Posted on June 10, 2014 under Storytelling with no comments yet

Waxing eloquent

 

 

I have been a member of the Chamber of Commerce most of my working life.  Organizations like this are very important in small towns and large cities as they give a voice to the business community.  They help to orchestrate public policy and put their weight behind community projects.

But it is not “all work and no play”.   From time to time, the Chamber members assemble to kick off the dust and forget about the worries of business.

My colleagues at work are the major sponsor of a fundraising golf tournament each year.  The proceeds go to the Chamber to help facilitate the important work it does.  The fifth annual event was held recently.  I was asked to round out our team’s foursome.  I did so with some apprehension.  I haven’t played golf in almost eight years and I have a bad back.  These are two good reasons to take a pass.  But every once in a while, a person has to take one for the team.   The scramble format is conducive to someone like me who hasn’t played much golf recently.  You can lean on the other three members of the foursome.

The forecast was a bit iffy.  Heavy rains were due to subside by tee off time and then there were hopes of sunshine.  The weatherman got the first part right.  By the time we set out, the rains had indeed stopped and it was balmy.  Like many of the other golfers, I anticipated a pleasant day and was dressed in shorts, a golf shirt and a wind breaker.

Our foursome got off to an auspicious start.  On the very first hole, we scored a two on a par four hole.  The eagle has landed.  The best news is that I didn’t have to hit a shot on that hole.  I decided, wisely, not to try anything heroic, like hitting a driver.  Most of my day was spent hitting wedges and putting.  And shivering.

I’m not sure where weather people get their education but I’m glad I don’t always count on their prognostications.  The weather did not continue to warm up.  As a matter of record, the thermometer took a nose dive.  The day went from balmy to chilly, to downright cold, in rapid succession.  I could not even fortify myself with the “demon rum” as that ship sailed several years ago.  Three cups of black coffee in rapid succession only made me shake more.

My personal purgatory became my partners’ hell.

I would like to say that I made a considerable contribution to the team.  I would also like to say that I am filthy stinking rich.  Both would be bold faced lies.

Simply put, I stunk the joint out.  I looked and played like a beginner.  My best shots of the day were with my camera.

I don’t function well when I’m hungry.  When I reached the 14^th tee off, I walked briskly to the refreshment cart in search of sustenance.  No sandwiches or chips left.  The only option was chocolate bars.  I practically ripped them out of the hands of the young lady driving the food wagon.

Have you ever hoarded food so that no one else could get a morsel of what you were eating?  I devoured two bars in rapid succession and made no attempts at sharing.  My day care training of “sharing and caring” was left in the dust.

The only bright spot in the day was taking part in a unique contest where you had a chance to drive a ball into an apparatus containing a pane of glass.  If you were able to break the glass, you had an opportunity to be part of a putting contest for a 52” flat screen T.V.  I think they should, forthwith, call this contest “A Pane in the Glass”.

The day ended on a high note with a wonderful steak dinner and the handing out of several door prizes.  I never win door prizes.  I watched with envy as name after name was called.  The prizes were quite impressive.  A night’s stay at a resort, rounds of golf and gift cards. And when it appeared that almost everyone in the room had won something, my name was called.  I pulled my aching body out of the chair and proudly walked to the front of the room.

The master of ceremonies presented me with 3.87 liters of “Zip Wax” car wash and wax and a camouflage baseball cap that would be the envy of the boys on “Duck Dynasty”.  If you saw our car, you would know that applying a coat of car wax would be akin to putting lipstick on a pig.

My own personal Chamber of Horrors finally and mercifully came to an end.

 

Posted on June 9, 2014 under Monday Morning Musings with one comment

The 6th. green at Antigonish Golf Club

 

 

I took this picture from behind the 6^th. green at the Antigonish Golf and Country Club last Friday. For you locals, that’s Casey’s barn off in the distance. I was playing in the Chamber of Commerce golf tournament, a fundraiser , with our company, Success’N Planning , as the major sponsor. I have to admit that the camera shot was the only good shot I took all day. I would like to blame the cold weather and my bad back for my ineptitude but I was simply not very good. But it didn’t spoil my day , one iota.

Actually, I got an idea for a story , once I thawed out. Are you one of those lucky people who win 50/50’s and door prizes?  Neither am I. You will be surprised then when you learn about the door prize I won at the golf tournament. I chronicled the events of the day in a story called “ Chamber of Horrors.” It will appear on my website soon.

I couldn’t help notice all the pictures on Facebook of the Sole Sisters run that was held in Halifax on the weekend. This was a “women’s only” event. It seems that just about every post I read had the word “wine” in it. My question: did all these women go to run or to drink wine? The answer is probably yes and yes. I found it quite disturbing to see all the pictures in the finish area with the ladies getting mug shots with young, hot looking firemen. Have you no shame?!  I salute all the women who took part in the run.

I heard someone mention that summer is coming. Just wondering if it will happen in Nova Scotia?  There has been a lot of chatter about the long winter and the interminable spring. Lots of people had the furnaces on and the wood stoves cranked up this past week. I haven’t heard many complaints about mosquitoes or black flies. Yet.

Betty and I will be travelling to Montreal in a few weeks time to pick up our granddaughter who will be spending a big chunk of the summer with us. I think Montreal is my favorite city in Canada in which to drive. There is never any road construction. The  detour signage is excellent… usually in French and the drivers are ultra courteous. I love Montreal. My mother was born there. I love being there. But getting there is another thing altogether.

I want to give a shout out to Matt MacDonald who is cycling his way across Canada. Matt is the face behind “We Move This Town.” He is a young, athletic and highly motivated individual. He is a great example of someone who walks the talk. Many of us have been following his trek across the country via the videos he posts every day. It’s a great geography lesson and very inspirational.  He isn’t afraid to tackle anything. In other words, he has no fear of failure. Which reminds me of a quote attributed to Michael Jordan: “ I can accept failure. Everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying.”

One more shout out to my hair stylist, M.F. ( that’s a lie… obviously! ). Speaking of inspiration, she’s someone who has taken the bull by the horns and is whipping herself into shape. I , for one, am very impressed with Mary’s commitment to fitness and well being.

Have a great week. Do something nice for someone in the week ahead.

Posted on June 7, 2014 under Storytelling with no comments yet

Son Peter ready to attack #1

 

 

“So keep on playing those mind games together,

Doing the ritual dance in the sun”

Mind Games by John Lennon

 

I start thinking about it after a pit stop at the Wreck Cove General Store.

My love affair with Cape Breton has been life-long.  My family made regular trips to St. Peter’s to visit Janie, a relative and one of the toughest and most remarkable women I have ever met.  She did the Terry Fox walk well into her nineties.  When you stopped at Janie’s for tea, it was an all-out buffet.

I have travelled the island from tip to tip.  There are so many amazing places.  One of my favorites is Smelt Brook, for sheer beauty.  But the one that grips me like a vise and won’t let go is Ingonish.  As a teenager I played in a band at the St. Peter’s Hall for a couple of summers.  I have run in the Cabot Trail relay.  However, it is The Cape Breton Highlands Links that continues to intrigue me and mesmerize me ever since I first stepped onto those hallowed grounds nearly 50 years ago.  If you are a golfer, this is as close to paradise as you are going to get.

I have been fortunate to play golf on more than one continent and experienced some terrific layouts.  But when someone asks me my favorite course, I always come back to this golf course in the Cape Breton Highlands.

I love the scenery.  It is not unusual to encounter a moose and every other imaginable form of wildlife.  The mountains and rivers meandering through the heavily forested landscape provide the perfect backdrop for a “good walk spoiled”, as Mark Twain once opined.  Nothing can spoil a walk for me on this course.  With one exception.

The first hole at Ingonish got inside my head 50 years ago and I can’t exorcise it.

I once attended a conference where one of the speakers (a psychiatrist, I think!) put on a session about visualization and how we could train our mind to overcome fear of certain situations.  I took the opportunity, while in a semi hypnotic state, to let go of the demons that have plagued me for decades.  After the session, I was convinced that I would conquer number 1.  Fat chance.

When I stand on the first tee at this iconic course, all I see is trouble.  Forest left, forest right and a fairway that looks the width of a bowling alley lane.  With no practice area, this is your first shot of the day unless you try and brace yourself with a wee dram of single malt.  And did I mention the wind?  The prevailing wind is always in your face.

I love the drive from Antigonish to Ingonish.  When you come around the bend before reaching the Englishtown Ferry, you catch the first glimpse of the Highlands and the heart begins to race ever so slightly.

You can’t go to the Highlands without a stop at the Wreck Cove General Store.  They have the best lobster sandwiches on the planet and back in the day, Mike Crimp held court over his castle.  He was larger than life.  It is when I leave the store and stare ahead at Smokey that my hands start to sweat, just a bit.  I start thinking about the first hole and the mind games begin.

When I was younger I was a reasonably good golfer.  I always felt that I had the mental part of the game down to a tee.  But as sure as the sun rises in the east, I always got a 6 or a 7 on the first hole at Ingonish.  I have totally psyched myself out over the years.  I expect to get a double bogey on the first hole and rarely am I disappointed.  Ditto for number 2, which is no cake walk either.

If I ever play the course again, I think I will start on the 19^th hole and work my way backwards around the course, finishing at number 1.  At least the first shot of the day will be a winner.