Posted on September 5, 2016 under Monday Morning Musings with one comment

Action at the Cape Breton Open

 

Haul out the sweaters… there`s a distinct nip in the air.

In a university town, the return of students is a big deal. The population of the town of Antigonish nearly doubles almost overnight bringing with it a totally different feel than when the students aren`t around. Add to this, the Eastern Nova Scotia Exhibition, otherwise known as the Fall Fair and Labor Day weekend, and you have lots of people and lots of activity. It is probably one of the busiest weekends of the year.

We share a neighborhood with many students. By and large they are lovely people and a courteous lot but when they return en masse, parties are bound to break out. I haven`t had an “all nighter” since the early 70`s but I listened to one on Friday… right in our back yard!

Now, on to something completely different.

I love to see people chasing their dreams.

I took a day trip up to Baddeck on Friday to watch a professional golf tournament. No, Rory, Ricky, Jordan and Jason weren`t there , but there were 160 or so young, athletic, ambitious individuals trying to make the grade. Talent wise,  they are every bit as capable as the guys and gals on the major tours but like every other walk of life, they have to “ pay their dues. ” These guys play on the Canadian Tour, hoping to get a spot of the Web.Com tour which is the developmental tour for the PGA. ( Apologies to non golfers but regular readers know that I opine on any subject that happens to come into my head! ).

I didn`t know any of the players so naturally I decided to follow the lead group.  It was highly entertaining, despite the fact that I was under dressed for the cool, dampish weather. ( Methinks that I have developed the start of the dreaded “man cold” ). I was quite taken with the young man from California who shot the course record on Thursday. He had a wonderful demeanor,  with not a trace of arrogance , which is common with many elite athletes.

Those of you who know me well, know that I am the shy, retiring type!  When the round finished, I decided to approach him to see if he would consider having lunch and doing an interview for Faces in the Crowd. My instincts were right , as he quickly agreed and we headed into Baddeck, along with his grandfather.

Getting to the pinnacle of any endeavour ( sports, business, politics ) is a grind and takes years of effort and infinite persistence. I listened with great interest to Ben`s journey thus far. I don`t want to spoil the upcoming FITC story but you golfers out there will be very interested to hear who his opponent was in the 2011 U.S. Amateur,  in the round of 16 match play.

I always keep a box of my books in the car and was able to give a signed, personally addressed copy to Ben and another for his grandparents.

I also interviewed a well respected medical oncologist last week for a FITC story. It was very interesting to talk to someone who deals with cancer every day. I think you will find his comments very enlightening. SPOILER ALERT: the biggest killer is not heart attacks or cancer. Anyone want to take a stab at the correct answer? The first correct answer ( according to the oncologist … not Wikipedia ) gets a Week45 hat… a collector’s item, for sure!

Have a great week.

Posted on August 29, 2016 under Monday Morning Musings with no comments yet

The Harvest

 

Fall is in the air.

For the first time in months, the temperature registered in the single digits for our morning walk yesterday , announcing the imminent arrival of Fall. For some, this is a very depressing thought but for many, it is the best time of the year. Most importantly, September brings structure back into our lives after a summer of countless barbeques, cold beer , ice cream cones , visitors and late nights.

September brings some semblance of normalcy, but not before we enjoy “the Fall Fair” where we get a chance to see our agricultural community display the best in all they do. The midway rekindles days of our youth and we relive it through the eyes of our children and grandchildren. We might even risk a cavity or two by trying cotton candy or candy apples.

School lunches will make their unwelcome return for many parents. It’s not so bad during the first few weeks of school when children are reconnecting with old friends and getting into the swing of things but as the year wears on, you sometimes wonder if the young ones will eat anything that you put in their lunch kits.

Because we live in a university town, our population will nearly double in the next few weeks. We will take the good with the bad. .. the good – Shinerama , where the students will be out in force raising money for Cystic Fibrosis. You have to love their energy and enthusiasm.  The bad- there will be a lot of very late and loud parties, going late into the night, testing the patience of the citizenry of the town and its noise by-law.

Farmer’s markets will be awash with the fruits of the harvest. The displays of fresh fruits and vegetables is always a highlight at this time of the year.

The days will be shorter and cooler but once we regain some semblance of a routine, all will seem right with the world.

Summer is so precious and oh so fleeting, especially as the years pile up. In the winter, we pine for the warm days and they are here and gone before you know it.

Let us not lament the passing of summer but embrace the joy of the Fall which is ready to welcome us in the next few weeks.

And let us not forget that we have one last fling this weekend with Labor Day next Monday.

Have a great week.

P.S. What goes on at the “Cubby Hole”, stays at the “Cubby Hole” !!!

Posted on August 22, 2016 under Monday Morning Musings with 2 comments

Morning has broken

 

What does your paradise look like?

I woke early yesterday and started my day by reading a gut wrenching, first person account of the strife in Syria… and then went for a walk.

Perspective.

We cannot possibly imagine what others go through on a daily basis, here or abroad. Everyone is faced with trials and tribulations. But if you have the opportunity and good fortune to go for a walk, it might help you appreciate the simple things in life… which could very well be a person’s paradise.

First, there is the stillness of the early morning. It is cool and September lurks around the next corner. The birds love the morning and celebrate it with songs of joy. A woman walks her dog. They both appear happy.  It seems like almost every property is adorned with beautiful flowers and shrubbery, certainly providing a living, breathing picture of paradise. Two young university students run past me chattering without a care in the world. The air is clear and the sky is blue.

Off in the distance, a church bell tolls, beckoning people to come, congregate and worship. Many choose the outdoors as their place of sanctuary. Indeed , for many, the outdoors is their paradise. They are not waiting to leave this world to experience it.

I meet an old friend who is out walking… with his coffee cup! A family member is about to embark on a journey to a far flung corner of the world. They had a going away party the night before and good judgment meant that his car had to be retrieved the next day.

The town is waking up as more cars appear on the streets. Many will go to their favorite coffee shop and share stories about the Olympics, the Blue Jays and possibly the twists and turns of the U.S. Presidential race. For some, a “ double double” is as close as it gets to paradise!

As I round the final turn on my way home, I hear the bells of Town Hall peal nine times. Despite the squabbles that inevitably arise with elected officials, disputes are, thankfully, resolved peacefully. We often grumble about democracy. We shouldn’t.

The sound of a gurgling Brierly Brook greets me as I arrive back at our apartment.

What does your paradise look like?

I see paradise all around me.

Have a great ( and grateful ) week.

P.S. Merle Taylor rocks…. in case you didn’t know it.!!!