Posted on October 30, 2017 under Monday Morning Musings with one comment

Len and Kass reunited after 35 years

 

“ Peace, joy and love; freedom in my soul.”

As sung by Kass Gerro

The Antigonish International Film Festival wound up on the weekend. AIFF , as it is known, provides the viewer a dazzling array of educational and entertaining films and documentaries. I think I will rename AIFF: Antigonish Is Frigging Fantastic! Kudos to the dozens and dozens of volunteers and the sponsors for bringing this wonderful event to our community.

There is no possible way in this short space for me to comment and review the eight movies I watched. A few certainly resonated with me. “ Jesus Took My Burden and Left Me With a Song” is a brief film on the life of Kass Gerro. She was born in Guysborough County but spent most of her life in Upper Big Tracadie. Music, especially church music, has sustained her in good times and bad. Every pore in her body oozes music and much of it is to the glory of God.

I really wanted to see this film. It was personal. Thirty- five years ago in October, Kass sang at our wedding in the University Chapel. Her performance is forever etched in my memory as she brought the congregation to its feet, clapping and singing along. Part of the soundtrack to the movie was the hymn she sang at our wedding. I spent a few minutes with Kass after the screening. I haven’t seen her in the intervening years. She still looks youthful and has a sparkle in her eyes.

I watched shows about the environment, mental illness ,civil rights, music and much more. Hands down, my favorite ( besides Kass’s! ), was “ The Passionate Pursuits of Angela Bowen.” According to the AIFF program, “ Angela grew up in inner city Boston during the Jim Crow era and went on to become a classical ballerina, a legendary dance teacher, a black lesbian feminist activist organizer, writer and professor.” Her work with the LGBT community is legendary. What a fascinating and inspiring woman. If and when our library gets a copy of the film, grab it and spend 73 minutes watching it. It will be 73 minutes very well spent.

One other movie resonated with me. “ An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power” is the sequel to Al Gore’s ground breaking film, “ An Inconvenient Truth.” While there has been a lot of progress on the environmental front in the past decade, there continues to be serious challenges and obstacles. The film looks at the issue through the prism of the Paris conference on climate change and the Paris Accord which now seems in jeopardy with the United States threatening to back off of its commitments. What was of particular interest to me was the key role that India played in the negotiations. It looked like India might be a holdout until Gore brokered an arrangement with a major solar energy provider in the U.S. who agreed to supply India with a billion dollars’ worth of solar energy infrastructure and expertise. I am presently raising money for The Daughters of Mary to install solar power at their facility.

There was a lot of footage in the documentary from India and much of it I had seen with my own eyes. The pictures from Delhi were particularly poignant as I spent three weeks there during my visa problems. In case you missed it, here is my account of those travails. It’s a long piece ( 2 cups of coffee long! ). https://www.week45.com/delhi-dilemma/

Just a reminder of a film to be shown this Wednesday, November 1^st. at 7:00 p.m. at the small meeting room at People’s Place Library. Father Abhi Anand works with the railway children of Varanasi and will be in attendance. I spent Christmas Day with the children last year. The film is short ( 20 minutes ) followed by Q&A. Hope you can join us.

To the volunteers of AIFF…. take a bow!

Have a great week.

Posted on October 23, 2017 under Monday Morning Musings with one comment

Fish are jumping at Tippabrew

 

October might possibly be one of the busiest months of the year. It seems that the opening of school in September is like hitting the reset button. Routines are re-established and everyone is back to work or in my case ( as a retiree ),  attending  meetings for various organizations. Very few people are on vacation. University sports and professional sports are in the thick of several different seasons… baseball, football, hockey, rugby, basketball. The engine of life is firing on all cylinders. It is “ go time.”

Last weekend, I attended the Keppoch Fun Day. I got talking with Hughie Stewart who has been one of the driving forces behind the revitalization of Keppoch Mountain. If you haven’t been out there lately, grab the family and go for a hike or bike through the trails. It’s magnificent. Good for the heart and the soul. Hughie extended an invitation for me to come out some day and see ALL of the Keppoch. So yesterday I went out to meet up with Hughie. My brother joined us.

We donned helmets and climbed into his off road vehicle. For the next three hours, on a crisp, sunny Fall afternoon, we drove through several kilometers of back roads. We spent some time at St. Bean’s Cemetery, the resting place of Hughie’s grandparents. We saw the foundation of the house owned by the bootlegger, one of the last residents of the Keppoch. Back in the day there were 67 homes in the area, mostly used for cattle farming. We saw lakes and the waterfalls at Black Brook before arriving at Tippabrew, the summer home of the Stewarts.

We were greeted at the front door by Keppoch, possibly the largest German shepherd on the planet. Unbeknownst to us, we had been invited for supper. I took one look at Keppoch and hoped that we wouldn’t be HIS supper!

The meal, simply put,  was sensational. Debbie had prepared moose meat along with garden potatoes, carrots and turnips. A basket was filled with homemade bread. Dessert was “ sex in a pan.” ( It was as sinful as it sounds ). And a good cup of tea.

Some people spend thousands of dollars on exotic vacations. Nothing could possibly be better than spending time with really fine people in a little slice of paradise. Thanks Hughie and Debbie.

My friend, Father Abhi Anand from Varanasi, India is around these days. Just about every year, he comes to Canada to spend a month for a bit of R&R and to spread the word about his organization back home. DARE is an organization with special focus on the rescue and rehabilitation of children trying to find food and shelter from the trains and railway stations in India. Those of you who followed me when I was in India this past year might remember that I spent Christmas Day with the “ railway children.” It was a Christmas I won’t soon forget.

Father Abhi is going to show a short film ( 20 minutes ) and talk about the work of DARE on Wednesday, November 1^st. in the small meeting room at People’s Place library at 7:00 P.M. I will be there to introduce Father Abhi. Please mark this on your calendar and join us.

Coming up later this week ( Oct. 26-28 ) is the Antigonish International Film Festival. The AIFF is a great opportunity to see some terrific films. You can get a pass for all films for $20 ( $5.00  if you’re a student ) or you can show up for a film and make a donation. A pass guarantees you admission and are available at People’s Place Library and Lyghtsome Gallery.

True confessions. Like thousands ( maybe millions ) of other people, I have become a raving Downton Abbey fan.  The characters are all expertly portrayed, even the loathsome, Mr. Barrow. Carson , the butler and Mrs. Hughes ( who really runs the place! ) are my favorites.

Have a great week.

P.S. I’m still plugging away trying to raise the money for a host machine for the Daughters of Mary in India. We’ve collected $4200 of the $6,000 required to make this purchase which would increase profitability to help the Emmaus Home for mentally ill women to become more self sufficient. Donations can be made at the Credit Union in Antigonish ( Investment India account ) or by e-transfer: investmentindia2017@gmail.com  . Eighteen donors @ $100 each would do the job!

 

Posted on October 9, 2017 under Monday Morning Musings with 2 comments

 

Be Thankful.

… If you woke up this morning and were able to walk to the kitchen.

… For sunrises and sunsets.

… For the laughter of grandchildren.

… For the healing power of medicine and prayer.

… For clean running water and clean air.

…  For food and shelter.

… For the changing seasons.

… For the sound of beautiful music.

… For the smell of flowers.

… For eyesight to see the wonders of nature.

… For the privilege of living in a country not beset by war.

… For world class healthcare

… For family and friends.

… Add your own reason for being thankful.

 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING