Throughout my life I have prided myself to be acquainted with interesting people, people who are as often themselves well connected and who seemingly likewise profit from knowing the right people. Not unexpectedly the consequence of such nutritious alliance is frequently added benefit.

Take my erstwhile physician for example. Our association – which curiously began not through medicine, rather through real estate – has survived no less than three decades (and very possibly more but I can never remember precisely). When he first landed in town – shall I say, over three decades ago – I was consulted by a senior officer of the hospital board regarding the availability of office rental space in my downtown building which by amusing fortuity was once inhabited by Dr. Kelly, MD – significantly father of Almonte’s celebrated librarian Elizabeth Kelly, the further coincidence of which is that I had been one of three founding trustees of the Elizabeth Kelly Library Foundation. Forgive my prattle!

To get to the point, I did indeed have an office space available. It had lately been occupied by James R. McGregor, estate agent, whose original office on Mill Street had burned in a fire. The doctor began his surgery across the hall from my law office, not far from the bakery, post office and bank.

It was not long before the doctor bought a country estate for his private residence. And then he bought a building and moved to his new office. Throughout these important changes we continued our social and business relationship. Indeed the relationship continues in full bloom to this day. So vital is the relationship that even as I write I have but moments ago returned from the country estate of my erstwhile physician. I went for a swim.

The height of the venture is that my erstwhile physician was not there. Nor have I any verifiable evidence where he is. But I am convinced he’d approve my particular whereabouts. For many years the doctor has invited me to visit his pool for a swim. Today I did so. While I have swum in the pool on many occasions before, today was the first time I bypassed social protocol. It felt only moderately invasive. On balance I am pleased to have had the benefit of a swim in a  pool in a country meadow.