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.