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| Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me, happybirthday to meeee, and what an old fart, I've grown to be! |
I've had another birthday since I last wrote a blog - can hardly believe, after the way I lived during my younger years, that I survived this long to reach the somewhat mellow age of 72. However, not one to ever be much of a couch potatoe, definitely took a lot of risks, many of them hazardous to one's physical being, I find, even at this elderly age, I still take some risks that could be detrimental to my health like climbing ladders for instance. In the last year, I've been forced to leap off a ladder about 8' to the ground, when it decided to slide off the side of my studio while I was installing a window about 20' off the ground and the next time about 5' to the ground when a friend of mine quit holding it while it was leaning precariously against a slender cedar tree and I was climbing down with a saw in my hand after cutting off some limbs near the top. Had I been a younger man, leaping off a falling ladder, which had also occurred several times back then, being spry and nimble, it wasn't much of a problem and if I had broken any bones, I would most likely have healed a lot quicker. That's the problem now; at my age, a slight fall can be critical to my health and well-being, possibly even fatal, because us old farts just don't heal so well any more. But still, things have to be done and I can't always pay a younger man to take my place, so like it or not, I still clamber up ladders as if I still thought I was a younger lad but you know what; so what; life in general is a risky business and guess what; often the risks taken, are often well-rewarded.
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| Daughter and Father |
My eldest daughter Iona, who is actually a few years older than my wife Sarah, flew out from Nanaimo, BC to help celebrate my birthday. I hadn't seen Iona for a couple of years, so it was wonderful to have her visit for a little while. While she was here, we all enjoyed a scrumptious-delicious meal at First Settlers Lodge in Maine, US, which was also very neighbourly and hospitable I thought, especially since the owners Steve and Suzan opened up their restaurant, just for us; now how great was that to not only open but also cook and serve us wonderful meals. Sarah and Jessica baked the carrot cake and we all, including Steve and his wife, enjoyed dessert together, although to tell you the truth, I was already so full, I was at the point of exploding. Suzan made me wear the cone-shaped hat that you can see perched on my head while we there and I'm not sure if I looked like a colourful aging unicorn or a bright dunce (which sounds a little odd); I suppose in a way, I'm both.
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| Shrimp Extraordinaire |
As you can see, one of the dishes that was heartily savoured and happily devoured was also a mouth-watering display; all the ingredients being harvested fresh from Steve and Suzan's garden or fished out of the sea; even the bright yellow flower was edible and delicious - what a treat!
Since Sarah runs a little cafe, here where we live at Golden Unicorn Farm, we are often asked by many of the people who live beside the nearby lake during the summer time, if we know a good place to eat in the not too distant area and we always steer them towards First Settlers Lodge. It's without a doubt, our favourite place, and how could it not be; the people running the restaurant are totally enjoyable, very hospitable and the food is absolutely excellent; a culinary delight worth experiencing.
Summer has certainly fled over the hills and sped southwards in a rush - seems like summer barely arrived before it packed its bags and was off again. And while summer was at times, quite enjoyable, I swear the torrential rains, high winds and brazen thunder storms, which occurred during that season were occasionally almost lethal. It's a cinch the normal global weather that once existed not so long ago, has now turned for the worst; for the first time in the history of the world when human beings first began to trod upon the Earth, never, not even the World Wars, where our existence looked dire, dismal and doubtful, has mankind been on the edge of total extinction. I don't know how many people, who can see the possible end approaching, have said to me, "At least I won't be here when it happens." The way I see it, as old as I am, I may be still alive and if not me, then who; most likely my children and their children will certainly be here to face the significant omens pointing towards the approaching devastating storm that is clearly building just over the horizon. Whether there will be survivors when the oxygen level is seriously low, water still remains drinkable, if any land still sticks its head above sea level or food is available, I have no idea, but if per chance some are still remaining, I wish them luck. If I'd blown out all the candles on the birthday cake, my wish would have been for all of mankind to start living in accordance with Nature; she is not our enemy or a friend to be exploited; she is the core of our very existence. Treat her well and she provides shelter, nourishment and goodness - cheers, eh!
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