Posted on April 29, 2015 under Storytelling with one comment

Our only cat these days

 

 

I wasn’t always a “cat person” but when you raise four children, you are bound to acquire pets.  We nurtured out share of the animal kingdom when our kids were small, including a flock of chickens that we kept in our back yard in town.  We even harboured snakes and frogs.  But our trio of felines was the cat’s meow in our household.

The kids have flown the coop, along with the roosters and hens.  We nurtured our geriatric tabbies until the end.  These days, the closest I come to cats is having a cat nap.  Yes, at the tender age of almost 64, I have mastered the 20 minute power snooze.  It is the most amazing gift to be able to nod off for a short time and wake up feeling re-energized.  As long as it doesn’t happen in the middle of a meeting!

However, eleven years ago I might as well have been napping and I laugh about it to this day.

In 2004, I ran for mayor of our fine town.  I entered the race late in the game and had to do a lot of catch up.  Trying to mobilize blocks of voters became an important part of my strategy.  I launched a website to engage the youth.  I met with representatives of the Chamber of Commerce.  I even had lunch with a local congregation of sisters.  They promised to pray for me but didn’t show their hand.

Senior citizens take their civic duty very seriously.  Who better to approach for support than the silver haired crowd and, amongst this august group, who might provide the endorsement?  The Antigonish Manor held the solution: Peggy “A.B.”, of course.

I had known Peggy for many years.  This amazing 90+ woman had seen it all and done it all.  By all accounts she was the unofficial “Mayor of the Manor” and, if you could get Peggy’s support, there was a better than average chance you might get everyone else’s.   When Peggy called you with a request, as she was apt to do, you never said no.  It simply wasn’t an option.  “P.D. We’re having a birthday party for a few of the residents.  Would you be available to come to the manor and sing a few songs?”   I had learned that you just said yes to Peggy and went about re-arranging your schedule and your life to accommodate her.  My reward was always a fresh baked apple pie, and no one in the history of mankind made pies any better than she did.

I arranged to meet with Peggy to lay out my platform to see if I could get her royal assent.  We had a very pleasant chat on a wide range of subjects.  She told me what was most important to her cohort and I assured her that I would work diligently on their behalf.

And then she asked me a loaded question.  “Do you like cats?” I felt like my entire campaign might hinge on my reply.  I mean, you either love cats or you don’t.  “Did she or didn’t she,” raced through my mind. Relief washed over me as out of the corner of my eye, I spotted the most beautiful calico cat I had ever seen.  She was curled up on a chair in the living room.  I waltzed over and was almost about to pat it when I thought to myself, “Let sleeping cats lie.”

“Yes, I love cats,” was my enthusiastic reply as I started to mentally count up the possible votes in the manor.  She leaned over, whispering in my ear.  “We’re not allowed to have pets in this complex.  Would you consider adopting her?”  I felt a lump in my throat mixed with an ample dose of trepidation.  We already had three cats and the addition of a fourth might cost me a vote or two at home.  Remember, Peggy didn’t do “no” very well.  I did what most good politicians do.  I used delay tactics.  I told her that I would broach the subject with my wife and would get back to her within 24 hours.

After an exhausting day of going door to door, I arrived home and stated my case for a fourth cat.  There was absolutely no debate.  The vote was 5-1 in favor of the status quo.

I didn’t sleep well that night and the following day, after putting it off as long as I could; I picked up the phone and called Peggy to break the news.  I realized that any chance of getting the seniors’ vote was about to evaporate.  I started the conversation with my throat dry and constricted.  I hadn’t gotten very far when I heard convulsions on the other end of the line.  I thought that she might be having a heart attack right on the spot.  But, no, she was laughing … hysterically.  I could barely understand her but between belly rattling guffaws I heard the following: “P.D. How can I possibly vote for you as mayor when you can’t tell the difference between a real cat and a fake one?”

I had been “had” by this sprightly and mischievous nonagenarian.  She went on to tell me, that after I left, she attended an evening session of the rosary in the common room.  She explained that part way through, she broke the silence in the room with fits of giggles, realizing how she had gotten me good.

I lost that mayoral race by a few hundred votes and have often wondered if the cat controversy was my undoing.

With federal candidates about to come calling maybe I should plant one of those decorative little critters on the sofa.

Posted on April 27, 2015 under Monday Morning Musings with no comments yet

Me and Annie

 

 

Do you remember when you were a kid returning to school in September? One of the first things your teacher did was ask you to write an essay called “ What I did on my summer vacation?”

Well, I am going to try something similar and answer the question, “What did I learn at the Saltscapes Expo this past weekend?”

I’m not sure where to start. First of all, it was amazing to be part of the Antigonish contingent as an exhibitor. Several businesses shared one whole section and it was a real team effort. We were all there promoting our own goods and services but we were also there, promoting our community. On a macro level, every exhibitor was there promoting the region ( the Atlantic Provinces ) and this is what we need if we are going to make some systemic changes. As Ray Ivany has pointed out, NOW is the time for action.

In the Antigonish area, we had vendors and also volunteers so there was lots of manpower. When someone needed  a break, there was always someone willing to step in and man your booth. I can tell you,  unabashedly, that I was proud to be an Antigonisher. Our displays were eye fetching and our people were excellent ambassadors.

This event was about partnerships, networking and cooperation. All of the exhibitors were trying to show people that they don’t have to travel to far flung corners of the earth to experience amazing stuff. There are countless talented artisans, breathtaking scenery, first rate accommodations and fantastic locally produced food. It is time for all of us to do our share and become tourists in our own back yard and to support local producers.

Saltscapes had record breaking crowds this past weekend. On Saturday, traffic was backed up for a kilometer with people trying to get into the parking lots. Apparently attendance on Friday was up 50% over last year and 100% on Saturday. Not sure about Sunday numbers yet.

One other observation: people love free stuff and they absolutely love to fill out ballots. You could sample every food imaginable and there were plenty of places that would give you a taste of beer, wine or spirits. Just about every booth had some kind of draw for getaways or goods. Some people are obviously professional ballot fillers as they have personalized stamps. They don’t have time to stop and chat. They stamp the ballot and move on to the next table.

I want to take this opportunity to thank Lynne Delorey for coordinating the Antigonish section of the expo. She did a ton of work recruiting businesses and was responsible for transporting and setting up most of the displays. And nobody did more promoting of Antigonish at the event than she did. If you bump into her, make sure you thank her.

Sorry. I’ve been promising new stories and they’re coming soon.

Have a great week.

P.S.  I heard that spring was coming. I also heard that there were flurries in the forecast every day this week. Weather forecasters may have to go into a witness protection program if this keeps up!

Posted on April 23, 2015 under Thursday Tidbits with no comments yet

The Gorge – Columbia River , Washington State

( Peter MacDonald photo )

 

 

Last weekend, a member of my extended family ( in laws by marriage ) was lamenting about computer woes. Those of you who know me well and regularly read my material, know that I have a love/hate relationship with technology, especially computers. If you want a primer on how I really feel, go to the search bar on my home page and enter the following: ctrl.alt.del. While I was expressing sympathies with my sister in law, I mentioned an incident that happened last week at a hotel in Windsor. The story has been penned and it’s called “401 Frenzy.” The 401, refers to highway 401 in Ontario. I plan to publish this next week…. if I don’t have computer problems!

Sorry if I misled you earlier in the week. I had all the intentions of publishing the story “Les is More” about my visit to a rehab facility in Kingston, Ontario.  Alas, life got in the way and there were too many things going on this past Monday ( birthday party, babysitting etc. ) so I couldn’t get everything together for Tuesday. Hope to post this on the weekend or next week. Stay tuned.

If you are over the age of 50, and grew up in Antigonish,  there is a very good chance that you knew Peggy “A.B.”  No offence to my mother , my wife or any other people who make pies, but Peggy made the best pies in the universe. Hands down. No debate. Correct?

Peggy lived the last years of her life at the Antigonish Manor and I don’t think anyone would dispute the notion that she was the “unofficial mayor of the Manor.” I got to know Peggy over the years,  once she discovered that I played guitar and could sing some of the old war era tunes. Every so often, Peggy would call me up and the conversation would go something like this: “ P.D. ( my dad’s name ). Three of the residents are having a birthday this Saturday and I was wondering if you would come over to sing a few songs?” There was no “wondering.” Peggy wasn’t really asking. It was more of a command. Peggy didn’t take “no” for an answer very often.

My reward, invariably, was a freshly baked pie. Well, back in 2004, I ran ( unsuccessfully, much to the utter joy of my better half! ) for Mayor of Antigonish. Knowing that Peggy wielded a great deal of influence over many seniors, I figured that a visit to Peggy was mandatory. I’m not talking about a knock at the door and handing out some meaningless brochure. No. This was a scheduled appointment. I can’t tell you much more without spoiling the story but there was a cat involved. To this day, whenever I think about what happened, a wide grin creases my face. I’ve titled the story “ Cat Astrophe.” My  editor might have something to say about it. This story will be published next Wednesday on my website and in The Casket.

I’m off to the  Satlscapes Expo tomorrow. If you live in Metro or happen to be traveling to this wonderful event, please drop by and say hello. I will be sharing space with the Antigonish Visitor Information Center.

Have a great weekend.