Monday Morning Musings
Posted on July 12, 2021 under Monday Morning Musings with no comments yet
Tranquility Trail
“I see trees of green,
Red roses too,
I see them bloom,
For me and you,
And I think to myself,
What a wonderful world.”
What a Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
Life is truly wonderful in all of its complexity and simplicity.
Last Thursday, I launched a fundraiser to help support youth in my adopted home of Kangiqsujuaq, Quebec. https://www.week45.com/thursday-tidbits-285/
After posting the story and having breakfast, I headed out for my morning walk. It was such a glorious morning. The air was fresh and clear. The sun was shining, and the birds were singing. Part of my walk took me through the cross -country running trail on the campus of St.F.X. University. It reminds me a bit of a similar pathway (the chip trail) on the campus of the University of Victoria that my brother Tom and I walked many times.
I rarely take my cell phone with me but on this morning, it was a necessity as I was awaiting a call from the X-ray department at the hospital for an appointment.
As I wended me way through the trail, with the sun reflecting off the leaves on the trees and the delectable odor of wild roses filling the air, my phone started pinging. Our cell phones have telltale rings. We know what’s a text, an e-mail, a Messenger message etc.
A huge grin came on my face.
You see (once you’ve read my last post), I had offered a prize of a set of my 6 books to the first person who donated $100. There were two e-mails containing e-transfers. The first donation was from friends in Labrador who happened to be driving across Newfoundland. The second donation was at the opposite end of the country from a friend in Victoria. It was the first $100 donation. I looked at my phone and deduced that it was 4:30 a.m. out west. Now, I’m quite certain that my friend hadn’t set her alarm early to win this fabulous prize. She’s an early bird like me. The first two donations at opposite ends of the country. How good is that? Thanks, MG. Your books are in the mail.
It was at this precise moment that I started to think about life and how wonderful it can be. Despite all of the bad things going on in the world, along with rampant cynicism and mistrust for institutions, it is still a wonderful world.
Now, I am not about to chronicle every donation but the 3rd one (while I was still on the trail) was from a friend in Amherst. In addition to her donation, she said that she would walk virtually (10 km) with me on Day 1 of my 75 km walk around The Cape. That got me thinking which is always a dangerous and troubling pastime for yours truly. I wondered aloud, to the amusement of the birds, if I could cajole others to walk a few kilometers on August 9th and 10th. Keeping with the 75- kilometer theme, I wondered if it would be possible if we could amass 750 kilometers in two days. I realize that not everyone is a walker so I will add cyclists, runners, roller bladers, skateboarders, and hikers to the list. Sorry. No motor vehicles. What do you think? Can we do it?
I know for sure that I will walk 75 kilometers. My friend, Brenda Gould, the affable proprietress of Elm Gardens has agreed to walk the entire 40 km on Day I. She is also collecting donations at the store so if you happen to stop by her flower shop after she completes her walk, please extend condolences to her for putting up with me for 8-9 hours! It is safe to say that we now have 115 km (75+40+10) already in the bank. I will remind you about this closer to the date. Maybe you could message me after the walk and tell me your total. This might also be a good opportunity as you are walking (hiking etc.) to reflect on Indigenous issues in the news these days.
One can never drink enough of “the milk of human kindness”.
Canada has a new Governor-General. Mary Simon is a distinguished Inuk woman, and I am proud to say that she grew up in the Nunavik region of Quebec where I worked the last two years. https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/who-is-mary-simon-canada-s-first-indigenous-governor-general-1.5498435. Her opening remarks upon her appointment were in Inuktitut, a language that I have grown to love but sadly can’t speak. I can sing a handful of songs in Inuktitut. Mary has vast diplomatic experience, and she will need to muster all of her considerable skills to navigate the complex waters ahead of her. It must be a thrill for the Inuit people to see one of their own achieve such lofty heights.
Very often it is the simplest things in life that give us the greatest pleasure. A few days ago, I was sitting out back reading a book about Leonardo Da Vinci. He is best known as a painter, but he is much more. The author describes him best as a “relentlessly curious explorer”. I digress. A friend from Victoria called and she wanted to talk about writing. I was thrilled to hear from her, and we had a lovely chat. Thanks, JM. It was the highlight of my day.
“And I think to myself,
What a wonderful world”.
Have a great week.
P.S. I will continue to accept donation for Len’s Walk up to and including the walk on August 9th and 10th. You can send me an e-transfer at lenpdmacdonald@gmail.com or make a donation at the East Coast Credit Union (Bergengren ). Any excess donations will be given to The Family House in Kangiqsujuaq, a place where families can go in times of difficulty.
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