Posted on December 17, 2018 under Monday Morning Musings with 2 comments

 

“He sees you when you’re sleeping,

He knows when you’re awake.”

Santa Claws is Coming to Town

Many of my loyal readers are pensioners just like me which means they don’t have an inexhaustible supply of money. We manage our resources carefully and from time to time will take on a part time job so that we can enjoy a few extras. Some still buy lottery tickets hoping to win the big one and a few still go to Bingo and Chase the Ace.

It seems that every Christmas there is a toy, a doll or a game that is all the rage and a must- buy. I distinctly remember back in the 80s when Cabbage Patch Kids nearly incited riots, such was their popularity and scarcity, a clear demonstration of the laws of supply and demand. In recent years, Elf on the Shelf has reduced many an adult to tears trying to find the treasured sprite, pixie, fairy or demon (reader’s choice). Apparently if you’re lucky enough to purchase one, this little trickster will hold your youngster accountable (hostage) by reporting any transgressions to Santa in the days leading up to Christmas.

But how do we hold adults accountable in the month of December?

Fear not. I have decided to become an inventor- hoping to kill two birds with one stone: carrying out Santa’s vengeance for grownups’ bad behaviour and becoming filthy stinking rich. And where did this inspiration come from, you might be wondering? Snuggles the cat, pictured above.

Introducing Cat in the Rafters™!

Cat in the Rafters™ is the perfect gift to keep an aging loved one honest and on guard during the lead up to Christmas.

The other day, I was performing music at a seniors’ nursing home. As I was working my way through a rousing version of Feliz Navidad, I noticed a few people pointing at something. When the song was over, I looked behind me and spied one of the home’s cats perched at the very top of the kitchen cupboards evaluating my performance. And that’s when I got to thinking. A cat would make the purrfect spy. Quiet, stealthy and solitary.

Cat in the Rafters™ knows who’s naughty or nice. Maxing out your credit cards? Automatic hairball in the wallet. Swearing in long lineups on Christmas Eve? Waking up to a mouthful of prodding claws in your mouth on Christmas morning might give you pause (and paws). An improper rum to eggnog ratio is sure to result in festive glasses swiftly swiped off countertops and reduced to nutmeg-scented shards on the linoleum. Too many trips to the NSLC catnip outlet will earn you twelve hours of nonstop meowing to harsh your mellow.

Find Cat in the Rafters™ at your local department store today! Alternately, you can ignore my silly idea and adopt a cat (or dog) from a shelter. Pets are not only great for kids but make excellent companions for older people like us.

Have a great (and relaxing) week!

P.S. My book launch is tomorrow evening at 7:00 p.m. at People’s Place Library.

 

Posted on December 13, 2018 under Thursday Tidbits with no comments yet

“All is calm, all is bright.”

 

Perspective.

We all face joys and disappointments. Most setbacks are fairly minor in the grand scheme of things. Others are far more serious. One only has to look at the recent job losses at a local law firm, the call centre in Sydney and the closure of a car plant in Oshawa. These are devastating events for the people involved and magnified at this time of the year when peace, joy and happiness are the catch phrases.

I have been thinking a lot about perspective lately as I patiently (!) await the arrival of my new book. I received a notice last week that my books had been shipped and would arrive on or before Friday, December 7^th. Not wishing to risk the possibility of missing the courier, I plotted a strategy to make sure someone was available at all times at the apartment to sign for the shipment. When Friday evening arrived with no sight of the delivery and a heavy snow falling, I knew that a delay was in the works.

I went to the website and was relieved to see that this courier delivered on Saturdays. However, when I revved up my laptop Saturday morning, I noted with some chagrin that delivery instructions had been amended. There were no delivery instructions. I placed a call to the head office of the courier and was told that my books were “in transit” but they couldn’t tell me exactly where they were. Not surprisingly, the cause of the delay and uncertainty, according to the very pleasant client service representative, was the recent postal disruption.

Six years ago, when I released my first book, this news would have been upsetting. It is not that I have become blasé with book number 4. One of the best things about aging is that you get a better perspective on things. I pondered the worst case scenario which would have the books not arriving until after my book launch on December 18^th. A “bookless” book launch? I thought that this might be a novel idea. Actually, the more I thought about it, I started getting quite excited that this might get into the record books for the most unusual book launch ever.

I’m sure that many parents are getting antsy waiting for a delivery of a “Santa” gift in the mail. Try explaining the delay of a Christmas present to a seven year old.

Even before I re-framed my situation, I didn’t need to look far to gain some well needed perspective. I visited the Milford Haven nursing home in Guysborough earlier this week to do a concert for the residents. This is an excellent facility with a caring and dedicated staff. After finishing up, I went to visit a friend who has been stricken with Huntington’s, a horrible disease that results in the loss of coordination and the death of brain cells.

Here is my Christmas plea: please do not complain about lineups at Tim Horton’s or any other establishment, especially at this time of the year. Do not whine about the weather. There’s nothing you can do about it. Keep your aches and pains to yourself.  Be very grateful if you have a roof over your head and enough food in your belly. If you are reasonably healthy, be joyous.

And if you are able, why not give the greatest gift possible and the least costly: your time. Visit a sick or shut in person. I guarantee you that their faces will light up far brighter than your Christmas tree.

Have a great weekend.

P.S. There won’t be a “bookless” book launch after all.  My books arrived and are now on the shelf at the 5 to $1.00 or you can contact me directly if you want to save $2.25 in sales taxes. If you’re in Moose Jaw, Moosonee or Mexico City you’ll have to go through Amazon.

 

 

 

Posted on December 10, 2018 under Monday Morning Musings with no comments yet

Friends

(Mary Farrell photo)

 

“Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality.” Warren Bennis.

The community of Antigonish gathered last Saturday to say thank you and good bye to David Miller. David passed away recently after a lengthy battle with cancer. He never complained about the hand he was dealt. He wasn’t afraid to die. He was afraid of not living and he kept going full speed right up until the end.

In the common vernacular, David and his wife, Aida Arnold were CFA’s, or “Come From Aways.”  People who are insular and protective of their own turf occasionally view CFA’s as outsiders and a threat.  David and Aida didn’t come to Antigonish to take from the community. They came to share their immense energy and talents to make us better. As someone said at the celebration of life on Saturday, David and Aida were ABC’s: Antigonishers  By Choice”.

Of all the traits with which David was imbued, curiosity may have been the greatest. Martin Luther King famously said, “I have a dream.”  David’s epitaph should read, “I have an idea.”

One only had to scan the Art House to see the wide swath that David cut in Antigonish. He touched people from every walk of life. Someone jokingly said that everyone thought that THEY were David’s best friend, a testament to his warm, gracious and caring personality. While he had lots of opinions, he valued other points of view with dignity and respect. One of the most touching speeches at the event was from a former employee who praised David for giving him confidence. He never felt that he was working for David and Aida but with them.

Many leaders lead from the front but David “often led from the middle or back of the pack” according to one of his eulogists. He led by example. No task was too small and he wouldn’t expect anybody to do something that he wouldn’t do himself. I witnessed this on many, many occasions first hand.

I had the honour of being asked to sing a song at the memorial. I was intrigued by the choice of music, Don Mclean’s “American Pie.” I chatted briefly with Aida a few minutes before the celebration began. She told me that when she and David met in the early 70s, American Pie was a chart topper. Aida being an American, David demonstrated his charm by referring to her as his “American Sweetie Pie.” I confessed to the audience that I had rarely sung this song in broad daylight or without a supporting cast of well lubricated friends (including myself). In order to keep the event on schedule I chose not to sing every verse! Kudos to the audience who sang their hearts out.

David will be sorely missed but he has left a deep footprint. We can honour his memory by being inquisitive and looking for opportunities when problems present themselves as David did numerous times during a long, distinguished life.

David will be honoured by the Town of Antigonish with a bench in his name being placed at his beloved Chisholm Park.

David’s Dream continues.