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I was just a toddler during the Second World War, but today I was humming a tune that I haven’t hummed in a long time, perhaps never. I don’t really know all the words, but I do know one line – When the lights go on again, all over the world.
The war years were a truly desperate time, all over the world. There were times when no one really knew what would happen. Just like now, with the Covid 19 attack. But I do know one thing – This time will pass, too – scary as it is. What goes up, must come down, eventually. I do know something else. Now is not the time to be impatient! We must continue to collectively heed the Public Health advice, and follow all the restrictions, and most importantly, Stay Home and stay safe. (And, it never hurts to smile!) That probably means being cooped up like we are now, but now is not the time to give up! I think that I am one of the lucky ones! Just before we got the order to stay home, I got a hair cut. As luck would have it, my regular barber was out of town on a personal matter, so I went across the road to one of the unisex places and got my hair cut by a woman. I told her to make it short all over and she did just that – real short. Little did I know that it really was a blessing in disguise. But, Inge was not so lucky. I don’t think that a day goes by, without Inge complaining about her hair! Like many of us, Inge and I have fallen into the habit of watching the daily updates on TV, and I noticed the hair on the PM’s head today! Wow! Just for a moment I tried to remember, a long, long, long time ago, when I had hair – just like that! Really! Bushy, bushy, hair. It’s hard not to sound like a broken record, repeating over, and over, but it really is terribly important to stay the course, now. Stay home, stay safe, get some fresh air if you can, and keep smiling . . . ‘til we meet again . . .
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Today was supposed to be a great day, because George Boden was going to sing for us and play his guitar! Well, that is if we could have all been at our meeting, but instead we are all cooped up at home, but still smiling! That is, I hope we all are!
I’m absolutely convinced that Readers Digest got it right when they started the section that they named ‘Laughter is the Best Medicine’. I’m not a doctor, but it sure makes me feel better when I’m able to laugh. Remember the woman who spoke at one of our meetings last year? The one who made everyone laugh – right out loud - I think for five minutes! That really made me and a lot of us feel good, didn’t it? Oh well, how about George singing about a bunch of old ladies stuck in the lavatory, or something like that! It’s enough to make a grown man laugh! I’ve personally heard George play and sing three or four times, and each time we loved him! About being cooped up in our houses: my Mother used to say, “This too will pass”, and I don’t think she was talking about food. History has shown me that this cooping up at home and all the different restrictions that may come before this attack is over will pass, as well. Maybe it takes a bit of ingenuity, and certainly a lot of patience, but as sure as salt goes well with pepper, it will pass. Some day, and I hope it’s soon, we will move as we wish, instead of being cooped up at home, as we are now . . . ‘til then, keep safe, but keep smiling . . . ‘til we meet again . . . Duty is a lot easier this time! Just staying at home – cooped up like everybody else. (That is, for all of us seniors – South Windsor Seniors, I should say.) A whole lot easier than standing guard duty on the roof of a GATR Site in Sioux Lookout in the winter!
And, like a lot of us, I’m looking for something to do. I think I’ve decided. I think, that every few days, I’m going to write something and post it on my blog. So here goes . . . I hope that everyone’s safe and smiling! You know, it’s interesting what you remember, or maybe it’s just part of growing old. I’m thinking back to a Christmas, a long time ago. I think I was eight years old, when my brother Ken gave me a hockey stick and a puck. And the time that my Dad took me for a walk downtown to see what was missed in the large wooden barrel. It was left in an alleyway (I think it was behind a building on Pitt Street) full of straw. My job, as a little boy, was to pull a wagon, and we found several plates to take home to Mom! Wow! That was how it was, growing up in the 1940’s. And, then there was my other brother, Jim. We were both in the RCAF in 1963. I was stationed in Sioux Lookout and Jim was stationed in Saskatoon. I was looking for something to do, so I thought – Why not visit Jim, just for the heck of it! So, on my days off, I hitched a ride to Station Trenton, where I got a flip in a Flying Box Car to Station Winnipeg. (For those of you that don’t know what a flip is, a flip is a ride in a service airplane that just happens to have a seat free for an off-duty serviceman or servicewoman.) From there I got a ride to Headlingly, Manitoba. It was there that Duff Roblin picked me up. I didn’t know him, so he introduced himself and told me I was in luck – he could give me a ride right thru to Moosjaw, just a few miles south of Saskatoon! Wow! Mr. Roblin was, at that time, the Premier of Manitoba! And, years later, Ken and his wife, Vera, Jim and Rosemary, my brother and sister, drove up and visited Inge and I, when we lived in Perth. My two brothers and I drove into town and ended up at the Legion. We got talking to the bartender, and when he found out we were all Veterans, he called the curator of the war museum in Perth. That man drove over fifteen miles into town and opened the museum, just so we could see it! Then he gave us a guided tour of the museum! Memories – just a few. I don’t know how long we’ll be cooped up, or what will happen. I don’t think anybody does. However, I do know that, when Inge and I moved back to Windsor, it was a good move. Stay safe and keep smiling! ‘til we meet again . . . Yesterday, we were going to hear Peter Hrastovec, Past President of Rotary Club of Windsor, and Co-Chair of 100 Rotary Historic Committee, speak as our guest speaker. He was going to tell us about 100 + Years History – Rotary Club of Windsor.
Oh well, during the Covid-19 attack, we are all cooped up, at home. How is everyone? I hope you’re all safe and maybe even smiling! If not, try it! I almost guarantee that you’ll feel a little better! How’s that for a deal? I saw on CTV News that people are getting family pictures taken on their front porches. This is just one of the ways to get out safely and to get some fresh air. Go out in the back yard, on the front porch or balcony, or take the dog for a walk (if you have a dog). But, remember social distancing and do get some safe fresh air! My TV and PVR are both doing yeoman’s service! (I always wanted to say “yeoman”). I’m almost caught up in watching movies, and even have become a big fan of ‘chic flicks’! Wow! I guess that I never thought I’d say that! I discovered Zoom, and because of that and the heroic effort of Will, one of the co-owners of Empire Muscle Gym, I'm continuing boxing classes at Rock Steady Boxing! Now That’s a real deal! Boxing classes by video conferencing, all right at home and right on my laptop - they are totally free and you get a world class coach as part of the bargain! Wow! There was a new wrinkle today. A password was added to protect Zoom meetings, but Will managed to communicate it with everyone (all 13 of us, today!) so it worked. For those of you with Parkinson’s, who want to join in, the meetings are three times a week: Tuesday at 5:30 PM, Thursday at 5:30 PM and Saturday at 10:00 AM – Just download and run ZOOM. Please send your contact information (email address or phone number) to Will at [email protected] and click on: https://zoom.us/j/4410616241. Well, keep safe and keep smiling if you can! All the best from Inge and I . . . ‘til we meet again . . . Today we were going to hear Peter Hrastovec, Past President of Rotary Club of Windsor, and Co-Chair of 100 Rotary Historic Committee, speak as our guest speaker. He was going to tell us about 100 + Years History – Rotary Club of Windsor.
Oh well, during the Covid-19 attack, we are all cooped up, at home. How is everyone? I hope you’re all safe and maybe even smiling! If not, try it! I almost guarantee that you’ll feel a little better! How’s that for a deal? I saw on CTV News that people are getting family pictures taken on their front porches. This is just one of the ways to get out safely and to get some fresh air. Go out in the back yard, on the deck, on the front porch or balcony, or take the dog for a walk (if you have a dog). But, remember social distancing and do get some safe, fresh air! My TV and PVR are both doing yeoman’s service! (I always wanted to say “yeoman”). I’m almost caught up in watching movies, and even have become a big fan of ‘chic flicks’! Wow! I guess that I never thought I’d say that! I discovered Zoom, and because of that and the heroic effort of Will, one of the co-owners of Empire Muscle Gym, I, together with ten other people, (the number is still growing) am continuing boxing classes at Rock Steady Boxing! Now That’s a real deal! Boxing classes by video conferencing, all right at home and right on my laptop - they are totally free and you get a world class coach as part of the bargain! Wow! Well, keep safe and keep smiling if you can! I know that I will. All the best from Inge and I . . . ‘til we meet again . . . |
AuthorLarry Skinner - Webmaster for South Windsor Seniors Archives
January 2021
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