Wednesday’s Words of Wisdom (and Whimsy)

Posted on May 11, 2022 under Wednesday’s Words of Wisdom with 2 comments

My next book coming soon

Cover photos by Lucasie Kiatainaq

 

Potpourri.

From time to time (just about every week), I’m scrambling to find something to write about that you might find mildly amusing or entertaining. Very often I come up empty. This is when I go back to an old standby. I write 750 words or so about nothing in particular.

First of all, hats off to the students at Dr.J.H. Gillis Regional High School. I have been substitute teaching at the school quite frequently in recent weeks. I love the variety, never knowing from day to day whether I will be in the guidance center, the computer lab or giving instructions in archery. I supervised a pre-calculus class the other day. Mercifully, the students were working on an assignment and didn’t require any help from the teacher.

The school day starts with the national anthem. I will admit to a patriotic streak and love the Canadian National anthem. During my time in India six years ago, I frequently visited schools and always took the opportunity to sing our national anthem for the children. On any given day at the Regional, the anthem is sung in English, French or Mi’kmaq. The students stand at attention, and everyone removes their hats. It is pretty impressive watching guys who, under normal circumstances might be far too cool to doff their lids, take off their hats as a sign of respect. I am pleased to report that decorum still has a place in our schools.

The average human brain weighs three pounds and constitutes two percent of the body’s weight. That is the average brain. And then there is Mattea Roach. I’m guessing that her brain might weigh a bit more. I am not a regular Jeopardy watcher but as Mattea began racking up the wins and gaining notoriety by the day, my curiosity got the best of me, and I started watching every evening. I was impressed by the breadth of her knowledge and staggered by her ability to recall this information in a nanosecond. We know how fast computers can generate answers but watching a human being process information just as quick is simply breathtaking. How can a 2- pound mass of blood vessels, nerves, neurons and glial cells store this much information and instantly recall it under the bright lights of a television studio? I am still dumbfounded when I hear a few notes from a song I learned 65 years and can remember the song and the lyrics instantly. How does the brain store so much information?

To the rest of the world, please let it be known that Mattea is a Nova Scotian!

Drum roll.

I am pleased to announce the title for my upcoming book about my time spent teaching in the North. “Northern Lights: Hope and Healing in Kangiqsujuaq”. The past three years were amongst the most challenging, educational and rewarding of my life. I will freely admit that it was not the easiest thing I ever did nor were the circumstances that led me to the north ones that I would want to relive again but as they say, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I am absolutely delighted that the cover photo was taken by a talented Inuit photographer, Lucasie Kiatainaq. I don’t have a timeline for the release of this, my 7^th book.

“It’s a time for joy, a time for tears,

A time we’ll treasure through the years,

We’ll remember always,

Graduation day.

Graduation Day – The Lettermen

Many universities across North America are holding graduation ceremonies. High schools will follow suit later in June. I posted a personal graduation story a few weeks ago. Do you remember your graduation day from high school or university? Do you have a story worth sharing with your friends at Week45 about something interesting or unusual that happened on your big day? Send it along.

Have a great weekend.

P.S. On a more somber note, I attended a memorial service for the twenty-six men killed at the Westray mine. There was an explosion at the mine on May 9, 1992. The service was held at the Westray Mine Memorial Park on Monday evening. I was at the fire hall in Plymouth 30 years ago representing the Town of Antigonish. The images will forever remain in my mind.