Since hearing the news of the passing of actor and director Leonard Nimoy today, I've spent a little time reading about the chronic obstructive pulminary disease that took his life. In doing so, I also discovered how vocal Mr. Nimoy became, following his COPD diagnosis, about the smoking which caused his illness more than 30 years after he quit smoking. I also read how he wished he had never started smoking in the first place.
My father, in an unfortunate parallel, also succumbed to a smoking related illness, and had been a militant reformed smoker ever since the first Surgeon General's warning appeared in Reader's Digest, some 30 years before. My father also lamented having started smoking in the first place, blaming the movies and movie stars of his youth for glamourizing smoking.
Smoking is a terrible scourge on everyone it touches, and it touches far too many. Mr. Nimoy's death, today, is as tragic as was my father's or any other smoker, because they were all preventable. It's inspiring that he, like my father, felt a duty to try to prevent anyone else from suffering the same fate, but tragic that none of their efforts could undo the damage already done to themselves.
And so, I'm writing this entry to beg every smoker, especially those I know and love, to quit smoking as soon as possible. Leonard Nimoy would want you to "live long and prosper," and so do I.
Winter in Canada is generally long and cold, but this year has been more frigid than most. In fact, this February has been the coldest ever on record, and even some winter enthusiasts are starting to dream of warmer temperatures. How wonderful, then, to realize that today is the half-way point between Groundhog Day and the First Day of Spring.
This thought came to me yesterday, when my sister, Jennifer, posted a lovely picture of a favourite house on Facebook; one that is not only architecturally attractive, but also a home that practices environmental sustainability in the landscaping of their property. Jennifer recently completed a Landscape Technician Diploma program, and is looking forward to warmer weather so that she can put the landscape design skills she learned and her vision of sustainability into action.
My husband and I are also looking forward to warmer temperatures and continuing the transformation of our own front yard; from ratty, patchy lawn to environmentally sustainable plants, ground cover and a semi-permeable flagstone patio. A friend of my sister’s actually designed the original plan a decade ago. Last year, with Jennifer’s knowledge and guidance and our considerable research and perspiration, we finally began turning inspiration into implementation.
The bitter cold and snows of winter in Canada are sometimes hard to take; but, I think they help us appreciate the other seasons even more. Under all that ice and snow outside, lies this coming spring and summer's long-awaited greenery and colour. Sooner than we think, we'll be trading in our snow shovels for spades and hoes and weeding implements, and the bitterness of winter will become nothing more than a distant memory.
So, here's to the half-way point!
In a week when I'm told by radio newscasters that it's colder here in Southern Ontario than at the North Pole, I find myself thinking about how pedestrian and Eco unfriendly the contemporary free-standing malls really are.
When I was quite young, my father was the manager of the Singer Sewing Machine store at the Greater Hamilton Shopping Centre in East Hamilton. One of the first "shopping malls" in North America, in 1955 the GHSC was built in a "plaza" format on a property that was once home to the Jockey Club racetrack. Considered to be a state-of-the-art shopping strategy, I remember well how cold it was in winter-time, moving from store-to-store in the original plaza. It was rather like shopping on a city street, although without the risk of having to cross through busy traffic.
Sometime in the early 1970's, this plaza was eventually closed-in and renamed the Centre Mall. I remember how nice it was to simply park the car and one-stop-shop in comfort, no matter what the weather in this amazing upgrade to the open-air plaza, both of which served East Hamilton well for many years.
Fast forward to 2008 and the newly constructed Centre on Barton, a throw back to the plaza format, although configured in reverse. Touted as new and pedestrian friendly, I consider it's design to be a move backward in the science of mall construction. I can't even visualize the pedestrian friendly aspect of this redevelopment, where most of the stores are placed around the perimeter of the property, either with their backs to the street or the entire store situated well away from any foot traffic.
These new "malls" actually seem to force pedestrians to walk long distances between stores, and motorists to waste gas driving around the vast parking lot. There is no protection from inclement weather for shoppers, greater risk of injury on ice and snow in winter, and impossible conditions for seniors and people with mobility issues. I also envision increased danger for pedestrians who must now dodge vehicles racing from store-to-store.
Add to the aforementioned pedestrian unfriendly circumstances, in an era where we're continually asked to help reduce fuel and electricity consumption related to heating and air conditioning, these free-standing malls must certainly demand higher heating and cooling costs due to the separated buildings with so many exterior walls.
I know that my father was a huge supporter of the closing-in of the Greater Hamilton Shopping Centre, and believed that the comfort provided by the renovation of the plaza was good for patrons and by extension, business. I believe he was right, and hope that these unfriendly malls will one day, like the other incarnations, be a thing of the past.
Today, being Valentine's Day, brought back memories of how my darling husband and I met, and the challenges we faced on our journey to the alter. We did not meet on the internet, as I'm told so many people do these days; In fact, in our case, neither of us had found computer dating to be at all useful. Doug and I actually met the old-fashioned way - by chance; and except for a few bumps in the beginning, our relationship's working out extremely well.
Love and life are hardly ever easy or certain; but I've found that navigating life's joys and sorrows is always more rewarding when the time is spent with someone who genuinely cares about you and yours.
In honour of this continuing love story and Valentine's Day, I've decided to post an article about our meeting and courtship, which was originally published in the Hamilton Spectator for Valentine's Day, 2011. It's honest and heartfelt, and still rings true today.
Happy Valentine's Day!
Two special friends of mine shared on Facebook the other day that they were on a mini date. They even posted pictures to commemorate the occasion. This couple of love birds took to the ice at an outdoor rink and spent a few hours alone together while the kids were at school. The pictures clearly showed them having a wonderful time, and by sharing their happiness, they actually helped cheer my rather ordinary work day.
I'm told that the simple but happy outing was the husband's idea, and cost less than $15 including skate rental. Apparently, he even tried to teach his wife to skate backwards; and when I pressed, I was told that, "yes" they even held hands.
I like the idea that mini dates are still possible and that expensive dinners, flashy jewelry, and exotic travel are not the only ways to show love and affection. It's nice to know that just spending time together still enriches the relationship and strengthens the bond; and, it's important to acknowledge when someone turns a seemingly ordinary day into an extraordinarily happy adventure.
Tomorrow is Valentine's Day, and my fellow love bird and I are planning a mini date of our own. Our discounted Toronto Home Show tickets will allow us hours of viewing weird and wonderful home related products, exploring exiting renovation possibilities and just spending time alone together. We're simply opting out of the hype of "traditional" Valentine's celebrations and substituting ordinary togetherness, and a lot of hand-holding, too.
Happy mini date, everyone!
When I read that children younger than six months of age, and those with compromised immune systems are being put in physical danger by some parents’ refusal to have their children vaccinated based on unproven links between autism and vaccinations, I felt I needed to voice my personal point of view.
In 1961, at the age of three, I was hospitalized with a high fever that brought about a fever convulsion. My illness was quickly diagnosed when the rash appeared, as Rubeola, more commonly referred to as “Red” Measles. By then, I had compromised patients and staff in both emergency and children’s wards before being placed in isolation and then eventually sent home. I was too young to remember how serious or complicated my sickness was but I know it was a very stressful time for my parents until I was finally well again.
I had chickenpox with my brother and the rest of the neighbourhood, as vaccinations for illnesses such as measles, mumps and chickenpox either hadn’t yet been developed or weren’t readily available. In the spring of 1966 I was stricken with a case of Rubella, or “German” Measles, which left me with a chemical imbalance. For the next three years, I suffered almost daily from severe and unpredictable hives. Every scratch test and elimination diet known to medical science failed to identify any other cause for this painful and debilitating condition. Fortunately, in a mysterious twist of fate, the hives vanished when I contracted poison ivy.
Fast forward to my adult years and the development of a chronic lung condition, usually associated with smokers, which I have never been: Ironically, Bronchiectasis can also be associated with having had measles around the age of three. And, while it’s likely I will never know for sure what predisposed me to this late onset illness, it’s possible that I might have been spared had I not experienced measles, as an unprotected child.
Immunization of a significant portion of a population provides some protection for those with underdeveloped immunity, and is a proven way to appreciably prevent the spread of contagious diseases and viruses. Combine this with scientific data, absolutely disproving the autism-vaccination link and the irrational fear of immunization, and it’s contemptible that an ignorant minority are able to put the general population at unreasonable risk by eroding our “herd” immunity.
I know that my parents would have moved mountains to keep me from suffering from any preventable illness, and themselves from anguishing over a seriously ill child. Hopefully, it won’t take a massive measles epidemic, or worse, to finally vanquish the current anti-vaccination movement!
As far back as I can remember, my mother, Olive Macdonald Hunt, has made the most amazing desserts, including her Apple Pie that was awarded 1st prize by legendary Hamilton Spectator food writer, Norma Bidwell. Few of mom’s concoctions, however, can top her signature low-fat apple carrot muffins, a recipe she originally found on a Quaker oat bran leaflet that came in the mail.
Through years of subtle adaptation, Mom - also known as Grama and G.G. - began making the muffins nut-free for tree nut sensitive family members; discovered these egg white only muffins could be made even lower in fat if she replaced the vegetable oil with apple sauce; and recently began using store-bought egg whites to save on wasted egg yolks: All three changes went un-noticed.
These moist family favourites are easy to make, delicious any time of day, and my preference as a take-to-work snack. Our whole family loves them, including G.G.’s great granddaughters, who would eat the muffins as meal substitutes if we’d let them. She even makes special one-bite batches for the kiddies, for in-between meals and school snacks.
I must confess, that I sometimes defeat the low-fat health benefit by spreading a little butter on each half, but honestly, they really don’t need this decadent addition; and, if I eat them just as they are, I’ve found the ingredients per muffin calculate to only 2 unnamed diet points.
So, in conclusion, I’d simply like to say, - Well done, - to my mother for spoiling us so well all these years on pies and cakes and cookies; and, to let her know how grateful we all are, especially for the mmmmuffins! - Excuse me, my mouth was full!
Note:
And, by the way, my generous mother isn't secretive about her recipes; so, here it is for you to try - Enjoy!
I cannot remember not being able to tie a necktie, around my own neck or facing the wearer. Even though I was a girl, before I was 5 years old, I could tie respectable half and full Windsor knots. In fact, my dad’s early coaching once helped us to handily win a father-daughter tie tying contest at a church picnic.
Tie tying would seem to be a bit of a dying art, as more workplaces opt for a less formal dress code and polo or golf shirt uniforms. And yet, wearing a suit and tie to a job interview is still the acceptable standard, in most circumstances; and a requirement of some jobs, always.
I remember years ago, while working at a local radio station, the new young Sports Director, coming to me with both exciting and stressful news. He had been tapped to be the occasional fill-in for the regular Sportscaster on the local television news and had been told that he must wear a shirt and tie. My early training came in handy, as I tied two different options for him and showed him how to slide the knot, so he could get them on and off by himself: He not only looked professional on the air, he also didn’t have to wear the same tie every night. Eventually, he got the knack, and I’m happy to say that I’ve heard he’s a tie-wearing professional to this day.
This all came back to me, today, when I heard on the news about a young man in the southern United States who was assisted by sales staff at a Target store to prepare for an important first job interview. Apparently, he’d gone into the store, dressed in a suit, looking for a clip-on tie, and left with a properly tied non-clip necktie and some helpful advice about handshakes and other important interview skills. This extraordinary customer service helped a nervous young man project a confident, professional look that may have aided in his being called back for a second interview.
I’m inspired by the selflessness of the Target employees but not actually surprised. I believe that similar random acts of kindness happen more often than we know, and that thoughtfulness is more systemic than most people think. These few examples of knowing how to tie a tie may not have meant the difference between life and death; however, the implications of someone not knowing could have been the difference between success and failure – or at least a tie.
I haven’t always loved the written word. As a child, in fact, I was a reluctant reader. At age 8, I received a Christmas anthology entitled Best in Children's Books from my aunt, a gift I looked upon as slightly less welcome than a pair of socks. In fact, this ungrateful child tossed the book aside and didn’t look at it again for several years, until on a boring, rainy afternoon, I finally flipped open the dreaded collection, and discovered: first, a lovely dated inscription; and second, a story entitled, Christmas in the Big Woods; and I was hooked!
I read the whole book, cover to cover, and the Christmas in the Big Woods chapter from Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder over and over again. At the urging of my parents, I sought out the school librarian to see if Laura Ingalls Wilder had written anything else and was delighted to discover her to be the author of an entire series of books. No longer a reluctant reader, I read the Little House books from the library until the librarian despaired I would never graduate to anything else; but, I did.
Required school reading, including: The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, The Chrysalids by John Wyndham and The Wars by Timothy Findley expanded my love of reading and of words and ideas. A first year university English course forced me to learn to write essays, for which I discovered I had a talent.
Out of school, I discovered Mary Cook, author of One for Sorrow, Two for Joy and Robert Fulghum who wrote All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, collections of short stories that inspired me to begin penning short stories of my own. Imagine my surprise when a short humourous anecdote sent to Reader’s Digest resulted in payment for its publication, and republication a few years later.
While earning a Writing for Publication community college certificate with Tom Torrance, a talented and inspiring local writer and poet, I gained the courage to send more samples of my writing to various publications, occasionally being published. Winning 1st prize in the 2004 Clinton Cowboy Poetry Contest is a direct result of my studies with Tom.
Around this same time, I was accepted as a member of the Hamilton Spectator Community Editorial Board, which allowed me to write a 700 word article for my local newspaper every six to seven weeks over an 18 month term. I delighted in writing about everyday events that inspire recognition, ordinary people who do extraordinary things or make unexpected contributions, and sharing personal experiences that illustrate my views on community and world events. While this opportunity was relatively short-lived, it was an amazing time for me in that I found my individual voice and signature writing style, which resonated with readers and gave me confidence in my writing ability.
Through all this I’ve discovered that I love to write! A one-time reluctant reader has learned to love the written word, and I hope to continue my reading and writing journey. Specifically, I want to expand the skill and mental energy that goes into producing thought-provoking stories and rhyming and non-rhyming structural poetry; and, while my dream would be, to be published in a big way or on a regular basis; in the meantime, this revelation leads me to start a blog.
It is my hope to make regular postings here, at A Written Reflection, be they non-fiction articles, poetry, or personal musings on any number of topics. I may even, from time to time, post some of my previously published pieces or unpublished personal favourites. Only time will tell. All that really matters, I suppose, is that I continue to write what I love, and that hopefully you’ll enjoy reading what I write. Fingers crossed!
