Robin in the Rain

Once again, we had a huge amount of rain overnight! - A long and heavy soaking that continued well into the morning!

Because of the downpour, I was enlisted to drive my young granddaughter to school. Getting into the vehicle, I asked her if she could remember a good rainy day song, to which she replied, "Robin in the Rain"!

Robin in the Rain is a charming song I learned over 50 years ago, in Miss Pottruff's grade 1 class at Bartonville School. Though the name of the composer and the origin of the song are somewhat uncertain, the lyrics are as follows:

Robin in the rain,
What a saucy fellow.
Robin in the rain,
Mind your socks of yellow.
Running in the garden on your nimble feet,
Digging for your dinner with your long strong beak.
Robin in the rain,
You don't mind the weather
Showers always make you gay.
Bet the worms are wishing you would stay at home,
Robin on a rainy day -- don't get your feet wet,
Robin on a rainy day!

I loved "Robin in the Rain," enough to remember it, and I have sung it often with my own daughters and my grand-daughters over the years.

Happily, we sang "Robin in the Rain" as we drove along to school on this rainy April morning, and I really didn't mind the rain much at all. Perhaps, this approach could work for you, too. 

My Cousin, My Friend

Yesterday, my cousin Jim Macdonald passed away after a courageous battle with metastatic lung cancer.

Though very close for the first half of our lives, we've lived quite a distance apart for a number of years, and had, unfortunately, lost touch. 

When I heard of Jim's recent illness, I reached out, and was able to reconnect, through the help of the Arch Hospice Operations Manager, who personally read my letter to him.

This post, which I share now as a tribute to Jim, contains a slightly edited version of my final thoughts and words to him.

James Allen Macdonald

September 5th, 1959 to April 19th, 2016

Me (left) & Jim - Our 1st Summer Together - 1960

Dear Jim, 

My heart aches to hear that you've been so sick, and that you are having such a rough time of it! I'm also sorry we haven't seen each other in so very long.

If I were able, I would jump in the car and drive right up to Sault Ste. Marie to see you: I'm so sorry that personal circumstances prevent me from doing just that. I want you to know, though, that I'm thinking of you during this difficult time.

I often think of our more than cousin relationship and how interconnected our lives have been right from the very start. You were my first friend! - We took baths together as babies, and paddled in a blow-up pool together on the front lawn at the house on Samuel Road.

We were young together!

We rode bikes and attended school dances and concerts together. I smile when I think of bonfires at the Optimist Christmas Tree Farm, swimming and ice skating in your backyard on Maple Avenue, and you and Phil hoisting my friend Susan and I on your shoulders to give us a better view of Bobby Curtola at the Gage Park Band-shell.

I remember that you were the person who first introduced me to Phil; and, I owe a debt to you for the three lovely daughters and two special grand-daughters I cherish from that relationship.

I remember, too, that you stepped right in to fill my brother, David's, place as usher at our wedding, when David suddenly died less than two weeks before the ceremony. You were the perfect choice - Phil's friend, and mine and David's cousin.

I remember fondly, the band practices in the attic on Ottawa Street South; the songs you, Robbie, John, Mark, and Phil wrote and arranged; and how much fun you guys had. I can still hear in my head the tune of the "F Minor 7th Swing" that Phil wrote for me and you all played. And, I laugh, when I tell people of the Christmas you and the band played a punk version of "White Christmas".

On the day of your wedding, you showed true gallantry when your emotional and unescorted bride physically couldn't make it all the way down the aisle to you. I was very proud when you rushed up the aisle, embraced Paulette and escorted her to the altar. It’s still a lovely memory to this day.

I enjoyed the days you came to tune our piano, because we got to visit and chat while you worked. I also remember it was you who helped my mom assess my dad's condition the day he had his stroke: She was very grateful you were there to help.

Mom still talks about the day you called her after your heart attack, because her phone number had never changed and you could remember it from your hospital bed. She was happy she could be of assistance to you that day.

I'm sorry you haven't had a chance to meet my new husband, Doug, who finally found me some 6 years ago. He's a special man, and I know you'd like him. He's good to me, my mother and my girls, and well worth the long wait.

I want you to know that I think of you whenever I hear a Beatles tune. You and the Fab Four are forever fused in my brain, and that's a good thing. Today, in particular, the lyrics from "In My Life" mean more to me than ever before.

I wish I could be there to sit with you, Jim; and, hold your hand for a little while. I'll have to content myself with making sure that you know I love you, and will always think fondly of you, my dear cousin and friend.

Love, Nancy
xo

... You Don't Get Upset!

I was feeling a little despondent the other day, unhappy that my writings in this blog haven't attracted much of a following. I found myself unloading on two of my daughters, reacting with more emotion than I’d expected.

Lack of readership was making me second guess the value of even writing my blog. Second guessing my motivation for writing the blog made me less able to write in a meaningful way. Allowing self-doubt to hinder my ability to write made me more susceptible to the pessimistic view that no one would care about what I write.

Clearly, I wasn’t in a good place from which I could produce inspirational non-fiction.

I hadn't realized that my 4-yr-old grand-daughter, Mattie-Belle, had been listening to the conversation and witnessing my inner turmoil from the other room. Unexpectedly, this little girl wriggled between me and a hassock, leaned in close and emphatically said, "Grama, remember” … “You get what you get and you don't get upset."

Mattie-Belle was repeating a saying she'd learned in Kindergarten; something they repeat in unison, I suppose to discourage unhealthy envy and competition. In her own spirited way, Mattie-Belle not only remembered the phrase, she imparted it to me in proper context.

Mattie-Belle’s serious philosophic delivery made me smile: It also made me reflect.

I started writing this blog because I love to write, or so I thought. Lack of interest in my writings, though, has made me realize that I long for recognition that I possess a little natural talent for the craft. I also recognize that I dream of a career in writing, although I know that blogging may not prove to be the path that leads me to that goal.

Blogging may not ultimately provide me the validation I seem to crave; however, it will allow me to continue developing my style as a writer, as I’d hoped. Blogging also allows me to sort through my thoughts and feelings about topics that affect my life and boggle my brain.

Thanks to the wisdom of a little girl and her positive philosophy, I will continue to blog on. These ramblings of mine may never open the door to a meaningful career as a successful writer, but at least I’ll be leaving something of myself that was meaningful to me.

Devoted Couple

We’ve had a flurry of pairs of wild birds visiting our backyard in the last few weeks. My husband has been feeding the birds regularly over the winter, attracting a variety of mostly sparrows.

Lately, though, we’ve become popular with pairs of Black-capped Chickadees, Mourning Doves, Blue Jays, Downy Woodpeckers, Dark-eyed Juncos, Common Grackles, Brown-headed Cowbirds, Northern Cardinals, and the newly arrived American Robins.

The photo above – taken by my husband, Doug – shows the beautiful pair of Northern Cardinals who have captured my fancy.

I’m particularly partial to the colours of the female Cardinal: With her mixture of grey and buff hues highlighted by a stunning scarlet bill; hints of red on her wings, back, feet and crest; and black accents; she’s simply gorgeous!

The brilliantly coloured male – red, and proud of it – is supposed to be the stunner; but, to me, he doesn’t have the diversity of colour his adorable mate has. Still, she thinks he’s sensational, and that's what counts!

I’m most impressed with the bond of devotion continually evident between our Cardinals: Never being out of eye or ear shot from each other, taking turns eating while the other stands watch; sharing food, and preening each other. I suspect they’ll make amazing parents, too.

I’m sure that most of the other bird pairings have a similar commitment to their significant other; even so, it's been truly inspiring to see how devoted this bonded pair of Northern Cardinals are to each other!