Easter

When I was a young child I was confused about Good Friday and Easter. It seemed that you were supposed to be so happy because of the magical event that took place. We went to church every Sunday and Sunday school in the afternoon. All the talk was about this person named Jesus who came down to earth to save the world if you believed in him.

As a child the concept was difficult but we believed in magic so the whole Christian thing became part of our life. This year when I am a senior and a person who does not believe in magic I had a very difficult time watching the movie ,The Bible.

This movie get rave reviews as a great portrayal of the life of Christ. If I were a young person today and was asked to watch this movie I would wonder why so many people loved this story with snip-its of the Life of Christ. 

There is so much violence and corruption in the church of the day and the vicious way that Jesus was treated and betrayed a child would be turned off immediately. I wonder ,just wonder why some director could not put a face on Jesus that would show his wisdom and compassion in a manner that would make this man a true hero to young people. He and many men before and since have been depicted in a manner worthy of their contribution to the world.

Mans need to have a personification of the great spirit fascinates me. Every formal religion tries to bring the great spirit which is beyond our understanding into the form of a special person. There is a common thread of the special person deemed special enough to receive God like powers. It fails to pass the test of reality and millions of people still hold fast and continue to follow the path of faith based religion.

Looking at many religions, cults and organizations which cry out to be the one and only way to happiness and life after death I feel cheated as none have made me feel included. I strongly repeat at every opportunity that the prime mover, the great power  that is the universe and its natural causes present us with a secure belief that being part of this magnificent power gives us the strength to be citizens or children of the universe..

 

Basketball Fever

The young Florida university FGCU has only been a tier one basketball team for two years. It found itself as the Cinderella team in the tournament as it won both its first games against seed #2 and seed #3. This was the best ever for a team ranked # 15. The area went wild and the support given this team in fantastic. Tonight they play against a fellow Florida team , the Gators who are ranked third in all of America.

The Gators have won 24 times and has a student body of 50,000. FGCU has a student body of 13,000. It is a miss match but everyone here expects another great game and a win for the pride of South West Florida.

The game is always played on neutral territory and this time it is in Cowboy Stadium in Texas. The stadium holds 100,000 people but for tonight there will be 42,000 seats filled. I know I will be watching this game as I did all year and was amazed and entertained with the ability of these young athletes.

FGCU is known as the dunking machine and they thrill the crowd every time out. Athletics play such a big part in the campus life in American universities that the performance of this local team will give momentum to the upstart school and help it gain status on the national scene.

Lynda Dianne

Our eldest daughter is having her birthday today and we will not be there to celebrate with her. On the evening of her birth I was not there as well as I was on the parade square several miles away. Before I left home that evening I asked her Mom if she was OK and she said everything was great.

Our battalion had just formed up at the beginning of our parade when  Col. Burke called me out to come front and center and to be quick about it.As I moved to the position immediately in front of the Colonel he announced that I was about to become a father and I was to get going before I missed all the action. As I left the parade square there was a cheer from the troops and I was elated to get going to Ft. William and McKeller Hospital.

Lynda was born in the evening and her mother had a difficult first birth but we were so happy to have a healthy baby girl. Through the years her presence in our family made being a father a real treat as well as an adventure. Lynda gave us some of the most humorous incidents and serious ones as well.

As the years quickly moved on so did our relationship. Growth through understanding and trust with Lynda and all our children makes for a happy and understanding family circle. Lynda was always there for her sisters and brother and specially her Mother. Her bond with her mother gave new meaning to the word  caregiver as she and her siblings helped their mother through a medical adventure like no other.

Today as I bask here in the Florida sunshine I would trade a few of these wonderful days for a few hours with Lynda and family as she celebrates her 50-something special day.

Happy Birthday Lynda Dianne and many more.

Blue Jays ...Twins

Theresa and I try to see the Blue Jays play when we are here for the spring raining cramp. Usually the Blue Jays play when there are here but this year they have been having a bad winning time. ..Toronto always using the time in camp to find the good young players but actually they are giving the young players a time to shine.

This game was a great one for the viewers as there were 11 home runs scored and every time a home run was made the Jays the siren did not sound.. the Blue Jays   divided their team this day so we only saw a part of our team.

The stands were filled with Ontario and Canada fans and we really felt at home. Theresa talked to the people at her side and they were from Mississauga and next to me they were from Toronto.

Tehe teams were really hitting the ball and home runs were fast and furious..When do you see 11 home runs in a ball game?

We had a great time and look forward to the next time. Theresa and I love to see the big games but we look forward to a better  start for the BLUE JAYS>

Thirty Years in Thirty Minutes

Quite often we will meet up with someone that has been out of our life for many years and after a brief re-engagement it seems we were never apart. That was the case the other day when Theresa and I shared a day with old friends from Pembroke.

We met a week or so ago at the market and planned a get together at our house. After some getting to know you again we decided to take our conversation to the pool where we relaxed and shared humorous events and some serious as well. Time flew by and we began to realize that over one hour was enjoyed but it was time to get out.

We had perfect weather and as we sat outside and ate some coconut shrimp washed down with cool wine,   we dug deeply to remember stories about so many of our friends who were no longer with us. We covered many topics and learned much about our families and just what our children we up to and of course the grand children.

Supper was cooked outside and eaten slowly,  in between gaps in the conversation . It was time for our guests to leave and we followed them to the car to say our last good byes. It was a great day and little did we realize that it might be many years before we would have the opportunity to share another day with these friends.

Life is like that....a serious of shared events which together make up the real valuable memories we store away to make our day dreams meaningful.

Tom Sawyer Story

Theresa and I frequently put good items out on the street with the motive of recycling. Two days ago we put out the largest and heaviest leather chair. We had difficulty in getting it to the curb. It was old but a chair I could relax in or even sleep in if the sporting TV items were boring.

A day went by and several people stopped and checked the chair but when they tried to move it they retreated. Yesterday Theresa went to fetch the mail from our box and as she entered the house she suggested we take the chair to the Salvation  Army. I agreed but was not ready to rush out and try to load it in the back of the Van.  Several minutes later Theresa asked me to look out the window. I ran to the window expecting to see a bird or something special.

I did see something special. There were two boys about eight or nine trying to place the chair on two skate boards. You would have to see this to believe it. They managed to place that heavy object on the boards after a long series of problem solving. They were able not only to balance it but began to move it down the street.

They had to move it three blocks and every so often they had to re-position the chair on the small boards. As they approached their home they were joined by two other kids also with skate boards and their task was easier. As they got very near their home they removed the chair from the skate boards and all four in perfect harmony reached down and lifted the chair and carried it into a spare lot with plenty of trees.

I am sure that chair will be the center of their secret hiding place and will give them some pleasure. I would like to investigate their special place and see what other treasures they might have hidden away from the public eye. The Tom Sawyer spirit is alive and well as they showed us yesterday

A New Visitor

We have tinted windows in every room of our Florida home. Every window appears as a mirror to birds so when territorial birds see their reflection they attack our windows. This week we had a completely new bird coming every day to peck at our bedroom window.There were two birds which I have not identified as yet but they are beautiful.

I took pictures through the tint so they are not as clear as they would be but I will share them anyway.They are pecking at our window as I am writing this blog.

This is the breeding season in Florida and we are being treated to numerous birds which we rarely see. We are hoping for a nesting season for the wood storks as they have only had one in the past six years.

Mother Nature sure has a way of making her case against careless people when their actions interfere with her children.

March 17

Because I lean a little more to the Scottish traditions I have some feelings about the Irish Celebrations. I realize that this day is special to millions of people across the world  but I wonder why. Here in Florida it appears that all the advertisements are from bars and watering holes and little about the proud history of the Irish. The bars are encouraging people to come out and celebrate.

The celebration is usually green beer and corn beef and cabbage. It actually is advertising a huge drunk. Most of the establishments advertise free drives home after you drink too much. I used to celebrate this day when I was young and a group of us used to go to a dance and have many drinks. Lately Theresa and I have our Jiggs Dinner at home and stay away from the noisy places where there is little thought of the real Irish festive day.

Today I took the time to look at the Paddy day celebrations and I was impressed with  a history of a people who had a very hard time just existing. Crop failures and strife with England kept the people poor but in spite of all this the Irish have made a huge impact on the world. They had to move to every corner of the world and when they did they made significant contributions.

Their music, charm and dedication to their work made them a desired force in the police ranks and fire departments of many cities . I feel that like Xmas, the 17 th has been hijacked by commercial interests and the real Irish celebration is lost in the greed of dollars to be made.  Hurrah for the real Irish who are a remarkable people.

Partners

You know you have a partner when you decide to move. Theresa and I decided on a move and I being a planner sat with Theresa and laid out an aggressive plan. The plan involved much physical work and we were not sure we could do it all ourselves. However we were told that some people were coming through our home in a few hours and we had to get the job done.

First of all we had to move many pieces of furniture. This was not a move from one place in the room to another but a distance to the garage. With the help of our little mover we managed. Then to get rid of the personal touches around the rooms...we filled all the available drawers with family pictures, keepsakes, valuable trivia and junk.

We were amazed how much you can accomplish when you are focused  After less than two hours we were able to hide all character to our home. Gone were the family photos, gone were the little touches that make a house a home and the clutter which gives a room character were gone. Gone but not far away as we completely filled all our hiding places and the beds held many secrets under the mattresses.Theresa and I were able to accomplish all this because we worked as a team or I like to call it partners.

We sat down and looked at our home and sort of laughed to think this would look good to a prospective buyer. We decided to go for a drive and eat lunch out. We never or rarely eat out but this time we decided to have a burger and a milk shake. Time flew and we returned to our violated house. looked at by strangers who did not give a dam about what a house was when it is a home. We have to detach ourselves from the building and go forward realizing that the next owners will make it their home and will love it as we did.

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Staging

Daughter Darlene is a professional stager. Theresa and I are staging our house for sale and we are taking the course by experience. Every day (day 1 ) we begin by trying to hide the personal items which might give prospective buyers that real people actually lived here..

Shoes; we have 20 pair, actually Theresa has 20 pair. How do you hide that many shoes? There are many items that show that we have some interest in life that have to be unseen. Furniture becomes sterile but perfectly placed to show no one actually uses it .

The pool is so clean and none of the toys that make swimming in the water so enjoyable have to be out of sight. Actually the pool looks like it is a fixture ready for a picture. The garden area is so devoid of shovels and instruments of agriculture that one would wonder how all the vegetables grew without weeds and look so good.

Selling a loved property is so emotional that when you take the real items out of the equation I would wonder why anyone would want to buy it. If that is what it takes to sell .....so be it.

Pensive Mood

There are times in our lives when we have to come to grip with issues that are life changing. At this time we are at that stage - or at least I am that. Life gives us an opportunity to expand our horizons but at a cost. Should we make choices that are for our benefit or should we consider the bigger picture and see life as a community venture and contemplate the whole family?

We have been fortunate to have lived in Florida for ten years in a beautiful home and with close friends and activities which would be the envy of many. Our 95 year old mother is in a lodge which also would be the envy of many but she is missing the most important part of her life. She misses we who are living the good life, and feels alone despite the fact that she has family close by.

We will have to return to Oakville and have Doris come back into the fold and share her remaining years with the people that really count. This is not a easy decision as we will have to sell our home here and return to the winter weather which we have escaped for so many years.

This stage in our life will have its rewards as we will be able to share the remaining years that Doris will have here on earth. I have a clear picture of the years ahead and realize that there is always a social benefit from doing the proper thing. We are anxiously looking forward to our new adventure.

Persistence Pays Off

Our monthly golf tournament was held today and it was a straight game score minus your handicap. The weather was iffy but we had some 60 golfers register and pay their $15. In my category there were 24 people. Most of the people in my group were better golfers than I but they were not used to playing in less than perfect weather.

As the game proceeded the rain came and three of the members of my foursome decided to quit. I took my bag and waited on the seventh golf tee. Soon a group came along and I joined them. After nine holes two more quit and I was keeping pace and playing my usual game. By the time I finished the eighteen holes there were many men in the clubhouse having a beer.

As I finished my game and added up my score and deducted my generous handicap, I was convinced that I was out of the money. I joined my group and we laughed about the quitters and some said I had a chance since about ten from my division did not complete the game.

As the prize money was announced and handed out, low and behold  I came in third. I won good money and realized that persistence does pay off. Last man standing theory won out again.

Eagles 3, Owls 2

During the last nine years we have been watching several pair of eagles nesting and raising their young. One pair has just hatched their seventieth young ones and the other pair have been having some trouble with establishing their territory.

This pair of eagles built a nest in a beautiful tree and had success in hatching two chicks. The next year the nest took was taken over by a pair of Great Horned Owls. The following year it was eagles again  and this year the owls were there to raise their two chicks. Owls are notorious for being lazy and avoiding the work of building a nest. They steal a ready made nest from eagles or other large birds.

We are always surprised that eagles will give up their nest to owls, but they do. This year it appears to be a good year for the nesting birds but there are some problems with water levels for wading birds. When we keep score for that second nest we have it: Eagles 3 and Owls 2.

Little Visitor

Today we were cleaning up and as I vacuumed the pool Theresa saw a small creature on our screen. I recognized it as a chameleon and approached it so as not to panic the little creature. It moved off the screen to the white support  and it turned a definite whitish color. It is quite amazing how they are capable of turning colour to match the environment. Some people do that when they enter certain professional jobs. They say whatever is necessary to keep their standing with the group. They finally get found out when they have to walk over tartan.

Life is like that - not black or white but rather, a fine mixture of all colours. And real people are able to cope as the chameleon does.

Spring Baseball

Our area is home to two major league baseball teams. The Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins.Last eve Theresa and I went to the new Jet Blue ($84,000,000.) stadium and saw a low scoring game won by the Twins.

This new stadium paid for by the taxpayers of the area draw huge crowds to the games and have a very positive effect on the economy. This facility is well built, managed and promoted. The Twins who also play out of Ft. Myers now want equal treatment so their stadium is having a $64,000,000 overhaul  We also have an empty stadium and are looking for a tenant. The Nationals show interest but so far no deal.

We found out that there is danger if you don't keep your eye on the ball. A lady three seats to our left was hit square on the head and had to be helped. She returned later ,bruised and with a autographed baseball for her trouble. During the evening five balls landed very close to our seats. We had box seats out beyond the first base line and were in the direct line of fire .

It was a perfect evening for baseball and we will see another game later in the month.

Missed Opportunities

Being laid up with my battered right leg caused me to miss the club championship golf games. I would not have had a chance of winning, but all of us have a chance to win in our own class. With a 22 handicap and a bad leg I had no chance at all so I cancelled out. Instead of playing I bought a ticket for the club closing which is a dinner dance for Theresa and I. This saves me the embarrassment of having to be at the bottom of the list that evening and just enjoy the fellowship.

This week alone was not a very happy one as I missed Theresa; we are rarely apart. The regular trip to the market, grocery shopping, and other routines which we follow are not really as good without your friend. Being alone is a very good exercise for married people. It gives you the chance to evaluate your relationship and meaning and value in your life.

I was happy to see Theresa share a week with her friend and recapture that spark that keeps the friendship alive. When she returned it was refreshing to hear the special moments she experienced with a person she has known for all her life. Her week was filled with activities, good food, long walks and many laughs. I was happy when Theresa came off the.plane at nearly midnight and to hear here excitement about her adventure as were drove home.

Many of us miss opportunities for an enriched life . We have to be able to discover them and act with complete confidence. The rewards are fantastic.

A Slip In Time

A week ago while Theresa was in Texas, I had a slip that changed my plans. I had planned to do so much while I was alone: gardening, planting a new tree and a general cleanup of the garage and the property. Everything changed when I decided to take a shower before bedtime. I had been fishing all day with friends and smelled of fish and fish bait. I decided to have a hot shower and to just stand in the stream to relax and revitalize my tired bones.

All went well for the 20 minutes under the hot water but I decided to shampoo my hair as well. I took too much shampoo and covered my head and the overflow trickled down to my eyes. This happens on a regular basis but this time my eyes really stung... I rinsed and the shower was covered with suds. I reached for the large towel and started to rub my eyes and hair. As I stepped out of the shower my left foot touched the mat but my right foot reached slippery tile.

With my towel over my head,  the first thing I saw was my right foot flying in the air and I was on my way back. I pulled the towel tightly over my head fearing an impact with the floor. I saved my head but my right hip and knee met the tile with a crack. I was stunned and lay there naked as a jay bird and in no condition to move. All kinds of thoughts came to pass over my clouded brain. Did I break my hip? My knee, was it OK?

I lay there for five minutes and when the pain subsided I reached for the tortured parts and found everything as it should be except there was a cruel pain in my right leg. I rolled over and attempted to get to my knees. I was unable to do so but I reached the door under the sink and eventually to the sink itself and began to pull myself up. I managed to get to my knees and with a special effort made it up on one leg.

I dried myself off and with the help of the wall and furniture made it to the bed and my clothes pilled  up on the floor. I could not reach them so I grabbed my housecoat and with a lurch managed to get to my easy chair. After all the wings were playing hockey and I could not miss that. After a small drink of rum and Pepsi I settled into a sleep in the chair. I missed most of the game but woke up feeling better.

From now on I will never come out of that shower with a towel over my head.

Fishing The Flats With Ron and Frank

Ron and Frank are two fishermen who know the Flats around Pine Island like the back of their hand. With a well equipped boat and their knowledge of how to catch the variety-of fish found on the Flats I was happy indeed to be asked to fish with them.

From the moment we put the boat in the water until we completed the day I was entertained by the wealth of information passed on to me . Everything from the types of bait  to the best manner to retrieve  the cast I became a better shallow water fisherman.

We fished in water which was from five feet to two feet deep.Trout, lady fish (poor mans tarpon),jacks and even a few that were unfamiliar to me. The best keepers were the  mackerel which gave a great fight and are excellent eating.  A lizard fish with sharp teeth and a small catfish were the ones you have to be careful handling as they have spines .

We fished all day under the hot sun but a gentle breeze kept us relatively comfortable.. In spite of the sunscreen we all received more sun than we should have but if I was asked to fish again today I would be there. Fishing Florida waters is so rewarding that every day on the water is a special treat.