Posted on June 23, 2014 under Monday Morning Musings with one comment

Heading to a 100th. birthday party – July 1/89

 

 

The picture above was taken 25 years ago, almost to the day. In 1989, the Town  of Antigonish celebrated its 100^th birthday. To commemorate the event, there were all kinds of special events. I was a member of Town Council at the time and on July 1^st., we dressed up in period costumes. We were driven through the town in horse drawn buggies and attended a citizenship ceremony at the old Court House. It was a great day and one I won’t soon forget.

By the way, the first mayor of Antigonish was Leonard Archibald. I don’t think there has been another mayor named Leonard since then and if Betty has any say in the matter ( which she does! ), there won’t be another… at least not from this household!

I was very happy to attend a benefit concert last week for Andrew Murray. Andrew lost many of his possessions in a fire a few weeks back. It was a wonderful evening and was held in the newly renovated St. James United Church. It was hastily put together but the organizers managed to collect a fantastic lineup of talent. The evening was topped off by a monologue by Andrew that was witty and poignant. Andrew is an amazing talent and we are fortunate to have him in our community.

Later this week, I will be the master of ceremonies for “Art in the Park.” This summer long program is an attempt to spotlight all of the artistic talent in our community. The opening night is Friday, June 27^th. at Chisholm Park starting at 5:30 and going until 9:00. I will be at the gazebo introducing a wide array of talent. There will be singers, highland dancers, belly dancers ( I won’t be one of them ! ), a fire eater and much more. If the weather cooperates (?), there will be all kinds of kiosks and tents where local artisans will be showing their work. There will be food vendors as well. It sounds like it’s going to be a great evening. Please join me and stop by and say hello while you’re at it. In case you’re out of town that day, the Art Fair will be held every second Friday of the summer , with different performers and vendors.

And speaking of the Art Fair, I attended an organizational meeting last week to get my marching orders as MC. One of the co-chairs is a dear old friend ( she’s not old…she’s the same age as me ) and we got chatting. She reminded me of the time growing up on Hillcrest Street when she lay a beating on me, after I hit her in the shins with a slap shot playing street hockey. I know it’s not winter, even though it feels that way, but I had to chronicle this story. “The Puck Stops Here” will be published shortly.

Sorry, but with all the buzz about “Chase the Ace” I couldn’t resist the opportunity to write a slightly satirical piece on this phenomenon. “Chasing Clouds” takes a look at our collective “lottery mentality.”

I want to give a shout out to the good folks of Heatherton who are in the process of taking over their school after its closure. They are ramping up a major fundraiser so that they will have the resources to keep the building going as a community center. Support them if you are able.

Check out this week’s Casket for my story on piping and drumming called “Pipe Dreams.”

Have a great week.

Posted on June 21, 2014 under Storytelling with one comment

Mary Ann Falls

 

 

It’s almost time to bring the bathing suit out of hibernation.  Almost, I say, because we have had one of the longest winters and coldest springs that anyone can remember.  In a few days’ time, young children will burst through the doors of the school and face the endless possibility that is summer.  There is no better feeling in the world than being a child with two months to do nothing but have fun.

We were fortunate to have had a place to spend our summers when we were kids.  We would hop into the car with our parents and make the twenty minute drive to Bayfield.  This is where most of us learned to swim, some of us much better than others.  Our own four kids spent many happy hours at the same beach.

Some people swim year round.  When they’re not swimming in the ocean or their own pool at the house, they may be found at the university doing laps.  As part of my marathon training I used to do pool running.  It is exactly as it sounds. You simply mimic the running motion is water without the pounding on the knees.

There’s swimming and then there’s skinny dipping.

I would like to say that I am an expert on skinny dipping but I am not here to bare my soul or any other body part.  I may have swum “au natural” when I was two or three and that’s all I’ll admit to.

When I lived in Victoria I occasionally drove to the famous Sooke Potholes to go for a dip.  I didn’t know much about this place the first time I went there.  There is a river that comes down from the mountain, forming several natural pools in a step-like fashion.  The pool closest to the bottom is the warmest and is most often frequented by families with small children and senior citizens who don’t want to take the hike all the way to the top.  I quickly discovered that the higher up I went, the skimpier the bathing suits became until the final pool where no bathing suits were required.

I haven’t been there in years but am threatening to go back to Sooke to check it out.  I’m wondering if I will have the energy, or the nerve, to make it back to the top of the mountain!

I remember vividly a trip my future wife and I took to Neil’s Harbor when we were courting.  My brother was the doctor at Soldier’s Memorial Hospital.  He and his wife suggested places to swim, including all of the wonderful beaches in and around Ingonish.  Over the years I had seen the signs for Mary Ann Falls and was intrigued to go there when it appeared on my sister-in-law’s list.  She was a native of Neil’s Harbor and knew the area well.

We drove into the secluded forest glen that enclosed the Falls.  We changed into our bathing suits and securely locked the car, with our wallets and dry clothes inside.   I didn’t think twice about putting the keys in my swimming trunks.

We had a glorious swim and when we exited the chilly waters, I discovered that the car keys were missing.  Nobody could accuse us of skinny dipping that day.  The keys had to have sunk to the bottom of the deep, dark pool at the base of Mary Ann Falls.  The locals told me that I would need scuba equipment to retrieve them.  With no towel or dry clothing we walked a few kilometers to get to the highway and hitchhiked back to Neil’s Harbor.  My sister had to drive three and a half hours from Antigonish to bring us the spare keys.  Can you say, “Not amused”?

Some people even swim in the winter … outdoors.  And I’m not talking about the polar bear dips which are popular on New Year’s Day.

The story is told of two couples who got together one New Year’s Eve for a meal and some revelry.  It was a stormy evening with the wind whipping the snow into impressively high drifts.  The wine was flowing.  Late into the session, one of the men thought it might be fun to skinny dip in a massive snowdrift just off the back deck.  This made perfect sense to the other guy.  The women would have none of it.  That is, until the bribes surfaced.  In exchange for “taking the plunge”, one would receive a coveted dining room table from her spouse while the other would be rewarded with a long desired leather coat.

After many hours of silliness this all made perfect sense.  Shortly after midnight, the lights were dimmed to avoid the prying eyes of neighbors.  The clothes came off and the giggling began as, one by one, the participants, male and female, plunged into the snow bank.

“Now a promise made, is a debt unpaid” (Robert Service).  Two weeks later, a lovely birch table graced the house of one of the woman.  Sadly, the other woman did not receive her leather coat.  She did, however, receive an 8 lb. 6 oz. daughter, exactly 9 months later.

Look before you leap.

Posted on June 19, 2014 under Thursday Tidbits with no comments yet

Arisaig ( You gotta click on this picture )

 

 

“ Can you imagine, a piece of the universe,

More fit for princes and kings”

Song For The Mira” Allister MacGillivray

 

This picture is not the Mira but I can’t think of too many places “more fit for princes and kings” than our very own Arisaig. Every time I come around that turn in the road, coming home on the shore road from Halifax, I slow down to stare at the wonder. We are blessed with so many beautiful vistas in this province.

Show of hands.  How many of you are watching the World Cup? How many of you are appalled by the antics of the soccer players , who writhe on the ground as if they’ve been shot at the mere hint of being hit? The soccer ( football ) is quite extraordinary but the “diving” certainly takes something away from “the beautiful game.”

And speaking about pain, those of you who suffer from chronic pain… I feel your pain. I have some long standing issues and have been going to see a pain specialist in Truro. He is a wonderful guy and has helped me immensely. Betty has also been suffering from chronic pain ( 32 years at last count ) but I don’t think Dr. Smith can do anything about that.  A pain in the arse is a hard thing to get rid of.

I wish I was more poetic and could adequately describe the smell of a lilac bush. I find myself stopping on a regular basis these days to inhale this incredible fragrance. I’m sure people passing by in cars think I’m a weirdo. You, dear reader, are different. You know that I am a weirdo.

I’m certain that there are some of you who have tried to make a wedding cake. It is a delicate task and something that can be very nerve wracking. Have you ever tried to transport a three tiered wedding cake a distance of 128 kilometers , over some of the bumpiest roads you ever saw? I have. My daughter , Ellie, used to make magnificent wedding cakes. Yes, she’s the same Ellie who made those delicious cupcakes that she used to sell at the Farmer’s market. For some unknown reason, she entrusted me with helping her deliver these cakes. Coming soon, “ No Cake Wak.”

You can look at some of Ellie’s creations by clicking on this link. http://s556.photobucket.com/user/cakesbyellie_photos/library/?sort=6&page=1 ( It takes a couple of seconds to load )

 

Skinny dipping.  I’ll tackle any subject. With summer just around the corner ( they say… ), I thought it was an appropriate time dust off the swimming trunks ( remove them? ) and do an expose on skinny dipping. There are a few “curves” in this story.  This looks like a good Saturday story when summer will officially be here. It’s called “ The Skinny on Dipping.”

 

Just a reminder that Stan Carew and the Magpies will be performing this Sunday at the Legion at 3:00 p.m. in aid of Friends of Antigonish Library. I still have four tickets left to sell. $15. each. Get in touch if you want to go.

 

Have a terrific weekend.