Doing Stuff
I am a guy with lots of interests who likes to keep busy. Occasionally, I will take a photo to highlight a random experience that has impacted me in some way.
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Notable by his absence in this photo is me. It’s sadly funny how I can be so invested in doing something and a couple months later not even making an effort. Well, perhaps this little post is the first step in kickstarting my mobility goal once again. We will see.
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Opportunities abound when you live downtown. Last night, in a candlelit sanctuary, we were immersed in the music of ABBA. The Vintera String Quartet filled our hearts with joyful sound.
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I’ll miss these marina views. RV season is drawing to a close. Daylight hours are shrinking and nighttime’s temperatures are visualizing our breath as we burrow beneath the blankets in our bed.
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This is likely the last camp fire of the season. We bought our RV as an escape during Covid and have never regretted it. Four years later, we’re settled in and enjoy having a closeby retreat from our somewhat hectic life.
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I’m waiting in a weaving line with crowds of people ahead of me. Rain might be coming; the air is heavy and moist. The arena doors won’t open for another half hour at least and I could easily succumb to impatience, discouragement or annoyance. Then I look up and suddenly I’m lost in the sky’s beautiful immensity.
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Took a ride with the family in an open car on this old diesel from the 1950s. The scenic ride from the Port Stanley terminal to the boundary of St. Thomas lasted about an hour. It was a perfect way to celebrate the 87th birthday of a life-long railway enthusiast.
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Viewing the city from the top of city hall. A great reminder that a bird’s eye view provides a different perspective.
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Explored Central Library’s Rotary Garden, a secret oasis in the midst of downtown London. Lots of shady places to sit, read and bask in tranquility.
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Type Cast
I tried acting starting with roles in kids’ musicals and then moved on to more serious productions geared towards adult audiences. It became obvious that blanking out, forgetting lines and ad-libbing were deal breakers. Unfortunately, practice doesn’t always make perfect. Besides, type-casting me as a snooty, self-important blowhard more than once was kind of humbling.
My experience on stage, however, gave me a huge appreciation for those who do it well and today I remain an avid theatre-goer.
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Public Speaker
One of my teachers suggested I get into public speaking because I would be good at it. I thought that this was some sort of take-on-a-project-student effort on her part, and dismissed it. But eventually, even I had to admit when we gave speeches in schools, mine were actually pretty good.
During my career, I had many opportunities to stand up in front of audiences and make comments and give formal talks. At my retirement party, a member of my staff commented that one of the things about me that had always impressed her was my ability to give a speech at a moment’s notice on any topic under the sun. The shy little guy who still dwells within loves that.
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Golden Voice
I sang my first solo at a Christmas concert when I was in grade 9: the wise man who brought toddler Jesus the gold. Turns out this boy could sing and sing I did …. weddings, funerals, concerts and festivals. I sang for years and gradually realized that when people said I was great, it was true. 😳
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Community Choir
What a great idea to join the community choir: new friends with a passion for singing and lots of concerts to fundraise for community projects and needy folks. We are a grey-headed bunch to be sure with lots of life experience, a mix of good and bad times and the wisdom that tags along with it.
