Happy Christmas holiday

Well,

We wish you

Peace and happiness,

Security and Love

Contentment, one might say.

The traditions and myths that abound

This time of the year

All point to that same peace and happiness

We all crave and appreciate

So, only the best to each of You!

In the early 60's, Randy Sparks of The New Christy Minstrels wrote the song Three Christmas Wishes. Ann Murray covered it on her first Christmas album. It is definitely a major fav of mine. We actually saw them, The New Christy Minstrels, sing it this holiday season.

So our Christmas card, (front page) this season is a picture taken while hiking in the Grand Canyon in late November, and the words (second page) are the key lines from his song.

Just Call Me Tender Quads

Well!

Sometimes we make good decisions, and even act on them.

I received notification 10 days ago that our, (SIL Harry's and my) Grand Canyon back country camping trip had been approved. Rather than them sending it to us, I opted to get into the RV with Elsie and travel to the Grand Canyon to pick up the permit in person.

And while there do a Day Hike to test myself at that altitude

and the steepness of the incline.

So I loaded up the backpack with 35 pounds and down I went.

I'm glad that I did. After a three mile each way, five hour hike with a difference of over 2000 feet in altitude, it's back to the gym for me, and with a more intense focus. Quads and lungs, lungs and quads require more attention that's for sure! Tender Quads? Yup!

But let me tell you, the vistas were amazing. Actually the entire time was somewhere between awesome and amazing.

There are numerous blogs and web sites dedicated to hiking the Canyon. How to do it, what not to do, when and where, and every and anything else that you might want to know. And I've read them all. They don't exaggerate when they talk about the necessity of water and electrolyte balance.

I started down the So. Kaibab Trailhead in a steady snowfall. The weatherman said that we got four inches. I was wearing crampons, (snap on cleats) for the first 1000 feet of altitude drop. The snow covered pictures aptly show the weather. The multi layered clothing approach worked really well. Layers kept coming off and going back on as the day progressed.

The almost new Scarpa hiking boots fit perfectly, especially for the downhill work. In fact

they worked so well that, until Elsie asked me, the concern of quality and fit never crossed my mind. A common thread throughout all of the blogs and warnings was the need to have properly fitted, (for downhill work) boots. Horror stories abound about poorly fitted boots and totally blistered toes and feet and all of the problems associated with these issues. The young lady at Mountain Equipment Co-op in Burlington had done her fitting job well.

The clouds were what was most amazing.

They never really left. They just kept

moving out and in.

Wind was never a significant discomfort factor, but I must say that from time to time the gusts of wind were surely noticed and necessitated a layers change. One moment sunshine was streaming through in a narrow band. Moments later there would be vast expanses of brilliant sunlight lighting up a distant butte. All day long the clouds would roll in and out.

The trail largely followed the edges of a couple of box canyons. Always dropping, although on the way up, way to vertical. Going up I'm sure there were times when I'd take breaks after

100 meters.

Especially on the way up, lots of water and many rests!

In wilderness situations most of the people you meet are, among other things, interesting and supportive. At Cedar Ridge the mother of a family of five asked if she could borrow a couple of AA batteries for a few pictures. I insisted that she keep two of my extra AA's. We began talking and found out that they live 2.5 hours north of us in Ontario.

They had taken the three elementary aged children out of school for the month and were experiencing a variety of challenges in the Southwest. Cool! Their daughter Jessica is the young lady in this picture.

On the return I found myself with Daniel and Tony, two engineers taking a weekend break from sessions they were attending in Las Vegas. Daniel had another total level of fitness than did Tony and I. He literally scampered up the very vertical incline. He offered to take my 10 pound camera and include us in some shots from above and looking down at us.

This worked out well in two ways. You can see me as one of two little specks on the trail.

and more importantly, it taught me about weight distribution. Because one of

my motives for the hike was for it to be amajor photo op.

I was carrying my Canon EOS 30 with attached battery

and 1:2.8 24 - 70 mm lens. And because I was constantly shooting, carried it around my neck and frequently cradled it in my left arm.

This process made for great photography and hurting hiking!

Anyway, once I had passed it off to Daniel, my need for rest stops diminished greatly.

Daniel and Tony were two really nice guys, turned out Daniel is from Montreal and Tony from Columbus.

While I hiked, Elsie stayed in the nice warm RV, with the furnace running, and amused herself with Crosswords, a good book and hot chocolate. She says that she was also quite worried on my behalf, so that was one less thing that I had to be concerned about.

Yes, I said book, singular, so you know that she must have been quite

worried if she only read one book in a five hour time span.

Granted , I missed the Grey Cup. The recounting of an exciting game that I received from Ted verified what he always says about Grey Cup games, "the best football on TV he says". I won't argue, but I wouldn't have traded the experience of a wintery hike along the South Kaibab Trail for, well not quite "anything", but pretty close to it!

This is a part of the preperation for a third in a series of kedges. (Algonquin and cycling with Manisha and Steve being the first two) The actual kedge will be the six day trip that will commence on February 22nd. The Day Trip was one of a series of events and experiences that are the leadups to the real thing. For those of you who don't remember from earlier writings,

I' ll describe a kedge in an upcoming blogspot.

This last image is of Daniel at the Trailhead following his successful ascent.

He and Tony had

started much earlier and actually gone all of the way to Phantom Ranch.

Oh, and I decided that a Garmin for trails was a necessity of great import.

So another, no Sheri, it's not a toy, rather another 'tool' to be put to great use as

I learn to master it. And now I can geocache as well.

That'll be a story for another day.

Love y'all.

Home Alone Two, But Not Yet Lonely

Our last two known guests have left.

Three days after arriving in The Valley of the Sun, downtown AZ, friends and golfing soulmate Ted and Syl arrived from N O T L, ON, CA.

Two days later Paul and Jo showed up at the door.

A, way to quick two weeks later, the last of these four had gone and it's "back to the airport time", to pick up BIL Terry. (painter extrodinaire). You'll never guess the color of the kitchen and eating area!

While he was here, the house was transformed into a crayola kaleidescope between rounds of golf and and visiting with a variety of friends of Bill Wilson.

As we said our goodbyes to BIL Terry, we also had a final farewell for Papilio Cresphontes, or Pap for short.

Actually, one could say that he exited his caterpillar existence as a form of Pap smear on the sidewalk below the Orange tree that was his home while he was with us here in the Valley of the Sun. (Elsie has never seen a bug that she deems worthy of life).

So now it's the two of us. We have reveled in the past month of activity and are now basking in the serenity of solitude, golf, reading, putting up shelving, planting and blogging. Well, maybe not solitude, but . . . you get the picture I'm sure!

Paul, Jo, Ted, Syl, Terry and even Pap, you're all what fond memories are made of. And may more of you friends show up at our door. But wait for a week or two.

Love to all of you, and as my dear friend Santa says each Christmas Eve, . . . "and to all a good night!"

Oh yes, and thank you much, Terry for the wonderful work that was accomplished amidst the other activities that distracted us.

And to you all, Terry is the same Terry who for very good reason is listed at the end of this blog as one of my true heros. A great guy with a wonderful wife, Dorothy and way to charming two daughters, Emily and Jaimie Lee.

The Grand Canyon Hike with SILH, (son-in-law Harry)

Well, there she is folks. Our descent is the South Kaibab trailhead. Very close to where I was standing to shoot this image.

The dates for the adventure are Feb. 22 - 27, 2010. Each season has it's advantages and disadvantages. We'll likely begin the descent on a snowy trail. Within two hours we should be down far enough that we'll be in mid 40'sF. By the time we get to our first camping area, we'll be in (daytime, mid 50's to mid 60'sF temps). Unfortunately for us, by then the shadows will have lengthened for the day and we'll be setting up camp and making dinner in somewhat cooler temps. We won't be tossing off the covers at night because of the heat!

A negative is that except for the main corridor there are no water supplies during the winter months. So that means carrying quite a bit and likely doing some caching and retrieving. But that's cool, we'll be relying more on the creeks and using our little purifier pumps to filter what we use.

I'm so looking forward to this trip. I have wanted to do the photography thing down there from the day that I saw my first picture taken along Monument Creek. Guess what, we're spending two days trekking that area.

And believe it or not, I look forward to the physical prep stuff to insure that I'm reasonably fit for this venture. Now each day I look forward to the walk. I wear a backpack. Started it at 25 pounds and am working it up to 50 pounds. Alternate days I'm cycling and doing stretches and exercises that my fitness trainer from last summer taught me.

I figure that we'll each be carrying about 50 pounds. My camera equipment is 1/5th of that. Harry thinks I'm nuts. Because of the equipment, at least that's my excuse, we're going to send a thirty pound pack down on the daily mule train trip. That'll also allow us to have access to better quality grub than if we had to rely solely on dehydrated , packaged food. This will give us the fixin's for bacon and eggs and my all time favorite, bannock which is better than good any time of the day, right Mitch and Trav!

Well enough for now. I'll be back to you very shortly updating the progress. Good day to you all. And may your dreams come true, as has mine. Thanks SILH for helping me to take a big drink from the bucket list.

This is heavy, but like Neil Diamond says ... He ain't Heavy, he's my Brother

For decades I have closely associated with a small number of people who are gay. In some instances they have openly lived their lives as gay people. (While in Austin I discovered a good friend from my brain Injury days lost her partner this past Spring).

Each has paid an enormous cost, emotionally, socially and spiritually. To my knowledge, for none of them has their journey been based upon a whim, rather one of reality. Some of them grew up with many of the phyiological characteristics associated with persons of opposite gender.

What they have been socially subjected to is horrible and wrong. Based upon their experiences, I believe that there must be very very few who would take lightly the decision to live a gay life style. But, even if ...

Recently Dr. John Spong wrote this piece which, much better than I could, describes my take on the issue John Spong, now in his early 80's, just published his most recent book, Eternal Life, A New Vision. His autobiography Here I Stand, is the story of his spiritual growth and development. It's a brilliant read.

So here goes, after many years of reading, listening and too many discussions, I want my friends to better understand my take on issues such as this. Some of you will agree, some will disagree and that is how it should be. As, almost, always I appreciate your feedback and comments.

Thursday October 15, 2009

A Manifesto! The Time Has Come!

I have made a decision. I will no longer debate the issue of homosexuality in the church with anyone. I will no longer engage the biblical ignorance that emanates from so many right-wing Christians about how the Bible condemns homosexuality, as if that point of view still has any credibility. I will no longer discuss with them or listen to them tell me how homosexuality is "an abomination to God," about how homosexuality is a "chosen lifestyle," or about how through prayer and "spiritual counseling" homosexual persons can be "cured." Those arguments are no longer worthy of my time or energy. I will no longer dignify by listening to the thoughts of those who advocate "reparative therapy," as if homosexual persons are somehow broken and need to be repaired. I will no longer talk to those wh believe that the unity of the church can or should be achieved by rejecting the presence of, or at least at the expense of, gay and lesbian people. I will no longer take the time to refute the unlearned and undocumentable claims of certain world religious leaders who call homosexuality "deviant." I will no longer listen to that pious sentimentality that certain Christian leaders continue to employ, which suggests some version of that strange and overtly dishonest phrase that "we love the sinner but hate the sin." That statement is, I have concluded, nothing more than a self-serving liedesigned to cover the fact that these people hate homosexual persons and fear homosexuality itself, but somehow know that hatred is incompatible with the Christ they claim to profess, so they adopt this face-saving and absolutely false statement. I will no longer temper my understanding of truth in order to pretend that I have even a tiny smidgen of respect for the appalling negativit that continues to emanate from religious circles where the church has for centuries conveniently perfumed its ongoing prejudices against blacks, Jews, women and homosexual persons with what it assumes is "high-sounding, pious rhetoric." The day for that mentality has quite simply come to an end for me. I will personally neither tolerate it nor listen to it any longer. The world has moved on, leaving these elements of the Christian Church that cannot adjust to new knowledge or a new consciousness lost in a sea of their own irrelevance. They no longer talk to anyone but themselves. I will no longer seek to slow down the witness to inclusiveness by pretending that there is some middle ground between prejudice and oppression. There isn't. Justice postponed is justice denied. That can be a resting place no longer for anyone. An old civil rights song proclaimed that the only choice awaiting those who cannot adjust to a new understanding was to "Roll on over or we'll roll on ove you!" Time waits for no one. I will particularly ignore those members of my own Episcopal Church who seek to break away from this body to form a "new church," claiming that this new and bigoted instrument alone now represents the Anglican Communion. Such a new ecclesiastical body is designed to allow these pathetic human beings, who are so deeply locked into a world that no longer exists, to form a community in which they can continue to hate gay people, distort gay people with their hopeless rhetoric and to be part of a religious fellowship in which they can continue to feel justified in their homophobic prejudices for the rest of their tortured lives. Church unity can never be a virtue that is preserved by allowing injustice, oppression and psychological tyranny to go unchallenged. In my personal life, I will no longer listen to televised debates conducted by "fair-minded" channels that seek to give "both sides" of this issue "equal time." I am aware that these stations no longer give equal time to the advocates of treating women as if they are the property of men or to the advocates of reinstating either segregation or slavery, despite the fact that when these evil institutions were coming to an end the Bible was still being quoted frequently on each of these subjects. It is time for the media to announce that there are no longer two sides to the issue of full humanity for gay and lesbian people. There is no way that justice for homosexual people can be compromised any longer. I will no longer act as if the Papal office is to be respected if the present occupant of that office is either not willing or not able to inform and educate himself on public issues on which he dares to speak with embarrassing ineptitude. I will no longer be respectful of the leadership of the Archbishop of Canterbury, who seems to believe that rude behavior, intolerance and even killing prejudice is somehow acceptable, so long as it comes from third-world religious leaders, who more than anything else reveal in themselves the price that colonial oppression has required of the minds and hearts of so many of our world's population. I see no way that ignorance and truth can be placed side by side, nor do I believe that evil is somehow less evil if the Bible is quoted to justify it. I will dismiss as unworthy of any more of my attention the wild, false and uninformed opinions of such would-be religious leaders as Pat Robertson, James Dobson, Jerry Falwell, Jimmy Swaggart, Alber Mohler, and Robert Duncan. My country and my church have both already spent too much time, energy and money trying to accommodate these backward points of view when they are no longer even tolerable. I make these statements because it is time to move on. The battle is over. The victory has been won. There is no reasonable doubt as to what the final outcome of this struggle will be. Homosexual people will be accepted as equal, full human beings, who have a legitimate claim on every right that both church and society have to offer any of us. Homosexual marriages will become legal, recognized by the state and pronounced holy by the church. "Don't ask, don't tell" will be dismantled as the policy of our armed forces. We will and we must learn that equality of citizenship is not something that should ever be submitted to a referendum. Equality under and before the law is a solemn promise conveyed to all our citizens in the Constitution itself. Can any of us imagine having a public referendum on whether slavery should continue, whether segregation should be dismantled, whether voting privileges should be offered to women? The time has come for politicians to stop hidin behind unjust laws that they themselves helped to enact, and to abandon that convenient shield of demanding a vote on the rights of full citizenship because they do not understand the difference between a constitutional democracy, which this nation has, and a "mobocracy," which this nation rejected when it adopted its constitution. We do not put the civil rights of a minority to the vote of a plebiscite. I will also no longer act as if I need a majority vote of some ecclesiastical body in order to bless, ordain, recognize and celebrate the lives and gifts of gay and lesbian people in the life of the church. No one should ever again be forced to submit the privilege of citizenship in this nation or membership in the Christian Church to the will of a majority vote. The battle in both our culture and our church to rid our souls of this dying prejudice is finished. A new consciousness has arisen. A decision has quite clearly been made. Inequality for gay and lesbian people is no longer a debatable issue in either church or state. Therefore, I will from this moment on refuse to dignify the continued public expression of ignorant prejudice by engaging it. I do not tolerate racism or sexism any longer. From this moment on, I will no longer tolerate our culture's various forms of homophobia. I do not care who it is who articulates these attitudes or who tries to make them sound holy with religious jargon. I have been part of this debate for years, but things do get settled and this issue is now settled for me. I do not debate any longer with members of the "Flat Earth Society" either. I do not debate with people who think we should treat epilepsy by casting demons out of the epileptic person; I do not waste time engaging those medical opinions that suggest that bleeding the patient might release the infection. I do not converse with people who think that Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans as punishment for the sin of being the birthplace of Ellen DeGeneres or that the terrorists hit the United Sates on 9/11 because we tolerated homosexual people, abortions, feminism or the American Civil Liberties Union. I am tired of being embarrassed by so much of my church's participation in causes that are quite unworthy of the Christ I serve or the God whose mystery and wonder I appreciate more each day. Indeed I feel the Christian Church should not only apologize, but do public penanc for the way we have treated people of color, women, adherents of other religions and those we designated heretics, as well as gay and lesbian people. Life moves on. As the poet James Russell Lowell once put it more than a century ago: "New occasions teach new duties, Time makes ancient good uncouth." I am ready now to claim the victory. I will from now on assume it and live into it. I am unwilling to argue about it or to discuss it as if there are two equally valid, competing positions any longer. The day for that mentality has simply gone forever. This is my manifesto and my creed. I proclaim it today. I invite others to join me in this public declaration. I believe that such a public outpouring will help cleanse both the church and this nation of its own distorting past. It will restore integrity and honor to both church and state. It will signal that a new day has dawned and we are ready not just to embrace it, but also to rejoice in it and to celebrate it. – John Shelby Spong

We've arrived...in Arizona, that is

It's great to be back in AZ

Wow!

It's 89 degrees Fahrenheit. And a whole winter of it to look forward to. We arrived in Sun City West today at noon.

For those of you who check this blog on a somewhat regular basis, I apologize for the hiatus.

Oldest grandchild Kyle, (gck) reprimanded me via e-mail saying that his daily disappointment may soon be affecting his grades in university. At least that's what I think he was saying subliminally.

And it is frustrating while on the road not having e-contact with friends, family and the net in general. So we're going to explore the possibility of a phone card/mobile hot spot. I'll keep the world, or those few on this earth who use this blog to see what's happening in the mind of santaray on any given day, informed as to our progress on this front. Any and all suggestions are welcome.

Oh, great news! You've been seeing my little tribute to Millie Seaton, (up in the top right corner) the provider of one of my very first Santa's. Well, this past weekend Elsie and I were able to catch up with Doc, her husband of 59 years before cancer ended her life this past Spring. It couldn't, however, take away the legacy and memories that so many friends and acquaintances recall and will always cherish.

Well, was this a treat or what. Doc still lives off of the 17th green of one of the nicest golf courses in TX. Doc was the one who convinced me to begin a brain injury rehabilitation and life-long living community in Niagara. He also became my mentor and friend.

It was brilliant to remember the past with Doc and even more exciting to talk about our present lives.

Oh, and he introduced us to the "Kindle." Elsie and I haven't ordered ours yet, but I'll bet that we each have one soon! It revolutionalizes the way you acquire books, and, if you carry a purse, it allows you to carry your entire library and favourite newspapers with you at all times. One more reason to carry that bag, (purse) Vic and Harry and all of you seven grandsons!

Doc is one of a kind. He had to excuse himself Saturday afternoon, one of his grandson's and spouse were meeting with him to review and further plan progress in university. He is a mentor to each of his grand kids as they pursue higher education.

As a psychiatrist, he developed an interest in persons with injury to the brain and started a modest rural community living program that evolved into the largest brain injury program in the US. Tangram was the model that we carefully studied as Anagram came alive. Doc at home

Doc learned magic at a much younger age. He has always enjoyed the art form, and it has become an almost all-consuming hobby now. He is very involved in the association and plans and hosts conferences and more. Good on you, Doc!

Why were we in Austin, you could have asked, if you really cared! Well, early this summer I was contacted by Dr. Barry Willer, a key colleague from the Anagram and Ontario Brain Injury Association years. He asked if I would participate as a respondent to their presentation on some very interesting research that they have been doing.

And boy, was I glad that I had said yes. Secondly I learned a lot. But even more importantly, firstly I guess, it was like old home week as I was once again interacting with friends and acquaintances from the field of brain injury rehabilitation that I hadn't seen in ten tears.

Well, it's time for bed. But I can't leave without welcoming my much older sister back to Canada. I understand that Dea is returning, with her granddaughter Natasha after visiting another g.d. in Asia for a few weeks. I invite you to tell your story on my blog if you don't want to set up your own Dea. Although I'm sure that you'll be posting your pictures on your Facebook wall shortly.

Love to you'all, and as another mentor of mine says every Christmas Eve, "and to all a Good Night."

Ciao, Santaray

Finding Birchwood RV Campground along the The Trans Canada, what a trip!

Us at Birchwood RV Campground

Not enough is said about the Trans Canada. What an amazing road! Coast to coast and then some. I remarked to Elsie that I'd love to spend a summer doing the entire stretch, Atlantic to Pacific.

I'd have two expectations, firstly to be free to stop whenever we wanted to explore and or speak with someone and also to stop to 'picture take' whenever the scene called out for it's picture to be taken. Oh what a summer that would be. We agreed that the trip would likely turn into a two summer project.

We stopped a few times on the way back from Manitoba. The second night we stopped near Nipigon at Birchwood Campground and Cafe. Besides being tired and ready to stop, the camping guide indicated that they had internet access. Well, Birchwood was a highlight! Yes definitely a highlight. Birchwood was a highlight for a number of, you might say small, reasons that all added up to make the stay one to remember and cherish.

Was Birchwood clean you might ask. Very much so and tidy. Were the buildings new and fancy? Not on your life, They were simple, tidy and comfy cozy. We did some laundry and it was as if we were in our own laundry room at home. No surprises. Just a nice clean, cozy place to read your book while you waited for the laundry to be done. And with a tasty hot cup of coffee from the Cafe.

Marjorie at home in the kitchen

And the Cafe? Well you knew how your meal was being prepared because the clean and homey kitchen was totally open to the eating area. So no surprises, but we were ready when the meal came because, just like at home, the smells of cooking drifted over to the table as we drank our coffee and chatted with Josee and Marjorie, daughter and mother as they made the meal.

Fresh bread, Denis and Josee

In the morning I sauntered over to the Cafe just as Denis, dad, was opening up. He invited me in and busied himself getting the coffee on while I browsed the rock collection that sat in the front window. Of course I ended up with a few. Amethyst is indigenous to the area. What a place!

It's my impression after listening to a few of the others from adjoining camp sights, that if possible, people tend to linger a day or two. It's difficult to leave what feels like home. One difference is that my home doesn't have a mountain staring down on me from across the road. Neither do I have access to such an array of tempting fishing opportunities. Denis says what you catch will be determined by the season that you're available to be there fishing. As well,at home I can't walk up the trail and pick blueberries as had Josee and her mom the previous day. By the way as I was reading the paper I overheard Marjorie mention to some locals who had stopped by for breakfast, "we didn't see any bears along the trail or at the blueberry bushes." Okay.

Well we did leave and so did 1/3 of a very homemade blueberry pie. Damn, I wish I could stop by for another slice and a good cup of coffee.

Six Mile Lake Provincial Park

Can't wait

I just had to post a one liner. Last night we stopped at Birchwood RV park near Nipigon, ON. Unbelievable. The nicest family you could meet, and the home made bread. Wow, topped off an amazing breakfast. Pictures and more will follow when we get home on Tuesday!

Some how we'll be back here again!

Those Sixes and Sevens popped up again

(uncle & aunt, Vic and Irene)

To those who take the time to read this,

Be forewarned,

You won't have to leave the shallow end of the pool

To appreciate this little update.

I gotta admit, we're 'on the road again'.

Willie Nelson should use that line

As a lead into a song.

Oh, you say he already has?

Oh well!

(SILV and Susie)

Son in law Vic

Hereinafter known as (SILV)

Offered to ride shotgun

On my trip to the central North West.

That would be MB

via Sudbury,

Sault Ste. Marie,

Thunder Bay,

and Kirkland Lake.

Susie, our RV,

(We named her Susie 'cause like my Mom,

you gotta love her.

And like my Mom,

She can create issues for you).

Has been asking for some warranty work

On some of her body parts.

Mom

She, not my Mom, was born in Winkler MB.

So it's off to Winkler for the retrofitting.

(Mom was born next door in Saskatchewan.

Bless her, her warranty ran out

And she opted for heaven).

Having tasted prairie life

For twenty seven hours or so

SILV was sure he'd seen it all

And then some.

As he boarded that plane

I heard him say " flat is flat is flat is flat"

He flew home so that Elsie could join

Susie and I, which she did.

All that to say that we, last night,

Had dinner in downtown MB

With our uncle and aunt

Vic and Irene.

Now Vic and I have shared

A birth-date for going on 68 years.

That would make the actual sharing 67, right?

Right, and it was he who pointed out to me

That while I'm 67

He's doing time at age 76.

Ray & Vic

Well, what does all of this mean,

If you've read my blog intro,

You know that

Numbers 6 and 7 are almost huge.

So Vic and I are sure

That some cosmic event is imminent.

If not this year, then some time in the future

After all the Word says that 6700 years

(some poetic licencse taken)

Is but 67 moments in Gods eyes.

So,

Beware . . . and goodnight

Johnboy and friends!

They say it so well

Is it because we are overly familiar with North American english,

or do we not have the richness of language usage

that some other ethnicities incorporate ?

I grew up with 'high german' and 'low german' as second languages.

The nuances from, at least our cultural tree are laced with expressions ripe

with hyperbole, wit and satire.

Expressions often address subjects that would be taboo to discuss

or to mention in conversation.

One common low german expression,

used in mixed company in our overtly and religiously correct community

was the familiar 'shieterie und buch wie doa',

directly translated, diahrea and stomach ache. Not obscene by any stretch,

but it surely loses it's charm when translated into english,

no matter how you interpret it.

Body parts were described colloquially,

rope and tail could as easily be used to refer to

a certain male body part as to be used literally,

both by women and men.

I'm belaboring my point.

My Irish friends have way too many discriptors and 'turns of phrases'.

The lyrics to much of their music evoke

humor, compassion and tell stories so vividly.

A while back while browsing through Irish Design,

a local shop selling all things Irish,

I was compelled to purchase a little piece of art.

Both for the artistry of the piece as well as the proverb

that had given the calligrapher motive for creating his little work of art.

But I must say, it was the proverb that drew me to it

and compelled me to get out my Visa card.

I trust that as you read the proverb

you will understand the pleasure that

I have enjoyed each time I happen upon it.

May those that love us, love us;

& those that don't love us,

may You turn their hearts;

& if he can't turn their hearts,

may he turn their ankles;

So we may know them

by their limping.

It also reminds me of another saying,

"Everyone I meet brightens my life.

Some when they enter my life

and the others when they leave it".

And you my friend

are one of those who brightens my life

each time you enter.

Ciao, I hope to see you soon.

Ted and Syl fortyhowmany years ago

A lot of memories were re-lived last night

Between Johnny, Elly, Elsie, myself and Ted n Syl.

The Magnolia restaurant had memories emanating

From the corner table well into the late evening.

How is it that our kids and grandkids keep getting older.

And we change for sure, but not that much!

Wishing only good things or better

As you dance the dance toward the next milestone.