Those Random Rainy Day Thoughts...... July 3rd. 2024.

 

      I am well aware that I would be considered a lazy writer by many.  My grade four teacher certainly knew it.  When I ran into her some 45 years after she taught me for half a year, she got angry all over again as she told my wife how incredibly lazy I was.  (Gee, I'm still not over that!)  Well I may be lazy.  Or it maybe that I am old enough to realize that the summers here are oh so short and every moment outside counts.  But today is dark, cool, wet, and a good day to babble on for a bit.

      I am not a real hockey fan.  I am a Canadian so I know a little bit about hockey.  I know most the rules,  the fundamentals of defence, offence, penalty kill, power play, and Zamboni operation.  But I don't watch a lot of hockey during the regular season.  This year however my team was in it till the very end.....which is the very end of June.   I still have hockey hangover.   Now I realize I am risking my citizenship here in my home and native land for even thinking this, but the season should be shorter.  And the length of playoffs are ridiculous.  My team, the Oilers have about a month to recover from injuries, and wear and tear on their bodies before they start up again.

     Dare I mention the U.S. Presidential Debate?  Ouch!  It is proof once again that presentation trumps (forgive the apparent pun) content.  That actions don't necessarily speak louder than words.   A man who stood before the world and made up statistics, denied that which has been proven time and again, accused those without proof in the face of his own recent convictions can be called "The Winner" of a debate. 

    And although it is always easy to pick on our neighbours to the south, one only needs scan the globe to see the western world is taking a dangerous swing to the far right.   I am not picking on those who lean right.   The world is round.  When you get to the extreme right and extreme left,  the circle is complete and there is very little difference in ideologies and practices designed for the very few.  The Department of They has always maintained that history repeats itself.  Could it be that democracy has run its course? 

    And now for the senior part of my therapy:  I have arthritis.  In my foot and in my knee.  I am scheduled for surgery on my foot in three weeks.  There will be five weeks of recovery.  I am getting fitted for a brace for my knee in a week.  Hopefully this will reduce the pain enough that we can continue hiking.  It is something we both love.  I currently have two facebook friends posting photos of trips. One to Paris,  the other to Portugal and Spain.  Our good friends here recently told us they have rented a house in England for the fall.  Jealousy isn't a redeeming quality in any form.  Regardless, I find myself so jealous. Travel has been one of our great joys.  And thanks to the Camino, hiking and walking tours have been a window to so much more than scenery.   Walking is slow.  It includes the aromas, the sounds, the conversations (often in languages you don't understand).  All things you miss at 100km/hr. 

     So there is it.  Rainy day dribble.  Better than a walk in the wind and rain, and cheaper than a trip to Costco.  Growing up in the mud bowl in the middle of a rain forrest that was my home town, I should be able to handle it better.   In fact, a rainy day should be a day to catch up on things.......including a nap.  And that may be the best idea I've had all day.