Quite unintentionally we remarked in unison today, “This is Paradise!”  Although I don’t normally predicate my temperament upon the weather, it was unreasonable today not to have attributed a fully warranted blitheness to the brilliant sunshine. The sky was an azure blue without a trace of cloud. The temperature, though earlier this morning on the cool side, quickly rose to balmy by mid-afternoon. The wind was calm. There is a waxing crescent moon. And according to my iPhone 10-Day Forecast we can expect the same to follow. I don’t know if it is popularly acceptable to label the sunny seasonal conditions as an “Indian Summer” but that was what I expressed in my enthusiasm.

I arose late this morning. Recently we’ve been obliged to address a series of early morning exigencies which, while by no means discombobulating, have nonetheless succeeded to dampen my dwindling energy.  As I age I have incrementally succumbed to sleep as an undeniable indispensability. Getting those extra hours last night rearranged my trim. Upon awakening I immediately felt more ambitious than I have for days.  As I gleefully reported to my erstwhile physician when subsequently dropping by his country seat this afternoon for an unscheduled visit, I tricycled 4.45Km about the neighbourhood before breakfast this morning. I might add too that, in parallel with the mounting effervescence,  the breakfast of steel cut oats, strawberries and cherries was divine! I further punctuated the porridge tradition with several spoonfuls of almond butter (my personal failing). To my enduring credit however I avoided the refrigerated supplies of Nanaimo bars and date squares. But I can tell you the deprivation was not without a calculated effort. I suspect that for the moment anyway the weather is to be congratulated for the dietary accommodation.

In the basement garage before heading out for my tricycle ride this morning I encountered John F who, as am I, is a member of the Craft. He interestingly accounted that yesterday he had chauffeured a quadrant of widows to a local ceremony.  Each of them has survived a spouse who was a member of the Craft and whom John and I both knew. Not unexpectedly we paused in our discussion to query when our turn approaches to take the precipitous last step. Death is naturally an inescapable topic among the elderly. I mention this not to broaden its compass rather to narrow its application.  This is particularly so on a splendid day such as this has been.

The fine weather has certainly not prompted me to think of darkness. Instead I have concluded once again that I have nothing but thankfulness for my adventitious and favourable fortuity. In this generous spirit I spoke briefly this afternoon with a young fellow who works at Halo® car wash in Stittsville where I daily perform my vehicular refreshments. He is beginning his post-secondary education while working at the car wash. Months ago in response to my casual enquiry he told me he takes the bus for transportation, presumably to and from both work and university. This distinction of committment and zeal exemplifies those who work at Halo® car wash; viz., young, hard-working and no doubt ambitious people.  I can say this universally about all whom I have met at the franchise since it opened about a year ago. It is an accident of visiting the place that one meets the staff since they are involved throughout the premises, whether directing traffic into the car wash cavern, hosing down rubber interior mats, cleansing and sweeping the premises or conducting business at the front counter. They routinely surpass the customary performance of hired hands by proofing their intelligence and worthiness for enlarging expectations. They are polite and sociable; they have on occasion extended unexpected social graces; they have afforded assistance installing replacement entry stickers; they address questions directly and informatively; they are alert to immediate issues.  The entirety of the staff is illustrative of the burgeoning talent among us all. It is a reminder too of what each of us might well have done when we were their age and how we may then have been perceived.  I congratulate the senior members of the corporation as well for their intelligence and obvious pursuit of excellence.  It all works to make the day even brighter!