There isn’t more favourability possible today! Notwithstanding having arisen from the virginal lair before eight o’clock this morning, already it is nearing seven o’clock in the evening – and still the setting sun is brightly shining across the river reflecting its and our own glimmering response to the day’s welcome though unanticipated beneficence. In all it has been an exceptional day.
A red letter day is any day of special significance or opportunity. Its roots are in classical antiquity; for instance, important days are indicated in red in a calendar dating from the Roman Republic (509–27 BC). In medieval manuscripts, initial capitals and highlighted words (known as rubrics) were written in red ink. The practice was continued after the invention of the printing press, including in Catholic liturgical books. Many calendars still indicate special dates, festivals and holidays in red instead of black.
Though today wasn’t a holiday – in fact we’ve just emigrated the Easter Weekend – there was all the advantage of festivity. It began early this morning – before 7:00 AM – when, on the heels of last evening’s unforeseen request, I emailed the Mann law firm on Holland Avenue in Ottawa, asking to meet at 11:30 AM to sign an Affidavit of Execution relating to a last will and testament which I and my erstwhile legal assistant Mrs. Hazel C. Anderson had drawn and signed with our client 32 years ago. Fortuitously the Mann law firm accommodated the prompt reply and request; and, within hours we had surmounted the traffic of the city, including the subterranean parking garage on Holland Avenue; and, we were soon thereafter headed back to the country from the urban commotion.
Spirited by the welcome accomplishment of that professional exigency, we pondered where – while preserving our strategic remove from the fulfilment of scheduled duties by our housekeeper – we might put on the nosebag. The clear, dry road led us to Renfrew County. On the Burnstown Road nothing is more enthralling than a visit to Neat Café.
There we encountered Mark Enright, Proprietor, who openly welcomed us. Indeed our bubbling reacquaintance absorbed us for some time before we got down to the business at hand. Our server Amanda (quietly attending to our libations) encouraged our culinary choices by nodding and widening her eyes as evidence of her approbation. As always we were not disappointed. Special thanks to Chef Joyia and Sous-chef Nicole. Not to diminish the strength of the delicate luncheon meal itself, we cannot ignore in particular the perfection of the homemade desserts that followed.
During this already cheerful outing we were uplifted by a chance encounter with former Mississippi Mills councillor John Edwards who, with his partner, was seated at a nearby table. In a matter of minutes we succeeded to disentangle and dilute years of unrepentant gossip. It heralded the similar tittle-tattle that afterwards flourished during my outdoor tricycle ride when I encountered Dr. Michelle, Big Al and others along the river parkway. Everyone was noticeably enthused by the springtime weather.
The prospective outlook for the next week is more of the same. Naturally the foreseeable weather will be interrupted by occasions of rain, medical and dental appointments, mechanical needs, a wealth of birthdays and the annual tax-time attendance upon the accountant. Meanwhile the world is recovering – for at least a brief period – from its poisonous wartime engagement; and, the stock market has corresponded accordingly.