I am a news person.

 I like knowing what is going on in the world.  Right now there is a lot. Two wars, a US election for the ages, and  3 provincial elections  (and maybe a 4th when Doug Ford thinks he's buttered us up enough, but that is for another post) and political unrest in Ottawa here in Canada.  Most people don't have a clue about most of them. 

I grew up in an environment where news, local, national and international, was given an important place. 

At our house,  at both sets of grandparents homes, as in most of my friends homes. The Windsor Star, the local regional daily newspaper, and the Leamington Post, the hometown weekly, was in most households.  I was first introduced to the Star reading the Saturday comics. I graduated to the front page, and the local stories.  

At our house, my father got home from work at 4:30.  Dinner was at 5:15.  Dishes and tidying was done by  6  pm. Having no local news station, the 6 pm news came from the CBS station out of Detroit.  I learned about the Vietnam war and other world events from Walter Cronkite.  60 minutes was a weekly must watch. 

When we final got local Canadian news, the CBC out of Windsor was our go to local news. Marketplace and the Fifth Estate were added to our weekly news viewing. 

My parents were fascinated with US politics, I remember a time when national conventions were covered non stop, as were US elections.  Canadian political coverage never got close until the 24 hr cable news channels. 

The point is I got to respect that it was important to know what was going on in the world. I learned to enter the political discussions my parents were having, remembering them telling me why a news story was important.. 

Some people are amazed at how much I know about the world.  All it takes is the time to watch a bit of local news, and maybe a bit of international news.   There is a 24 hour news cycle now, and all it takes is probable 5 minutes on a reputable website to keep up with what is happening in the world. And greater depth is available anywhere.

JIM

 

 February 25, 1973- October 25, 2023

Jim was the much youngest of us five kids. He was a sweet mischievous child, and like most younger siblings, often a considerable  pain in the butt.  He loved sport, played soccer as a kid, and loved skiing.  He excelled at motocross until one too many spills made him called it a day.

 Like I said, he was the youngest, but probably the smartest.  From our father, he got the mechanical and technical smarts that showed in his machining skills and technical drawings. From our mother he got a love of cooking and the skills to carry them out. No one would turn down a Jim frittata

A lot of you have shared with the family wonderful times that he shared with you. Few will forget the bonfires and pig roasts he hosted while we lived out on the farm. Though some have admitted to me memories to be a bit hazy.

Yes, Jim had his failures and his demons, and chose to keep his feelings to himself, dealing with them his way. It was hard not to help him, but he didn't want help.   Let us not remember him for the way he died, but for the way he enjoyed life.  

Resting in peace at last.  

A once in a lifetime event

 Watched the solar eclipse the other day.  I wasn't going to watch it live, even though I lived in the path of totality.  I didn't get any glasses, was just going to sit in my basement apartment and watch it on TV.

 The hype on TV and on social media was getting to me. Overkill was dampening my spirit and enthusiasm. 

The day started out cloudy, so I figured I wasn't going to miss anything.  People were streaming by my windows all day, and the weather cleared out.  It was going to be perfect viewing.

The ado on TV was getting at a fever pitch. I couldn't stand it. Around 2:30 something in my heart said, "GET OUT!" I went out to the parking lot, and sat in my car. 

I knew I couldn't view it safely until totality, but I started to get involve in the ambience of the moment. It was quiet, and I was alone.

Slowly, things changed. The birds started heading to the trees, and their evening songs began. It started getting darker, and the temperature started dropping quickly. It felt damp.  The security light popped on. The atmosphere got eerie. It got very quiet. I got out of the car, and just stood there.

  The  roar of the crowd suddenly erupted from the ball field across the way, and from the park a block away.  I looked up and saw a sight I will never forget. It was brief,  and I could only watch safely for a minute.  

But I am not going to forget that sight. Amazed and dazed, I stood transfixed until the sun started to appear again. 

This is something I am never going to see again in my lifetime. And will never forget the best decision I ever made.