Hammertime
As proud Albertans, we have always shown a whole lot of grit despite swaying, freezing, frying, mopping up, digging out and digging in while trying to be prepared and managing to survive whatever our glorious seasons may send our way. Whatever part of the year we look forward to the most, we will always somehow manage to roll out of bed in the morning, try to be casually optimistic and look forward to the daily weather forecast, and then plan or re-plan our daily activities accordingly while striving to have a little fun along the way whether at work or play. For those of us who have been around our great province for a while, we all know that we have developed an everyday upbeat approach to the weather, insisting no matter how bad it may be right now, just relax and wait a few hours, because it will eventually change.
Now that we are out and about preparing to raise the curtain on the magnificent colors and smells of fall, we will all hope that it will be a bit of a balmy ‘Indian Summer’ that will maybe last into late October and possibly beyond. Fall is that exhilarating time for parents and hopefully the children as we send them off to school; the grain dust in the air, the amazing sun-sets and Northern Lights are an awesome sight and a great time to celebrate what everyone is wishing to be a bountiful harvest. Many of us will rush out and buy a new colder weather wardrobe while others will prepare for the new set of fall/winter sports and other indoor/outdoor activities. These might include raking and rolling in the leaves, hockey, figure skating, swim lessons and hot-tub, curling, skiing, sledding, school sports, road or pond hockey, and whatever might catch your fancy. Some of us will likely transform into ‘home-bodies’, enjoying all the new T.V. shows, digging out the winter games and hobbies, helping the kids with their homework, relaxing with lots of good books and hosting coffee sessions with friends along with countless hours curling up in front of the fire.
Other opportunities throughout the fall and winter could include being volunteers for all sorts of organizations and special events, being a welcome fan and supporter at games and functions, as well as dressing warm and going out to visit and assist relatives or friends who can’t always get outside during the chilly weather. There will also be those who will retreat inside with sweats and sneakers to continue their aggressive or passive exercise sessions, while other hardy souls will still head outside into the brisk but totally fresh air for a quick run, jog, or walk. Whatever the case, dress warm, keep happy and share your energy and enthusiasm with others. In the meantime, this is not yet the panic time to rush out and winterize our cars or over-haul the snow-blowers and please don’t stress yet about the grand old Farmer’s Almanac winter weather forecast. Just go right ahead and book lots more tee-times at the golf courses, spend a few weekends in the now much quieter campgrounds and resorts, and just enjoy the amazing aura of fall, with no worry about what is ahead for us, because, after all, we are a hardy bunch, and what will be will be as it has for decades of all seasons in our beloved and occasionally unpredictable Alberta.
Some silly but true proverbs
● A fine is a tax for doing wrong, and a tax is a fine for doing well.
● It is said that if you lined up all the cars in the world end-to-end some idiot from Alberta would probably try to pass them.
● God gave us toes for the purpose of finding furniture in the dark. We should know that God won`t give us more than we can handle, but there will be some times we may wish that he didn`t trust us quite that much.
● Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day, but teach a man how to fish and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.
● Some people actually think that a balanced diet is a cookie in each hand, or a donut washed down by a diet pop.
● Always learn from the mistakes of others. Trust me, you can`t live long enough to make them all yourself. Believe me, I`ve tried.
● It is our health that is our real wealth, and not just many pieces of gold and silver. In the end it is not so much what we gather, but what we scatter that tells what kind of life we have lived.
Although I might be really chicken to get doused with a bucket of ice water, I really admire all of those who have taken the plunge and raised mega millions of dollars for vital ALS research in Canada and the United States, and just keep on challenging.
Have a great week, all of you.