Saturday, October 16 A Down and Up Day

Saturday, October 16, 2006
What a Start to the Day, 7:00 am …
I awoke in a bit of a sweat and could not sleep this a.m.… So I got up and I looked outside it was bleak and cold. I worked on the computer and explored some software whereby I could share my musing with you…
I went to Calendar.net and Google Calendars and I will probably still explore a blog… I am looking for a vehicle to record and share my recovery…Anyways I did a bit of work and saw an amazing video by Gordon Downy (http://www.bravofact.com/shorts/details.asp?projectID=1884&searchStatus=active&DisciplineID=6&provID=0&searchText=quinte%20hotel&ANDOR=AND regarding a Poem by Canadian Al Purdy. I saw it on Real Player…
Well I was about to call it a day ‘cause I was tired and somewhat down due the stomach pains. There was no way I was getting through this day. Let it be over.

Antonia, My Friend
I slept for 3 hour only to be woken up by Jennifer informing me that my friend Antonia called from Switzerland. Antonia is as sensitive and caring as anyone I know. We chatted an I felt my mood change. Jenny and I are planning a trip to Europe as part of our 25th Anniversary. We will fly to Amsterdam and will spend time with my friends Ard and Luz for about 5 days. We are then going to Italy for the rest of the vacation. We probably will not have time to get to St. Gallen, Switzerland since we will have to drive out rental car over the Alps and back , Jen and I were hoping that Antonia will meet us in Milan. When I informed Antonia when we were to arrive, she informed me that she spends 10 days with her mother in Switzerland each year at this time. This was a little deflating since I had hoped that we could rendezvous. Jenny and I saw Antonia and Tomas last in 1987, only 20 years ago. Upon further discussion I discovered that Antonia will be in Lugano with her family. It turns out that Lugano is 40 miles form Milano. How wonderful! In addtion to being in our vacinity she will be there at exactly the same time that we will…

Lucky Switzerland
I thought how lucky is this… I would not have to drive over the Alps. After my last experience over the Alps I am lucky to be alive today. There were 5 of us driving south over the Alps. We were in a Mini panel van. Five adults with five knapsacks and 2 extra Perelli tires. What we were doing with two Perelli tires I do not know. Well it was cold and raining when we arrived. We poured out the car, just happy to find a warm restaurant. The pasta was great although we hated to leave the restaurant as we did not have anywhere to go. So we headed into the mini and not wanting to go anywhere we just decided that we would sleep in the car… foggy windows and all… 5 young adults and 5 knapsacks. We work up all tired and broken up and Mel, Carol and I said good-bye to our hitchhikers and off we went to Italy. Sure enough Mel started the car and off we went to Italy and through the first stop sign. I looked at Mel and Mel looked at me and motioned to the brakes. Actually the breaks were gone. During the evening the master cylinder had leaked and all the break oil had leaked out. How lucky were we! When I told Antonia the story she informed me that Switerland would once again be lucky for me.

Antonia tells me I that she will be thinking about me on Tuesday, the 16th. I tell her that I will be thinking about her as a matter of fact I told her that I will definitely be thinking about her… and could I please have her permission to do this. She laughed.

Ard's Phots and Marlene’s Brownies,
After hanging up… I was looking for photos of Lugano and went to Flickr site to view almost 7 full pages of sights from the Lugano region. While visiting Flickr I bvisted Ard’s photo gallery. http://www.flickr.com/photos/docman/ Ard is an avid photographer and he has an amazing eye. Just type in Doc Man and you’ll see his slides from all over the world including Ard himself and his family. So while we are doing this, in walks Marlene, the Toronto Leafs most passionate hockey fan with a huge bowl of chocolate brownies. These were her specific instructions… as soon as you empty this bowl call me and I will bake another batch.
We chatted and as she left I noticed her bright new red mini. I said hold on Marlene and I pulled out a photo of the infamous Mini Minor Panel Van.

The Day was Shaping Up
What a day it was turning out to be… with friends and food mediating my day and neutralizing the effect of a very rough Thursday and Friday…

Over Half of My Life
“How amazing is this. I have known Antonia for 35 years… almost 35 years, over half of my life. I met Antonia in Mexico in 1973 and we have kept in contact with her ever since. I visited her and Tomas in Switzerland in 1979 and Jenniy and I visited them in Santa Barbara in 1981. Antonia has been here a number times and we correspond irregularily, however we have maintained our friendship.
Jen tells me that she has known me for 25 years. I said, “I know and now, I am trying to get out of it now;-)) ” We laugh affectionately with one another. Today I felt as though I had, “One wheel on the track and one wheel on the ditch” Southern Man, Neil Young. When I get off track Jenny always puts me on it again. She is able to put some sense into me when I need it. When I don’t need it she still understands and looks after me. Where would I be without her...

The Blue Jays Hat, circa 1998
Jenny asked me to go out… at first I declined. Then I thought it would be good to get out and besides the day was almost gone. So I dress up warmly with my Toronto Blue Jayss fleece hat, scarf and mitts. circa 1998. So off we went to one of her workers and off the the hardware store. While in the store I get a call call from my guiding light and thoughtful Brother-in Law who keeps me going and optomistic. He cares as much about me as anyone does and he is a totally outstanding human being. I told him that he is a tonic for me… He is a tonic for me while I am catonic :-) He laughed. He makes everyone laugh. After returning to the car it was my turn to drive. As I got in the drivers seat I noticed my Blue Jay hat on the ground. I looked at it and picked it up quickly. As I stood up I looked at Jennifer and of course she notice that I had dropped my cherished Blue Jays hat. I am always losing stuff like this… So we get home and decide to cover up the lawn furniture. Jennifer goes to bring in the workers travails and she brings in the packages and my Blue Jays hat. One problem… I am already wearing the Blue Jays hat. What are the chances of finding another exactly the same, out of circulation, Blue Jays hat circa 1998. Pretty slim… Who the heck would wear one of these... especially in public? So now I have 2 of these horrendous looking hats.

A Memo From G-d
Upon getting home and heading to check for emails, I click on an email from a colleague with a Powerpoint presentation. Rhea … after I told her the story of the Man Who Complained about his House ( I shall post at another time) … She sent me a presentation called 'A Memo From our Boss'. This was a gift for the day and it felt so amazing to receive it… It was a gift and if you would like to see it please send drop me an email. Rhea meets me in the school parking lot every morning. She waits for me and we walk into the school together. How wonderful can a person be?

From India and Back
As I am on the computer I see her name on the call display back from India and England. This is my ex-Principal and friend. Mira. "Hey Leon, I gave up smoking… I used hypnosis." This is the first time that Mira has given up her habit, apart from the time that she had pneumonia. She tells me she stopped for two days at that time and I do not doubt it.. She is back and she makes me laugh. I see how lucky I am … my friend Vidya also called and she is my partner from the Faculty of Education. We were a team and we looked after 70 adults through some tough times. I learned more about teaching from Vidya than I did from anyone during my 30 years of teaching. She is also my doctor also, a Ph.D., though. We went through lots and she prepared me to take over a program which I never thought I would ever be able to run on my own. She is an enabler.

Somehow I was enabled today...
Then I created this Blog...
It was a good day!
Leon it is 1:00 a.m. and it is time for bed, I hear Jen say...