Posted on July 6, 2020 under Monday Morning Musings with one comment

 

A stroll down The Main

 

“The only constant in life is change.” Heraclitus

The Greek philosopher, Heraclitus was born in 540 B.C. I’m not sure what was going on back then that caused him to coin this well-known phrase, but it has stood the test of time.

Is it only me or is the pace of change happening at warp speed? Maybe it was always thus if you believe the words of the Greek philosopher. Change is inevitable and normal, but it is the speed of change that has my head spinning.

Even before the pandemic hit us, the face of business had been in transition for some time. The small mom and pop stores of yesteryear had been, by and large, swept away by a current of big box stores and online shopping. It’s hard to stop a tsunami once it starts. Small business, the heart and soul of small-town Canada for centuries is now under threat of extinction.

Covid-19 has brought out the best in people. Those of us forced to self-isolate for 14 days were inundated with acts of kindness from family, friends, and in some cases, complete strangers. Many local businesses adapted their way of doing business by offering their services online, with delivery and pickup as options when entering their premises was not allowed.

While more and more people relied on the goodwill of others, many took this opportunity while hunkered down, to think about their lifestyle and the way they buy and consume goods and services. Many of us realized that we could do quite well with less. We baked like there was no tomorrow and garden centers experienced explosive sales as many people decided that it was time to start growing their own food. The notion of food security has been brought under the bright lights.

In our community, we are blessed with a farmer’s market and within days or weeks, a sparkling new Farmer’s Market building will open its doors. It is obvious that we crave locally grown vegetables and fruits. We feel secure knowing that these items were grown locally and not transported for thousands of kilometers on a truck. In some cases, we might pay a bit more to get these products, but we are smart enough to realize that there’s a difference between cost and value.

More and more people are reassessing their shopping habits. There is no way to stop the juggernauts like Amazon and Walmart to name but a few. There is a whole generation of people who have grown up with online shopping and big box stores and these entities aren’t going away any time soon.

How are small communities going to survive when old business models no longer work? Many would suggest that businesses must adapt or die, the “survival of the fittest”. I don’t claim to have the answers, but I still believe that there is a place in 2020 for shopping locally whenever possible. I’m not suggesting that we close our county borders and insulate ourselves but maybe we need to consider regional economic bubbles where people are encouraged to shop locally. It is incumbent on businesses to give people a reason to spend their hard earn dollars supporting the local economy.

What will our communities look like in 25 years if we abandon the small businesses who support local charities, sports teams and the arts community?  No one knows who will be left standing when the dust settles but make no mistake there are going to be a lot of casualties.

The winds of change are howling. We might consider embracing change as an opportunity for growth and renewal.

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I must admit that there are times when I wish we could go back to a simpler time when many activities happened organically without the need for large outlays of cash. Kids lived in the great outdoors and manufactured their own games, playing a pickup game of ball or building forts. Adults bought their groceries at their local Coop or “Hometown Proud” IGA where you knew the names of all the staff. Sadly, those days are long gone.

“Give me the simple life, I need the simple life,

Don’t want to worry ‘bout tomorrow,

Live everyday completely, love for the joy of loving,

Then I will be happy.”

Simple Life – Valdy             

Have a great week.

P.S. If you are wondering what was the point of this post, I’m not even sure myself! After all, it is a confusing time and I confuse easily!!!

 

Posted on June 29, 2020 under Monday Morning Musings with 3 comments

 

Tom and mom. Two people who continue to inspire me

 

“We all die. The goal isn’t to live forever. The goal is to create something that will.”

Chuck Palahniuk

I try my best not to watch too much television but during the pandemic, my guess is that most of us have watched more t.v. than we have in some time. The news is dominated with heavy doses of Covid-19 reporting, systemic racism issues (north and south of the border) and the endless circus of politics in many countries. Occasionally we catch a glimmer of hope amid the seeming endless chaos and despair with stories of hope, compassion, and love.

CBC’s The National, has a short segment at the end of many of their nightly newscasts featuring the life of someone who had died of the virus. Last week I saw the story of man whose roots are in India who taught school in Nova Scotia for many years. His son spoke lovingly and proudly of his amazing dad who threw himself into numerous charitable endeavors in retirement. When asked, in his 80s, why he kept such a frenetic pace. He responded that he had one life to live and planned to get the most out of it. The son feels inspired to carry on with this same attitude.

Last fall, I ventured up north to teach. I was dealing with some personal issues and arrived in a community that has had its share of trauma. I don’t mind admitting that I struggled mightily. Three people kept me (relatively!) grounded during the most difficult days when darkness enveloped me and bitter winter winds blew.

Very often I thought of my late mother. Quit wasn’t a word found in her vocabulary. There were many days that I thought I couldn’t go on. Mom would be sitting on my shoulder telling me to “finish what you start.” Perched on the other shoulder, was my late brother Tom. I would think to myself, “What would Tom do?” I knew damn well what he would do. He would throw himself into the situation with every fiber of his being.

The third leg of my three- legged stool was my brother in Vancouver who called me every Saturday to listen to my ranting.

Dying is mysterious business. Most of us by now have experienced death firsthand in our family or extended family. Those of us left behind are tasked with processing death in our own unique way.

I must say that I intensely dislike the way the term “closure” is bandied about by so many people. I looked up this word and found the following: Closure means being normal, getting back to your old self, no longer crying or being affected by death. It means moving on with life and leaving the past behind, even to the extent of forgetting it or ignoring it.

To all that I say a resounding BULLSHIT.

I believe that the greatest way to honor a loved one is to not only remember them but to emulate them. Take all their positives and carry their spirit forward. They have given us a parting gift, one that we eagerly unwrap each and every day… a form of re-gifting, without having to use wrapping paper! They give us courage when we are fearful. They lift us up when we fall. They give us energy when we feel that we can’t take another step. They make us laugh when we feel sad.

During my brother’s 10 -year siege with cancer he often said that he wasn’t afraid of dying. He was afraid of not living. He squeezed every ounce out the final decade of his life.

To honor those who have gone before me…

I hope to do more and give more.

I want to be a difference maker even in the smallest of ways.

I want to be positive and cheerful.

Care to join me?

“I guess it’s not what you take when you leave this world behind you,

It’s what you leave behind you when you go.”

Three Wooden Crosses – Randy Travis

Have a great week.

 

Posted on June 22, 2020 under Monday Morning Musings with 2 comments

 

Halifax Public Gardens

 

 

“There’s a reason that I love this town.”

I Love This Town – Joel Plaskett

After weeks (months) of writing about serious matters like Black Lives Matters and Coronavirus, I am taking a breather, literally and figuratively. Despite the easing of restrictions in Nova Scotia, a welcome relief, things are far from normal. Being able to get outside in the fine weather is probably the best medicine. Most of us are still spending an inordinate amount of time in our homes.

So when I got the chance for a road trip to Halifax to drop off a vehicle at the airport for a family member coming to the province, I jumped at the chance to get out of town and spend some time in one of my favourite cities, Halifax.

After a brief stop at the airport, my son and I drove into the city, crossing the MacDonald Bridge, a bridge I had run across numerous times taking part in the Bluenose Marathon runs. You wouldn’t notice this in a car, but the bridge has some serious elevation changes.

I was deposited at The Old Triangle Irish Alehouse on the corner of Prince and Granville. It was a very hot day, but I was fortunate to get a table in the shade on one of the outdoor patios. I spent a pleasant hour hanging out with my sister as we got caught up on the news. The beer was cold, there was a lovely warm breeze, and physical distancing was in evidence.

We took a stroll down to the waterfront. We entered the waterfront area near Stayners, a local watering hole and venue for live music, and sadly, a casualty of the pandemic. We headed north along the promenade and it was eerily quiet. If this were any other time, you would be fighting massive crowds. We retraced our steps and went back into the heart of the city doing a mini walking tour. There were small groups of people here and there, but the usual hustle and bustle of the city was missing. A case in point, my sister had no trouble finding a parking spot in the downtown core.

We said our goodbyes and I headed back down to the waterfront, this time walking in a southerly direction. Not surprisingly, this part of the waterfront was busier, a relative term. Most of the food stalls and restaurants were open but very few of the souvenir stands, small businesses, or the Visitor Information Centre. I wandered into the Map Store hoping to secure a large wall map for my classroom in northern Quebec. I was greeted warmly by two staff members who seemed overjoyed to see a customer. Not surprisingly, their business has suffered greatly only re-opening recently. With travel anywhere in the world quite restricted, maps are yet another casualty of the pandemic. Staycations are likely to be popular this summer.

I grabbed some tasty home cut fries and sat at a table, people-watching. The harbour was quite busy with several pleasure crafts and sailboats plying the waters. There were small clusters of people here and there and everyone seemed to be smiling – and why wouldn’t they! It was one of those truly glorious afternoons.

I wandered up Spring Garden Road heading towards the Public Gardens.I love this street. It has always had a vibe since I started coming to Halifax almost 60 years ago. There were a lot of pedestrians and vehicular traffic. If you didn’t know better, you might have thought that this was just another typical day in the city. It was a good feeling. Anything resembling normal these days is cherished.

After all of this walking (and the salty cut fries!) I was ready for another brew. Seeking an outdoor venue, I entered Stillwell Beer Gardens. The tables were safely spaced, with umbrellas to ward off the heat of the afternoon. I was wearing a wide brimmed hat and carrying a large wall map of the world. I admit that I must have looked even nerdier than usual. I opted for an IPA called Two Crows after which I took flight for the Public Gardens just a few paces away.

I love the Public Gardens. It is a serene and beautiful space in the heart of Halifax. I took a bench and sat, watching young people taking selfies, and old people pacing slowly,consuming nature’s beauty- the youth thinking about days to come and the elderly thinking about days past. I am often hit with bouts of nostalgia at times like this. I don’t want to be young again and I don’t want to grow old. This is a conundrum that many seniors deal with on a fairly regular basis. At least I do.

I walk through the gardens taking pictures, but photos really don’t do justice. You have to be present, taking in all the sensory stimulation, to truly appreciate these magnificent grounds.

There’s a reason I love this town.

Have a great week.

P.S. Some people believe that there is “no cure for stupid”. I disagree. The cure for stupid is being smart. Just over two weeks ago, our community held a peace rally for Black Lives Matter. Many people like me were leery about attending but decided that we had to attend. This unleashed vitriol on social media. According to reports, there hasn’t been a single case of Covid-19 arising from the event. The organizers took great care and caution as did the 4,000 who took part.