November 2003

Wow, is it really November already? Where has this year gone? It seems that as I get older, time goes by faster. As a child I remember hearing my elders say the same thing and I recall thinking to myself, I’ll never live to be that old!”

Well, here I am, that old. But I can’t complain, life is good and I suppose if it weren’t, time wouldn’t go by as quickly.

When I was very young and going through the years of extreme pain, every day seemed like an eternity. I will accept the days whizzing by now as apposed to the alternative.

With the cooler weather I am very pleased to report that the population of stinkbugs has decreased. However, that is not to say they’re gone completely. Mom, being the outdoor person that she is looks for any reason to be outside. She has now started to prepare the yard for winter, pulling out the frozen flowers, raking leaves and whatever else she can find to do.

Even though most of the stinkbugs are gone it is now too cool to sit outside. While we were moving the patio swing to its winter location we were horrified to find several stinkbugs under the head rest pillow of the swing. You see both Mom and I find the pillows very uncomfortable so we flipped them over the back of the swing, to keep them out of our way. I’m not sure why Mom flipped one pillow forward the way she did but as she flipped it, there they were, five or six stinkbugs! Then she flipped the other one forward and there, hiding all warm and cozy under the protection of the pillow must have been at least ten to fifteen stinkbugs!! Boy you should have seen them scatter, not one survived Mom’s heavy foot.

Once in awhile we get a warm and sunny day and when we do, we are sure to have stinkbugs everywhere once again, it almost makes one wish winter would come sooner.

We are blessed to have a lovely wooded area behind our property, which skirts approximately 50 percent of the “green space” that directly butts up to our property.

When we first moved here we were told we would likely see deer and bear in the area. Until early October we had seen neither. However, one afternoon our neighbor’s dogs were barking more than usual, Mom happened to be standing in my office at the time of the barking, this caused her to look out the window. In order to see the ground when sitting at my desk I have to stretch a bit to see but when Mom almost shouted, “Look look look!” I quickly stood up and saw two young fawns running along the perimeter of the wooded area. They must have jumped the fence and headed deeper into the woods because we never saw them again.

Shortly after this we were out back talking to our neighbor when she asked if we had heard the reports of bear in the area. We had not heard or read of any warnings. But I can tell you we’re a little more cautious when we’re outside now. But we have seen neither deer or bear since.

I have also heard from a few people who enjoy reading my memos I post here. It’s nice to know I'm not just writing all this for my own enjoyment, although I imagine I would continue writing them even if no one read them.

When you think about it, it is strange how I write a “November” Memo, but report nothing that happened in November. I will have much to report if my November is anything like my October was.

Mom and I ended October in style! On the 29^th we enjoyed an amazing evening of song, dance and laughter. Scheduled to perform at our high school, in the Charles Bloom Theatre were “The Contenders,” featuring Folksinger Valdy and Gary Fjellgaard. Unfortunately Gary, who I have never had the pleasure of hearing was not able to join us.

Personally, I was going to hear Valdy but was looking forward to hearing Gary as I had been told he complements Valdy very well. Sadly we were informed upon our arrival that Gary’s daughter had passed away. That's all we were told so we were left to wonder how and why ... in any case it was estimated that she was approximately 40 years-old and far too young to leave this world.

Seeing that Valdy and Gary have been playing together for some time now, it struck me how he could go on at all. But I suppose that's what artists do … “the show must go on!” And what a show it was!! Because Lumby is a very small community and if I didn’t believe before tonight that we are also a very informal place, I believe it now.

Once we got in to the school theatre and seated, out comes Valdy to do a quick check of things, and what does he have on his feet? Only, RED socks!! I tell you this guy is comfortable with who he is! I couldn’t help but wonder if he was going to do the show like that. Well, he didn’t, when he came back out, we could see he still had his red socks on but now he was also sporting a pair of well worn high top RED sneakers!

Needles to say Mom got a huge kick out of the sneakers!
Not only does this talented man and dare I say legend, sing "story songs" of life, love and laughter he does so while doing a little soft shoe! Just him, his guitar, red socks, red shoes and of course red suspenders and all this on a cement floor, ever moving, ever dancing, to the music which comes from way down deep inside. I couldn’t help but think of Red Skelton, both men are so genuine. Hey, maybe that’s where the red comes from?

We sat only ten to fifteen feet away and it struck me as I sat there, listening to him do what he obviously loves to do, that I have played his records and CD’s for a great many years and to think I was there in front of him, listening to this wonderful "voice" that often had us singing along. It was almost as if he was in our living room. He shared his stories and little antidotes with us and all the while smiling and enjoying himself as much as we were. What a cozy warm feeling of being with family, and perhaps better, a friend.

While we had been waiting to enter the theatre, a lady in front of us mentioned she should have brought her Valdy albums along for him to sign. Man!!! I have Valdy albums! I could have brought them! I never even thought of that! I can tell you I was so tempted to go home and get them. 

Well all was not lost. During the intermission, I noticed people coming back to their seats with a CD in hand. After checking with a lady in front of us, I headed for the lobby to purchase my own copy of “Viva Valdy, Live at Last” a double CD. I was told Valdy would be happy to sign it after the show. And what color would he use to sign things you ask? Well, we’ll find out a little later.

Soon, the music resumed and we were under his spell again, or at least I was. After two hours of new and old songs of life, love and laughter it was time to call it a night and head to the lobby.

Sure enough Valdy stood there talking and sharing with anyone who wanted to talk with him. Fitting in like he was any one of us! (But of course he is not like us ... )

I was second to last and was able to tell him that I first saw him some twenty-five years ago in St. Catharines, Ontario where he played at a theatre on St. Paul Street. He told me he remembered that and then asked if he was alone or with a couple of other fellows. I said, “A couple of fellows,” then he named them!!

What an amazing man! I’m sorry I missed seeing and hearing Gary but I know one thing for sure, the next time they come to town, I for one, will be there!

Now, a most enjoyable evening had come to a close, I can assure you I will not soon forget this night, and I look forward to seeing them again!

One of the first things I did after I got home was to sit and write about what a wonderful evening we had had. Hmm, I guess I really am a writer …

So until next month, stay happy and be well. J

Oh, by the way, you’re wondering what colour pen Valdy used to autograph his CD? Well, RED of course! 

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