Posted on October 29, 2018 under Monday Morning Musings with one comment

Warning: Sarcasm Ahead

 

“The whole world’s goin’ crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy,

Hey baby, you wanna go crazy with me.”

The Whole World’s Goin’ Crazy. April Wine

Give your head a shake.

Make that a double-double.

Absurdity. Ab.surd.i.ty. Noun. The quality or state of being ridiculous or wildly unreasonable.

Do you remember when Facebook was just like a small boutique store on your Main Street? It was a place where you could find quality if not quantity and you knew the staff and they knew you. These days, Facebook more often resembles the Wagon Wheel Flea Market in Pinellas Park, Florida. The Wagon Wheel “rests on 125 acres and hosts nearly 2000 booths.” If you can’t find what you need here, jump aboard the next shuttle to Mars.

I am in no way slighting FB. It’s just that one’s head can get dizzy trying to absorb the onslaught of information. Once in a while, something catches my attention and causes my head to rotate on its axis. It would appear that a local coffee purveyor is in trouble with its loyal clientele. They are quite annoyed that there are too many choices at the drive thru causing congestion and delay, not to mention tons of exhaust going into the ozone.

Indeed. What an outrage. At the same time that I was watching people weighing in with a growing chorus of discontent, I happened to be doing some editing on my upcoming book on my travels in India. Crowded drive thrus are not a big issue in that country. Hunger, poverty and homelessness are the reality for millions of its citizenry.

Talk about first world problems.

I have given the issue considerable thought and have come up with three possible solutions. Twinning of our highways is a major priority. Why couldn’t the coffee establishment do some twinning of its own and just add a second “quick checkout” lane? I’m joking, sort of. The second is a time tested approach. How about actually getting out of the vehicle and walking inside the store when the lineups get too long? I’ve saved my best idea for last. It’s quite novel and might put me in line for a Nobel Peace Prize. You can actually purchase the franchise’s coffee and (gasp) make the identical cup of coffee at home at a fraction of the price. But in order to do this, you’ll either have to sit in the lineup and order a bag of java or haul your arse out of your rig and go inside the store and purchase it there.

Oh, yes. I go by said establishment every morning on my walk. I want to make it abundantly clear that this business is a terrific corporate citizen and I heartily applaud their community-mindedness. When I cross James Street, I look in every direction at least three times. I have been nearly run over in the crosswalk multiple times as vehicles rush to get into the drive thru lineup so that they can sit and wait.

Yours truly.

Old, cranky, and sarcastic.

Have a great week.

Posted on October 25, 2018 under Thursday Tidbits with no comments yet

The Clyburn River

 

“All my life’s a circle, but I can’t tell you why,

The seasons spinning round again, the years keep rolling by.”

All My Life’s a Circle. Harry Chapin

 

Transitions.

I have a pair of transition lens glasses. When I’m indoors, the lenses are clear. When I step out into the sunlight, they go dark, protecting my fragile, aging eyes from the bright sunlight. And when I return home, the darkness fades.

A few days ago on my early morning walk, the leaves were falling off the trees in large numbers. The previous night, the temperature had dipped below zero and this was enough to loosen the leaves from their branches. Fall is turning into winter right before our eyes. The seasons are indeed spinning around again. For many, this is a depressing thought as they dread the cold and the snow. Others salivate at the thought of a walk in the snow on their snowshoes or a long ride in the outback on their skidoos. It’s hard to get unanimity on any subject, especially the tough ones.

Fasten your seatbelts. I’m about to get a wee bit philosophical here.

There’s another big transition going on for many in my age group as we move through old age and, inevitably, to our deaths. No one really wants to acknowledge this in any overt way but trust me, I expect just about everyone over 65 thinks about this from time to time, especially those of us who have watched an elderly parent pass away. Many of you have gone through a similar experience.

There have been many shocking, unexpected deaths lately which gives all of us a cause to reflect on the fragility of life and what lies ahead.

What does lie ahead?

As far as I can tell, no one knows with 100% certainty. Everyone’s belief system is different. Last weekend, I took a drive around the Cape with a dear friend from Ontario. It was a glorious day and while the leaves were past their prime, the scenery was nonetheless spectacular. Somehow we got on the topic of religion and the afterlife.

Sorry. We didn’t come up with any startling revelations. However, my friend made one astute observation. She referenced Leon Dubinsky’s famous song, “We Rise Again” to explain her thoughts on what happens after we’re gone.

“When the light goes dark, with the forces of creation, across a stormy sky,

We look to reincarnation, to explain our lives…

That as sure as the sunrise, as sure as the sea, as sure as the wind in the trees,

We rise again in the faces of our children.”

Long after we are gone, our legacy is in our children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

“Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth,

And danced the skies on laughter- silvered wings.

High Flight. John Magee

Let us not forget those who have left us.

 

Posted on October 23, 2018 under News & Updates with 4 comments

It’s time for the big reveal. Here is the cover of my fourth book about my travels in India in 2016-17. I will be hosting a book launch at People’s Place Library on Tuesday, December 18th at 7:00 p.m. I hope you can join me. Proceeds from the sale of the books will be donated to the Daughters of Mary in India where I volunteered.