Thursday, or Thereabouts - May 4, 2023

 Some Personal Thoughts on the Coronation

I had the privilege earlier this week of being with a group of international women enjoying time, conversation together and sharing a meal along with a few laughs. The most engaging conversation I had with a few of the women was about the coronation of Charles III. Typical of what a number of news agencies have been reporting, our views were mixed with no extreme positives or negatives, just a jumble of thoughts and feelings either side of neutral.

 The New Yorker© cover speaks volumes!

And what is my view? It's an important historic event and I'll be tuning in early (5:00am here) Saturday morning. Though this will be the second coronation in my lifetime, I was just shy of two months old when Queen Elizabeth was crowned, so this will be the first one I'll be able to watch as it happens. That's exciting!  Also, it could well be the only one I see if Charles shares his mother's longevity and persistence and his reign outlasts me.

Then there is the question of the future of the monarchy as a viable, relevant institution. It's a fair question in the 21st century. There are fifteen constitutional monarchies in the British Commonwealth of Nations, of which my home and native land, Canada is one.  Perhaps the reign of Charles III is the opportune time for reflection, evaluation, and decision on whether we choose to become a republic. Such an undertaking can be no swift kick to the curb but will require much care and consideration. In the meantime, I have no reservation or objection to pledging my allegiance to the monarch. It is my duty and obligation as a Canadian. 

However, I do have doubts and reservations about the person about to be crowned King. Charles does not warm my heart. He does not inspire my confidence, and the Queen Consort even less so. I'd be very happy and even relieved to have my reservations proved unfounded, and that is my best hope. 

May King Charles live up to his late mother's wise words:

"When life seems hard, the courageous do not lie down and accept defeat;
instead, they are all the more determined to struggle for a better future."

September 8, 2022 Queen Elizabeth II

God Save the King!

p.s. Though I may nosh on tea and crumpets while I watch the coronation in my jammies on Saturday morning, I assure any and all that I will neither be making nor eating a Coronation Quiche! A quiche with fava beans?! Are you kidding me?

©2023 April Hoeller

Monday Meander - May 1, 2023

The Discard Pile

Yesterday's deluge of rain and cool temperatures allowed the drudgery of a prolonged bathroom reno to rise to the top of the chore list. Specifically, the task required a cleanout of the medicine cabinet and double vanity. It felt daunting, even a bit scary. Who knew what long forgotten nasties lay within?

I am happy to report that I did not find any oozing disgusting abominations, just old, expired, useless stuff and much smaller number of keepers. The discovery of an over-the-counter (OTC) medication with an expiry date of November 1996 did elicit a chuckling snort as I flung it into the "Pharmacy" box. 

The real challenge turns out to be how to dispose of the discards in an environmentally responsible manner. OTC meds and prescription drugs can be dropped off at the pharmacy. For the record the were NO leftover prescriptions! But what do I do with all the other stuff - bottles and jars, tubes and cans of lotions and potions? Can the contents be disposed of without harming water, soil, or septic systems? Can the containers be recycled? 

A quick perusal of the internet, (and I do mean quick - no time allowed to get trapped in a rabbit hole or ten!), and I had my answer. The best thing that can be done is to empty the contents into the garbage can then clean out tubes and jars and puncture the cans then put them in the recycling bin. I could do that except that any product residue must be thoroughly cleaned out of the containers and that gunk is bad news for my septic system. So, I can't compost the contents and I can't flush them and sadly then, it's the landfill for way too much of this stuff.

Going forward I will be making purchasing and usage adjustments. It would be helpful if manufacturers printed disposal instructions for both the product and the containers on the packaging AND the containers. I will refuse all those free samples of trial packs. I no longer wear makeup - take me as I am folks! - and because fragrance has become such a migraine hair trigger, I won't be buying that anymore and neither will the man of the house. Together we have already switched to a biodegradable sunscreen. It's the least we can do.

©2023 April Hoeller

Thursday, or Thereabouts - April 27, 2023

I was having a glum day yesterday, for no particular reason that I could latch on to, although the lack of sunshine and warmth may have been the culprit. The days have begun with early morning sun, then clouds by noon, overcast by 2pm with snow showers, rain showers, drizzle and wind, ending with clearing skies after 8pm with a temperature struggling to to reach 8°C. This has been the weather story EVERY day for over a week. Totally uninspiring!

image credit: pixabay

To combat the gloom, I sat down at the computer and began clicking away. I read a few articles and didn't learn much to cheer me. I went on to look at bathroom faucets in support of an ongoing bathroom reno.  What a chore! A grueling trek through stuff I never needed or wanted as I struggle to find the right key words. Hours later, I had managed to store a few options on a wish list. As I was reviewing the list of new and old items my eyes locked on something from over a year ago, a fine glass bottle of fountain pen ink. And guess what? The price had dropped by 30%. 

The package arrived first thing this morning. 

Cheerful and bright with the promise of spring. A test write showed that the ink runs well and does not bleed into the paper. What bliss! Apparently it doesn't take much to lift my spirits. Oh and the sun is shining this morning too. 

Racing Green, here we go!

©2023 April Hoeller

Monday Meander - April 24, 2023

 Oh, the PlacesYou'll Go, Grammy!

When the grandbabies arrived in my life, I imagined introducing them to all my favourite places and things that I enjoy doing. I imagined the fun and even the educational value of such adventures, opening their minds and eyes to this amazing world. 

And so it was that a few weeks ago we met up with little ones and their parents at the Royal Ontario Museum (the ROM) for their very first visit to the home of dinosaurs, fossils, mummies, and so much more. I was giddy with anticipation, keen to show them the wonders. 

Of course I'd forgotten all about what happens when one goes out in the company of a four-year-old and a nearly two-year-old. I'd forgotten how futile adult plans can be. But was I disappointed? Not one bit! In fact those two little ones led this old fossil on a journey of joy and wonder that was way more fun than anything I had planned or even imagined.

The WOW of dinosaurs!

The finger tip connection to the land before time.

The littles and I were a bit overwhelmed by it all - so much, so big, and so small too - so out of this world and yet not. We'll go back again.

The grandkids have also transported me to magical places in my own house. When they come to visit, I know that I'll be doing things I did not plan. I know I'll be going places I did not anticipate. Take yesterday for example.

I was  invited into an artist's world of her creative process.

I watched a horse farm manager keep things organized and heard her stories of the horses.

And later, I traveled to a wild life safari park to learn about how the animals all live side by side together.

Of all the places the grandkids and I could go, the best are the ones they show me.

©2023 April Hoeller 

Thursday, or Thereabouts - April 20, 2023

 

It's a big deal in my homeland. Every town, big and small has at least one hockey rink and scores of recreational and competitive teams. Larger towns and cities support multiple amateur leagues, the scouting grounds for the Olympics and the NHL. There are many hockey dreams in the land...

Once upon a time, there was a little girl who loved to play hockey. She dreamt about stick handling her way down the right wing, closing in on the net, then a quick wrist snap puts the puck in the top left corner It's all one fluid movement and she nails it every time.

That's the way it is with dreams...

As it so often does, reality told a different story. It was the 1960's, the time before helmets and face shields. Little girls were not supposed to like hockey. More than that, girls were not allowed to play hockey. And no wonder - girls skates, those bright white figure skates with the sharp picks at the front, were not made for hockey.

The little girl struggled in too narrow skates, hand-me-downs from a sister who skated perfectly through turns and twists, forward and backward. Though she tried and tried again, the little girl never mastered the task, defeated by those blasted picks that dug into the ice and sent her down too hard, too often. The laughter and taunts from the sidelines didn't help.

The best Christmas ever delivered an official hockey sweater of the Chicago Blackhawks - her favourite NHL team at the time - CCM gloves, and a Titan hockey stick. The dream lived on. Her Dad cutting up the ice with speed and wide turns, encouraged the dream.

The Mom tolerated the dream, taking all this hockey stuff in her stride for the most part, but she drew the line when the father suggested buying boys' tube skates. It was a bridge too far for the mother of the not so girly daughter.

No matter, out on the winter street, hard packed with snow, the neighbourhood boys always needed an extra player and the little girl was always dressed and ready to go in the sweater, gloves, stick, and boots. Living the dream.

The years passed and the girl grew and the boys grew and soon wanted nothing to do with the hockey girl who couldn't skate. She settled for Hockey Night in Canada to satisfy her desire, but mostly the dream fell asleep, and thirty years slipped by...

1998 - The Women broke onto the ice hockey scene at the Olympics in Nagano, Japan.  That little girl's dream tucked into a grown woman, stirred and stretched. Oh to have been born in the 70's instead of the 50's. 

She immersed herself in every game, cheering and jeering, sometimes holding her breath, sometimes sagging with disappointment but throughout it all, thrilled to see other women living her dream and theirs on the ice.

These days, the little girl's dream continues to live on in the Olympics and the IIHF world championships. Her favourite Canadian women's teams don't always have to win gold - that the games exist, that the women are there, and that they are playing at such a high skill level is more than enough fuel to keep the dream alive in this vintage gal!

Not all dreams are meant to be realized. Many are there just to keep me reaching forward, trying new things, and new ways, encouraging possibilities and even some new ones.

©2023 April Hoeller

Monday Meander - April 17, 2023

 I don't feel like it!

My wagon seems stuck at the top of the hill this Monday. I got up with enough bounce but now that I'm sitting here, I don't feel like accomplishing anything today. That's okay, I guess. There is nothing pressing on my agenda, no must-do's banging on the door.  And yet, this lack of motivation is irritating! Why is that?

Why can't I have a pleasant do-nothing day, a "59th Street Bridge Song" kind of day?

Slow down, you move too fast
You got to make the morning last
Just kicking down the cobblestones
Looking for fun and feeling groovy
Ba da-da da-da da-da, feeling groovy

Hello lamppost, what'cha knowing
I've come to watch your flowers growin'
Ain't you got no rhymes for me?
Doo-ait-n-doo-doo, feeling groovy
Ba da-da da-da da-da, feeling groovy

I got no deeds to do, no promises to keep
I'm dappled and drowsy and ready to sleep
Let the morningtime drop all its petals on me
Life, I love you, all is groovy

(Paul Simon, 1966)

With that great tune and lyrics, I feel better already! I'm not making any commitment to do anything today except traipse around humming and feelin' groovy.  And that's okay! 

Cheers!

©2023 April Hoeller

Thursday, or Thereabouts - April 13, 2023

Late Breaking News...

A somewhat remarkable thing happened to me nine days ago. I woke up on the morning of April 4 in a brand new decade of my life!  While that on its own is not unique - I have crossed into several new decades already - what is new is that this one comes with a leading 7. A whole seventy (70!) years have slid by since my arrival in the world on April 4, 1953.

I don't find this news alarming or disheartening nor wildly spectacular but it is a little bewildering. Seventy years sounds like an awfully long time yet feels like something far less, not a feeling that I can put a number on, as in it only feels like twenty-five, or forty, or..., but a puzzling sum of years that is way less than seventy. 

If I spend too much time ruminating about this incongruent relationship between actual and perceived years of life, it turns into an accounting exercise of things accomplished which then very quickly dredges up the unaccomplished, the failures and screw-ups, disappointments and regrets. All of which amounts to a useless waste of time and energy!

I am 70 years old! I've made mistakes along the way, I've missed some opportunities, and I'm sure that I have offended more than a few people (sorry about that, really). My body doesn't work as well nor as long as it used to. It fails me more often than I care to admit, as does my short term memory. If I let all of that get to me, then I become a grumbling old hag and I haven't got time for that wind bag! 

At the top of Mont Royal, Montreal April 4, 2023

I am seventy years old. I am learning to be gentle with the world around me, others and myself. All of which are a work in progress with self-gentleness the most difficult and most neglected. I have a massage therapist and an athletic therapist who together keep me going strong. I have more to celebrate than regret, more to look forward to than moan about.  Life is good.

©2023 April Hoeller