Life is precious

 My Fall writing not Forgotten....

This morning, my husband and I attended the Celebration of Life of a good friend from our church family.  We joined this church some 40 years ago and CB and his family joined some 30 years ago. We listened with tears in our eyes as our minister spoke of the recollection of meeting CB on the first day of his arrival to lead the parish some 15 years ago. You see, this was a tough service for our minister as he and CB had become really good friends ever since that first day. CB was friends with everyone. His beautiful daughters recalled their father as the best example in the world of how to lead your life, just go out and enjoy and love every day and take good care of everyone around you.

For the past 1 ½ years CB battled that dreaded ‘C’ disease with grace, dignity and a love of life second to none. As a strong tenor in our choir, now his voice silent, we were uplifted this morning by singing all his favourite hymns and reciting all his favourite bible readings.

I leave my writings now remembering these words from the refrain of one of my favourite hymns. Turns out we sang this hymn that morning, because it too was CB’s favourite hymn.

 

“Lord of the Dance”

Dance then wherever you may be:

I am the Lord of the Dance said he:

I’ll lead you all wherever you may be,

I will lead you all in the Dance said he.

 

There is a new leader in heaven this week.

 Marilyn Stubberfield

November 3^rd, 2016

PS: Sunday June 4, 2017 after church, marks the dedication day of one of CB's proudest project's, our extra parking lot. We will be there.

 

Udderly Beautiful

 

This is a fun story I am about to share. This past winter our friends Ed and Rose came to the sunny south and spent Christmas with us. A treat, because Rose and I had a good chance to catch up on all the things that spark our interests. I casually remarked to her, your complexion is beautiful. What on earth are you putting on your face? Eager to share her success, “ Udderly” she exclaims.  It is a cream they developed from having much success over the years caring for the udders of cows. Really! That sounds good enough for me.

As I begin my search of this product to replace the jar left behind for me from my generous friend, and after reading lots of reviews etc., I decide I must have some of my own.  My Amazon order arrives in this huge box, I immediately tuck it away in the closet to open when Bill is gone golfing all the time pondering the size of the box. On-line shoppers can relate to that.

A few short weeks later, over morning coffee, Rose and I are discussing our beloved networking group LINK. She shares with me her plans for a door prize for the next evening’s meeting. At this point, I scramble into my office to get her replacement cream out of the big box long forgotten in the closet.

"Yikes", I exclaim, "I think I have door prize material too". If not, I will have a life time supply of Udderly Smooth, you see the big box carried 6 jars, each 12 oz.  

Some lucky LINK ladies will be looking "Udderly Beautiful" in the coming months.

Maybe “Haste did not make Waste” this time.

 

A Little Story gives a Gift to reflect on

As my guest blogger Sandra mentioned recently “…..remember to slow down and not let a moment pass without considering its gifts”. Lots of stories are twirling around in my mind these days however as I reflected on my writings I have stored in my journal, I wanted to share this one from heading south last Fall…….

“It is little things that can tell a story.” Our first morning stop of the day happened through the acrid smoke of the wild fires and the red ball of the sun that peeks out as we pull into the parking lot.

Upon entering the restaurant, my eyes are jetted to the corner. There sitting in 2 tables put together are 6 senior men, coffees in hand, solving all the problems of the world. Voices by some are elevated, hearing the occasional word “Hillary” and “Trump”. I can just imagine what they are saying.

Whoa, all of a sudden, one fellow pops up from his seat and all attention turns to the car that just pulled into the gas station out front. “What year is it?” “Where is it going?” “I did not know there was a car show in town.”

I am pleased their attention has turned from politics so as I head to the ladies room, I stop and say “Good morning fellows, glad to see you gentlemen are enjoying some fellowship together.” And just when I thought they were focused on politics and old cars, the leader from the coffee klatch remarks, “We have been coming here every day since the day we retired, it keeps us healthy and oh, by the way, tell your husband it is a bit chilly for shorts this morning.”

Little do they know, Bill has worn shorts most days since retiring, it just seems like the right thing to do as we head to our winter home.

My gift of the moment.

Marilyn Stubberfield

Written November 21, 2016, gifted to readers May, 2017

A tough read but I learned so much

In reviewing a list of my recent reads, I wanted to start my book reviews with this non-fiction book

 

Wild Swans, Three Daughters of China   Author Jung Chang

This book review is hard. This book is sad, there are no other words. However, I was completely captivated by her story as she chronicles the life of her grandmother, her mother and herself. 

This family is strong, dedicated, and resilient, determined to make a life of lemons into lemonade.

Personally, I had no idea that sort of life existed in China and believe me, I do not live under a rock. So much to learn about other cultures and this one is no exception.

These are the stats, “estimates say that Mao was responsible for 40 to 70 million deaths through starvation, prison, labour and executions, ranking his tenure as the top incidence of excess mortality in human history”, and all along the way destroying much of the country’s cultural heritage.

Mao Tse-tung died in September of 1976. At last, Jung Chang was able to fulfill her wish of seeing the western world.

If anyone would like to read it, I have the book and would be pleased to pass it on for your reading and learning enjoyment. If you have read this book, a discussion with you is always welcomed.

This is my favorite library

In reviewing my writings in what to share next with you, I came across this musing that I wrote back in February of 2017.

 

I so enjoyed today. I made another trip to a library. You see, this is a special library, it is the most wonderful collection of books one could ask for right in my neighbourhood.

Joan has an extensive collection of every genre imaginable. I am free to come any time and just browse shelves and shelves of books. Oh, did I mention each shelf is 2 books deep. All alphabetised by author and genre, one bookcase for fiction, one bookcase for non-fiction, memoirs, autobiographies, political.

And then the classics, my favourite. As I penciled her name in the front of each of my 10 selections, I savoured reading the covers and acknowledgments trying to decide what to begin with.

It is the best library, no deadlines to return, just whenever I am done reading them. I will have reading material for life. Thanks Joan for sharing. I will be back this Fall.

Deny the Connection

Marilyn has spoken here of our shared humanity and of regret for not taking action, for not slowing down to let a moment pass without considering its gifts.  As a guest on her blog, I wanted to continue to honor her exploration, so I offer my own example of wishing I had taken action before it was too late. 

 

In the last vestige of daylight I dodge aggressive cars as I hustle toward the market entrance.  The automatic lights twitch on and I notice a woman I’ll have to pass on the bench up ahead.

Her dusty brown hair is matted like the fur of an abandoned dog.  The layers of clothes she’s wearing look like the rags you keep for unpleasant wipe-up jobs after which you discard them.  These rags hang down her form and stop short of the ground revealing grossly oversized ankles connected to canvas shoes so infused with grime that their color is indistinguishable.  A cart with items in it not normally associated with the use of a grocery buggy is parked a stretched arm’s length away.  Her hands lay in the area of her lap, fingernails uneven and discolored, arms puffy and taut like overstuffed ground meat casings.

As I approach the automatic doors her cloudy eyes lock with mine for just an instant.  I quickened my pace, avert my glance and steel myself for the anticipated assault of words or gestures requesting money.  But I make it into the store unassaulted.

A few minutes later I come back out with a bag of groceries.  But the scene is now punctuated with ambulance lights.  People are mulling about talking in hushed tones in a loose semi-circle around the woman on the bench.  The fluorescent lights from the store give her skin a grayish translucent tone like that of an onion as its freshness is cooked away.  Her pale and peeling lips are relaxed and parted.  Her head is slightly tilted down to her right shoulder and a bit forward as if asleep, with eyelids half closed.  I think about how earlier I couldn’t move past her fast enough.  And as I did, life was drifting from her body.

At first glance I labeled her Homeless, Alcoholic, Drug Addicted, Beggar, Hopelessly Mentally Ill, a Low Human Being, Worthless, Beneath Me; Unworthy Of My Attention, A Bother.

 I didn’t label her Dying.

 I didn’t consider that once she was a little girl, someone’s daughter; or a mother or someone’s lover.  I can’t let go of the stare. 

 Do you have a “on being human” moment that you wished you’d done something but didn’t?

By Sandra Wilson

March 2017

 

"Come From Away" has uplifted me

As I began my day in the chill of our condo, yes the cold air is down south too this a.m., I read with interest a favourite blog of mine written by one of my beloved writing coaches Anne Day. Her most recent post today started my thoughts running and I too ran to the computer to put my thoughts into words this morning.

 As Anne writes, “….take away the cloud of hesitancy and fear”, my morning thoughts turn then to the news today that our own Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attended the New York Broadway Play “Come from Away” the heartwarming story, turned musical of the outpouring of love from my fellow Canadians to all those from across the world who spent some time in Gander, Newfoundland post 9/11. This story made my cloud lift.

Other words Anne quotes from Jini Reddy, " The world can feel very divided at the moment which is all the more reason to celebrate our shared humanity" Wow, this play is just that, a wonderful celebration of our shared humanity.

Maybe these goosebumps I have this morning are more about the news from New York’s Broadway and not about the cold weather.

What is your vulnerability?

My writing coaches told me to be vulnerable in my writings and I have been thinking how I could do that. Since getting older, one of the things I am learning to do better is to listen. It has always been my weakness and I still struggle today.

I now try to listen to understand better and not just listen to answer. I try every day to govern my tongue and take pause over the situations at hand.  Does this make sense? Are you a good listener?

Who knows, if we just listen to others, we may learn many new things.

 

"Get out there, listen to people, draw people out and learn from them"

Richard Branson CEO Virgin Group

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Only in Florida...

Watching the news yesterday morning, it reminded me of an unusual site I saw back in November.

As we travelled south, I had a notebook at hand in the glovebox of the car to remember little things that we saw along the way. This was my favourite.

As we turned off of the freeway and down into our familiar neighbourhood with just one km left in our 2200 km journey, I saw for the very first time a Golf Cart going along the sidewalk. Now in this area, that is not unusual, however what was different about this – the banner across the hood of the cart read UPS.

Yes, the familiar brown shorted clad driver stopping along the way with the back of the cart full of parcels set for delivery. On reflection, I wish we would have stopped on the side of the road to watch for a while.

 

I have not seen the golf cart since and now that same familiar company is  trying out a pilot project to have drones land on top of their trucks. I will need to continue to keep my eyes open for drone landings on the famous brown trucks at the next traffic light along the way.

Marilyn Stubberfield 

 

 

 

 

Reminiscing from a December 2016 dream……..

It is 5:30 a.m.  I am wide awake and I think I know why. I just had the most amazing dream.

Usually I do not remember them. This dream is crystal clear.

Maeve and I walked out to the Point yesterday.  It was a special day. After lunching out for a bit of our favourite Chinese food, we decided to enjoy the rest of the sunny skies at the Point.

It was a special day. You see both Maeve and I are handicapped and not able to walk long distances. We forgot all about that, looking for scenes to paint and write about, chattering about the shape of this branch or that branch, which tree it fell from, how long it had lain there. Where is that bird making that screeching noise?  Shells, tons of shells all shapes and sizes we bent to pick up.

Before we knew it, we were there at the Point, as the gentle lake waters waved up over our shoes.

"We made it", we exclaimed in unison.  If only in our dreams, our day was complete.

The locals here refer to this as ‘the Point’ that tips beautifully out into Lake Erie, however here is a brief description “A lush Carolinian forest oasis at the southern tip of Canada, Point Pelee National Park resounds with migrating song birds in the spring, hums with cicadas in the summer, flutters with Monarch butterflies in the fall and is a peaceful place of reflection in the winter.” Anyone ever visited the park? It is the most southern point in all of Canada.

Reflections of November 2016 continue in my thoughts

Breathe in deeply, breathe out deeply.  My mind is in disarray this morning and I cannot focus.

So I will spend the rest of today watching carefully to my investments. Or will I?

As the shock settles and we talk it out over breakfast, my toast did not quell the nausea present this morning. My challenges for this day must continue. I am jolted back into place quickly as my schedule reminders ding, ding away distracting me from my quiet conversations. How did he become President? My American friends have voted for the message, not the messenger. 

My funk again lifted as I ready for the pretty smiles of my good friend, a special lunch date booked out for 2 full hours of giggles and laughter. My reflections for today……

“Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything” – George Bernard Shaw

 OK, I wrote most of this blog back in November 2016 and only shared it with my writing coach. Now it is time to share it with all of you, despite I am still breathing in deeply and breathing out deeply. I am still wondering how this happened, voting for a message and not a messenger. I still need to lift my funk.

 So here is my solution for coping in these challenging times in our world to-day. I have taken these words from a recent Facebook post I saw on Joel Olsteen’s ministries and it really helped.

His version of Exodus 14:13-14, wherein Moses said to the people, “Don’t be afraid, for the Lord will fight for you if you hold your peace and remain at rest. Notice there’s a condition - if you remain at rest then the creator of the universe will fight for you. If you don’t worry about the medical report, if you don’t get upset over the contract you didn’t get, if you don’t live stressed out over the people that are talking to you, God will fight your battles because you’re at rest.”

Going forward, I will work hard to be “at rest” and besides, I have 2 fun social events planned this week and soon some of my family will be visiting lifting me out of my funk.

January 31, 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

100 Years old or shall I say 100 Years young.

This past week we will celebrated a birthday here for one of the residents in our village. He has celebrated his birthday 100 times. Yikes, I have never attended a special birthday celebration like this before, nor do I even know anyone that old.

Bill R. is special. Once a month, we have a pot luck dinner on our patio and he rarely misses attending. With a broad smile and arriving right on time, he reaches into his pocket and always has the right amount to pay for his share.

Every day, with a box of his favourite cookies tucked under his arm, he drives over to the clubhouse on his golf cart to meet his buddies for morning coffee. There are only less than a handful left of these buddies who can still get out to shoot the ‘’s…it’’ and solve all of life’s problems from the comfort of the clubhouse dining room for the morning coffee klatch.

In March of last year, we were saddened to learn he had taken a tumble on a scatter mat in his condo and had broken his hip. Off he goes in the ambulance, with his neighbour in tow, all the time brooding with Judy. “This is not going to work out for me. I don’t have time for this, I wonder how long I will have to stay?”

The orthopedic surgeon has arrived to review Bill’s injury. “Well, Mr. R., you may be facing the rest of your life in a wheelchair, as to be frank, I have never operated on anyone this old before.”

And Bill’s reply, “Well Doc, you had better get this fixed as I plan to get back on the golf course in the Fall, my other teammates are counting on me to play with them”. 

And Bill’s second reply, “and Doc, if I may add, the ladies in my golf village are planning my 100^th Birthday party and I want to be there, our village ladies are the best cooks anywhere”.

We have been here now since November and see Bill often riding around on his golf cart, driving his car, yes he still drives to CVS pharmacy just 2 blocks away, all the while sporting his favourite golf hat that says:

 01-01-2017  

I am 100 years old

Oh, how I envy this man,  Bill R.  Happy 100^th Birthday. We are all very proud to know and love you. “Cheers”.   Here’s hoping the ladies of the village lived up to your expectations for your special party.

 

 

Trivia Night Disappointment

Well, it was a sad night at Trivia last week. We got 2 key questions wrong that would have given us the win.  One was the Canadian question, the moderator throws those in just for us fellow Canadians and the other was this bookie question.

What is the name of the novel, a Pulitzer Prize winner, set in the Great Depression and chronicles the live of the Joad family?

The Grapes of Wrath won the prize in 1940. The farmers and land make the plot familiar to so many, however the Joad family are not like the others. They are all brave and kind, never losing hope of a better future as they are forced to migrate to California, soon becoming abused from the established Californians. Steinbeck wrote the book after witnessing much of these atrocities first hand. One of my favourite authors and I was unable to get this trivia question correct for our team.

            What was the name of the city known as the Waterfall capital in Canada?

Oh, bet all 6 points, that is an easy one. Niagara Falls, Ontario right?   Wrong, the city of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada is home to more than 100 waterfalls and cascades most of which are on or near the Bruce Trail as it winds through the Niagara Escarpment.

On reflection, I learned something new last week. Did you?

Let the Fun begin

I have been challenged and I have accepted the challenge. Thank you Darlene.

Over the last few years, I did some writing in the form of Book Reviews on Good Reads. Oh what fun it was to talk about my latest read and then have people comment.

As a lifelong avid reader, I always knew in the back of my mind I was destined to write and after meeting a very inspirational person back in 2012, local author Maeve Omstead-Johnston, I knew this craft was quickly becoming a passion. My dear friend has sent me on a course that is changing my life.

Just a few short months ago, my thoughts turned to assisting a friend to complete the writing of a book she has been working on for sometime. Turns out  it helped me as well following my dream of writing. Special thanks to my challenger author and teacher Darlene Gudrie Butts. With her talents, she has helped me begin this path to writing and blogging, starting today with my first ever posting on Morning Musings with Marilyn. Hope you all enjoy it and share my musings with your family and friends.