Being Thankful for 2016

Towards the end of last year - there seemed to be more than usual the number of Facebook posts that  grieved for the passing year. There was a lot to be concerned about.  It was the warmest year on record, both the Arctic and Antarctic ice caps are getting smaller and the nations of the world don't seem to be particularly interested in aggressively taking steps to reduce climate change .  A lot of people died in 2016: there were the thousands of refugees who died trying to escape their worn torn countries, there were millions (yes literally millions) of people, many of them children, who died because of malnutrition or polluted water, there were hundreds of people killed by guns in the USA, western countries became more and more xenophobic  and the gap between the richest and the poorest in almost every country became even larger.  From that perspective one can understand why some people feel thankful that we are done with 2016 and that 2017 has to be better.

But that is not why people were complaining about 2016. They seemed to be upset that a seemingly large number of famous people died  in 2016,  and of course Trump was elected as the president of the USA.

Those people need to get a new perspective on what is important in life. It is true that the list of who died in 2016 and who had some level of fame is long.  But most of us only had a passing awareness of who the people were. Quite frankly, I would not have recognized most of the people who died even if they had banged on my door; I certainly would not have recognized their work. There are exceptions such as Leonard Cohen or Edward Albee whose works I knew well, but when I look at the lists of who died - there are a lot of names I had forgotten about if I even knew them  in the first place.  I would guess that many of us lost someone this year that we miss daily - not because they were famous, but because we cared about them and their lives.

While there are some legitimate reasons to be concerned about Donald Trump's election - I remain unconvinced that those reasons are sufficient to whine about a whole year.

One the other hand - for me there was a lot to celebrate in 2016. I moved almost 5,000 kilometres to start a new life in BC, I got to see both of my kids on their birthdays as well as seeing all four of my grandchildren on their birthdays; I had a relatively good year selling my weaving at local markets, I met lots of new people and I started to be engaged with my community as a volunteer. I got to camping with my Rainbow family in a beautiful part of  BC, attend a lovely folk festival and eat grapes harvested from my arbour.  I have remained reasonably healthy, I have sufficient funds to eat and to travel to see my family and perhaps most important of all - I have a family who even on their and my worst days - accept and support me in my life choices.

Is life perfect? Of course not but it is pretty damn close.  And while I want the world to be a better place, I want people to stop dying for stupid reasons that we could prevent , I want us to stop wasting the world's resources and lord knows I wish the USA would have elected someone who had some brains - all I can do is give money to those who try to help, be kind to my neighbours and love my family. I need to be grateful what I have as opposed to complaining what I have lost.

On the Road Again 2016 (Heading West) #5

In the early afternoon I spent an hour or two in the dome car - talking to or actually gently intruding into other people’s conversation. The seats are more comfortable up there. I decide to offer to move up there if in fact they were short of seats.  

Listened to the musician for a bit. It must be very difficult to sing to three or four people. Fortunately two of the people were also singers and so it was rather nice.

According to the attendant we will be getting into Jasper around 5:30. They need to change out one of the engines…..not too sure why - perhaps that is why we have been going so slow. It does mean that we will be here at least for an hour which will keep us 5.5 hours late.

For the first time since using the train, I decided not to get out to buy food at Jasper. I still have a bit of cheese left and a bagel as well as a muffin, lots of granola bars and some trail mix. It was getting close to dark, it looked cold and it just didn't seem to be worthwhile to get bundled up and then hang around outside for an hour or so waiting for the train to get loaded. Later I noticed some a herd of elk wandering around. It would have been nice to get a picture of them.

Boarding this time went well. The attendants were really well organized. They knew exactly who was going to go where, they switched some people around so families could sit by each other and it all went smoothly. They had warned us beforehand what was going to happen so there were no complaints. Four Via Rail engineers got on. They were dead heading a few hours up the line. I think they were the over-booking. They stayed in the doom car so it was not a problem.

Finally had a short chat with my seat mate. he certainly is not very talkative - either napping or playing with his phone. He is a 3rd year accounting student at UBC. He had wanted to get into engineering but his marks were not high enough, he then thought about psychology but didn't like it enough so he switched to the accounting program. Not exactly a driven student passionate about his area of study. We spent time talking about accounting. I tried to ask him if they studied ethics -  he said no and I think, wondered why I would ask this question. He asked almost no questions of me except to wonder about visiting other parts of Canada and when it would be the best times to do.

It was hard sleeping my last night on the train. My rear end was sore, it was hard to move around without disturbing my seat mate and every snore, cough or mumble seemed to fill the car. As delightful as train travel, those cars are not made to be so full. I would wake up every hour and by looking out the window, into the dark and snowy landscape try to determine where we were. It was a rather futile exercise except when we stopped at Kamloops where I knew where we were at least in part because of the sign of the train station.

I do distinctly remember stopping for six freight trains during the run from Jasper to Kamloops. At least two were over 130 cars long. That means we spent in that rather short stretch of rail, at least an hour waiting.

One of the plus parts of being late was going through the last range of mountains in the daylight. While it was quite foggy - it was very interesting. The rocks, the river all looked rather harsh and less beautiful than at other times because of the snow on the ground.

On the Road Again 2016 (Heading West) #4

Much to my surprise - we got in and out of Edmonton in record time. In fact we may have clawed back forty or so minutes. It doesn’t sound much but it is a start. If we can do the same in Jasper and the snow in the mountains is not too deep - at least we won’t be any later than we are now. As frustrating as it is to be on the train, waiting for some freight train to pass, it must be so much worse to be in a train station and have to wait for  five hours - especially if one is travelling with kids.

Speaking of which - there are a few families with kids and they are the quietest kids I have ever travelled with. I suppose that it is because they all have their devices. I never thought I would say it but I almost miss kids running up and down the aisle. There have also been a few dogs around. I can’t imagine putting one’s dog in the baggage car. It would be, I think, so cold in there. - but I have seen at least two people walking their dogs during the brief breaks. We also have a small dog in the car. Apparently it is some sort of emotional support dog. The young lady was saying it was good with kids who are sad. I think that is great and certainly the dog is not causing any problems. If people were not making a bit of a fuss about how cute it was - I would not have known there was a dog here at all. But given the owner is encouraging people to pet it etc…. I am not sure if it is really a working dog.

At Edmonton I got my seatmate. A quiet young man whose family may have come from China. There were other empty seats - I don’t know why he picked me. Perhaps my hairiness doesn’t scare off some racial groups as the last time I had a seat mate, he too was from China. I don’t think he is very talkative but perhaps when he comes back from the Dome car he and I will chat. I could use the company.

Lovely bright and sunny out there. The sun makes looking out the window so much more interesting. With snow covering most of the ground between Sudbury and Edmonton - the scenery is a bit boring. Because of the shorter days and running behind schedule, we have missed some of the more interesting sights along the way such as Longlac in Norther Ontario and the Qu'Appelle Valley in Saskatchewan. 

On the Road Again 2016 (Heading West) #3

The train got into Winnipeg just after 12:00. We were told that it would leave by 1:00. That did give me enough time to run to the Forks and pick up a couple of sandwiches and then a breakfast wrap. I got back just in time - and then of course we all had to wait twenty minutes while the sleeping car folks boarded and then all of those with children or who declared themselves infirm in some fashion. Usually there is a very clear boarding pattern. Those who were already on the train get on first, and then the new passengers get on. Not this time - all economy passengers boarded at the same time.  Not all of those new passengers knew that seats with tickets above them were already in use. Consequently it was a bit of a mess as people boarded.

The Via Rail attendant has informed us that the train has been over-sold…… how can they do that? Consequently every seat from Jasper onwards will be filled. I don’t have clue what they will do with the extra people. It does mean that for my last night I will not sleep as well. But that is a night and a day away.

I have noticed that one the train from Toronto to Winnipeg there was only one attendant for our two cars. On the Winnipeg to Vancouver part of the  run there are two. I am not too sure what they do when we can’t see them….perhaps they also have to do stuff in the dining car or the sleeping cars.

Train tried to leave Winnipeg almost on time but one of the switches was frozen and then we had to wait for an east bound freight train…… so we left the city just after 3:00. In spite of trying to save some time we are still over four hours late.

I normally do not obsess too much about the lateness of the train. After all part of the pleasure of train travel is that one has no control over such things as speed, delays or arrival time - but as I am arriving in Vancouver on New Year’s Eve - I do not want to be stuck in Vancouver that night. I would guess that most hostels will be filled. I therefore need to make an early ferry to the island. Ideally I will get to Nanaimo before 5:00 and catch the last Greyhound. If not I will be stuck there over night. Hopefully one of the three Nanaimo hostels will be open and have some room. Otherwise I am not too sure what to do.  It is, I must confess, causing some anxiety.

It might be my imagination but it feels as if the train is bouncier than usual. Although right now we are moving faster than we have for the past day or so. Perhaps the engineer thinks he can get to Edmonton on time. Would be nice.

Friday morning - the train is almost at capacity already. There seemed to be a number of folks who got on at various points during the night. Of course every time people got on there is a bit of noise. Because some of the folks already on the train were about to have a seat mate - they had to be woken up which caused even more of a disruption. I think there are only three seats empty in my car. I have one of those seats. As always it appears as if people do not think I am a desirable seat-mate. Bless my beard which right now looks wilder than usual.

There is not a lot of chatter on the train. Perhaps all of those so inclined are in the dome car which is quite crowded. I was quite glad when they turned down the lights just after 8:00. I read for awhile, then I listen to another novel for a bit and then fell asleep. We were all woken up sometime around 10:00 when an alarm went off. It took the attendant sometime to figure out to shut it off. It was a small it of excitement in day without any.

Whenever I looked out the window it seemed to be either snowing or at least the snow was blowing fairly hard.  There is not a lot of snow on the ground but it does look cold and winter like every where we have travelled.

Lots of coughing but the kids are quiet, none of the adults are obnoxious and as slow as it is we are still moving west.

On the Road Again 2016 Winter (Going West) #2

It is just before 1:00 PM and we have just made a brief stop in Gogama - which by my calculations means that we are running about four hours late. I have lost count of the number of freight trains that we have had to stop for - I stopped counting after six trains passed us. It seemed as if many of the car were travelling west empty. While I can understand that loaded freight cars contain more valuable items than do passenger cars but I must confess that I take some insult at being less important than an empty freight car!
The car that I am is full by Via’s standards. That is, in the car that I am in,  at least one seat out of two is filled. While some are getting off in edmonton or Jasper, there are quite of few who are going all of the way the Vancouver.

Just stopped at Foleyet - the good news is that we have not lost any time - we are just about as late as we were two hours ago.

As  have noted on other train trips, entertainers get to travel from Vancouver to Toronto for free if they give three performances a day - one in each of the three types of sleeping cars (or in my case economy which stands for sleeping while sitting up). This trip’s entertainment is a singer songwriter who has some skill with lyrics although his guitar playing is a bit weak. A nice guy who tried to engage the ten or so people who were there - even going to the point of handing out a list of 60 or so songs that he could sing and encouraging us to pick one. Unfortunately there was a woman who maybe had had too many drinks or perhaps she was always loud, rude and obnoxious. She insisted on talking to some young travellers throughout his singing. I think a couple of people left because of her. He wasn’t the best singer I have heard but he would have just fine for a rather dull grey day on the train…..she made it hard for him to perform and hard for those of us who wanted to hear what he had to say - pity.

We finally got to Hornepayne at 7:25. We were suppose to be here by 2:20. We seem to have lost an hour somehow. It is, of course dark, it is snowing and I suspect it is fairly cold outside. I have been here before - I have no need to get out and walk around the parking lot. However for the those who smoke, I think this is the first stop today. I can’t imagine how difficult it must be for those who have a serious addiction to nicotine.

I have spent the day reading a little it, listening to music and napping. I can’t believe how tired I am - but then reading and napping is what the train is well suited for.

At 8:45 AM stopped at Reddit, Ontario….should have been here by 3:30 AM - which means that we are just over five hours late…. That means a very short stop in Winnipeg which means that I won’t have time to shop for food…..pity. But I guess I was getting fat anyway.

If it is a very short stop in Winnipeg, w could make up up to three of those missing hours - which would be nice.

On the Road Again 2016 Winter (Going West)

In what is becoming somewhat of a ritual - here I sit in the Sudbury Junction Via Rail station waiting for a train that is late. I would not mind waiting the  three hours  nearly as much if I and my daughter had not needed to be up so early this morning. The good news is that the train was, at 5:00 going to be two hours and forty-five minutes late. It now looks as if we are only going to be two hours and fifteen minutes late. But then I have another three and a bit days to go - who knows if we are going to make up the time or be really late. As long as we have enough time in Winnipeg and Jasper for em to buy some food, I won’t complain too much.

The station is surprisingly full. Three kids from two different families - all being entertained by various mobile devices, and nine or so adults equally entertained by their mobile devices. While it is subjective - it feels as the place is far more quiet than it was ten years ago. There is no need for us to talk - we can all be entertained by the content on our little screens.

It is cold outside and the footing is treacherous - so no one is waiting outside.  It is uncomfortably warm in here but again no one is going outside….except for those who wait in their vehicles for passengers who are late in their arrival.

On the wall opposite me there is the electronic notice board stating the number of the train (1) the scheduled time of arrival and the actual/anticipated time of arrival. At 7:15 - the revised arrival time was 7:28. Thereafter every time the actual time got within 11 minutes of the anticipated time - that time was moved forward. It was like someone was teasing us...letting us believe that the train’s arrival was imminent and the at the last moment - postponing it for an additional five or so minutes. It was maddening.

The train finally arrived at 8:00 - a minute or two later than I was told when I first arrived. Two hours and forty-five minutes late. To be fair, two freight trains passed by the station heading north and one passed us heading south. The two northern ones looked to be quite long.

However - I am on the train and heading west. While I am sad about leaving the grand kids and my daughter - who takes care of me so well what I am in Sudbury - I am excited to be going home. I have a rather long list of weaving projects I need to get started on. I start going to be selling at the market in two month’s time.

P.s. for the first time in a while I have a reserved seat. The conductor looked for me and gave me the seat number….maybe they do plan on having the long distant passengers having two seats to themselves for at least part of the trip.

Rant on Christmas

 For most Canadians - the annual ritual/gluttony of too much food and too many presents is - thankfully - just about over for another year. Millions of Canadians have spent the last few days visiting friends and relatives, or being visited by them - eating enough food to feed twice perhaps three times as many people and opening truck loads of presents - mostly made up of items they didn’t need. Thousands and thousands of Canadians will be paying off the debt generated by this spurge in spending for months. All of this done in a futile attempt to somehow recreate an image of Christmas that, in fact for most of us, never existed.

The actual amounts of how much people spent this year on Christmas presents will take some months to be tabulate.  However Statistics Canada has published the results from 2014.

• $416.3 million — The value of toys, games and hobby supplies, including electronic games purchased at large retailers in Canada in December 2014, up 185.9% from average monthly sales of $145.6 million for this category in 2014 and up 51.2% from November 2014.
• $364.3 million — The value of computer hardware and software purchased at large retailers in Canada in December 2014, up 80.4% from average monthly sales of $202.0 million for this category in 2014 and up 36.9% from November 2014.
• $255.1 million — The value of small electrical appliances purchased at large retailers in Canada in December 2014, up 91.7% from average monthly sales of $133.1 million for this category in 2014 and up 51.6% from November 2014.
• $166.2 million — The value of cosmetics and fragrances purchased at large retailers in Canada in December 2014, up 78.2% from average monthly sales of $93.3 million for this category in 2014 and up 58.2% from November 2014.
• $192.8 million — The value of sporting goods purchased at large retailers in Canada in December 2014, up 32.7% from average monthly sales of $145.3 million for this category in 2014 and up 81.4% from November 2014.
• $122.8 million — The value of jewellery and watches purchased at large retailers in Canada in December 2014, up 139.7% from average monthly sales of $51.2 million for this category in 2014 and up 113.8% from November 2014.
• $71.1 million — The value of cameras (still and digital) and related photographic equipment and supplies purchased at large retailers in Canada in December 2014, up 122.7% from average monthly sales of $31.9 million for this category in 2014 and up 77.5% from November 2014

While it is of course impossible to know how many of these purchases would have been made even if was not the Christmas season, it is clear that millions of dollars are spent in the month of December on Christmas type presents. The absurdity of spending so much money - money that we may not have should be self evident. Should be …. but clearly it is not.

I struggle with the very thought of Christmas for a number of reasons, but the gluttony, the sheer excesses of food and presents disturbs me the most. We, on social media, publicly grieve for the suffering in Syria or a second destruction of infrastructure through natural causes and human ineptitude in Haiti; but we are comfortable in blaming someone else for these unfortunate events or at the least expecting someone else to fix them. We are comfortable from the safety of our living rooms to bemoan the state of the world - but we are prepared to do little to make the needed changes in our lifestyles that could start to address some of the fundamental questions of inequity that drive some of the wars that cause such destruction.

While a massive infusion of cash could not solve all or even some of the world’s problems, surely the near billion dollars spent in Canada on Christmas related presents would go a long way. If all of the western world did the same thing - who knows what would happen?