Friendship

Someone asked me today "What gives meaning to your life?" To which I quickly responded friendships are near the top of my list. The conversation continued and I was asked "How do people become friends?" I quickly realized the dynamics of friendships are somewhat of a mystery to me and all I could do to sum it up was to say "it just happens."

After pondering this for some time I have concluded that there are bonds that are formed when we interact with people. To this statement I was then asked " Well, how is it that you choose who in a group you are going to interact with?" I replied that my friends-in-the-making might likes to garden or ride motorcycles or shares passions for similar things. In short we have things in common.

I wonder though how many friendships are never formed because judgments are made based on appearance, attitudes or the company they keep.

Let It Go

There is a very fine line between reflecting  and obsessing on the pain and hurt that we sometimes carry with us. A little reflection is a good thing which allows us to grow as an individual. We can become a better person, more tolerant, more accepting, less non judgemental. 

When reflection has turned to obsession the hurt never heals, anger intensifies, we become less of a person full of hate and disgust. We do not grow spiritually rather we grow bitter and what once brought great joy now leaves a bitter taste in your mouth. 

The journey back can be a difficult path to find. But once you do an you learn to Let It Go you will be released from a prison that you created for yourself, you will become lighter, and will slowly let the laughter back in. 

Difficult People

Finish every day and be done with it.
You have done what you could.
Some blunders and absurdities
no doubt have crept in;
forget them as soon as you can.

Tomorrow is a new day;
begin it well and serenely
and with too high a spirit
to be cumbered with
your old nonsense.

This day is all that is
good and fair.
It is too dear,
with its hopes and invitations,
to waste a moment on yesterdays.
(Ralph Emerson)

The world is full of difficult people and it is easy to allow them to consume our day. They manage to force us to live in the past and in doing so we loose today and that lost time we can never get back.

So when encountering a difficult person remember your time is valuable and it is something that you cannot get back. Remember that when this day is over so to should be the thoughts of yesterday's transgressions. A new day has come with new opportunities if you are dwelling on yesterday you may miss out on present and that is time and chances you will never have again.

Blogging with the Bags

Regular coffee is never just that with the bags. Take tonight for example, we are here learning about blogger. So are new to it and so already have an account but every one has juicy stories to write about. Can't wait to read em.

The Fall Of Icarus

"In Breughel's Icarus, for instance: how everything turns away
Quite leisurely from the disaster; the ploughman may
Have heard the splash, the forsaken cry,
But for him it was not an important failure; the sun shone
As it had to on the white legs disappearing into the green
Water; and the expensive delicate ship that must have seen
Something amazing, a boy falling out of the sky,
had somewhere to get to and sailed calmly on." (W.H. Auden)

In Auden's poem "Musee des Beaux Arts" he talks about suffering and tragedy and how it takes place while someone else is going about their daily routines. Yesterday I sat in a waiting room for 3 hours waiting to get winter tires on my truck. Meanwhile south of the border a tragic event was unfolding; a 20 year old entered an elementary school killing at least 20 children and 6 adults.

I wonder if we are destined to be the farmer in Breughel's painting, sure we heard the splash and the forsaken cry of yesterday's events but for us "it was not an important failure..." the sun continued to shine and set only to shine again today. Or will we be like the expensive delicate ships, briefly amazed but simply had somewhere else to be and calmly sailed on.

The Waiting Room

Waiting rooms, a place where time can stand still or you can loose time. I think it depends on your attitude when you enter the room.

Sitting in the waiting room at Canadian Tire I am thankful for Agnes and all her wonderful stories. She is from Neil's Harbour and is out doing some Christmas shopping and enjoying the mild weather.

Agnes bought two new fryers which apparently you can make fries with just a tablespoon of oil. They are Christmas gifts for her health conscious children. Agnes may, in time, purchase one her self if there are no harmful chemicals in it. Agnes is a little leery of deep frying potatoes in just a tablespoon of oil.

Agnes introduced her ex husband who is traveling with her because, as Agnes says "we are still great friends." He sat very quietly next to her.

Agnes talked about the old day, she grew up in the fishing village of Neil's Harbour, where her father would trade fresh fish for some fresh vegetables from farmers in the area. She is concerned with the anticipated 5 to 7% price jump of groceries which is going to happen in January 2013.

Agnes doesn't think there will be any ice this year and I may not get much ice fishing in, this saddens me a little as I can not wait to get on the ice to catch some smelt.

Agnes also loves moose meat if it is marinated in apple juice and vinegar.

Three older gentleman also from down the country chimed in on the conversation from time to time. The older gentleman sitting next to me pulled out a Nokia cellphone that had a pull out antenna. He was amazed by the iPhone I had which also had a GPS on it.

I didn't get much of my novel read but the time sure did pass quickly. As Agnes left she wished everyone a merry Christmas and was on her way to Walmart then back home before dark.

Escaping the Holiday Madness

There is something in the way the pine and spruce trees line the narrow road that rescues the tired soul and allows the mind to escape from the hustle and bustle of the holiday madness. It is not too often one can get out for a ride on the 9th of December. But with temperatures reaching a balmy 10 degrees what else is there to do but ride and escape the madness.

Here the spattering of sunshine reaching through the canopy of leafless trees takes me back to the days of summer, lost for a moment in those delightful memories I am quickly snapped back to reality with the pain in both my hands. The cold and bitterness of the approaching winter is felt in my fingers and is a reminder of what is to come.

This time of year the rides are few and far between and one must take advantage of the opportunity if it arises. Escaping on a bike where time moves more slowly does wonders for for the soul, especially when the journey is shared with another rider.