Posted on July 26, 2014 under Storytelling with no comments yet

Life is one giant buffet

 

 

The other day I was chatting with a friend who had just survived a wedding.

And, no, she wasn’t the bride or even the mother of the bride.  She was a wedding guest, which is not normally a stress-inducing event.  That is, unless the marriage of your own daughter is right around the corner.  She commented that there is so much activity during a wedding week that there is scarcely time to actually enjoy everything.  A year or more of planning is jammed into a few frenetic days of bridal showers, rehearsals, rehearsal parties, a “get to meet the in-laws” party, the wedding, the wedding reception and a gift opening breakfast the day after.

It almost seems excessive.  Like an “all you can eat” buffet.

I remember going to a Sunday brunch at an upscale hotel in Los Angeles back in the 80’s.  It cost $25.  I had never before (or since) seen such a staggering assortment or volume of food.  If you were a seafood lover there was everything imaginable: lobsters, scallops, mussels, salmon and several species that I could not identify.  There was prime rib, turkey and ham and a mind numbing selection of vegetables.  And the dessert table was such that I prayed I would see it again at the gates of paradise.

There was only one problem.  There was too much food and too many choices.

After eating a few dozen jumbo shrimp, there was hardly enough room for anything else.

Sometimes it seems like life is like this.  You go through long stretches that border on the hum drum.  There doesn`t seem to be any excitement and you go through your paces day after day.  This is interspersed with periods of hyperactivity where you can scarcely catch your breath.

Yes, life by times seems to be a feast or famine.

How about the two weeks leading up to Christmas?  Ah, yes, the Christmas party season where an entire year of socializing is squeezed into a handful of days.  It is not uncommon to get more than one invitation on the same date.  By the end of the holidays you absolutely detest shrimp rings and shortbread cookies, not to mention Mariah Carey warbling “… all I want for Christmas is you …”

When January arrives, everyone goes back into their shells and hibernates during the winter.  Like a whiny child you complain, to anyone who cares to listen, that you are bored.  So bored in fact, that after the fifteenth consecutive blizzard you go out on the street and stand in front of an oncoming snow plow, playing the game of “chicken”.   Maybe we should cut down on the Christmas parties and continue the revelry into the New Year with “Board Games and Beer” on those long winter evenings.

Our home town is famous for the longest continuously running Highland Games in North America … 151 years and counting.  It is quite the spectacle.  Young highland dancers, men in kilts and the ever present skirl of the bagpipes.  The week long program is chock full of concerts, competitions and cultural events that would make your head spin.  If there was nothing else going on in the community things would be just fine.  But it seems like every other organization wants to capitalize the influx of expats and tourists and stage its event at the same time.  On any given day of “The Games” there are at least three other celebrations where visitors can spend their time … and money.  One couple I spoke to wished that they could be cloned so that they could attend two events going on at precisely the same time.

The week after the Games, we are sitting in our backyards watching the grass grow and counting mosquito bites.  My wife prefers to describe this as stopping to smell the roses.  There is still plenty to do and see, maybe at a more reasonable pace.  I think I’ll plan a trip to the beach before I’m handed the chore list that I saw on the kitchen table this morning …

 

 

Posted on July 24, 2014 under Thursday Tidbits with no comments yet

Street Fair on Main – 2014

 

 

The 151^st. edition of the Antigonish Highland Games is fading in the rear view mirror. We should all applaud the hundreds of volunteers that make this happen every year. Some of these people have been giving of their time for over 50 years. They need reinforcements and they need it now. Maybe you will consider volunteering next year. A special mention to Jamie MacDonald and his team for organizing an awesome Street Fair.

All you working stiffs ( myself included ).  What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you contemplate going to work on Mondays? I know that two cups of coffee are mandatory before I show my face at the office…  just to make sure I don’t destroy my computer or hurl an epithet at some unsuspecting staff member ( or worse, a client ). What is it about Mondays that so easily seems to take us out of rhythm? This past Monday, it seemed that everyone in our office was just a tad off kilter. The very first appointment of the week was a complete surprise to all of us as no one knew this person was coming.

When I got home from work on Monday, I decided to try and articulate why Mondays are so different from the other days of the week. Do you have a theory on Mondays? Please pass along your comments as my story “ Monday, Monday” is getting down to the edit stage. As far as I can tell, the only really good thing about Monday is that it became the title of that great Momma’s and Papa’s tune from 1966. Ouch. Another sign of aging. That song is nearly 50 years old!

I am also putting on the finishing touches on a story for the Cape Breton Star. Because the paper is distributed all over Cape Breton Island, I am trying to profile the different towns and villages. Next week, I will be doing a story about Port Hastings and Port Hawkesbury. “Make Haste to the Hawk” gives a brief overview of the Strait area,  where big industry has always been a trademark. But ultimately, it comes back to the people and the area has its share of character and characters. I will be publishing that story on my website after it has been published in the Star.

My tribute to David Miller and Aida Arnold received a large and warm response. They have contributed so much to our community over the years that I felt a shout out was in order. Come out to the Art Fair tomorrow evening at Chisholm Park and say hello to them. By the way, they are not just great ideas people. They are true workers and aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty, doing all of the mundane chores that are required to put on a quality event.

Have a great weekend.

 

Posted on July 22, 2014 under Storytelling with 3 comments

Beth Latwaitis, Aida Arnold and David Miller

 

 

“I have an idea.”

And with those few words, a twenty-six year conversation began between David Miller and me.  David and his wife and soul mate, Aida Arnold, arrived in Antigonish in 1988 to open a McDonald’s restaurant.

I was on Town Council at the time and had three small children.  A fourth was soon to follow.  McDonald’s quickly became a magnet for families, especially families with youngsters like ours.  David and Aida became engaged in the community almost instantaneously.  And we are all the better for it.

Sometimes you have to step back from the forest to see the trees.  They saw the great potential that Antigonish town and county had at their fingertips, right from the word go.  And they have both been bringing ideas, energy and enthusiasm to many worthwhile endeavours since the day they landed here.

Aida was one of the driving forces behind “Communities in Bloom”.  Just walk around town and see all of the beautiful flowers hanging from posts and buildings, or overflowing from boxes adjacent to shops and stores along the Main.

During the recent street fair held in the downtown core, I was talking with an old neighborhood friend who spends her summers here.  Aida happened by, and once introductions were made, my friend said that in all her travels, the McDonald’s in Antigonish was her absolute favorite.  I don’t think it was because of the fries.  Their fries are always the best, whichever outlet you go to.

No.  It wasn’t the Big Macs either.  Our local McDonald’s franchisees festooned the interior of their building with local art and brought it to life with beautiful and unique landscaping outside.  I agree with my friend.  I have never been to a McDonald’s that was more esthetically pleasing or welcoming.

For many years I heard David talk about the local cultural scene.  He was always passionate in his support of actors, musicians and all manner of artists and artisans.

And, he had a dream.

On many occasions he asked me “What can we be doing to promote the area?”  Recently, he answered his own question with the creation of the Antigonish Art Fair.  While he will point out, in his self-effacing way, that many others were responsible, he was, and is, the driving force behind this bold new initiative.

The Antigonish Art Fair has begun with a series of five “Art in the Park” events, showcasing the immeasurable creative richness of our community.  The idea is to turn Antigonish into a cultural mecca; a not-to-miss destination for art tourism.

The Fair was launched a few weeks ago.  I had a bird’s eye view of the proceedings, acting as Master of Ceremonies.  The event was held at Chisolm Park, on the banks of the Brierly Brook.  Staring out from the gazebo, I could see dozens and dozens of artists showing their works.  There was a children’s corner and lots of tasty food from around the world. The dignitaries cut the ribbon and moments later, David’s dream unfolded like the first flowers in spring.

We were entertained by an eclectic mix of entertainment on the stage at the gazebo. Everything from very young Highland dancers, to a fire eater and belly dancers.  Chisholm Park is named after the late Mayor, Colin Herman Chisholm.  As I watched the belly dancers, I smiled, wondering how Collie Herman would have enjoyed this particular exhibition.  He would have thought it was just fine.

The Antigonish Arts Fair is up and running.  We are thankful for David’s vision and unbridled enthusiasm.

Stealing a line from McDonald’s, “We’re lovin’ it”.

Thanks, David.