Posted on November 17, 2016 under Thursday Tidbits with 2 comments

Women Farmers Group

I have been asked repeatedly why I have decided to travel to India at this time of my life. I have given a variety of answers. I stumbled upon this quote the other day which says it best:

 

“ I shall pass through this world but once.

Any good that I can do,

Or any kindness that I can show,

To any human being,

Let me do it now,

And not defer it,

For I may not pass this way again.”

 

Stephen Grellet.

Posted on November 14, 2016 under Monday Morning Musings with 3 comments

 

Meeting the bride and groom

 

Ignorance is bliss. Unless it isn’t.

Many of my friends have travelled the globe over the years and can speak with some authority about customs, lifestyles and geography in many parts of the world. Many of us have had a smattering of travel to know that there are many beautiful places besides Nova Scotia. Some people have never left their front porch and everything they know is what they learned in a grade X11 Social Studies class or these days, through a quick Google search.

Misconceptions.

I’m guilty as charged. Before coming to India,  I read a few books, watched some Youtube videos and spoke to people who had been to this vast country. India is NOT just about cows in the streets, smog and abject poverty. Those things exist but these are the stereotypical images that come to mind for many North Americans. Having been here a mere two weeks, I am not about to make any profound pronouncements, but I think India is a country on the move.

There are many, many incredible bright, young talented people here ( like in Canada ) who are going to change the face of India. My hope is that the country doesn’t aspire to be too much like the west. I think most of us would agree that many western values are misplaced and the pursuit of wealth is not the be all and end all. I have always loved the expression, “ to have more, want less.” I am seeing the world through a very different filter… and that, “ is a good thing.”

I attended my first Indian wedding reception the other night. Those of you who read my column regularly know that I was part of one last week ( unofficially ) as I lay in a hotel room and listened to very loud, celebratory music from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. It was a very colorful affair…. I think. I will write a full chapter in my upcoming book on my travels in India, including weddings.

 This wedding was expected to last a few days. The reception I attended was several hours before the actual ceremony ( 3:00 a.m. I decided to take a pass on this ). This event was for family members and friends to wish the bride and groom best wishes and to bring presents. Many people from our office were there, as the mother of the bride is a colleague. The bride and groom arrived to great fanfare. ( check out my video of “the band.” ) For the life of me, I couldn’t find the piper! Before going to the dining area, groups of people walked up on to the stage to shake hands and have their pictures taken. Our group from APMAS was one of these groups. With my bright yellow dress, and being the only white person in the room, I stuck out like a sore thumb as I crossed the platform.

The banquet room was awash in food. There must have easily been 50 different Indian dishes and desserts aplenty. Most of the dishes were unrecognizable to me. My friend, Nagendra, tried to keep me out of harm’s way as I loaded up my plate. This was a stand up affair and it was very crowded. I took a bite of something foreign to me and thought about calling the Antigonish Volunteer Fire Department to put out the flames. I couldn’t even politely remove it from my mouth. It was the first time that I’ve broken out in a sweat eating food since I arrived. More later when I publish the full story.

Canada Night. I bought a guitar a few days ago. It’s a Fender so maybe I’ll go on a Fender bender! Sometime soon, I am going to put on a Canada Night for the staff at work. They will project a map of Canada on the wall and I will try and tell them a bit about where I come from. I will intersperse the dialogue with some songs. Wait till I sing “ I’s the B’y” and the “Kelligrew Soiree”! When I brought the guitar back to the office after purchasing it, I decided to play a couple of tunes. I started with John Denver’s “ Country Roads.” ( Some of you will now have an earworm for the day! ).  I was shocked that at least two of the staff knew every word and sang along. There are those misconceptions again. I didn’t think that they would be familiar with North American music.

I have three field visits this week and am booked solid from then until the end of the month. As most of this travel is in rural India, I’m not sure how connected I’ll be but already I have been surprised how many communities have good internet. Now if only the folks in Malignant Cove and Georgeville were so lucky!

Have a great week.

P.S. Some of you know this already. I have a new Facebook page called “ Through Len’s Lens.” I have so many pictures that I need a convenient spot to post them for people who want to see them in one location. There will be very little script with them. The pictures should tell the story. Tell your friends.

 

Posted on November 12, 2016 under Storytelling with 10 comments

Sandy Ross 1920-2016

Gen.tle.man : a man who treats other people in a proper and polite way

( Source : Merriam- Webster Dictionary )

There should be an asterisk besides this definition. It should include the name of Sandy Ross.

Sandy and Rita were part of the old gang that called Hillcrest Street home. For most of their married life, this beautiful couple would start their day by walking up past Mount Saint Bernard  and around the corner to St. Ninian’s Cathedral to attend mass at 7:00 a.m. And then it was down the hill and on to the Main to the Bergengren Credit Union for Sandy ,where he and his good pal and confidant, P.D. MacDonald,  toiled for oh so many years. These two quiet and unassuming men, took the Credit Union from humble beginnings and turned it into a tour de force.

Many words have been used to describe Sandy, none better than those of Iain Boyd,  an old family friend. “ Upon hearing of Sandy’s death, the following thoughts came quickly to mind: a true gentleman – they don’t come any better; a smart, kind and thoughtful fellow; respectful, a quick wit. He was debonair, shrewd, a faithful Catholic, a loving husband and father. A person you aspired to be. And a baker’s helper.”

Sandy had a keen interest in so many things, in no small part because of his voracious appetite for reading. He consumed the Globe and Mail and the New York Times long before it became fashionable. Although he would never admit it, Sandy was quite sophisticated and urbane. He could carry on a conversation with anyone, at any time on virtually any subject. When he retired and had more time for leisure, he would stop you on the street to find out what was going on in your world. And more often than not, he would tell you a funny story.

 “ Sandy was the best dressed man in Antigonish. He was always impeccably turned out, with crisp shirts and lovely silk ties, shoes always polished and sharp creases in his trousers,” according to Boyd.

He had a passion for many things but nothing would get Sandy’s attention quicker than a discussion on sports. His memory of statistics for hockey and baseball was legendary. You could ask him about almost any player from his era and he could give you an answer just as quick as a Google search. As the years went by, he no longer watched most sports on television fearing for his health, such was the passion he had for athletics.

He worshipped Patsy and Allan and any time you met him, their names would inevitably come up in conversation.

In his final years, he resided , first at the Sylvan Valley Apartments followed by Green Meadows. The residents of both places had great admiration for Sandy.  His mind stayed sharp right up until the end. One thing that most people would not know is that Sandy had a lovely voice. Whether at mass or at one of the sing songs at Green Meadows, he added harmonies that were subtle and sweet.

And no one can ever remember him uttering a disparaging word about anybody … but he came close when queried about Donald Trump!

When you book a first class ticket on an airplane, you get the best of everything. When you are a first class person, the best is expected. Sandy never disappointed.