I have a small castle and enough firewood to keep me warm. I wanted to go back to the real north, but I'm just 4 blocks from a major cancer treatment facility that serves an area running 200 miles north and 100 south. So, until things settle down, it's here I call home, 400,000 people. I will not speak of the 40,000 students that have just descended for college and university. It's mayhem for a while.

Thanks for your thoughts. My wife realized that even if I was well there are about 10 good years left, and then hit the rockin' chair. In front of my keyboard I hope.

I just got a call and might be drafted to sit in on government meetings concerning cancer care in the area. Expenses to travel to Toronto and a 3 hour meeting, then I can visit my son who lives there at no expense. I said no more to structured meetings after I retired and here I go 'again'. That made my wife laugh to no end.

:Years ago the guy in charge just treated people like people. Now it seems you need laws to govern that. Which if find strange. I saw the ultimate yesterday. They build replica log cabins, right size, mostly the right stuff, but the foundation shows. It's less than two feet to the doorway but they built long winding handicapped ramps. Ticked me off and my wife said I should calm down. I pointed out that a half hour of work with some dirt and you could roll the wheelchair right through the front door, the way it used to be. And it would hide the out of place cement foundation.

Now that I have disabilities, I see how stupid we've become.

I long for the days when the family jammed. My sister in law played the piano, she's gone to the Yukon and we don't see her. My father in law has altzimer's and cannot remember how to play the fiddle or guitar. My wife's uncle can't play guitar for longer than 10 minutes it hurts too much. Her uncle with the big box of mouth music things (french translation for harmonicas), has no wind to blow. My niece who sang is taking a masters in geography and is too busy.

So my wife and I keep on making music for family gatherings. It's just not the same. And the drop in band boys are too old to come. What a shame age takes such a toll on most of us.

No sense gettin' uppity before your funeral. As Peter says, "have fun."

Back to feeding the chipmunks and watching the woodpeckers on my deck!

John Conley
Musica est vita