping to see the police arriving with guns pointed and prepared to arrest me. They never came for a reasonable time so I headed to Canada at about 1.30 am. When I arrived home and on the trip home I constantly questioned myself and retraced every step. Theresa made it even worse by asking about several things which made my anxiety rise to an unacceptable level. Incidentally the police did arrive and my neighbour handled the situation for me. Because of these uncertain moments we decided to go back down for a week of R and R and to make sure this time everything is perfect. When you work as a team and one member is missing it brings a new dynamic to everything you do. We depend upon each other and don't realize it until we are apart. Thank our lucky stars we are not apart very often.

Family Weekend

Long weekends have their charm when it permits a gathering of family members who have not seen each other for a few months. In our family we have to deal with geography. We are scattered over Ontario and take advantage of every opportunity to gather. This weekend is really the first chance to welcome the summer season and what better way than coming together and like the flowers of spring  to renew our family ties.

This year we were not able to welcome everyone of the clan as special interests took some of our family to far away places and they were missed. I recall saying at our last get together that this may be one of the last times we will all be together in one place. With widening responsibilities and interests it is difficult if not impossible to schedule such an event. What we wish for is to keep the thought of togetherness and think of the ones who are missing in person.

In my family of siblings we were never all together as a family at one time. It was circumstances that carried our family into distant parts of Canada for work and to make our way into the world. Funerals and weddings brought some of us together occasionally and home visits always bring those who live close by a chance to catch up on the news and to welcome new ones to the circle. From the beginning with only Mom and Dad I hardly believe they thought it would create such a huge network of children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

It is these branching out events which create a widening gene pool and a social network which brings strength to a family. As we enjoyed our few days together it is always a little sad when they end and everyone goes home but the memories of these gatherings bring strength to the family and a desire for more of the same.

Late Spring

This year is really beginning to be a year of unusual weather. We have had rain in nearly every day so far in May and my family in the Mari  times say that is true for their area as well. For the trees and green stuff it is great but for the farmers waiting to get on their fields it is quickly becoming  problematic. The ground is saturated and the heavy equipment cannot traverse the land.

Everywhere across the land there seems to be floods, unusual weather and a bleak forecast for the fall harvest. The fruit growers are delighted but a late crop sets them back as well . Walking out in my backyard yesterday morning I was surprised that the overnight rain caused our three small ponds to overflow.The ground was so wet I could not cut the grass and some of the neighbours had water in their basements.

This year there is one positive. It is the number of honey bees on our fruit trees. In spite of the wet weather the overnight temperatures remain relatively warm caused by the overcast sky. This is a good thing as two years ago we had cold weather and few or no bees to do their job. In spite of this situation it is remarkable how quickly everything is able to change. One week of sunshine with a breeze will dry the fields and make us forget the past rain and inclement weather

Plant Not People Time

Since we have been home there has been only a few days that you could really call people days. Rain, fog, mist, cold and miserable weather. However the upside is that the plant world loves this fresh start to spring. The grass is perfect, the trees are blooming, the tulips are hanging around for a few extra weeks and all in all nature loves this refreshing rain that quenches the thirst of plants. All winter the plants wished for a good drink and if you did not make sure that they had plenty of water before the frost , they longed for what we are getting.

I am amazed at the strawberries and fruit trees which need that rain water and their thanks comes in the form of a spectacular show of blossoms. I cannot recall a spring as cool or rainy as this one but I cannot recall a spring where our plants and trees look so healthy. Today in the rain I grabbed my dandelion knife and made the rounds and was hard pressed to find enough to justify my safari in the rain.

Nature is a wonderful kingdom and marches to it's own drummer. Aboriginal people with who I lived with for five years told me often that every living organism had a spiritual presence. I observed this phenomenon and I agreed with them that nature has a rhythm which made more sense than the man made institutions of churches, religions and man made theory's which neglected common sense. We as people have this feeling that we have to put man ahead of the natural  order of things.

I guess I am true to my calling and realize the comfort I exact in being part of nature and all that is real and not mans desire to be superior to the nature order of natural phenomena.

Detroit Red Wings

Since 1946 I have followed the Detroit Red Wings Hockey Team. All those years there was a good reason to do so because they had a standard of performance matched only by the Montreal Canadians and sometime Toronto Maple Leafs. Their team was one which depended on the loyalty of it's fans and players. Many of the team played the majority of their career with the Wings only. This brought a measure of security and trust which resulted in success ofter success.

Some of the greatest players who ever laced up skates came from this organization. Gordie Howe probably is among that elite group who are called Mr. Hockey in their respective organization. Tonight they have a opportunity to do what only a few other teams have done; come back from a three game deficit to win in seven with four straight wins. Regardless of the outcome they have captured the imagination of the hockey fans everywhere and tonight they will end the game with a certain respect given to those who stand a little above the crowd. They are the Red Wings you know.

Being Canadian

Driving home from Florida this year was a little different as I was alone with my GPS partner who kept me on the correct road. I had time to think and talk to myself and I ended up thinking about being a Canadian. As I crossed the border at Buffalo there was a certain feeling about being home. I felt safer, and relieved to be travelling on our roads with our security.

I was coming home to a federal election. NHL playoffs, some health issues in our family and a garden to be nurtured back to the standard I like. All this is part of being a Canadian. Without a conscious effort I compare events outside Canada with how it would be in Canada. Without exception I feel the strength of our way of life and our connection to our institutions are far and away superior to those found abroad.

Although we have become closer in some ways to our American counterparts we are distinct in a clear way when it comes to how we perceive our responsibility for our fellow Canadians. We feel for our poor, our sick, our disadvantaged because of education or circumstances beyond their control and we share like no other country in partnering to come to the aid of people in need around the world.

Our Canada must always be wary of leaders who would attempt to lead us away from this blue chip way of life and into circumstances that would make us less sensitive to the global community and our responsibility to be a leader in securing a better way of life for those less fortunate. Several issues come to mind where Canada made commitments to end the AIDS epidemic in Africa and the world move to control negative environmental issues.

We are major contributors to the problem of producing green house gasses in our desire to produce oil to meet the hungry world needs. These Canadian natural resources are being gobbled up by foreign interests without receiving much benefit except some jobs.

The third issue is clean water. There should be a clear national policy on fresh water and soon,  as water will be more precious than oil in the near future. We are sewards of a large portion of this resource and it should be shared in a meaningful way to benefit Canadians and the whole world.

Being Canadian is very exciting as we can be big players in the global scheme of things. Our young people have a challenge and a share in this great future.

Climate Change

There seems to be more and more evidence of the dynamic effect on our lives and economy from climate change. This month we read and see evidence of flooding all over the world. Closer to home we have severe flooding in Manitoba and New Brunswick as well as a host of other places where the degree and severity do not warrant national news coverage.

The potential for economic ruin in the flooded areas is real and if the act of nature were to occur several years in a row we could be in real trouble. In South East Asia this year up to 40% of the farmland was flooded and there will be no or lesser crop yields of rice in this rice economy.Already there are forecasts of world level difficulties of providing food for millions of people. Europe and its bread basket were hit with similar problems where crops were supposed to be less than half in many areas.

Without belabouring the point we should be doing immediately what we should have been told to do years ago and prepare for the changing climate challenge. With world concerns turned into world action plans we have the resources to cope with the situation. Resources now used to build and buy guns can be used to make butter. I read a book years ago and it talked about the choice of guns or butter and it describes the situation we find ourselves at this time.

I wish to think that our world and national leaders could work together and solve the challenges we have before us.It is a sad commentary on our civilization when leaders waste fortunes on guns and their countrymen are starving. Case in point is North Korea where one of the largest armed forces on the planet exists and thousands are in danger of starvation. All over Africa the same condition exists.

Mother Nature holds the upper hand in this theatre and we must work with her to co-exist on this planet earth.

Mother's Day

For years I have written a post about Mother's Day.I covered the emotional and objective aspects of this day. Personally it has always been a day of remembering and rediscovering the things I could have and did not do or say when my Mom was alive. Today I look with a different perspective. I realize that we cannot put the tooth paste back in the tube but you can make sure in the future you act in a more loving and thoughtful way.

I have written so much about Mom in my book that I probably repeat myself endlessly about her and her influence on my character. She was my super ego and no matter how I tried to escape she always found a way of creeping in to effect my judgment.

For years after her death I had dreams and realistic visits with her. My wife had a difficult time with me sitting up in bed and talking to the wall but actually Mom. She would try to wake me but I was so deep in thought that nothing could break the connection. Then I would go back to sleep. In the morning She would ask me who I was talking to and I would be able to give her a  actual account of my visit with Mom.

At times of crisis in my life I would receive this visit and receive great advice. In real life Mom rarely gave me any advice but since her death I have had an on going partnership with her. I know that there is a rational answer to this situation but I love the thought that maybe the times I needed her when she was alive she was too busy or occupied to come to my aid. Now that she and I have lots of time I am receiving that attention I so dearly wished for as a child and young person. Her visits trailed off  when I retired and no longer was in the public eye. I suppose my conscience and subconsciousness aspect has not required her help as I am at peace and have a wonderful life with a family and extended line of friends.

Age becomes your motivator and you wish to squeeze everything you desire into the time you have left. My Mom died well before normal age for most but her 65 years encompassed a world of achievements and her influence to her family and friends was remarkable. The time we have cannot be measured in linear time but how we use the time we had. My Mom used her time doing what she knew best, building a family who would become good people. She achieved this and on this day I remember picking May Flowers to wear to church and to give to her just because she was our Mom, and we loved her.

Painting On A Rainy Day

This morning I awoke to a dull and dreary greeting as I looked out my bedroom window to see how our fish were doing.They were all hiding under the vegetation and it was the signal that today could have a purpose if I got right to work. Theresa and I decided to freshen up the hallway by changing the paint. It never looked much  like a big job until I started to tape.There is a 50 foot straight hallway leading to stairs up and down. Thirteen openings for doors make for yards and yards of frog tape.

With the girls out for a visit I was unencumbered by unnecessary supervision and could work at getting the job done my way.I found out that by the time I rounded up all my necessary tools, floor covers, brushes and rollers that the hallway was pretty well cluttered. I managed to get started but standing on a small stool and reaching to the full extent of my body quickly stressed the old bones and I had to take frequent breaks. It seemed that every time I got moving at a good pace the phone would ring or I would make a mistake and I would have to start again.

I really like to paint - it is all the other little things I dislike specially when it calls for cleaning up.I lost my balance and the only thing that offered support was the newly painted wall. That and a dozen other little mishaps made life interesting. By noon the girls arrived home and wondered why the hall was in such a mess and I had not completed the job.Little do they know that it will take a couple of more days before everything returns to normal. With two coats and touch ups in the making I should be able to return to my real job, gardener. This afternoon the sun is shining and I am painting. So much for painting on a rainy day.

Candidates

By midnight tonight there will be several hundred happy men and women who are successful in earning a seat in the House of Commons. These people will guide Canada for the next four years.There will also be about a 1000 men and women who will have their dreams shattered. It takes a special person to run for any office. The fact that an individual will stand above the crowd and offer their services for their fellow man is in itself a positive action.

To run for office and receiving some support is a win situation. People should be proud of their effort and hold their heads up high because they have kept alive the democratic process. Everyone is a winner who participates in the process. The losers are the ones who do not engage in the process and stand back and criticize the results.

Today we have men and women who have taken the step to be a winner and I congratulate every one and hope that those who are unsuccessful in winning this time will feel the urge to come back and be part of the drama of the next election. I hope we were all winners today and VOTED.

Voting

There is one part of the democratic process that gives above all else the sense of belonging to a nation which believes and practises true freedom of choice of leadership and that is voting. We Canadians have honoured this right by holding free elections and permitting everyone of voting age to cast their ballot in secret. Personally I have exercised my right faithfully at all levels and am very proud to do so along with every member of my family and grandchildren.

This year Lyndsay marshalled all the kids to the polls and checked to make all five of the eligible grandchildren accountable. The oldest member of our family is Doris who is nearly 94 and voted today with her daughter. Our voting will have little effect on the total outcome of the election but it shows that we value our freedom and privilege of voting.

It is sad that the number of people who vote is smaller than it should be this time there is a sense of something big is going to happen. Maybe the people will vote for a majority or they do not trust enough and will ask that we remain a minority government. Whatever the outcome,  it will be our government and we should stand behind the elected people to make sure that there is a sense of unity and the elected people will work together to make a better Canada.

A democracy is a fragile institution but gathers its strength through the collective will of the people gathered through the election process. It is an imperfect system but is the envy of many countries who suffer through unstable leadership who do not have the support of the citizens as we do because they fail to have democratic elections. I thank my country for extending me the privilege of living in a participation democracy.

Early Start

For the past number of years we have been returning to Ontario around the first week in May. This year we arrived home to miserable weather two weeks early. It tirned out just fine as we can enjoy the sight of our tulips and spring flowers and the thrill of the opening of the blossoms on our fruit trees. I was home early enough to apply that spray before the buds opened.

Yesterday was just perfect for that ugly job of cleaning the three small ponds of the leaves and muck that acculuminates every year.The water was cold and the muck finds a way of covering you with an odor which can only be described as ugly. With these tasks underway I had time to phone my friend Doug who is my source of knowledge when it comes to trees. He has gathered many trees on his property and is quick to take you for a tour of his small forest and give you the names and characteristics of each. I look forward to the tour this spring when we will get to the Valley for a visit.

Winter was kind to my plantings this year, probably because of the heavy snow pack, and everything I planted is growing or showing signs of life. We who love to get our hands in the soil and actually grow things get a special feeling in the springtime when nature shows us her power to bring life and beauty to all who wish to see.

Hospital Crisis

Following the mess regarding our recent medical incident in the USA I have a faltering feeling of security with our system.It is easy to blame the insurance company and at first sight I was tempted to do just that. However I read another story today in the Toronto Star which replicated the mess we found ourselves in while Doris was in hospital in Florida. Doris and the man in the news article were given excellent care while they were patients but the insurance company was unable in both cases to obtain a hospital bed in Ontario. For Doris it meant an 11 day stay and for the man it was two weeks.

In both cases the insurance company attempted to find a bed for their clients. In the whole GTA they could not find a bed. This is nonsense as any ambulance arriving at a hospital will be accommodated.I understand that there are special circumstances for out of country patients and red tape for sure. These people are citizens of Ontario and in both cases waited long periods of time for a bed.To be helpful I wish to say that both patients are well now even after the worry and distress suffered by lingering for so long. I shall write the minister of health and follow up with a phone call to see if something should be done to correct the situation.

These are two cases but you can be sure there are many more. Next time it could be me or you and it causes us to be concerned when we travel abroad. We pay large sums of money to be covered beyond OHIP when we travel and should expect to be treated in a more direct manner. In Doris' case she pays close to $4000 in extra medical care as she is elderly and that is all the more reason she should have been looked after in a timely fashion.

I am not criticizing the medical staff or hospitals as we received excellent care...it is the administration of these institutions that concern me. AMEN.