Posted on May 7, 2020 under Thursday Tidbits with no comments yet

Return from outer space

(Pete MacDonald photo)

 

 

“Ground control to Major Tom,

Ground control to Major Tom,

Take your protein pills and put your helmet on.”

Space Oddity – David Bowie

So, you have just returned from a two- year stint at the International Space Station. That is a long time to be away from home. You have been in a weightless environment. You feel a bit disoriented as you put your feet on Mother Earth for the first time in 730 days. You begin the process of decompression, but something seems odd and disorienting. Space travel will do this. You indeed feel a little spaced out.

You are finally reunited with your loved ones. You have dreamed about this day. You have pined for their company, their smiles, their touches. Then why in the hell are they treating you like you are some goddam parasite? They scarcely make eye contact. Loved ones? What a bunch of insensitive assholes. Not only do they refuse to hug or kiss you, they won’t even shake your effing hand. Has there been an invasion of space aliens since you left home? Ground control to Major Tom. Send me back into space.

As you make your way from mission control back to your hometown, you notice the paucity of vehicles on the highway. Where are all the cars and trucks? Are people flying around in space vehicles? The streets of your hometown are absolutely deserted. It looks like a ghost town.

You enter your house. It has a decidedly different feel to it. There are bottles of hand sanitizer everywhere and it seems like the family is trying their level best to avoid you. But then you notice that they are avoiding each other too. Everyone looks like they’ve put on weight. You wonder if your vision hasn’t yet adapted to your new reality back on terra firma. You rub your eyes. They all still look fat.

It is midweek and the middle of the day. Is everyone at home because they can’t wait to see you? Sorry, loser. They are being paid by the government to stay home and not work. They are all wearing t-shirts that say “FU Covid”. Who in the hell is this guy Covid? Is he the leader of a new cult that has emerged in your absence? Those not wearing the ubiquitous FU Covid t-shirts are wearing Netflix t-shirts. Of course, t-shirts are optional as it appears that people wear pajamas all day.

Feeling the need to get away from your family (you’ve spent a grand total of 3 hours with them), you decide to go for a walk, as your muscles have atrophied in space. You’re a bit wobbly as you head to the mall to pick up some real food at the grocery store. Outside the grocery store there is a lineup of silent zombies wearing face masks. You would think that they would be overjoyed to see their famous neighbor. They barely grunt as they keep their feet on their designated space.

The neighborhood grocery store, an important meeting place for generations, has all the appeal of a morgue. It is deathly quiet as if speaking might wake the dead. There are arrows on the floor and the herd marches silently, aisle to aisle. While the shelves are mostly stocked, there are two noticeable exceptions – flour and toilet paper. The checkout clerk has a huge spray bottle of disinfectant in her hands.  You wonder if it’s for you. You relax when you see the cashier wiping down the counter.

Upon exiting the store, you notice that there is a similar lineup at the provincial liquor store. This is puzzling. You have been told by your loving (?) kin that all stores are closed other than essential services like pharmacies. You meander over to the liquor store and ask someone in the lineup about this seeming paradox. They tell you that the provincial government has deemed that the sale of alcohol and legalized marijuana is an essential service. So, I can’t buy any flour, but I can step inside the NSLC and buy a bag of weed.

You come to the stark realization that you have spent far too long in space.

Your beloved library is closed but you are able to get the book you most desire on Kindle.

“Brave New World”.

“This is Major Tom to ground control

I’m stepping through the door

And I’m floating in a most peculiar way,

And the stars look very different today.”

 

 

 

 

 

Posted on April 30, 2020 under Thursday Tidbits with 3 comments

Doctor’s Brook, Nova Scotia

(Pete MacDonald Photo)

 

So long, April. Close the door behind you.

I never lament the passing of a day, a month or a year. Every day is precious. Yes, in our lives, we are all bound to have an “annus horribilis” a Latin phrase that the Queen used many years ago in one of her year- end speeches. It means “horrible year”. All of us might look back on April as our collective “annus mensis” or “horrible month”.

It can be safely argued that there has never been a time in most of our lives where virtually everyone on the planet has been experiencing something similar. There is no question that those who died of Covid-19 are the primary victims but there has been a lot of collateral damage, not the least of which is the global financial crisis that is going to be felt for a very long time. We know that our children and grandchildren will be a part of the workforce that will be responsible for paying down the trillions of dollars of debt incurred by massive injections of money into the economy in the past few months.

Equally devastating might be the long- term emotional and psychological effects of social distancing. We have not been able to see loved ones in the flesh. We have not been able to mourn or celebrate; tears of joy and sorrow have been, by and large, a solitary exercise.

The indescribable tragedy in Nova Scotia has left us all feeling bereft, bewildered and lamenting the loss of innocence. And terribly, terribly sad. Something so incredibly horrible could never happen here… but it did.

Many of us found comfort listening to music and sharing music with others. Others watched virtual masses on Facebook. We tried to stay connected as best we could. None of these things can replace a warm embrace.

Amid all of the gloom, one person stands out as a beacon of hope, a voice of optimism in a sea of despair.

Avon Brophy is the mother of Heidi Stevenson, the young RCMP officer who gave her life while trying to keep others safe. Avon spent many years in Antigonish and was a well-known and well-respected member of our community.

Like so many others, I reached out to Avon in the days after the tragedy. Her response was calm and reassuring. Since then, I have seen a few of her posts. I have no idea how someone has the fortitude to speak words of wisdom and comfort to all of us when, surely, her heart is breaking. Her words have been a soothing balm. Her courage in the face of unspeakable pain almost defies comprehension.

All of us have been reaching out to thank many people whiplashed by the pandemic and one of the saddest days in the history of Nova Scotia. All of them deserve our heartfelt gratitude.

Avon Brophy stands above them all in my humble estimation. We all need something to hold on to even though that is physically impossible these days.  But words often transcend outward signs of affection and Avon’s words give us hope for better days ahead.

I certainly don’t have the authority to issue a province wide decree but if I could, I would say the following: “Thank you, Avon, on behalf of all Nova Scotians.”

In the words of Rita MacNeil, “You discovered a treasure no other has seen.”

May Heidi rest in peace.

 

Posted on April 23, 2020 under Thursday Tidbits with no comments yet

Pete MacDonald Photo

 

Full disclosure. I did NOT write this piece. I saw it somewhere the other day and felt I had to share it with you. Apologies to the author. I couldn’t find your name.

 

“AND THEN IT IS WINTER.”

You know time has a way of moving quickly and catching you unaware of the passing years. It seems like yesterday that I was young, just married, and embarking on my new life with my mate. Yet in a way, it seems like eons ago, and I wonder where all those years went.

I know that I have lived them all. I have glimpses of how it was back then and all of my hopes and dreams. But here it is…the winter of my life, and it catches me by surprise. How did I get here so fast? Where did the years go and where did my youth go? I remember well seeing older people through the years and thinking that those “older people” were years away from me and that winter was so far off that I could not fathom it or imagine fully what it would be like.

But, here it is…my friends are retired and getting grey… they move slower and I see an older person in myself now. Some are in better and some worse shape than me… but, I see the great change. Not like the ones I remember who were young and vibrant… but, like me, their age is beginning to show and we are now those older folks that we used to see and never thought we’d be.

Each day now, I find that just getting a shower is a real target for the day! And taking a nap is not a treat anymore… it’s mandatory! Cause if I don’t on my own free will… I will just fall asleep where I sit!

And so… now I enter this season of my life unprepared for all the aches and pains and the loss of strength and ability to go and do things that I wish I had done but never did! But, at least I know, that though the winter has come, and I’m not sure how long it will last… this I know, that when it’s over on this earth… it’s over. A new adventure will begin!

Yes, I have regrets. There are things I wish I hadn’t done… things I should have done, but indeed, there are also many things I’m happy to have done. It’s all in a lifetime.

So, if you’re not in your winter yet… let me remind you, that it will be here faster than you think. So, whatever you would like to accomplish in your life, please do it quickly! Don’t put things off too long! Life goes by quickly. So, do what you can TODAY, as you can never be sure whether this is your winter or not!

You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of your life… so LIVE FOR TODAY and say all the things that you want your loved ones to remember… and hope that they appreciate and love you for all the things that you have done for them in all the years past!

“Life” is a GIFT to you. The way you live your life is your gift to those who come after. Make it a fantastic one.

Remember: “It is health that is real WEALTH and not pieces of gold and silver.”

• Your kids are becoming you… but your grandchildren are perfect!
• Going out is good… coming home is even better!
• You forget names… but it’s OK, because other people forgot that they even knew you!
• You realize that you’re never going to be really good at anything… especially golf!
• The things you used to care to do, you no longer care to do, but you really do care that you don’t care to do them anymore.
• You sleep better on a lounge chair with the TV blaring than in bed. It’s called “pre-sleep.”
• You miss the days when everything worked with just an “ON” and “Off” switch.
• You tend to use more 4 letter words… “what”… “when”…?
• Now that you can afford expensive jewelry, it’s not safe to wear it anywhere.
• What used to be freckles are now liver spots.
• Everybody whispers.
• You have 3 sizes of clothes in your closet… 2 of which you will never wear.

But “Old” is good in some things:

Old songs. Old movies…

And best of all, our dear… OLD FRIENDS!

Stay well, “OLD FRIEND!”

Have a great weekend.