This segment is long overdue: as a
transplant from South Florida there are some obvious things that are completely
different as it relates to living here in, and around, Spencer and Hawks Bluff
specifically. Obvious differences are the very low density of population, the
absence of traffic jams, the low level of noise, the clean quality of the air,
the changing of the seasons (although not severe, still noticeable), the abundant
gentleness and politeness of the people. Other things are not so obvious; one may
get a hint of those differences while visiting, but they do not manifest
themselves with their full impact until one starts living here. I will in
future commentaries go into detail on many of these but, for now, I will try to
identify the main ones. Amongst them are availability and variety of stores
(grocery, general, department, and home improvement), entertainment venues
(restaurants, movies, bowling, and sport events), health care facilities
(doctors, hospitals, and pharmacies), transportation (public, maintenance
shops). When you start living here, you realize very soon, almost immediately,
you have to change – radically - the way you conduct your day-to-day affairs. To
be continued…
Jan found top soil on sale
($1.19/cubic foot) at Lowe’s in McMinnville; we got 15 bags and, with that, I
think I’m ready to start planting the garden next week. They are forecasting
another freeze for Sat/Sun (April 21 & 22), hopefully the last of the winter
season. Will plant tomatoes, peppers,
cabbage, cucumber and butternut squash…
Much to the chagrin of Jan and
her brother Rick, the lowly newcomers Nashville Predators defeated the almighty
most-successful-outfit-in-all-hockey-history Detroit Red Wings in their playoff
series; in the first round! Where is this world going to? Things are upside
down! The Mayans were right! Meanwhile, the Panthers and the Devils are tied at
3 apiece. Will play their seventh and final game on Thursday… Go cats!
We went this past Saturday to a
fish (and chicken fingers) fry and auction at our local fire house, Piney Fire
Department. It was all to raise funds for them since they are all volunteers…
The fish fry was ok and the auction was very entertaining! We sat on a table
with people we knew (some transplants from Pennsylvania, and some locals) and
had a great time. People are very much in favor of supporting the local fire
house; some were paying $35 for a coconut cake, and $20 for eight small pieces (1
cubic inch) of chocolate fudge…Ended up buying five plants (basket, oak, plum,
burning bush, and another one) and a snuggie for me!
The most powerful mantra of a
cult is the claim to be the sole holders of the truth, and that anybody else is
lying… To the unsuspecting people whom they recruit, the organization becomes
the one and only source of data, information, knowledge and wisdom. Their
criteria become the only way to observe, analyze, process and understand
anything we see or hear. Beware of politicians, clerics, network news channels
who make that claim…
Finally, food for thought:
"You teach a soldier they can be forgiven for being defeated, but they
can never be forgiven for being surprised."
General George S. Patton
So, stay alert, my friends…
No comments:
Post a Comment