Two Leaves

My walk today was extra long. My heart was burdened and I thought the workout would clear my head and change my perspective.

I have been plagued with a lot of pain recently and my ability to work has been diminished. I should not find this troubling at my age, but it is. I walked 7 Km. and as I walked, I counted and recalled the homes, along the route that I took, that I had worked in over the years. There were seven, on this little route (mostly through a park) and I began to wonder if what I did, really made a difference in the grand scheme of things.

I know that at the time, my clients were very happy to have the work done and happy to have me do it. Did it make a difference? I suppose temporarily it did.

I eventually needed to sit a while and do some stretches so I could make it back to my home. I was sitting on a high curb, trying to shut out the drone of the heavy traffic while thinking about my life and what I had accomplished and what I could do with the rest of it.

My mind was a muddle as a sudden small gust of wind whipped a leaf from the tree above me, right to my feet. It was unremarkable and then another small gust turned it right side up, and I was struck by the incredible beauty of the gold tinged with brilliant red, the veins and stem, blood red yet outlined in yellow, and the perfect Maple leaf shape.  

Ah, yes. The autumn of life. And as I stared at the leaf, I realised that it had a purpose from the day it sprouted as a bud in the warm spring breezes. It worked hard photosynthesizing sunlight so the tree could be nourished, so it could thrive and grow. Without the leaf, the tree would eventually shrivel, dry up, and die. It hung on tenaciously as it was tossed by storms, pummeled by rain, clawed at by squirrels and birds, and yet it did its job to the end.

And now, it was no longer needed, its value was gone....but wait, it had one more purpose. Its creator, almighty God, in one of his strokes of creative genius, decided that a dying leaf should be brilliant and beautiful, a delight to the eye, singly or by the millions. It was a last chance to show God's glory before returning to the soil to nourish the next living plant.

But I am not brilliant like that leaf! There are those who are, who let their light and beauty shine and everyone can see it and appreciate it. It was uplifting and discouraging at the same time. I felt right then and there that I had no brilliance, nothing left. And as I mulled this thought about in my mind, what did I see but another leaf that was right in front of me the whole time. It was an Oak leaf, with no beauty, no brilliance, only a drab shade of brown, lying on the sidewalk, wet and crushed.

But did that leaf not also have the same purpose and value in its lifetime? Did it not also feed and nourish its own tree, the Oak?  Had I not persevered and worked hard to provide for my family? Had I not done some good for those around me and for mankind on a broader scale. I realised that I had and that my work was just as valuable, if finish with brilliance, or with a bit of pain and dysfunction. I was mistaken to think that only the brilliantly coloured  leaves give glory to God in their dying moments. Every shape, size and colour are a testament to a life of purpose and endurance.

The fresh air invigorated me, the brisk walk eased the pain somewhat, but it was the leaves, fluttering down from the almost bare branches, that inspired me.

A Changing Perspective

                                                                 Central Washington State

Life tends to catch up with us.

We often make decisions in our youth which give no indication that there will be long term consequences. This comes about partly because of ignorance and partly because of the eternal optimism of youth.

This can happen in all areas of life, in our relationships, our health, our finances, our occupations, or our spiritual development. We are flawed beings because of this. Few of us have the wisdom throughout our lives to determine what is ultimately best for us. And if we did, would we have the fortitude or discipline to do the right thing. Most of us just learn to deal with the fallout.

We need not look any further than our own lives to see how this plays out, although it is more obvious and less painful to discern it in others. Who has not said at one time or another, "If only I could do that over again"?

None of us wants to live life with regrets, but it is inevitable that there will be some. We cannot live our lives over, but we can make new starts, even though the consequences of past decisions will always hang over out heads.

As an 'older and wiser' person now, I would love to dispense my wisdom among the young people I meet, but I am nagged by the memory of how it was when I was young. Part of youth and integral to the maturing process is making rash and rapid decisions, often resulting in mistakes, and ultimately that is how we all learn. It is the long term consequences that I would want to save them from. Not being able to see any further into the future than a year or two, most young people would say that it will just all work out. And, to a degree it does, if lessons are actually learned and acted on.

'Best Before Date'

 

As I took my truck in to get it serviced the other day, I was grateful that it was still in such great shape, and everything was working so wonderfully. However, it still needed maintenance, and its regular check-up.

 

How much like a vehicle we are. Most of us are born with a reasonably healthy body and the latest technology to help that body function. (liver, kidneys, stomach, glands and other organs) OK, here is where the analogy breaks down. Vehicles have ever improving technology built on board, whereas, our bodies have amazing technology that has been around forever and it never changes. Back to the metaphor.

 

My truck needs regular fuel-up and oil changes and we could call that proper nutrition. As the vehicle ages, new brakes, a muffler, some gaskets or filters, together with belts and hoses will need replacing. Fluids are vital to proper functioning, as are our bodies. But, as more time goes by, what happens are what we call major breakdowns which translate to expensive repairs or maybe scrapping of the vehicle or at least trading it in for a newer model.

 

These thoughts were going through my head as I marched from one doctor to another, the x-ray clinic to the blood clinic, and the eye doctor to the allergist. I have reached my 'best before date' and some semi-major maintenance and repair is required. As wonderful as the human body is, it does wear out. We can neglect or ignore the signs of a breakdown, or we can be preventative or proactive when there are danger signals. If we are not, a catastrophic event could be in our future.

 

Apart from the usual blood work that is requested with a physical check-up, I also went to the clinic armed with a requisition for an x-ray to determine the extent of wear and tear on one of my knees. The two clinics are in the same building so I got the imaging done first. The bio-medical lab, where they take the blood sample, was just upstairs, so I took a number and prepared myself for a 45 minute wait. I was 10 minutes away when I began to read the requisition for the blood work. What I did not realise, or perhaps had forgotten, was that one of the tests was a glucose test, meaning that I was required to fast for at least 10 hours before giving a blood sample. The waiting room is very crowded and there is nothing to do but observe other people and see how slowly the numbers are coming up. So how do I exit gracefully, or in such a way as to save face?

I began looking at my watch frequently, while checking the electronic number read-out on the wall. I began to look and act impatient, and finally in a huff, got up and walked out. Why did I do that? I suppose I did not want anyone to see that my mental faculties are also wearing out. We get very creative when we are covering up for our deficiencies.

 

This morning (after my fast), I was checking in at the counter of a different blood clinic (there is that effort to creatively cover-up again) and was asked if I wanted to register with the service and receive my test results on-line. "Yes", say I, and after being told that I could register at the .com address on the form, I told her she would need my e-mail address. Duh! These clinics are frequented by mostly middle and old aged folks so she did not miss a beat. She probably thought, "Oh boy, another one."    

Memory

 

Here is very real evidence that as one gets older, one's memory tends to fail.

I received a call from someone who needed some paper hung. I did not recognize her name, but recognized her location as I knew I had worked in her gated community last spring. We arrived at her address and she immediately asked if she had met me before. After looking (without staring) at her face, I concluded that I had never seen her before. She claimed I had worked for her before, hanging paper on one wall in her bathroom. I drew a blank and then asked if her husband had movie studio memorabilia in the basement family room, because that would mean that it was the same house I worked in last spring and that would mean I had met her husband and not her. We drew a blank on that and I concluded that she had me mixed up with someone else.

 

As we were working in her bedroom. Andrew told me to take a look in her bathroom, which I did, while he took the above photo. Apparently that was the paper I had hung, and apparently, Andrew remembered it, but for me it was a new revelation. And it could not have been more than a year or two ago as these are all new houses in this community. This disturbs me. My justification is that I do so many jobs, and so many of them are only a few hours in duration, that I quickly lose track of where I have been and what I have done. I am sticking with that theory and maintain that my memory is still good because I remembered to post this incident.

Dry

I have not posted on this blog for a while now. There are multiple reasons.

1. Connections through Facebook are more current, in real time, and diverse.

2. I have not been out photographing for many weeks now and that fact has discouraged me.

3. I am back to work after my gout episode, but still not 100% as the limping around has caused a sore back. Constant pain, no matter the grade, is wearing and discouraging.

4. I have enjoyed posting book reviews over the years, but I am stuck on a Charles Dickens novel, "Bleak House", that is sucking the joy of reading from my bones. It is the longest, most wordy novel I have ever read, but many reviewers have said that to endure is worth it in the end. I am near the end and waiting for the reward. Why do I not just put it down and be done with it? I finish what I start.

5. I am getting the winter doldrums and feel generally unmotivated at this time of the year.

6. I have been working on my photo website .

I hope to be back on track soon.

More Glory

 

Each morning as I look out our bedroom window, I see a bit more deterioration of these beautiful blooms. They do not like the cold night of Autumn and it is only the warm days that keep them hanging on. This morning they were wrinkled and had dark blue veins running through the petals. Varicose veins of old age?

 

These are perhaps the last Morning Glory photos of the year. These flowers have brought us great pleasure and joy as they do every year. Having them in a spot where we see them as we rise in the morning was a bonus. There is no other flower that plays with the light like these do. Their clean lines and rich blues and mauves are highlighted by the inner light in their center.

 

There are multiple spiral buds left on the vine, even though the vine itself is old and dry, the leaves crumbling and falling off. A picture of life? There can still be beauty in age if your light shines through.

Now You See Them ....

 

Here today......

 

gone tomorrow.

 

I stepped out for my walk yesterday and almost immediately went back in. I just couldn't get myself to walk in the blustery frigid weather and so I opted for option #2. The treadmill. I don't like the treadmill and will only use it in a pinch. This was a pinch.

 

I had not been on it for a while but got in the groove quite quickly, brought it up to speed, cranked up the volume on the TV (hockey game) and was at the 4 km. mark when it happened. The reason I do not like the treadmill is that it seems to require more concentration than I am sometimes willing to give. When I walk outside, I look left, I look right, I think about this and that, and really only put one foot in front of the other, all quite safely. On the treadmill, one has to keep a constant speed and place each foot carefully in front of the next, and not vary from this precise routine.

 

I guess it was the fact that the Canucks let in a bunch of goals early in the game that contributed to my body language that resulted in a misstep. My left foot was half on and half off, my balance was thrown, and I went a tumbling. Thank goodness for the kill switch or I would still be on the circle of life dying a slow and painful death by a thousand blows.

Advantage: Outdoor walking, as one cannot really fall off of a wide sidewalk.

 

I am OK, other than embarrassed, but am again reluctant to go outdoors to finish my mileage for the day.

Advantage: Treadmill, as one can stay warm and dry and watch the Canucks spiral to oblivion which provides enough adrenalin to walk an extra K or two.

Father's Day '13

 

Today I wish my father a Happy Father's Day for the last time. His hours are limited, his life is coming to an end. It was only a few short years ago that he was enjoying a rousing game of Crokinole with his grandson and two great-grandsons on his 88th birthday. In a few weeks he would be 91, but he will not reach that milestone.

So it is "Happy Father's Day" and goodbye, 'till we meet again.  

Aging Like a Tree

 

My father is 90 years old. I had to tell him yesterday that his sister had died a short time ago. She was 8 years older than him and helped care for him as a baby and young boy, growing up in a family of 8 children.

I have often, lately, told him of the passing of his relatives and friends, and he takes it in stride, making a small comment and then appearing as though it did not matter. It has always been his way of dealing with serious issues. But this time he was taken aback, and after some time of silence, began to reminisce. He had already lost two siblings, one to Alzheimer's and one to cancer. I think it is beginning to hit home that he could be next. He is OK with dying, but nevertheless, it is sobering to think that so many of those around you are passing away.

 

I was at a memorial service on Friday for a friend's mother. As I learned so much about her through the wonderful tributes that her family gave her, I thought of those ancient trees in Utah that remained standing long after life has left them. They stood crooked and gnarled, yet had a beauty in their grain and weathered knots that gave  testament to a life well lived and having served a purpose. One may not seem to be useful in the latter stages of old age, but it is the legacy, the example, and the attitude that remains that is what inspires and encourages those around them. With a sound mind, everyone can stay connected with some effort, and it is that connection that lives on in the children and grandchildren. This lady left behind a legacy of faith, prayer, hard work, determination, and perseverance. She was a vital part of her family until the last day. 

She was 103!    

Old and Worn Out

 

I was feeling a lot like this old pump tonight. (can you read the little sign?) I remember that style of gas pump from my childhood so I could be about as old as that thing. We found this defunct gas station in Boulder Utah and at the time I was feeling energetic and full of life. I knew that as soon as I got back home and started my work routine again, the photo would be appropriate.

 

And then I went to see my middle grandson's school production of 'Alice in Wonderland' last night. He was in the choir and they did a great job. The stage props and costumes were brilliant and things really started getting interesting in the second half of the performance. It was quite delightful and entertaining and by the end of the evening, I got my second wind and actually felt like I could 'pump' again. There is nothing like watching a bunch of enthusiastic kids enjoying themselves to help rejuvenate a tired old soul.  

 

Next production is 'The Sound of Music' coming in May. My oldest grandson is up to his thespian ways again, playing the part of the butler this time. It is a long ways away from the Tin Man in 'The Wizard of Oz'. It will be interesting to watch him change gears.

The Birthday That Keeps on Giving

Yesterday's post was all about the surprise birthday breakfast that Lis and Keith pulled off. Here we are later that evening at the Greek Islands Restaurant. I look like I am bagged and have had too much sun. That would be exactly right. busylizzy is looking her usual beautiful perky self so just look at her. 

It was these four (these three plus busylizzy) wonderful people who treated me to this dinner. It was delicious as usual. This is one of my favourite places to eat other than busylizzy's or Rachel's  kitchen. 

The dishes were cleared away and I was presented with a card in a fat envelope. If busylizzy looks like the cat that swallowed the canary, that would be about right. She struggled to keep a secret for more than a month and she just about burst. At this point, it is just a mushy card from her. (for my eyes only) 

Then I started reading the note attached to some documents and this photo kind of captures my reaction. Stunned and speechless. 

So what was it? An all expense paid 5 day trip, leaving Monday morning for Las Vegas, a prearranged rental SUV and a trip to Bryce Canyon. For those of you who do not know, I love photography, especially nature photography. I have always wanted to go there, in April, which is the best time of year to go. My work has always been busiest in the spring time, so this has always been out of the question. My work schedule was somewhat manipulated by my partner, my son, so the urgent job we had booked for next week turns out to a big lie. I like this kind of lie. 

As if all this was not enough, my sweet daughter invited us to her home where she had made this amazing birthday cake. Yes, it was as good as it looks. Amazing, really. You must click on this photo to enlarge it. You must. Do it! Now wipe up your drool. 

I must say, in retrospect, that having a 65th birthday is actually not bad at all. At least mine wasn't. 

Kindle vs. Book

 

Since I got my Kindle e-reader 14 months ago, I have only read 4 or 5 paper books. (as opposed to more than 50 kindle books) The last two paperbacks I read were "Will to Live" and "Ice Bound". I must say that my eyes must be deteriorating. The eye strain from reading the fine print, especially in "Ice Bound" gave headaches, and itching, burning, red eyes. It also took me a very long time to read those last two books, not because they were long, but because I have to stop frequently and I also lose my place at the slightest distraction.

As one ages, the limitations of later life slowly but surely creep up and failing eyesight is only one loss.  It is more than comforting to know that one of my favourite pastimes will not be taken from me soon. The downside, of course, is that until Amazon has ironed out an agreement with the library system in Canada, I will not be getting too many free books (borrowed) and my reading habit will continue to cost me money. I am told by my local library staff that an agreement is imminent. But that was the story a year ago too.  

Habitual

 

I was scrolling through the last few weeks of posts and concluded that this blog is becoming more of a movie and book review than I had intended. I have been taking some time off work, not always by choice, so have had the time and inclination to read more than usual. Also, a bit out of character, we have gone to more movies recently.

The photo above is of me on my favourite walk. (I have also been walking more than ever) There are three places I like to walk, one of them being strictly an errand based effort, and the other two, nature walks. Above, I am at Fish Trap Creek Park. I walk here several times a week. It is, from my doorstep, a round trip of about 5 Km. and just enough to tire me out a bit and get my circulation and heart rate up a tad.

One of the joys about going regularly, is that I see the subtle changes from one week to the next. The ice forming, the ice melting, the waterfowl congregating in the open water, the variety of winter water fowl visitors and the changing behaviour of the ducks as the weather changes.

Yesterday was sunny and relatively warm. The hundreds of Canada Geese were gathering on the nesting islands and were competing for nesting spots. There was a lot of squawking and jostling and I was thinking that it was too early for this and that they were being fooled by the warmth of the late January sunshine.

I spotted a pair of Bald Eagles in the top of one of the giant Cottonwoods and wondered how many of the small Buffleheads they had eaten in the last while. The numbers are definitely down. I would prefer they take out a goose or two as they are the nasty, noisy, messy birds. But, a Canada Goose is larger than an Eagle, pound for pound, so that will not happen.

I notice too, how the fluctuating water levels, due to hard rains, has cleansed the water. The levels are up and the grunge in the water seems to have disappeared.

 

Soon, the buds will be popping out, both leaves and Salmon Berry Blossoms, and then the Skunk
Cabbage spikes will push up through the dead fall of winter, adding splashes of bright green and yellow as the days become longer.

 

The changes are often subtle, and they are changes I would not see if I did not walk there regularly. Being aware of the changes and looking for them makes the walk an always interesting and worthwhile exercise.

It is even better walking with a friend.

Backtracking

 

Flowers of summer, now gone.

 

The leaves are almost all on the ground now. One more wind storm, or even a gentle breeze, and the barren branches will be all we have until spring.

I have experienced this transitional season for more than sixty years now and it still conjures up the same feelings it did in my youth. The incredible beauty of gold, yellow, orange, and red, suddenly gives way to a total lack of colour in such a short period of time. There is a feeling of loss, almost the same feeling as growing old, but with a concentrated and contracted time line. Loss, yes, but also a feeling of nostalgia as we realise that the leaves will not come back, just as our youth will not come back.

In literature, Autumn has often been synonymous with old age. The parallels are many. The loss of life, or at least the onset of dormancy, the coming chills as our circulation is not what it used to be, the approach of winter and its symbolism, the end of the year drawing nigh as one's life comes to its conclusion, and putting the seasons of new life (spring) and vibrancy (summer) behind us.

 

But, as each year passes, I get more of a feeling of resignation, something that one does not experience in youth. Here is where cliches abound, such as 'time marches on', 'you cannot stop the clock', 'the older I get, the shorter the days get', and 'everybody has to die so don't fight it'. Resignation, for me, does not mean simply giving up, but rather coming to terms with it and finding ways to make the transition to the 'Golden Years' meaningful and even fun.

 

Clinging to one's youth and looking ridiculous in the process is not for me. Being totally gracious and sophisticated about it is a fine option, but not for me either. I want to keep a sense of humour as well as retain my sense of wonder of the world around me, and watch changes in my life, with greater interest, as the final chapters of my story begin to emerge. More than anything I want to keep my mind sharp, not that it ever was, but losing what I have been given is not a self chosen option for me. I want to stay relevant, informed, opinionated (in a good way) and I want to continue to be able to communicate, converse, and network with as many people as possible. 

 

As a result, in my last years of working with the public, I appreciate so much the new friendships I make, the people I meet, and the meaningful conversations I have with them. I am realising, with greater clarity, that the people I have come in contact with during 38 years of business have been the best reason for doing what I did.

 

We worked for a very good and loyal client today. As the leaves were falling on their property, and these thoughts were drifting into my mind, it hit me that I may never work for them again. I may meet them on the street one day, but the privilege of serving them will be forever gone. After all, it is the Autumn of my life.     

High Performance ... Or Not

A peek under the hood of the iconic Cobra sports car.

 

I woke up yesterday morning and did not know what day it was. In my mind, or what is left of it, I backtracked to Sunday and kept coming up with Wednesday. I finally asked busylizzy and she said with such assurance, "Thursday", that I wanted to believe her. It took me several minutes to convince myself that she was right. But then I had to realign the activities for the rest of the week in my mind and with one less day.

 

The above photo is one of a very high performance engine. It is responsive, highly tuned, and powerful. When called for, there is an abundance of instant power. Just like what my mind used to be. Well, sort of. Of late, it is running like a Ford Pinto Engine with 500,000 K on the odometer.

 

My excuse? .....I'm thinking. Oh, yes. The autumn rush of work has come on a few weeks early this year, and I am trying to juggle a lot of things regarding work as well as some other issues in my life. I used to be able to take care of a lot of these things while on auto-pilot, but lately, I need full concentration for the smallest of tasks. I could give examples but I am not in the mood to burst into tears right now.

 

There once was boundless energy for 10 or 12 hour days, and more activity in the evenings. Today, if I can get through an 8 hour day, I am doing something I thought I could not do just that very morning at 10 am. I used to routinely work 6 days a week. Now, by Monday 5 pm, I am longing for a long weekend, and in the middle of the week.

 

When I look at my calendar and see all the work I committed us to, I am overcome with a great wave of fatigue. I cut back to part time earlier this year and it was very enjoyable, and very doable. Why the change? I need to take one last kick at the cat ( sorry cat lovers, but that is just an expression) before I completely lose my mind and my body.(No disease, just ordinary aging) I may be able to write about it one day, but for now, look out, cat!   

 

 

"When You are Older"

When this car was made, I was about 9 years old. There were many things I wanted to do at age 9 but the reply was always, "When you are older". I wanted to drive my dad's car. I wanted a rifle. I wanted to quit taking piano lessons. I wanted to be treated like my big sister. Always, the answer was, "When you are older". Kids still put up with from their parents, and for good reason.

We eventually do all the things we could not do when we were younger, and some things we should not do at any age. Life progresses and then one day we catch ourselves saying, "I'm too old for this."

I am finding myself in this dimension now. It actually started in my late 30's when the realization hit me that I would never, ever play in the NHL. Not because I totally lacked skill and ability, let alone a pair of skates, but because I was too old. There are age restrictions at every turn in life.

But there is the odd bright light. I wanted a discount at my favourite restaurant for many years and they always said, "When you are older." Guess what. I get the discount now and I am proud to accept it. It will never be taken from me. I will never be too old. They may prevent me from entering because of excessive drooling or other obnoxious random bodily functions gone awry, but until that happens, I am finally old enough to order the senior's meal AND get a discount.  

Sad/Happy Day

Our onamental plum tree in full bloom.

I got an envelope in the mail a few days ago and was reluctant to open it. It was one of those government envelopes but not the usual tax notice, medical services plan, HST remittance type of envelopes. Was it a notice for an impending audit? Dare I open it? What it was, was Big Brother keeping tabs on me. But, instead of wanting something from me, he wanted to give me something. I had been meaning to inquire about this issue for some time, but it either slipped my mind, or I was in denial.

I have now read all the documents and their attached explanations and am ready to fill out the forms and submit my application for .... (drum roll) OAP!  For my non-Canadian readers, that is Old Age Security, a pension that I am entitled to as an old geezer who has lived in Canada all my life and paid blood, sweat, and tears in income taxes and myriad other taxes since I was 18 years of age.

Not all who qualify for this benefit deserve it, but we live in a compassionate, generous, and highly socialistic country, so come one and come all, and collect your pogey.

I was at the movies a while back and was shocked and amazed and pleasantly surprised to see that I qualified for a half price movie even before OAP. One of my favourite restaurants wants to discount all my meals. They were all warming me up to the fact that in a few more months, I will be OLD so I had better get used to the idea.  

"Day by day nothing  changes, but, looking back, nothing is the same"  C. S. Lewis

New Glasses

I decided not to go for these discount glasses at "Lenses R Us".

I had my eyes tested just after Christmas and have been hanging onto the new prescription for a while, waiting to fund just the right deal on the right frames and lenses. The last time I got 'progressives', they were only available on larger frames, but now the new technology allows for the lens to be smaller and more stylish.

I got them two weeks ago and am still reluctant to wear them. They are very difficult to get used to. The old 'progressives' made me search up and down for the sweet spots, until I was accustomed to them. These new ones are causing me to cast my glance from side to side to find the sweet spot. The distance vision is very narrow indeed, but the reading distance is an improvement.

Tonight I picked up my new single vision glasses for work, reading and computer. They are excellent.

No more excuses for shoddy workmanship on the job.

Signs of Aging

The last winter rose.

Absent: not present. It follows that something lost is absent, because it is not present.

I only ponder this because I cannot determine if I am absent minded, or if I have lost my mind.

On Friday, I posted about "Glitches" but on that day, my mind glitched too.  It may not seem like a big deal, but to me it was. You see, I got out of my daily routine, and that has its own set of dangers. I was off to the chiropractor's first thing in the morning, not to work. I rushed home, changed into work clothes, and raced off to my job, a 25 Km. commute that day. I no sooner got out of my vehicle, and I realised that I had not brought my special work glasses, glasses that are single vision for a close up focal point. Being late already, and having an agenda to keep, I decided the trip home was too time consuming, so I plugged away with my progressives. 

To say the least, I struggled all day, craning my neck into a position where I could see my work with some clarity, all the while tempted to drive home and back. Being the stubborn person that I am, I endured and got through the day, but not without paying a price. Having strained my neck in a backward position all day, my neck was so sore I developed a cracking headache. 

Conclusion: Is saving the time and gas to correct a vision problem worth more than wasting a chiropractor's fee and then having to go back to him for another correction? Of course, having lost my mind, I cannot even answer that question. 

I think I am ready for a "Man Purse", something that will store everything I might need every time I venture out of my house. I will have several of them, each one stocked with identical items, in case I lose one. Everything will be labeled and identified, with an explanation of why it is in the 'purse'. Covering the bases is becoming a survival skill.   

Baby Boomers

Mount Baker at sunrise.

Us 'boomers' sure are a pesky bunch of people. We have been causing trouble all our lives. It all started when we began filling up the schools and there was not enough room for us. Then we started taking all the jobs, but on the bright side of that, we started paying a lot of money into CPP so that our parents could have old age security. Then we became big consumers and drove the economy for most of our working lives. We borrowed, we spent, we worked, and now we are being demonized. We are now starting to wreak havoc on the medical system.

But that is just the tip of the boomer ice burg. In North America, over the next eighteen years, there will be 10,000 of us per day retiring! And what do we do when we retire? We cash in our stocks and RRSPs. Imagine what this will do to the status quo in the markets. Old men do not spend when they have lost so much of their wealth in the last few years, and going forward, dead men do not spend at all.

Take Japan. They have a declining population and in the next 30 years, some 20 million Japanese are going to disappear. Today, there is a 4 day waiting list to get a body to a crematorium.

One thing is certain. The generations that follow us will have to do something different. I believe we have lived in an unprecedented time in history. Nothing will ever be done again, the way we did it. Those methods, on so many different levels, will simply not work in the future. How will we be remembered? We may care now, but when we are stacked 4 high in the cemetery, we will not care.