Fall Checkup

Around this time of the year we prepare for winter and make sure that all the necessary work is completed before going to Florida. We trim our trees, feed the rhubarb, prepare our vegetable gardens and put away all the outside lighting and a dozen other tasks.Inside we do the same.

As and individual I feel like some kind of a medical creature when all the prep events are counted up. The dentist, yearly medical with the dozen blood tests, your eye specialist and the pharmacist to buy all those goodies that take care of your arthritis and other human failings.

Every year I do this and realize the consequences of not having that wonderful, golden medical plan. My Dr. believes that prevention is better than treatment so he makes every effort to keep me medically sound. In the same way I maintain my property our medical system maintains my body. I never gave this much thought as I have been fortunate to be able to look after my children and myself without a thought of the cost.

People who do not benefit from such a program must feel frustrated that they are unable to provide for their families and themselves without questioning the economic impact on their lives. This came to my attention when I recently observed my Dr. as adding a certain phrase ofter answering my questions. He usually finishes his little speech with the words, "age relevant" or "age appropriate". What he is saying that for my age I am okay. This kind of shocked me as I never think of myself as old.

Don't ask about your memory loss or other worrisome items because he smiles and says that I can expect that at my age. There you have it - I am ageing and the Dr. tells me I will need and depend more and more on the safety net of the medical system. It has not failed me so far so I guess I will be OK in the future FOR MY AGE.

United Nations

I visited the United Nations building early in the 1950's. The marvelous guide took our group through the whole structure with a commentary that left you with a clear understanding of the organization. One part of the building was left unfinished to symbolically reflect the unfinished business of the UN.

The charter and constitution of the UN is built on the belief that all nations are able to sit in one room and discuss the matters concerning the world. One point was that every nation should be heard no matter how much their behaviour was out of sync with the charter.

Last week the nations of the world were meeting in New York before the G 20 meetings in Pittsburgh. Nearly all the leaders of their respective nations were there. Our Prime Minister was here in Oakville drinking coffee at Tim Hortons. That was not enough but our Canadian delegation walked out when the leader of Iran was about to speak.

This gesture was a protest but how can we have a meaningful dialogue with countries we have disagreements with if we do not have the courtesy to hear their side? What did this country do to receive this treatment? They are developing a nuclear device that will give them the same ability as many of the other countries of the world. We in the west see this as a bad thing so we oppose their developing the potential to build a bomb. If we do not keep a dialogue with the people of Iran on a world stage like the UN the other option will be to sanction them and when this does not work, we will bomb them.

Other countries have been oppressive to their neighbours for years, and because they are our allies we turn a blind eye. A case in point is Israel who, with the flick of a switch, regularly invade Palestine's territory and destroy their infrastructure. Nothing is done because they (Israel) are supposed to be our friends.

I only make this point because if the UN is to be the world force it is supposed to be, it must be treated in a manner according to the charter. Canada once held its head high on the world stage but now we are a insignificant member because we lost our independent thinking. We follow whatever the USA says, and we see the trouble we are in with the involvement of the wars and the battle for economic stability. You cannot serve two masters, and we find ourselves unable to make a strong case for our National Independence on the world stage.

The solution is rather simple, gain the world's recognition by being a positive force and attack the world issues of hunger, disease ,global warming and climate change, (we backed away from Kyoto ) and as a force for peace which gave us so much standing in the world. We could even begin at home and bring back our Kelowna charter and treat our aboriginal people in a manner consistent with the Canadian Charter of Human Rights.

Out My Backdoor

During the years I lived in the Arctic many people questioned the wisdom of staying in a god forsaken place that was eternally cold and forbidden. I shrugged off these comments as I had a different take on that land. At my little cabin beside Grenier Lake, I had the wonderful views on all sides. The one in the picture was looking east by north east. In the background was this esker named Pelly Mountain.

Pelly Mountain was not a mountain by any stretch of the imagination as it was less than 300 meters in height, but was the highest point of land in the whole area. It was surrounded by numerous lakes and rivers and lush tundra where muskoxen and caribou lived during the summer. Outside my cabin door there was a catalogue of Arctic animals and birds. Plants and flowers that attracted photographers from Europe and around the world made this place home to me.

My best friends in the animal kingdom besides my dog Buck were the muskoxen. This esker had a more sinister role in world politics as well. During the cold war the USA installed a listening post here to monitor the number and intensity of the Russian Nuclear Program detonations.

Cables were spread on the tundra for nearly thirty miles in every direction ,spreading out from Mount Pelly. These cables and the electronic listening devices could detect and record every movement in the earth's crust in the northern hemisphere. Atomic explosions were of vital interest to the USA military and were monitored here on Victoria Island and in the little Hamlet of Ikaluktutiak. The local Inuit had no knowledge of the use of the system but left them alone and not one incident of vandalism was recorded.

So when people speak of places like the Arctic without knowledge, let them come to have a look out my back door and I am sure they will leave with a different view.

Happy in My Skin

When I retired 20 years ago I said that I never had a bad day in education but some days, bad things happened. In reality that is pretty much the way my life has been. Most people can be characterized by others as a happy, grumpy, negative, upbeat or just plain miserable. One word never accurately describes a person but one word will give a nickname that often sticks.

When we analyze ourselves we probably are way off the perception others have of us. An often quoted phrase, "If only we could see ourselves as others do" applies to my comments. We mostly see ourselves the way we wish others see us. Over the years I have had to talk to teachers about their demeanor. Students would complain about their teachers saying such things as they are mean, cross, unfriendly and a hundred other words to describe their perception of their teacher.

When confronted with this message the teachers are amazed that any student could feel that way because that is not how I really am. One simple answer to this is nonverbal communication. Teachers must constantly be aware of the picture they are painting to their students.

Likewise we as people have to be aware of the same thing in our interaction with each other. You know that morning smile or grouchy welcome means much to the ones we love. It is said that your eyes are the window to the soul so speak with your eyes and be aware of the feelings you give off every time you see, speak or interact with others.

I see myself as a happy, joyful person who is excited about nearly everything. My children sometimes told me otherwise. I have been more aware of this aspect in my communications with my fellow man over the past years and it does work. One day my daughter told me that as I get older I am more likable. That is a start.

In any case I feel happy and comfortable in my skin.

Saturday

Being retired should make every day pretty much the same as the next. This is not the case as Saturday is always special because we have a mind set that tells you that it is the end of the work week so get all that work done that you couldn't get done because you were at work. People always look forward to Saturday because they do the things around the house and yard that must be done. You are prepared to work until your muscles ache but it is not work because it is Saturday.

Francis Bacon wrote a essay on what constitutes work. He told of people in Old England who lived in cities and toiled at jobs that bored them but on the weekend they went to the country and did strenuous tasks for fun so it was not considered work but pleasure.

Today men and women who work in those crowded work stations cannot wait until 12 o'clock to get to their fitness center to work out. That is not work but pleasure although by any standard it is work to the onlooker.It is a happy marriage when your work is your pleasure. Many people find a career that involves efforts that would be considered pleasure to many so their work is their pleasure. These people live a less stressful life and it would be the ultimate goal for all of us who work for a living to make their work pleasurable.

I personally know people who worked all their life in a job that they hated and riled against at every opportunity. This negative energy made a poor job situation even worse. This stress takes its toll and the person suffers along with those who have to live with this unhappy person.

If every person who has this situation would put forth energy wasted in negative stress, to improve their outlook things would be better. Attitude is so important to cope with the stress of workplace challenges.

One man goes to work happy he has a job, and makes the best of it. Another man goes to work with a face of anger and hatred towards his work - and guess who lives the better life. There are so many jobs today that are boring and meaningless to the worker that people have to find ways of coping and making it better.

Weather

We are planning on a two day flying trip to the Ottawa Valley to see our daughter and play a game of golf with a few old friends . Theresa will visit with a friend for the day while we play golf and catch up on the family news.

It seems that nearly every time we plan a visit to the Valley we have weather trouble. We were hoping for some of the perfect weather we have been experiencing this September when we broke a record with 24 rain free days.Today is Friday and the decision to go will have to be made tomorrow. The drive to Ottawa is about 5 hours as it is 500 kms but the scenery is pleasant if you take the back roads.

These short visits are important to keep that bond of friendship strong and to challenge the golf experts from the Valley.If my desires are met it will be finem and if not, there is always the early spring.

New Member of Tree Family

Yesterday Theresa and I saw an add for a fruit tree sale in the local weekly paper called The Beaver.We have been searching for a suitable tree to replace our fallen Peach tree but came up empty. Every tree we looked at was unsuitable. Our hopes for a new tree faded as time was running out for the planting.

A quick phone call and a positive answer renewed our hope. There were four left and were at a nursery in Waterdown, twenty kms away. We jumped in the car at 5.25 pm and raced across highway 5 and arrived at 5.45 pm. Closing time was 7 pm so we had time. A kind ,knowledgeable lady immediately attended to our needs. She said that the fruit trees were in the back so we started outback. She was a big lady but walked swiftly for a time before we were faced with a thousand trees. She showed us the only peach tree left. It was poor in every respect.

Theresa looked at some other trees while the lady said we should grow a nectarine. They are like a peach tree without the fur. She spoke of the value and good points and sold us. Trees were put on stage and each one had a flaw until Theresa saw one that looked perfect. It was 8 ft tall and well shaped. The leaves were still a deep green and the lady said it had been winter sprayed and was ready to have a new home.

$59.95 was the price but at 50% off it was a deal even with the tax. We loaded it in the van and all the way home we visualized the next year with big luscious fruit from this the newest member of our orchard. Next morning I planted the tree and carefully followed the planting instructions.In the ground it looked smaller but was a perfect fit for the allotted space outside Doris's bedroom window and close to the spot where our peach tree was planted. Doris gave us many of our trees for anniversary gifts and it was only fitting that this one be where she could keep an eye on it.

We know that Doris will give us a daily report on its progress and help care for our nectarine tree. A void has been filled in our back yard and we are content.