In spite of it have been already a pretty exciting summer, the biggest event was yet to come. My son was getting married! And I got to be around for it all.
The three of us (my grandson, my son and I) went out shopping for clothes. It would not surprise anyone who knows him, but my son knew what he wanted and nothing less would do for his wedding clothes. It took us a couple of days but finally he put together his outfit and he looked great. (as did his bride and his son). Perhaps the best purchase was a pair of dress shoes that we found in a second hand store for $2.00. They were perhaps the buy of the year.
At some point in one of our shopping trips it struck me that it was the first time in perhaps a hundred years that there had been three generations of Woodall males in the same place. My paternal grandfather had died before I was born and my father had never known his grandfather either. It was an extraordinary realization and feeling. To be so connected to the past and to the future was, for a brief moment, almost so breath taking that I did not want to do anything except bask in the moment. The pleasure was almost paralyzing. The joy and yes the pride was almost palpable. I truly felt blessed. But there was more to come.
I had been excited about the wedding for months - not just because they were finally getting hitched, but also because it meant that I would get to see my son and my daughter and all three of my grandchildren in the same room at the same time. There have been many times in the past ten years when I had just accepted that my children would always live in different parts of the country and that I would never get to see them together. I could have (almost) quite happily gone home after I saw them all together. The fact that my brother and his wife were also there made it even more special. As my son said at one point , he had already got his wedding present from his family. I too got every present that I will ever need for the rest of my life on that day.
The wedding went without an obvious hitch, the weather was great, the bride beautiful, the ring bearer did get (eventually) up to the front to be with his parents, people got their pictures taken, there was piles of food, people had fun and all got home safely. What else could you ask for? There is far more to the wedding story than that, but it is not my story to tell. It is my son’s and my daughter-in-law’s story and hopefully one day, one of them will do their own blog about the happy day.
There is something to be said for low budget weddings. For both of my kids, we have decorated the halls ourselves. For the most recent wedding I even made some of the decorations. For both weddings helping out the day before meant that I got to hang out with my children’s in-laws. To get to know them and to learn about their family. Everybody should do this way.
Thanks kids.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Saturday, October 15, 2011
intermission - Occupying Public Spaces
There is, according to all of the political pundits and social commentators on Canadian news and public affair programming, a new social movement developing before our very eyes. People, mainly young people, are gathering in front of stock exchanges or other public representations of the power elite to protest the obvious imbalances between the very rich and everyone else. It is happening throughout the USA, in a number of countries in Europe and this weekend in Canada. If one listens carefully to the sociologist and other political and social affair experts, they are declaring that this is a new sociological phenomenon. I am not too sure it is a new sociological phenomenon or at least if it is, if it has any staying power. I also think that it is a bit of a stretch to find direct links between what happened in Egypt seven months ago to what is happening on Wall Street today. I think it is far too early to make such a judgment.
More interestingly as a Canadian, I wonder if the complaints that people legitimately have in the USA are valid in Canada. I suspect that many Canadians will assume that the political and financial situations are identical. They are not. The US protesters are rightly angry that their government bailed out major banks who in fact caused the financial problems in the first place – no Canadian bank needed to be bailed out; the protesters are legitimately concerned that big business can and does invest large sums of money in ensuring that the “right” people get elected – in Canada our laws forbid such direct infusions of cash into campaign coffers; and finally the protesters are concerned that the cost of these bailouts and tax cuts to the very rich means that health care and education spending will be cut – no government in Canada whether provincial or federal has raise such a possibility.
There are issues in Canada that need to be resolved. We have a neo-conservative government in Ottawa that is systematically destroying many of the rights and protections we all assumed to be enshrined in law. Labour laws, privacy laws, access to information, and the right to be an equal participant in legal issues have been either violated or taken away completely. There is a clear agenda that supports not only the international/globalized business sector, but more importantly that does not support those who need our help.
There are issues in common between those who protest in the USA and those who may protest in Canada. Neither government is anyway addressing the issue of the environment, neither country has been able to develop a consensus as to how social programs should be paid for; both countries have far too high unemployment rates (it is difficult to get consistent, comparable statistical information – but it appears as if youth unemployment rates are somewhere between 15% and 19% in Canada and the US respectively); and unless there is a profound shift in how we elect and access our politicians, the young will continue not too vote.
It is worth noting a couple of additional facts.
It is exciting that people, especially young people are interested and passionate enough to get involved. For those of us of a certain age it is somewhat reassuring that those interests and those passions that energized us 35-40 years ago are still alive and vital in the hearts of others. It gives me hope for the future. But we need to be very clear as to who the enemy is. We need to be focused on changing how our political institutions are run and by whom. Banks or corporate elite are not the enemy – the enemy are those who let them do whatever they want.
More interestingly as a Canadian, I wonder if the complaints that people legitimately have in the USA are valid in Canada. I suspect that many Canadians will assume that the political and financial situations are identical. They are not. The US protesters are rightly angry that their government bailed out major banks who in fact caused the financial problems in the first place – no Canadian bank needed to be bailed out; the protesters are legitimately concerned that big business can and does invest large sums of money in ensuring that the “right” people get elected – in Canada our laws forbid such direct infusions of cash into campaign coffers; and finally the protesters are concerned that the cost of these bailouts and tax cuts to the very rich means that health care and education spending will be cut – no government in Canada whether provincial or federal has raise such a possibility.
There are issues in Canada that need to be resolved. We have a neo-conservative government in Ottawa that is systematically destroying many of the rights and protections we all assumed to be enshrined in law. Labour laws, privacy laws, access to information, and the right to be an equal participant in legal issues have been either violated or taken away completely. There is a clear agenda that supports not only the international/globalized business sector, but more importantly that does not support those who need our help.
There are issues in common between those who protest in the USA and those who may protest in Canada. Neither government is anyway addressing the issue of the environment, neither country has been able to develop a consensus as to how social programs should be paid for; both countries have far too high unemployment rates (it is difficult to get consistent, comparable statistical information – but it appears as if youth unemployment rates are somewhere between 15% and 19% in Canada and the US respectively); and unless there is a profound shift in how we elect and access our politicians, the young will continue not too vote.
It is worth noting a couple of additional facts.
1) there have been seven federal and provincial elections in Canada in the past year. All of the elections resulted in the previous government being returned to office; all of the elections had reduced voter turn-out.
2) while the Tea Party is in decline – last year a full 40% of the American voters thought it was a good thing, this year it is 20%
It is exciting that people, especially young people are interested and passionate enough to get involved. For those of us of a certain age it is somewhat reassuring that those interests and those passions that energized us 35-40 years ago are still alive and vital in the hearts of others. It gives me hope for the future. But we need to be very clear as to who the enemy is. We need to be focused on changing how our political institutions are run and by whom. Banks or corporate elite are not the enemy – the enemy are those who let them do whatever they want.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
on the road again 2011 #32
I had known since the beginning of June that there was going to be a BC Regional Gathering at some point around the second week of August. I didn't know if I would go given how busy the summer had been for me. But it had been a few years since I had been able to go to one. I had been missing that feeling of being at home, that sense of belonging that sweeps me away when I am at a BC Gathering. As much as I enjoy attending and participating at the big National Gatherings in the USA, BC is where my family lives and it will always be my the centre of my Rainbow home.
I could have hitchhiked there, but I only had a few days to spare and I didn't want to waste them on the road so I rented a little car and headed north. I didn't tell car rental place that I would be traveling along logging roads. They (the rental places) don’t like those roads. It is too risky in terms of stone chips and broken axels.
It was an easy five or so hour drive to where the Gathering was suppose to be held. The scouts had told everyone that it was a glorious spot just a few 100 metres off the logging road, with a lake and a large meadow for people to camp in. There was even a flat level bit of land that we could use for a parking lot. It sounded ideal. When I got to the parking lot, there were only a few cars there, and much to my surprise there were tents there. I sort of assumed that the tent were for the three or four folks who were there to welcome people - but no, there were only eight or nine people had made it to the Gathering. I knew only knew two of the people.
Gatherings are a strange business. Because the Family resists any temptation or encouragement to be organized, it frequently presents an image of profound disorganization. People say they are planning on coming and then don't. No one knows why. We all accept that life occasionally gets in the way and are grateful and delighted with who ever does appear. So one can never tell if a regional or a national Gathering will be large or small.
People were camped in the campsite because the main site appeared to be a bit swampy and buggy. There was a fairly large creek (or small river) that needing crossing and there was not sufficient manpower to build a bridge. So folks just hung out in this over grown parking lot, surrounded by glorious trees. Other than a pick up truck or two that went by once or twice a day we saw no one. It does not sound very nice but it was a great day and a half for me. And I don't know if I can explain why.
My brothers and sisters were beautiful. While I was the oldest for at least the first day or so, the youngest was less than 2 years old. There were a couple a people in their 30s and the rest were in their mid 20s. People went for walks to look for crystals, we sat around and talked about art and politics and music and the Family and …. and ….. and …….about everything under the sun. And we ate. My heavens there was great food!
We had all brought food to share and so there were blueberry pancakes and scrambled eggs, there were smoothies made in a blender attached to a bicycle wheel, there was rice pudding, and a pasta dish as fine as any restaurant’s. All of it cooked without a lot of planning, with people contributing their food, their thoughts and their work, all without one harsh word or without anyone ever telling someone what to do. It was magical. A true family, most of whom had never met each other before they had gotten there, but a family none-the-less who seemed to instinctively know how to work together, how to share and how to just enjoy each other. Meals of course didn’t happen on time. That is - breakfast was more like brunch and supper barely got done before the sun set. But it did not matter. We were Family and we were at home.
The morning before I left we had a little council meeting and one by one as the feather was passed from person to person we listened to each other and in turn we spoke our thoughts about the future and what plans should be made for that evening (the full moon which is a traditional night of celebrations) and for the following year. For the Family, around the world, council should be held on the land in full view of everything and everyone so all can participate. So all can share their vision until a true consensus can be reached.
I was sad to leave but so glad that I had been able to at least for a few hours, share in belonging to this marvelous, vagabond-like group of eclectic travelers. We will meet again.
I could have hitchhiked there, but I only had a few days to spare and I didn't want to waste them on the road so I rented a little car and headed north. I didn't tell car rental place that I would be traveling along logging roads. They (the rental places) don’t like those roads. It is too risky in terms of stone chips and broken axels.
It was an easy five or so hour drive to where the Gathering was suppose to be held. The scouts had told everyone that it was a glorious spot just a few 100 metres off the logging road, with a lake and a large meadow for people to camp in. There was even a flat level bit of land that we could use for a parking lot. It sounded ideal. When I got to the parking lot, there were only a few cars there, and much to my surprise there were tents there. I sort of assumed that the tent were for the three or four folks who were there to welcome people - but no, there were only eight or nine people had made it to the Gathering. I knew only knew two of the people.
Gatherings are a strange business. Because the Family resists any temptation or encouragement to be organized, it frequently presents an image of profound disorganization. People say they are planning on coming and then don't. No one knows why. We all accept that life occasionally gets in the way and are grateful and delighted with who ever does appear. So one can never tell if a regional or a national Gathering will be large or small.
People were camped in the campsite because the main site appeared to be a bit swampy and buggy. There was a fairly large creek (or small river) that needing crossing and there was not sufficient manpower to build a bridge. So folks just hung out in this over grown parking lot, surrounded by glorious trees. Other than a pick up truck or two that went by once or twice a day we saw no one. It does not sound very nice but it was a great day and a half for me. And I don't know if I can explain why.
My brothers and sisters were beautiful. While I was the oldest for at least the first day or so, the youngest was less than 2 years old. There were a couple a people in their 30s and the rest were in their mid 20s. People went for walks to look for crystals, we sat around and talked about art and politics and music and the Family and …. and ….. and …….about everything under the sun. And we ate. My heavens there was great food!
We had all brought food to share and so there were blueberry pancakes and scrambled eggs, there were smoothies made in a blender attached to a bicycle wheel, there was rice pudding, and a pasta dish as fine as any restaurant’s. All of it cooked without a lot of planning, with people contributing their food, their thoughts and their work, all without one harsh word or without anyone ever telling someone what to do. It was magical. A true family, most of whom had never met each other before they had gotten there, but a family none-the-less who seemed to instinctively know how to work together, how to share and how to just enjoy each other. Meals of course didn’t happen on time. That is - breakfast was more like brunch and supper barely got done before the sun set. But it did not matter. We were Family and we were at home.
The morning before I left we had a little council meeting and one by one as the feather was passed from person to person we listened to each other and in turn we spoke our thoughts about the future and what plans should be made for that evening (the full moon which is a traditional night of celebrations) and for the following year. For the Family, around the world, council should be held on the land in full view of everything and everyone so all can participate. So all can share their vision until a true consensus can be reached.
I was sad to leave but so glad that I had been able to at least for a few hours, share in belonging to this marvelous, vagabond-like group of eclectic travelers. We will meet again.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
intermission - Dogs
Lots of dogs don't know they are dogs. In fact this confusion is not unusual in dogs that are raised in families. Because the dogs live with humans, they assume that they too are human with all of the privileges that the two legged beings have. This weekend however, I met a dog who has taken species confusion to a whole new level.
She thinks that we are dogs! I don't think she has a clue that she is different from us, but it is not that she is like us, but rather we are like her. When she wants to play, she barks and gently chews on the wrist of the human. When she wants to show affection, she grooms (licks) the person's hand (or any other part of the body that she can reach) for hours on end. You can't get mad at her because yelling at her or chasing her is exactly what another dog would do in response to her barking or the gentle chewing on some extremity. If you take your wrist away because the licking is getting annoying, she just sees that as another way of playing and she works all the harder at finding another body part to lick.
I noticed that she demonstrated the exact same behaviours when she played with another dog in the park. She barked, chewed and teased the other dog until it chased her. Quite remarkable. I don't have a clue how they are going to train her out of her false assumption.
Of course it may just be that my hairy appearance confused her and now that I have left - she is back to normal.
She thinks that we are dogs! I don't think she has a clue that she is different from us, but it is not that she is like us, but rather we are like her. When she wants to play, she barks and gently chews on the wrist of the human. When she wants to show affection, she grooms (licks) the person's hand (or any other part of the body that she can reach) for hours on end. You can't get mad at her because yelling at her or chasing her is exactly what another dog would do in response to her barking or the gentle chewing on some extremity. If you take your wrist away because the licking is getting annoying, she just sees that as another way of playing and she works all the harder at finding another body part to lick.
I noticed that she demonstrated the exact same behaviours when she played with another dog in the park. She barked, chewed and teased the other dog until it chased her. Quite remarkable. I don't have a clue how they are going to train her out of her false assumption.
Of course it may just be that my hairy appearance confused her and now that I have left - she is back to normal.
Friday, October 7, 2011
intermission - elections
Well it is all done for another 4 years - although with a minority government who knows what will happen.
The best case scenario is for the Liberals and the NDP to agree on some basic facts and plans and then to make a commitment to work together as long as those goals last. It has been done before. The two parties are not that far apart.
As a commentator said last night - 53 seats is sort of a majority - if the speaker comes from the opposition - he/she "has" to vote for the government if the vote is a tie. It is one of those weird traditions that make little sense.
The scary thing is how close some of the contests were.... we could have had a Conservative government. We need to be more active, more vigilant, more aware of what is happening in that never never land of politics. The nightmares might just come true one day.
The best case scenario is for the Liberals and the NDP to agree on some basic facts and plans and then to make a commitment to work together as long as those goals last. It has been done before. The two parties are not that far apart.
As a commentator said last night - 53 seats is sort of a majority - if the speaker comes from the opposition - he/she "has" to vote for the government if the vote is a tie. It is one of those weird traditions that make little sense.
The scary thing is how close some of the contests were.... we could have had a Conservative government. We need to be more active, more vigilant, more aware of what is happening in that never never land of politics. The nightmares might just come true one day.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
On the Road Again 2011 - Blog 31
By this point I had been out west for a month, but I had spent virtually no time on Salt Spring Island. So in spite of my desire to spend time with my grandson, within a day or two of coming back from the folk festival I was on the ferry heading to that tiny island and the house that has been my summer home for the past few years.
The first night I was there we went down to the Treehouse - an outdoor restaurant in Ganges and watched a friend of Sally's sing a few songs. I had seen Susan at her CD release party at Hugh's Place in Toronto last November and it was good to see her sing again. However before she sang, we watched a most remarkable act on the waterfront.
A couple from France, who were sailing around the world earning money performed this remarkable ballet/acrobatic show on their sail boat that was anchored twenty or so meters from the boardwalk. They used the riggings and the boom like they were natural extensions of the water. The two of them were far superior to any of the acts that I saw at the Busker’s Festival in Victoria. They were graceful and strong, the act had some humour in it, but most amazingly the love story they told was so powerful that I am sure I was not the only one who stopped breathing at the sheer poetry of it all. It was quite a night!
I spent just over two weeks at Sally’s. I don't know where the time went. I watered the garden most evening, I repaired the foot rest of Sally's chair, I resurface some salad bowls, the teak dining table and a large coffee table, repaired a silk shawl and a small leather foot stool. But those jobs only took a little bit out of my day. Most of the time I just hung around and chatted to whomever was there. If Sally was busy I read outside, if she was alone then we chatted about life, politics and anything else that came up. As always sometimes we argued about our quite different views of how the world works. As always we enjoyed being together. On occasion I cooked for her and her guests if her workers were busy doing something else. I once even cook some chili for a number of ladies who were coming over for an evening of singing and chanting. I didn't stay for the music. The irony of the "man of the house" cooking for some ladies and then leaving them was not lost on me or anyone else.
The time for me to leave and get back to Duncan arrived all too quickly. My son was getting married and I wanted to be around for at least ten before the wedding so that I could be there to help. The plan was that I would come back and say good bye to Sally after the wedding. The plan was to bring my daughter and my two grandchildren from Sudbury over to meet Sally. It never happen. And so Sally and I never had the chance to say goodbye. The thought saddens me still. I miss the island and I miss that other part of my family.
Salt Spring Island, or at least Sally's version of the island is a remarkable place where everyone knows you, where every cares about and believes in you and where all things are possible if you just have faith. I am not sure if I could live there forever. But I wish that I could try to live there, to immerse myself in a land filled with people who are beautiful in their love for each other and who always welcome me like I belong there.
The first night I was there we went down to the Treehouse - an outdoor restaurant in Ganges and watched a friend of Sally's sing a few songs. I had seen Susan at her CD release party at Hugh's Place in Toronto last November and it was good to see her sing again. However before she sang, we watched a most remarkable act on the waterfront.
A couple from France, who were sailing around the world earning money performed this remarkable ballet/acrobatic show on their sail boat that was anchored twenty or so meters from the boardwalk. They used the riggings and the boom like they were natural extensions of the water. The two of them were far superior to any of the acts that I saw at the Busker’s Festival in Victoria. They were graceful and strong, the act had some humour in it, but most amazingly the love story they told was so powerful that I am sure I was not the only one who stopped breathing at the sheer poetry of it all. It was quite a night!
I spent just over two weeks at Sally’s. I don't know where the time went. I watered the garden most evening, I repaired the foot rest of Sally's chair, I resurface some salad bowls, the teak dining table and a large coffee table, repaired a silk shawl and a small leather foot stool. But those jobs only took a little bit out of my day. Most of the time I just hung around and chatted to whomever was there. If Sally was busy I read outside, if she was alone then we chatted about life, politics and anything else that came up. As always sometimes we argued about our quite different views of how the world works. As always we enjoyed being together. On occasion I cooked for her and her guests if her workers were busy doing something else. I once even cook some chili for a number of ladies who were coming over for an evening of singing and chanting. I didn't stay for the music. The irony of the "man of the house" cooking for some ladies and then leaving them was not lost on me or anyone else.
The time for me to leave and get back to Duncan arrived all too quickly. My son was getting married and I wanted to be around for at least ten before the wedding so that I could be there to help. The plan was that I would come back and say good bye to Sally after the wedding. The plan was to bring my daughter and my two grandchildren from Sudbury over to meet Sally. It never happen. And so Sally and I never had the chance to say goodbye. The thought saddens me still. I miss the island and I miss that other part of my family.
Salt Spring Island, or at least Sally's version of the island is a remarkable place where everyone knows you, where every cares about and believes in you and where all things are possible if you just have faith. I am not sure if I could live there forever. But I wish that I could try to live there, to immerse myself in a land filled with people who are beautiful in their love for each other and who always welcome me like I belong there.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
a minor complaint
I appreciate the fact that for whatever reason Google "allows" me to have a blog at no cost. I am glad that I have the chance to write every once in a while BUT I wish they would leave the damn thing alone.
As you may have noticed - they have changed how it looks - I am sure if I spent enough time I could make it look the way it did before, but I don't want to spend an hour or two playing with the format. It took me that long to get it the way it is right now and if I tried to put it back to the way it looked yesterday - I could be here all night. If I was lucky and a lot better at design than I have been up to now.
Jeez guys - if it ain't broken - why did you have to fix it?
As you may have noticed - they have changed how it looks - I am sure if I spent enough time I could make it look the way it did before, but I don't want to spend an hour or two playing with the format. It took me that long to get it the way it is right now and if I tried to put it back to the way it looked yesterday - I could be here all night. If I was lucky and a lot better at design than I have been up to now.
Jeez guys - if it ain't broken - why did you have to fix it?
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