Camp maple syrup, that is.
The answer is Yes, regardless of diabetes risk. Camp remains the Real Thing in its purest PQ form. Aunt Jemima and the other chemical-based ‘syrups’ are not worth using at home for our pancakes, waffles, and French toast. There is no contest or question here.
at Screwball Central, it is important not to ‘get away or off from one’s own game’. As Joseph Campbell wisely repeated, “Follow your own bliss.” And that entails taking responsibility for your own life–not passing the buck or blaming others. One has to–as Emily Dickinson did/declared–bless oneself and recognize oneself as the ultimate leader/authority/source of one’s own life.
A conscious life of personal choices reflecting one’s own values, beliefs, and preferences.
I know that often it is very distracting out there each day, with myriad distractions in fact. But one’s life is a personal matter and one has to look after/take care of oneself and those around us who matter to us. It is that simple a basic choice or guide for living, surviving, and thriving in crazy times.
And I think, finally, that an individual cannot pay overheed to what others say or think about one as choices are made. (In many cases, this is just the individual’s fantasy activity anyway borne of fear and self-restriction–the “mind-forged manacles” Blake called them.
Yes, the ‘last trick’ is to free oneself, especially from imagined and over-concerned considerations of/by others. ‘The Group’ will not free one ever in any deeply satisfying way. Only the individual can free him or herself. This next olde poem from 1990 illustrates these ideas and changed/redefined/refocused my life forever.
And So Lately
I choose this island
and its freedom from false face.
I select a landfall apart
from the swell and tides of others.
I claim this lone strand
for the Dominion of Self.
Unattended by minions, I live
without the cant of congregations.
Self-governed, yet worthy
I shun the uncentered
fawners for lost pieces
in the shadows of Other.
I pick my comings and goings,
my music and arts.
I cull first flowers
and pitch the weeds of dependence.
My mind sharpens and sculpts itself
in monuments to glory and love
begging naught of another.
I go it alone, unafraid and unperplexed.
Respectful of this reign,
my hopes people this island.
I harvest the metaphors of life
with a timeless abandon
that knows no thought of Other.
Bygone, the grey deep moans,
now distant, unheard.
It doesn’t get much better than family gathering over a sacred bird once a year.
My wife and I have been very lucky (luck of the draw) in that our parents were all good, decent, kind people. A lot of people can’t say that and have a lot of negative persons and conflict to deal with in their ‘family’ situations and gatherings.
Both my wife and I parted company with extended family of the negative variety (users, manipulators, greedy types, phonies, hypocrites, et al) after we were married and have been very lucky on that count. It does require conscious choice and sticking to it, though. A small price/tradeoff for all the negativity and usages subsequently deleted.
Our own kids are well-balanced, hard-working, cordial people. They turned out very well contrasted with, for instance. multi-relationship stay-at-home druggies who cause their parents much grief and drain their savings dry.
The grandkids are both very interesting, funny, imaginative individuals to be around. Another huge plus.
No, I know well–from many others’ stories–that we have been very lucky with/in Family. Couldn’t be better. And, at the same time, I know for a fact that many families are conflicted, unnecessarily messed up, and destructive to individual lives. Toxic stuff.
In our case, I appreciate that Family means nothing but positives, mutual support, and excellent humour on our home front. We have much thankfulness, appreciation, and gratitude come Thanksgiving. And it is my heartfelt Thansksgiving wish that life should be that easy, pleasant, and fulfilling for all others.
ps/ A Big Kudo to those in our society who selflessly prepare and serve Thanksgiving dinners for the poor living among us. Christian-style charity at its best. Charity remains one of the top three aspects of Western civilization still practised in our increasingly uncivil, bullying, and unappreciative times.
today. He apparently injured himself delivering the paper and/or collecting for the Food Bank in the neighborhood, but is on the mend.
Sounds like a nice guy, a Mormon–they do good works for the community like the Food Bank–social responsible and caring. I’m very impressed with their conscientious examples and work..
Anyway, no way I’d go back to delivering afternoon newspapers after 5 long years from grade 4 to grade 9, two streets worth daily except Sundays. Patrick’s injury reminded me of how slippery wooden steps and front porches used to be in winter. They ice over easily and you could really hurt yourself. No one in their right mind should have wooden steps or a wooden front landing in front of their houses today. Very dangerous in the cold weather and the stuff of lawsuits in our crazy modern world.
that people once generally smoked as much as they once did.
My parents both smoked and my childhood and teenage homes smelled of cigarettes. When I started teaching, lunchrooms and workrooms stank of smoke, and it would cling to clothes, skin, and hair.
It’s hard to believe that I once played music for three years in bars, lounges, legions, and halls from ’73-75 which were literally smoke-polluted. I did appreciate moving back to Edmonton just to get away from smoky venues.
But smoking continued to be a problem socially and generally. People smoked on buses, trains, and planes. You couldn’t breathe clean air anywhere there were people. Pipes and cigars were also more common then, too.
I can still remember when I wear a G.A.S.P. (group against smokers’ pollution) badge to a staff meeting in the mid-’70s. Smokers were in their prime and laughed at this choice.
But eventually the tables turned and clean air became the norm as smoking was banned just about everywhere. Of course, not before tobacco companies made their billions and millions of smokers died (including my parents) from tobacco use and inhalation.
Now today, we are–thanks to Mr. Selfish Selfie–about to return to smoky times–this time more pungent. Pot smells will pollute the air again just about everywhere people live, work, and try to pursue leisure. Plus ca change. A big step backwards and very hard for apartment and condo dwellers as well as kids and families. The cancer rate will soar again.
what’s a two-year-old doing left alone with a shredder?
He could just as easily shredded his fingers.
My olde suggestion that parents be licensed is still a reasonable one. Young kids need to be watched and safely protected.
Life takes on new meaning when you find out you have only one of three natural heart pacemakers left.
The bus boy who held the dying RFK in his arms on the floor of a Chicago hotel kitchen. Easily the most poignant assassination photo ever taken.
The native name given to Don Iveson.
More accurate and truthfully honest would have been:
‘City Destroyer’.
Family remains #1. You are very lucky if you have a good, nice, funny family.
I really appreciate all the heroic, selfless efforts by rescuers around the world. (It is hard not to donate money to the Red Cross given the brave, selfless efforts of those trying to save victims. Charity, whenever/wherever possible, remains basic.)
I enjoy seeing good parents who take responsibility for their kids and support them rather than letting them run wild with phones.
Good neighbors are appreciated. it is always wise to keep the peace with those immediately around you.
I also appreciate those strangers whom I do meet who are kind, decent, and friendly. It is always easy to hob-nob with good souls and Real People of all stripes out in public.
