Fall colors changing seasons changing lives · Thursday October 22, 2009 by colin newell
On Monday evening, of this week, I was perusing a technical journal I wrote for in in the mid-seventies and was working on a bit of a tribute to the solidarity, brotherhood and sisterhood of the group of technical professionals – how it has changed my life and engendered and fostered lasting friendships.
And then around 8 PM my phone rang and I was summoned to a local hospital to be with a dear family member who succumbed to a long and exhausting illness.
In the end, she went quickly and peacefully – something all of us could
only wish for and hopefully achieve in our own personal journey through life.
What is kind of ironic were my thoughts leading up to that evening
on something as simple as a subscription to a hand-printed newsletter
from the seventies and how, by chance, I requested a free sample so
many years ago – that so many lasting friendships have been cast and hewn
by the fires of time and have resisted every challenge – including
death.
As word traveled throughout the evening it became quite apparent that my network of friends were way closer that I thought – They quickly formed a physical and spiritual circle around my wife and I – taking our hands in a time of need.
My thanks go out to this immediate circle of folks whose love and devotion I never entirely understood – now it is crystal clear.
And to my regular readers I offer a heart felt thanks – for those correspondents, reliable as gravity, have understood, that over the last 90 days or so, things have been somewhat difficult here.
Chapters are written and then closed – we now move on to the next phase of our life – Fall to Winter and then beyond.
Comment [5]
Fall renewal series Chapter 1 standing at the gateway of eternity · Friday August 21, 2009 by colin newell
I have an elderly aunt that has been in the hospital for a while – all the normal issues that one would associate with being in ones late 80’s – and it is part of life.
My sister works in the same hospital. She is an ER nurse and ambulance paramedic. And if that isn’t enough she often signs up for a remote Evac team.
That is a group of people that are on pagers 24 hours a day. When the pager goes off, she gets a cab to the airport and jumps on a sleek nearly new Lear Jet – This Lear is outfitted for a couple of stretchers, medical supplies and equipment, a few nurses, a doctor (maybe) and 2 pilots. It is light and fast. She can leave Victoria and be across the Mexican border or to Hawaii in little over 3.5 hours.
But I digress.
My aunt has been in hospital for a month. In those 30 days I have gotten to know people on the ward… lots of people. And the following names have been changed to protect their privacy and identity.
Maxwell is 82, a millionaire and a former jet pilot. He lost his wife of 42 years last Spring, took a fall, had a mild heart attack – he has been in for a month and wants to go home. But he cannot. He is feistier than a junk yard dog but without some of the important things in his life – and being less than complete, he isn’t ready. He might never be ready.
Daisy is 48 years old and suffering from the latter stages of brain cancer. She is brighter than a super-nova and more cheerful than a roomful of Shriner Clowns. She is really good about where she is going. Her 18 year old daughter… not so much.
Her name is Willow. She is a 21 year old personal trainer and kinesiologist. And judging by her level of anger and sadness, there are a lot of folks that are working with her that are getting the crap kicked out of them!
Daisy, on the other hand is oddly circumspect and resolved – her biggest worry is whether or not she will start acting like an asshole as her illness progresses and devours more of her essence… and how her daughter will cope without her guidance.
Daisy muses, “Willow got a nose ring… I hate body piercing… and I threatened to disown her…” she titters with a diamond glint in her eye.
I whisper closer, “You better get on that!”
We both laugh disturbing and amusing her room-mates at the same time.
I feel boastful as I peel the shrink-wrap off of my CD and sign it – and brag about my brief writing stint on CSI Las Vegas… Daisy chirps, “Willow loves CSI Las Vegas! Damn a celebrity in my hospital room!” “Relax, you’re the celebrity…” I head her off.
In my daily two hour plus visits to the hospital, I spend as much time with aunt as possible and then do my rounds. Max and Daisy used to be my Aunt’s room mates but they have been shuffled around some.
Believe it or not, I find that I am quite funny and empathic (and sympathetic) around the sick and dying – and I am not sure why. With Daisy, I crack lines faster than Robin Williams and with Max, I sit quietly and listen to his stories from his glory days in the Air Force. They usually get 15 or 20 minutes of my time each. And they seem OK to have a stranger talk story with them for a few minutes each day.
In this continuing series, I write about a new phase in my life – and my experience with the Autumn of life.
Comment [2]
Bonus Blog Summer Sofa Surfing Sidewalk Styles · Thursday August 20, 2009 by colin newell
Have been meaning to rant on this for a long while…
It all started with a sofa on the sidewalk.
Which in wet Victoria B.C. Canada comes as something of a surprise.
Discarded stuff. For some reason we live in a city with residents that feel that garbage self-disposes. Hell, we dump raw sewage into the strait of Juan de Fuca so dumping our sofas on the boulevard is not that much of a stretch. I guess they think the rain will flush it away.
But I have been seeing more shite on the sidewalks lately.
- Old televisions. Big ones at that.
- Computer monitors. Yep. CRT ones. No surprise here.
- Microwave ovens. Seeing a trend here?
- Coffee makers. Say’s it not so.
Lately I have been seeing a veritable Potpourri of detritus (Hey Cheryl!) on our city streets that seem to include…
- Children’s toys – they grow up so fast.
- Booster seats – as above
- Strollers – again, I hope the kids are OK
So. For residents of Victoria B.C Canada, I ask you: What is up with all the sidewalk refuse?
Comment [5]
Spring into long weekend gas price gouging on Vancouver Island · Thursday May 14, 2009 by colin newell
Synchronized gas price increases on a Canadian long weekend – As reliable as gravity. They come like sunrise. And Spring showers.
And this weekend is no exception.
Every gas station on Southern Vancouver Island raised their prices within minutes of each other – from about 102.9 to 106.9. Snap. Just like that.
But how does this work?
We asked a master mechanic and long time employee at a local Petro-can station.
“Gas prices in Victoria are set automatically… by a supplier in Vancouver. On a system called Viper. It is an auto-dialer. Electronic. Every gas station gets the exact phone call at the exact same time… regardless of the levels in their tanks. This is the way it has been on South Island as long as he can remember. “
They raise the prices. We get screwed. Rinse and repeat.
Petro-can employee continues…
“Tri-mac is the trucking company that delivers the gas… but it is one supplier in Vancouver… at the terminal… that calls the shot. Price fixing? Sure it is. But there is no one in government (or the media) with big enough stones to tackle the problem.”
Free market system at work I guess. More of a racket as I see it.
Anyway. The upside for me? I drive less. Or maybe a bit slower. And smell the roses… if and when they bloom.
With a little imagination we can give the finger to big oil. Boycott one station or another. Pay in buckets of pennies. Walk more. Take the bike. Car pool. Or give up your car entirely if you can.
I did not actually own my first car until I was 40. And I had my license when I was 19. That was my way of sticking it to the man. Nowadays, I actually need a vehicle – with aging parents and all… and actually wanting to live a little.
So. We live with it. Begrudgingly.
Comment [7]
