SPRING IN SOUTHERN ONTARIO!

I am Canadian and I live in Burlington Ontario so I supposed I shouldn't be shocked by the sight that greeted me this morning (our 3rd day of spring) when I looked out the door.

Call me a wimp if you will, but I quickly closed the door, cranked up the heat and decided to work from home for the remainder of the morning.

Earlier this morning I'd cancelled my 30K Around the Bay training walk with Candy. We'd try for later in the day we both agreed and once I hung up the phone I dove back into bed for some early morning drifting of my own.

I'd hoped that when I next opened the door I'd find the blaze of the afternoon sun had melted all the snow and I could drive off in my chariot unobstructed and be off for my walk. This was not to be so. Candy and I deemed conditions too lousy for even an afternoon saunter.

But errands were begging to be tended to and before ALF W and I could head out some serious shovelling had to be done. In this pic, serious shovelling resulted in this bleak, windswept sight. It is as cold as it looks!

And, here's where all of the heavy, wet stuff, plus chunks of ice got put. My front yard is under there somewhere. I do like the nice little drift to the left of the tree. It shows you the direction of the wind. For every toss of snow I heaved into the air a substantial amount pelted me in the face. On the plus side; I won't need to exfoliate for days!












Though initially Flippy was disappointed that I'd shut the door this morning and robbed her of her morning ritual of overseeing her domain, in her capacity as the mistress of the neighbourhood, on subsequent investigation I swear I clearly heard her say, "what the F**k!"

Winter in all its glory!

Cute little bunny trail in our back yard.

On the Bruce trail someone left carrots
perhaps for cute little bunnies or deer?

Flippy decides she's done with winter and wants nothing to do with it.
She holes up in my clothes closet amongst all of my
dark sweaters, of course

How my Big Beautiful Girl was able to get up in there
I'll never know.

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winter crazies

O.K. so the cartoon is about football and not hockey and it was me jumping up and down, yelling and groaning as I watched the Canada vs. US Olympic hockey game on Sunday night. I have to admit that I got a little emotionally invested in the game, one that has been touted as “our” game, “Canada’s” game during these Olympics. Pucks were flying and far too many of them were landing in the Canadian goal for my liking.

It was an amazing game to watch despite Canada’s loss. This is hockey as I remember it from my childhood. Full of fast play, solid clean checking; not the goon game it’s become – a combo wrestling/boxing free for all on ice with a bout of hockey breaking out now and then.

If only pro hockey could be this good. This is hockey I would watch all season!

It was passionate play. Passion, this is what the winter Olympics are all about. These athletes possess a passion to live life at the edge in winter. They rail against the boredom and inertia brought on by the long, cold nights and short, dreary days of this seemingly endless season.

Some kind of craziness seeps into their minds. This would have to be so. How else can one explain the desire to: whizz down a course full of mind boggling twists and turns head first on a sled barely big enough for an adult human being, or launch off the half pipe to a height of 35 feet, spinning and somersaulting all the way and land cat-like, feet first only to do it again and again, or be one of 4 competitors, shoulder to shoulder vying for lead position right out of the gate in the wild and crazy challenge that is snowboard and ski cross?

Passion, guts and phenomenal presence are displayed under the most unthinkable circumstances leaving the rest of us mere mortals in awe. Such was the case in the 2006 Olympics men’s aerials event when a skier flew into the air and lost not one, but both of his skis. When interviewed he recounted what his thoughts were during the (approximately) 3 seconds he was airborne.

It went something like (bear in mind I am paraphrasing from memory here), “Wow, there goes a ski…crumbs there goes the other one. Mmmm, I’m in a bit of trouble. Must land on my feet, but not too hard or I’ll break my ankles so I’ll have to slide a bit. Oh, and what the heck, while I’m up here I might as well complete the sequence I had planned.” (And, he did!)

I use this example when teaching meditation to illustrate just how many thoughts are possible within mere seconds – and these are the thoughts that he chose to enter his mind while others were howling for attention. What I, and most everyone else, would have thought goes something like this, “S***************T”! Just one long, sustained, 3 second, inner scream would echo in our minds as, paralyzed by fear, we plummet to the earth.

And, that’s why you and I are on the couch watching these insane, incredibly calm, smiley people (whether they do well or not, I’m amazed at what a great time the majority of the competitors seem to be having).

Yes, crazy but not without a sense of humour as well. What would the winter games be without the short track relay with all of the bum shoving used to propel team mates across the ice and in the 2 person bobsled where the last guy in runs like hell to get the thing up to speed only to jump in and curl up in a tiny ball with his head buried God knows where as they barrel down the course? Yup, I bet more than a few beers went into these ideas as well.

Ah, winter. It’s enough to make us behave like maniacs. Now I understand why people in warmer climes are so mellow. They don’t have the opportunity to get the winter crazies.

(cartoon copyright Nance Thacker 19991)

BOBCAT LOVE

As I was returning home after taking my car out for a spin – literally - sliding sideways down the road trying to avoid slamming into oncoming traffic and ever growing mounds of snow banks on either side, it dawned on me. In just a few minutes I too would join the bundled up masses of returnees chipping their way through chunks of ice and snow blocking their driveway to later sink into a hot Epsom salt bath to soothe their aching muscles.

Resigned to my fate I parked in the mall’s parking lot on the other side of my street. Weighed down with shopping bags, I climbed over the snow bank and skated across the road and lo and behold when I rounded the bank at the corner of my drive there I saw a bright shiny gift - an immaculately clear driveway.

I scrambled up the drive and into the house throwing off the bags in the hallway. “Wow! Thanks for shoveling the drive!” I shouted through to my husband sitting on the couch in the living room. You see normally I do the shoveling. Kind of enjoy it really. Except this winter’s snow displacement demands are too much for even me.

“I didn’t. As I was coming around the corner this guy in a bobcat was just backing out of our drive and took off. It was kind of odd actually.” He sounded suspicious.

Then I realized it was the snow plough guy that I’d given the Starbuck’s card to (not my VISA after all – see blogpost yoga plough Jan 19/09), for ours was the only drive to receive such attention. When I explained the situation to him he still thought it odd. But I just smiled.

And, I’m smiling now cus not only did he do this for us last night but again today and not only just for us, all of the neighbours had bright, immaculately clear drives as well.

I don’t know who this anonymous guy is; we barely exchanged a few words the other day but I wish he could know how grateful I am and what a magical gift he’s given me because life can be full of crappy news: the economy’s going down the toilet, the politicians are posturing incompetents, war goes on and on somewhere – it’s really been this way since the dawn of civilization.

But he reminded me that there are small acts of kindness happening everyday. We just don’t hear enough about them. Maybe if we did it would help to change the world. The ripples of gratitude that they create produce a lightness of spirit and a tidal wave of good will towards others. And, that’s big news!

Thanks Bobcat guy whoever you are!

Yoga plough

It’s 7:30 a.m. and I awaken uncharacteristically bright and alert, pop out of bed ready to begin my yoga practice, throw on my yoga duds and head downstairs to begin my day filled with positive and optimistic energy. But, as I pass through it, the darkness of the hallway threatens to engulf me in its grey mood. “Quick, open the door,” my inner voice tosses out its command like some kind of life line for me to grab on to.
As I draw back the wooden inner door a lovely winter scene spreads before my eyes and I pause to take in its beauty. A blanket of pure white snow covers everything with stillness: front yards, trees, cars, driveways. Even the mound of ice that resides behind my car ALF W seems benevolent, serene and still though quadrupled in size since I last ploughed my car over it 2 nights ago. The mound’s growth spurt assisted by the saviour and the scourge of the north - the street snow plough, while I lay snug in bed, lost in dreams.
I breathe in a sigh. My intended yoga practice has now transformed into shovelasana.
My breath is steady; my body falls into an easy rhythm – inhale - step, step, dig, bend knees, lift, turn, turn,- exhale - toss, turn - inhale - step, step, dig, bend knees, lift, turn, turn, - exhale- toss, turn…The newly fallen surface layer responds easily to my efforts and the body, mind and spirit are willing. But as minutes pile one upon the other my enthusiasm begins to crumble though the compacted icy mound underneath my shovel does not.
A heaviness of spirit grows, quietly and slowly at first but its momentum compounds like a snowball rolling down hill.
Who is this grumbling, disgruntled person that has taken “my” place? Her whining annoys me, but my forearms are burning with each dig and lift I make; I have to get to the clinic on time and I worry what will greet me when I return tonight. So why shouldn’t I complain? Ah, she has become me!
In the instant of recognition; equanimity’s lightness returns.
Inhale - step, step, dig, bend knees, lift, turn, turn, - exhale- toss, turn – inhale - step, step, dig, bend knees, lift, turn, turn,- exhale- toss, turn…
In the distance rumbles a cheery, bright orange sidewalk plough looking like a child’s dinky toy pushing away advancing banks of snow. And I hear myself wishing somewhat downtrodden as I shovel “I wish he’d come here and clear this mass for me.”
The grumbler inside starts to stir but another more optimistic voice breaks through. “Wait”. I listen as I step, step, dig…
“Wouldn’t it be nice if he’d come and clear this off for me”, somewhat wistful now.
“No, make it even clearer.” Step, step, dig…
“He’s going to come over here and clear this off for me”, the firm assurance of expectation sets in optimism and shoveling gets easier, the snow lighter.
Step, step, dig…The sounds of creaking machinery and a chugging motor break through my reverie. I look up. He motions me away and in a few swipes of his blade the insurmountable obstacle never existed.
I am lighter than air with gratitude!
Excitedly I rush into the house; pull a card out of my purse and speed back out into the winter’s day in time to catch up with him before he heads down the road. “Roll down your window”, I shout. He does and smiles in appreciation as I press into his hand a $10. Starbucks gift card given to me for Christmas…either that or my Visa, I’m not sure which I was just so overtaken with joy and he’s gone now. I’m really hoping it was the Starbucks card as that’ll get him a lot more than my VISA. I think I have to go and meditate as I’m feeling a little stressed right now. No, wait. Maybe I need to look for my wallet. Ummmm.