Posted on November 29, 2013 under Storytelling with no comments yet

Clackety clack.  It’s the telltale sound of the arrival of tourists from all over the globe.  Pale faced from lack of exposure to warm sunshine, they arrive with full wallets and suitcases of expectations.  When you hear the sound, you know that someone has just arrived from the airport.  It is the sounds of luggage being pulled along the cobbled pool deck leading to their rooms.  It is a joyous sound.

Let the games begin.

The first few days are endless, getting reacquainted with old friends, stocking up the fridge with food and other essentials.  And making the mandatory trip to the Frog Pond to consume a heart stopping, seven egg omelet.   You stay up too late and get up too early.  You are shamed into early morning walks even when your hair reeks from cigarette smoke after going to the bar the night before.  You go to trivia even if it is long past your bedtime.  You spend a lot of time at the railing looking out over the Gulf.  Watching the sunset is not an optional activity here.

You settle into the comfortable routine and life is good.  The universe is in perfect alignment.

And before you can say 70% percent off at Bealls, it is time to go.  And just like the metamorphosis of a caterpillar as it turns into something beautiful, everything changes and it is time to leave.

But unlike the stunning monarch butterfly, our metamorphosis isn’t quite that pretty.  All of a sudden there is shrinkage.

The most noticeable change is the lightness of our wallets and purses.  How could it be that we brought so much American cash and now we are staring at a few crumpled one dollar bills?  How is it possible to save so much money on sales at the department stores and return home penniless?  Explain that, Benjamin Graham, the father of “value investing.”

The next thing we discover is that our neatly packed suitcases have shrunk.  It seems like the combination of heat and humidity has somehow rendered them smaller.  You push and shove and grunt trying to get the damn suitcase to close and soon realize that the laws of physics haven’t changed.  Something must be done and usually this involves the purchase or barter of another suitcase.  Déjà vu all over again.

And how about our clothing?  The clothes we travelled south with, which have lain dormant for three weeks, now appear to have been swapped with a teenager.  The jeans don’t quite fit and mercy of mercies, the belt buckle has to be let out by one eyelet.   In the infamous words of Shoeless Joe Jackson, “tell me it ain’t so, Joe.”

Clackety clack.  It is the mournful sound of friends leaving.  One by one, they cross the deck for the last time.  The last remnants of food and booze are deposited on the doorsteps of those staying on for another week or two.  It is Saturday, changeover day at the resort, and there is a flurry of activity as tanned and relaxed people are met at the gate by another group of pale faced travellers.

Every year, new guests discover the magic.  The one thing that doesn’t shrink is friendship.

 

 

 

Posted on November 28, 2013 under Thursday Tidbits with one comment

It was oh so pleasant Sunday to come home from white sandy beaches to white snowy highways. Not complaining… just saying.

It doesn’t take long for reality to set in again.

It is very busy at work and I’m getting things in place for the two book launches ( Dec. 5th. and 12th. ) and the other two book signings at the Prissy Pig ( Dec. 4th. 11:30-1:30 ) and the 5 to $1:00 ( Dec. 7th. 11:00 – 1:00 ). I had my single biggest order to date this week… 50 books. I sat at the kitchen table at 5:00  yesterday morning and signed them all. I felt like a rock star. I am thinking that the initial order of books will sell out in the next few weeks. Thanks to everyone who has supported this venture to date.

I have one final story from our trip to Florida and it’s NOT a shopping story although there is a passing reference. The story expresses the mixed emotions of arriving and departing from your holiday destination. You arrive with lots of cash and clothes that fit. You leave with a different set of variables. The story is called ” Shrinkage” and will appear on my website on Saturday.

And speaking of website, we are very close to launching the revamped website.

Ok. Down to serious business. You just know that I will be writing one or more stories about Christmas. There are parts of the season that I love and parts of it…. Let’s just leave it at that. On my way back from Port Hawkesbury on Wednesday, I noticed that outdoor lights are already up and that Christmas music has made it’s grand entrance.  I accept these things. But I am just bracing myself for the first person who utters these utterly inane words… ” have you finished your Christmas shopping yet?” I think I will go to a company that makes buttons and get them to make one that is oversized that says something like ” I don’t shop so please don’t ask me if I’m done.” Sorry, but that phrase makes me want to run as fast as I can to Jimtown and jump into the ocean.

You know you’re old when…. One of my favorite people ordered 8 books. I dutifully signed them and did a home delivery. A few weeks later, the same person called and asked if it was possible that I had not delivered all the books. My response was immediate. Sure it’s possible. Maybe even likely. I’m 62 and memory lapses are becoming more frequent. So, I grabbed another book out of the box, inscribed it and delivered it. There was a tussle on the doorstep as I refused to take payment. Fair enough. Later in the evening,  I received a communique from my friend. She is roughly the same age. And guess what? She now has two books with the very same inscription. Luckily the book is destined for a married couple so there will be a “his” and “hers” version under  their tree. Gotta love the aging process.

Have a great weekend, everyone. 🙂

Posted on November 26, 2013 under Storytelling with 2 comments

Sometimes you have to go far away to appreciate what you have in your own back yard.  It’s hard to spot Antigonish while staring out over the Gulf of Mexico, but when tourists from various parts of the world ask you about your hometown, it comes into clear view.

So what do I tell people about my home town?  To paraphrase the words of the mayor of Toronto, “We’re not perfect.”

I usually start with the longstanding institutions that anchor each end of the town; St. Martha’s Regional Hospital and St. F. X. University.  They are the major drivers of the local economy and they contribute so much more in many ways.  Expertise from the university and the hospital reaches far beyond their hallowed halls.  Learning is shared and utilized.  Most importantly we gain new people with fresh ideas who weave themselves into the fabric of our community.  And the Coady International Institute brings the world to our doorstep.

I tell people about the other pillars of the local economy; fishing, farming and forestry.  These industries have all faced enormous challenges but somehow they survive and thrive.

The late Fr. Leo “Pops” McKenna often opined that we are living in paradise and don’t realize it.  We have clean air, clean water and well-maintained services and infrastructure.  Beauty surrounds us, from the lakes, forests, rivers and beaches to Main Street, where civic pride shines brightly through the Communities in Bloom initiative.

Our recreation facilities are second to none and this helps to promote wellness.  We cannot underestimate the importance of a healthy population.  And we are increasingly being recognized as a “green” community.   We take the environment seriously as demonstrated by our comprehensive recycling programs, waste treatment facility and groups engaged in the cleanup of roads, rivers and streams.

Most communities are defined by culture and there are not many small towns anywhere in the world where you have the depth of talent that we see every day.   We have world class professional theatre as well as an equally impressive community product.  We have writers and musicians and incredibly talented visual artists and dancers.  And our University boasts one of the premier jazz studies programs in North America.

I would love to see a world class performing arts centre in the middle of town.  If we can build the state-of-the art library that has become the hub of our community, then why not a music facility?  For us, our youth, visitors and those contemplating a move to the area – what a drawing card that would be.

Increasingly we are more open and accepting of immigrants to our community.  They bring skill and industry and their stories speak of hope and resilience.  We need   these folks and should embrace them and their families as they begin new lives among us.

The measure of any community is how it treats its most vulnerable members.   I fervently wish that we didn’t need the Food Bank.  Affordable housing is in scarce supply everywhere, more so in a university town.  There are many groups working on this but I think it is an urgent issue that needs broader support and innovation.  The importance of food security and adequate housing cannot be overstated.  If we can find a way to help people meet their basic needs, then everyone can enjoy the amenities of our town and county.

When I lean on the railing and look out over the Gulf, Antigonish sure looks good.  It is a place of natural beauty, of giving and receiving, of work well-done and endeavors yet to be accomplished.  Despite the trials and tribulations in our daily lives we should all feel blessed to live there.

No, we’re not perfect.  But we’re pretty darned good.