No doubt at the risk of being labelled a consummate consumer or a vulgar materialist or some other anti-spiritual condemnation, I will continue this brief catalogue of our personal possessions in our private domain. The topic today is rugs. We have 11 of them scattered about the apartment, including (by some standards unusual) in one of the two bathrooms (where in fact there are two because it is an uncharacteristically spacious room).
The largest collection of stuff we have belonging to the same category is that generically identified as paintings or wall hangings (which includes prints, an historic map, original documents and wood carvings). There are 51 of them in all. Most of them are original paintings, some antique. They reflect not only local artists but also several from Ottawa, Kingston, Toronto and Montréal. One is memorably from Hilton Head Island (a resort which is forever a favourite of ours). There is one exception to the list of hangings and that is a collection of drink coasters consisting of exotic images of bow ties, tobacco pipes, pocket watches and shaving accoutrements given to me by Audrey O’Brien, former Clerk of the House of Commons. Audrey was also M’Lady in the Fraser Highlanders from Montréal. We were both initiated into the Regiment at the Hunt Club with Grete Hale (of Morrison Lamothe Bakery fame) then in attendance.
Heavy metal has long been an attraction of mine. Here I am speaking of accessories not rock music. The distinction applies to gold and silver jewellery as well as artwork and other casual ornamentation. For example, I have a bronze crab, the centre of which services as a magnifying glass. I keep it handy on the right side of my desk whence I regularly grasp it to afford myself a closer look at some detail. It was a gift to me by Jill C. Halliday, an artist from Toronto who now lives in Almonte. We met many years ago at a private dinner party in town and have been friends ever since. There is no decipherable marking on the piece to indicate where or by whom it was made. It is very well made in my opinion and I count it among my most favourite possessions. I have attempted to polish it on occasion but to my dismay I discovered I have left hidden dried traces of the cleaner in cracks beneath the top and bottom elements. I must try to improve my cleansing on the next occasion. Perhaps I’ll use a toothbrush and some hot water.
Life is what you think each day. And very often what I think is generated by what I see. While the most notable visual frequency is Mother Nature, it is a close second to inspect (and to be prompted by) what treasures I own. After all, what we have is the fruit of deliberation. This is especially so at an end-of-life juncture after having downsized and purged in order to permit habitation of diminished space. The corollary is a distillation, a purification and a fluidity of assembly. Nothing is hidden or otherwise unwanted; instead the distilled choices are the best of the best.
From the instant of birth we begin an unfathomable enterprise of bouncing around and as often bouncing back. I have never discarded the adage that we discover whence we come only by leaving it. Bouncing around is just the unpremeditated journeys we undertake or encounter as the product of environment, family, education, employment and sometimes misadventure. From tribulation and debacle, and the evocation of necessity, want and need, we travel along a timeline of incalculable change and circumstance from which we end at times in the most unlikely situation. In short, barring the life of a monastic, we seldom know how, when or where we shall end up.
Sunday, in spite of universal decline of religious fervour, has preserved its peculiarly Christian renown not only as a day “of rest” but also as a day of “driving about”. Our project this morning in keeping with that inviolable tradition was breakfast at Neat Café (Mark Enright, Prop) on Calabogie Road in Burnstown, Renfrew County. Upon arriving at the café it was readily apparent that the Enright bloodline insinuates the place. And that is a good thing. Mark is by and large an entertainment and hospitality agent (music, food and hotelier); and, he has forever appropriately distinguished himself as affable and embracing. His sylphlike youngest daughter has apparently inherited that objective strength in addition to the familial good looks.
I remember the day I first crossed over the marshes from the mainland of South Carolina onto Hilton Head Island. The picture was instantly one of awe inspiring beauty. It fixed upon my brain a template of originality and longevity. The memory has never diminished. It continues to this day so many years later to be the seat of unbounded splendour and artistry. And the spectacle survives unhindered both in my mind and in fact.
While there are exceptions to the general rule, old people not uncommonly discredit modern technology. They assert for example by way of redress that they are content to use a telephone or a typewriter or a book should the need of one arise. Today however proved to be one of those exceptions to that recalcitrant position. Bunny misplaced or lost (we were originally uncertain precisely which) her key fob to the apartment. When, after tedious investigation, searching and telephone calls it was determined that the key fob had been dropped earlier this morning at the car dealership where Bunny was having her winter tires installed, the fact remained that notwithstanding the welcome discovery there remained no immediate way to enter the apartment.
The end of the American presidential election appears to have marked the end of division throughout the 50 states of America. It is not only that Americans are exhausted from having confronted one another so universally throughout the past decade. Americans have confronted the plain truths that anyone, Republican or Democrat, can have a special needs child. Witnessing the recent meeting between President Biden and President-elect Trump signalled an end to the division. Americans no longer wish to hear anything but thank-you then get on with the agenda. Everyone knows that there are minorities and priorities. Everyone knows that there are bullies and greedy people. Neither political party can claim to have overcome those potential social and political obstructions. But it’s time to give it a try. On all sides. Face to face.
Patently differences arise between people. Below is a comment from one which surprised me as much as mine clearly surprised the other. The incredulity of us both appears to capture the only common theme. The distinction is I am not American whereas the other is. My instinct is to avoid wading in upon the domestic politics of another though admittedly the reservation borders on impossible when it comes to American politics which are so highly publicised. In this instance however – and given the latest outcome of the presidential election – it is transparently clear that the majority of the electorate has spoken their mind; and, that as a result, it would amount to utter nonsense to contradict the same. Nonetheless in my defence I will respond to the author’s initial inquiry about where I get my news by accounting that the sources are CBC, BBC, Al Jazeera, CNN, MSNBC, FOX NEWS, and Sirius XM Patriot. I welcome further intelligence about where to expand those sources globally. I presume that since the noted objections are not reported I may be forgiven for not having digested them.
Additionallly I have to ask why the author asserts the legitimacy of the election process so vehemently when Trump and his alleged supporters argued against it so passionately for the past four years? I am also curious to know specifics of one or more liberal media lies. At the moment unfortunately the accusations of corruption of truth apply equally to both sides of the argument.
And finally I accept that each of us is tainted and impure to a degree. I don’t however see how this advances the logic of a debate.
I can not figure out WHERE you get your news? I suggest expanding it globally Bill.
Food for thought…Most countries recognize only two genders and do not support OR take away parental rights regarding medical procedures at the whim of a minor OR provide lap bowls in schools for those students who identify as a cat, dog or other 4 legged creature. You have no idea how our small town communities are being completely overrun by illegal migrants and thugs. That isn’t reported but WE see it! These are just a fraction of the issues causing our citizens to change course. Agree or not with the USA election process (I worked the polls and am very proud of our secure process that allows a voter to confirm their vote registered correctly in FL), Trump won both the largest electoral count and largest popular vote. You don’t hear the majority of citizen complaining or suggesting their vote was stolen. There are no uprisings! The only complaining is from the liberal media that has lied to us for years! They have lost their voice with our citizens but must still provide a form of interest and entertainment for some. They are not journalists! They only present a personal opinion with misinformation or sound bites that are cut to give a completely different message.
There are too many examples we and the majority of citizens have finally come to realize from personally hearing a live broadcast, only to hear how the media used it in part to change the message within hours! Thank God, we’re still a free nation and can think for ourselves!
On the other end of this argument – no one is without sin. Biblically, even God used sinful men to achieve His purpose many times and we aligned ourselves with Stalin in WWII to defeat an even worse leader in Hitler!