DGrant Gibson

Imagine observing an old trappers cabin. Deep in the woods, miles from nowhere, built to be protected from the cold winds surrounded by spruce trees. Yet close to the lakefront. A canoe onshore, always ready at his calling to go get a moose for winter survival food, or fish when needed. Smoke always coming from the chimney, keeping the inside always a place of warmth and comfort, with coffee or tea always ready just in case a visitor who may fly in unannounced, yet so welcome.

A conversation exchange between two people… ‘Never judge a book by it’s cover?’ ‘That’s what I just said, did you not hear me?…Never book a judge by his cover!”
Humor is a great thing is it not? Just look at spoonerisms. A Spoonerism is a play on words where the initial sounds of adjacent or close-by words is switched, forming new meaningful words. It is named after Reverend Spooner of Oxford, who according to legend once told a student “You have hissed all the mystery lectures, tasted two whole worms and were caught fighting a liar.”

It is a special day in Canada today being our 142nd Birthday! There are lots of festivities and happenings right across the country. Lots of people are taking advantage of the day falling on a Wednesday to take some extra time off and make it an extra long weekend. Vancouver weather is hot and amazing with no cloud in sight. Makes it just a bit better yet. Is this day special to you as well? How do you show gratitude for living in a country with diverse cultures and backgrounds?

It is a very special day today, June 13th, as it is my mother’s birth date. Although she passed away in 1989 I honor this day every year in memory of Eleanor McCready. A very special lady indeed. In 1975 I set up a special trip for mom, all paid by me, and her and I flew off from Edmonton, Alberta on a direct flight to Los Angeles. We boarded the yellow DC-9 under the banner Hughes Airwest owned by the famous and rich Howard Hughes who lived in Las Vegas.

Every great Canadian knows, eh!, when the local park puts on a special event or festival, regardless if it is called ‘Boo-Bear Dress Up Event’, Sea Gull Aqua Watchers Day, Hawk & Raven Happy Day, Tiny The Happy Turtle Day, Muff Muff Marty and the Clowns, or Super Silly Saturday At The Park…you can always count on the lifting of the great Canadian spirit, you know what I mean, eh?. And we never allow ourselves that feeling of obligation or responsibility to ‘show up’ but perform a great Canadian ritual of putting on a brave face (because you ARE with your kids, eh?!) and dress the part and actually show the world, including your spouse, kids and your estranged neighbors, you actually like it all, eh?

Last night was the full eclipse of the moon. Where I live this took place between 1:55 AM and 4:45 AM August 28th. Did I view it? YES, YES YES! Would I have missed it for anything else? Not on your life! I hope you had the opportunity to do the same from your observatory point. Crazy me, I set the alarm for minutes before 2:00AM and opened a can of my favourite beverage and, from my deck, got a first class seat in the observatory of the entire scene of this unbelievable event…

Oh my god, it really is that god awful stuff…r…a….i…n!
Stuff. A tiny sealed hole in the top of the tent proves it’s great Canadian workmanship when a slight drop enters the king’s inner sanctuary, his sleeping bag. The master’s socks are quickly grabbed to block the culprit hole and a vigil is held to push back the liquid matter from the liquid Canadian High with the final conviction it will be over before daylight…