We’ve primarily devoted the day to the abandonment of winter. The weather – though brisk – promises to reach 20°C by Good Friday, the beginning of the Easter long weekend and the welcome surge towards springtime. I punctuated the wishful advent by tricycling up the ramp from the subterranean garage onto the street into the open air. Naturally I had forgotten to wear gloves so my hands quickly resembled blocks of ice. Nonetheless with the aid of the electronic button on the tricycle handle I launched up the hill to the uppermost avenue, across the generous flat, then down another slide to return home. In all 2.64 Km which is just shy of my daily scheme of 3 Km over an estimated 30 – 40 minutes (depending upon how much and how often I stop to gossip).

The three women whom I encountered independently throughout my sojourn each echoed my ebullience surrounding the upcoming change of weather. Back home sitting at my desk overlooking the field and upriver, it appears that all the snow (with the exception of the drifts hidden among the brush and reeds along river shoreline) has evaporated. The parallel furrows in the distant farmland are more pronounced without the common layer of white snow. Indeed the bland uniformity of the snow-covered fields has been replaced by the contrasting colours of late autumn, a tarnished mixture of yellow, orange and black. And when the late afternoon sunshine glanced along the river and speared across the brittle cornstalk stubble in the field, a brilliant golden boulevard of light brightened the view.

As a former lawyer, it did not surprise me to receive a phone call this afternoon from a former client. He asked whether I would review a handwritten codicil he proposed to attach to his last will and testament. As trifling as the matter sounds, I was obliged to decline his request. While asserting that I was only too anxious to be of service, I informed him that I am no longer legally entitled to practice law as the Law Society of Upper Canada has withdrawn my licence to do so (basically, I no longer pay Errors & Omissions insurance). My former client mistakenly attempted to qualify his request by saying, “I only wish to ask you to take a look at it…” but I told him one cannot do indirectly what cannot be done directly. The proverbial distinction without a difference scam. I ended by referring him to our own lawyer whom I felt would happily review the matter; and he would then have reliable advice. I realize now upon further reflection that, had I been able to advise him, I should no doubt have expressed my general disfavour using codicils rather than renewing the entire will for uniformity (plus the advantage of reviewing these matters which invariably change since the date of the original document). I did not express this opinion. My client assured me he understood the dilemma.

The two other standard obligations – medical and groceries – also figured in our modest agenda today. We have once again, in addition to replenishing the larder, put a number of concerns to rest. Of course at our age, the opinion of one physician so often leads to the need for that of another. Yet the revolutions constitute much of what we now do. The duty has an unflattering appeal.

There was nothing in the nature of escape today.  Two people whom we cherish celebrated their birthdays. And on April 1st we confront the data to be afforded our Accountant. Thankfully all of it can be undertaken electronically.