After having lain immobile like an anaesthetized patient in the dentist’s chair for an hour this morning (the start of our plan to replace about eight amalgam fillings with gold) and after having collected my new passport from an outpost of Canada Post, I made up my mind to do something about this hair of mine.
To conclude, as I am a compound of soul and body, I consider myself as obliged to a double scheme of duties; and think I have not fulfilled the business of the day when I do not thus employ the one in labour and exercise, as well as the other in study and contemplation.
The De Coverley Papers by Joseph Addison
June 21st forever remains for me the customary date of the Summer Solstice. Although the day is mostly known as the first day of summer, it importantly also marks the day the sun stops (sol – “sun” and stit – “stopped, stationary” (from the verb “sistere”) marking the sun at its highest point in the sky at noon and the longest day of the year before it begins its descent to the lowest point in the sky and the shortest day.
These titillating adventures which regularly punctuate my existence begin innocently enough but as often take upon a life of their own! I suppose I shall never change. I get into the same mischief in spite of my resolve to the contrary! Today’s theme was tinsel.
It was exactly 40 years ago that I came to Almonte to live. The date was June, 1976 and I was 27 years old. I had been tipped off about a possible opening with Messrs. Galligan & Sheffield, Barristers, Solicitors, &c., Almonte who had recently purchased the law practice of Mr. Raymond A. Jamieson, QC who retired in 1976 after 52 years of practice in Almonte. The tip had come from Senator George J. McIlraith, QC who was Counsel to Messrs. Macdonald, Affleck, Barristers, Solicitors, &c., 100 Sparks Street, Ottawa where I was then practicing following my Call to the Bar at Osgoode Hall. Mr. Michael J. Galligan, QC (who had once practiced with McIlraith, McIlraith & McGregor, Barristers, Solicitors, &c., Ottawa) was the son-in-law of Senator McIlraith, having married Mrs. Janet E. Galligan (nee McIlraith).
The Athenians erected a large statue to Æsop, and placed him, though a slave, on a lasting pedestal; to show, that the way to honour lies open indifferently to all.
Apollonius of Tyana, a 1st-century CE philosopher, is recorded as having said about Aesop:
… like those who dine well off the plainest dishes, he made use of humble incidents to teach great truths
As part of my campaign to withdraw from prescription and non-prescription drugs I have connected with a local massage therapist. Preliminary to my first appointment I was asked to complete a questionnaire which included global questions about my level of stress, health and happiness. I hadn’t any trouble answering any one of the questions. The happiness enquiry was for me the easiest and the least difficult to assess on a scale of 1 – 10 (0 is severe depression and 10 is extremely happy). I picked 9 but only because I figured choosing 10 might make me seem absurd; I mean we all have to have at least some unhappiness.
Given the largely unencumbered life I now lead, today was by comparison reminiscent of a normal business day when I was working. Although I hadn’t anything scheduled until 11:30 o’clock this morning, I nonetheless trimmed my customary morning leisure since I thought it possible that my dentist might call for an earlier appointment and I wanted to be ready to go on short notice. As it turned out my dentist will see me three days hence.
I’m guessing you’ve heard the expression, “Right under your nose!” Who hasn’t? Quaint little articulation, “Right under your nose!” We’ve all heard it before and probably as commonly have dismissed it as trenchant as an old pocket watch suspended under a glass dome. Well, I’m telling you there’s something to it, it’s not just a quip. Everything you’ve been looking for is right under your nose and you don’t even know it! And here’s the thing, I have the proof because that’s precisely what happened today!
When the financial advisor telephoned this morning to review instructions with me, we both chimed simultaneously what a gorgeous day it was! The temperature had dropped almost ten degrees from yesterday’s high of 32℃; the sun was shining brilliantly and there was a refreshing though boisterous north wind tousling the leafy heads of the trees. I had planned to take the day off from bicycling to give my aching frame a rest but that intention quickly evaporated. As soon as I had completed my business with the advisor, we departed for our routine cycle along Country Street to the Rae Road, down Ramsay Concession VIII to the Town Hall then home.