The Valentine Letter
Dear Valentine, you read me
You know my every move.
I tell you all my secrets
To keep you in the groove.
I’m sure you’ll find a laugh or two,
Within my jams and rhymes.
But when the bad stuff hits the fan
I need my Valentines.
Now I tell you, I just don’t do stunts
To keep you entertained
To let you offer sympathy
When my bones feel pain.
I try to pay it forward
I hear, as well, do you
To carry smiles and sunshine
In everything you do.
You told me that I won your heart
A long, long time ago.
So, my Valentine, I love you too,
Just wanted you to know.
God Bless
February 8, 2019
-Pat Hall
Well, did I ever appreciate my granddaughter this Monday morning. I had gotten dressed to take my news column to be faxed out. Stepped out the door it seemed a “mite” slippery. So, I called (I had heard school buses were cancelled). So, she ran some mail from the office, the news returned, so she went to Ward’s and bought me some groceries too, took my compost and delivered some goodies to a few neighbours and opened three jars for me.
Well, what a lovely surprise today, a phone call from Nova Scotia. A nice long chat with Mary O’Neil, lots of info exchanged though she knew more about what’s going on around here than I did. Facebook is so “now” for those who have it! I was a little envious when she said they’d had a whole lobster for supper the night before.
There has been much sadness around us lately. I just read where Jock Bowerman had passed away out in Vancouver. A once next-door neighbour a “few” years back, sympathy to Dick, Eunice and family. Sympathy, too, to the family of Bud Bowerman and also to the family of David Vanhorn. As a young fellow, both Bob and David spent a lot of time around my place.
The weather has been “iffy.” A phone call from Margaret (Case) cancelled our bid euchre because of promised freezing rain for this afternoon.
Of course, I didn’t think it was too bad yesterday, either. So, we had ten folks for cribbage. We each played for ourselves again. We also welcomed a new cribbage player (a good one too) into the bunch, so nice to meet Terry Willemsvandyk. Their new home was once Richard and Bev Lynch’s. There were almost as many at the library coffee time where I first met. High hand, Gib Pyette, 24; first, Dorothy, 597; second, Cal, 569; third, Jan, 568; low, Florence, 526; door, Florence, Cal and Betty Jean. It’s strange how much slower the games seem with (we had two threes and two twos) not as much fun maybe as playing with partners, but we all get to play.
How do you like it so far? I see snow wildly blowing at times this morning (Friday). The trees are rocking, and I was sleeping whenever the hydro came back on. I just threw my fuzzy housecoat over my sleeping spot for extra warmth and kept my mini flashlight on my finger, like one more ring. Reminds me of March storms, could it possibly be a good sign? A wonderful second wakeup call from my friend Jean Livingston in Hamilton. She’s a “bit” tired of winter.
I’ve been playing strings with Ginger. We both have cabin fever, I think! She loves a paper towel roll, and about once a month I give her a new one to play “kick-kick” with. It’s clean dirt if you know what I mean!
It’s strange, but I’ve wondered why our Ontario Northland Bus goes through an hour later and it’s going through in a different way, well backwards, actually. Then I hear today our wild winds blew the bus off the road Friday.
Jean (Case) gave me a call to tell me Shirley Anne (Little)’s daughter has called to say her Mom was very fragile. Hopefully things are better by the time this column is out.
Thank goodness for the “seed exchange” sign on the snow bank out front to remind me this morning. Icy underfoot, but I put on the shoes with the winter ice grippers on and headed out. Martin and Lynda picked me up and I got a ride part way. What a nice venue. A cheery carnival feel to walk into (I didn’t know what to expect.) Music and singer up front, pretty table cloths centred with winter greenery. Vendors’ tables with their homemade home grown, wares, all sorts of wonderful fragrant offerings and scads of seed. A short information film on seed saving, greeted at the door by organizer.
Anastasia and I made the 15th through the door, so qualified for a gift. It seemed to be a very busy place. Had tomato soup for lunch that very conveniently matched the colour of the shirt I was wearing. Had lunch with Martin, Lynda, Lyle, same table; Joan, Gail (Robinson) who was introduced to me by Carol (Lee) later. (Thanks for the gift.) Great to see such interest in going back to the lands home grown. I was very envious looking at all those seeds. I have always been a seed saver as well as a thrower! Our new reeve took us back in his opening speech (prior to the film) to a simpler home grown growing up and actually learning how and where our food came from and how it got to the table.
Great to say hello to some old friends. By the way, Lyle had garlic in his pocket to ward off evil spirits, I assume.
A call from Helen this morning caught me up on her doings these days. Like all of us snowed/iced in, the lost was found later in the evening.
Happy Birthday, Colleen! Plenty-nine.
I got a lovely Valentine gift after the bingo on Sunday, thank you Eva West for giving up your prize heart.
It was an interesting day, starting with a ride to the Hall, breakfast with my own special syrup. Hey, I’m spoiled! I think the turnout was fairly good. Norma picked me up for church at St. Andrews Communion today.
I just needed one more number, actually one they called pretty well every other game throughout the afternoon. Had delicious leftovers at Ray and Tara’s. Sherry and Dave too. Always good visiting time!
Always a lot of volunteers on board for these special events. So thank you all.
Do you know Kevin and Lisa drive “miles and miles” for breakfast in Tehkummah?
