I Take Comfort from History (BY PHILIPPA)

 “Sicily,” said Goethe, “is the key to everything."

I love travelling to other countries, especially those with a vastly different history to Canada's and I have just returned from a two week hiking trip on the island of Sicily. While there, we entered a cave that contained rock etchings that have been carbon dated at 12 thousand years old and cave paintings (created by combining charcoal and animal fat) dated 7 thousand years old. The archeological records reveal colonization by humans around 16,000 years ago. And then there were the Phoenicians, the Greeks (750 BCE and includes warring peoples from Syracuse and Carthage), Romans, Germans (469-535 CE including Visigoths, Vandals, and Ostrogoths), Byzantines (535-965), Arabs (827-1091), Normans (1038-1198), and the Kingdom of Sicily (1198-1860 during which the French, Spanish and English came and went.) All of them left behind an imprint of their time on the island and ancient ruins are everywhere across the island. And don't forget about the WW II Allied invasion of Sicily in 1943. As I stood on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, I felt I could feel Odysseus (Ulysses) waiting in the harbour for the winds to fill the sails of his ships so he could continue his journey home.

It is not that I take comfort from all the fighting and destruction among the peoples of history, but rather the evidence that humans have (somehow!)survived and continued. While it's so unfortunate that we don't seem to learn our lessons from our history, I do have faith that we will find a way forward from our current miseries. Angela Davis believed (and she should know) that hope is a discipline to be practiced.

October Frost

 

O hushed October morning mild,

Thy leaves have ripened to the fall;

Tomorrow’s wind, if it be wild,

Should waste them all.

The crows above the forest call;

Tomorrow they may form and go.

O hushed October morning mild,

Begin the hours of this day slow.

Make the day seem to us less brief.

Hearts not averse to being beguiled,

Beguile us in the way you know.

Release one leaf at break of day;

At noon release another leaf;

One from our trees, one far away.

Retard the sun with gentle mist;

Enchant the land with amethyst.

Slow, slow!

For the grapes’ sake, if they were all,

Whose leaves already are burnt with frost,

Whose clustered fruit must else be lost—

For the grapes’ sake along the wall.

 By Robert Frost

TPW Saves Lives (BY DANIELLE)

 

I have been having a hard time dealing with the world lately. There is so much horror and violence, such deep division among people who should know better, and so many difficulties in talking about any of it.Even the fall colours this year are muted owing to disturbances in the climate and sudden weather events -- and the pandemic is returning for an unwelcome reprise.

However, I have come to the conclusion that TPW saves lives. And I don’t mean that figuratively. It isn’t just that having friends is good for our mental health, although that is crucially important.  We actually share important health information. How do you know whether what you are experiencing is worth a trip to the doctor? Someone in the group has been there and can tell you about her experience. Is it time for the next COVID vaccination or flu shot? Someone will help you figure it out – and help you find it too.  While friendship is largely about showing up, knowing what to say and when and how to say it is at the core of making a difference. I know we got one another through the worst of COVID. And I know that talking with my friends who feel safe discussing volatile and controversial issues where opinions have divided continents has meant the world to me. We trust one another. In a world where truth and trust are so hard to come by, what could be more lifesaving than that? 

Invitation to try our new cafe (BY BARB)

You'd be forgiven if you have not yet changed out your summer clothes for fall/winter.  Or if your geraniums look like they are on steroids in October.  But I digress. 

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I'd like to highlight the new cafe at Yonge and St. Clair. You may remember the what's app message from AL talking about this wonderful place called Lil E cafe whose mission is to "brew greatness by teaching life skills and giving job opportunities to persons with intellectual  and developmental disabilities".   I'm going to be volunteering at this cafe starting in November, and I'm really excited about this.  I've met the team and some of the staff and I believe this is going to be a privilege for me to participate.  Here's the link to the organization:  https://www.lilecoffee.ca/  Check out the back story. 

Interestingly enough, the first cafe and seed for this initiative started in Calgary with its location downtown. Toronto is its second location. 

Our local cafe can be a bit tricky to find.  It is on the west side of Yonge, just north of St. Clair.  After the Buca restaurant but before the hair salon.  It's in the former David's Tea location, and it has a couple of pale green bistro sets out front of the cafe. And it's directly across Yonge from Starbucks! 

At this point, the cafe is only open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Plans for the future include opening on the weekend.  I can attest to the quality of the coffee and the treats!  There is seating for 4 inside. 

If you do get the chance to visit, mention my name and our walking group.  Word of mouth is critical in helping to launch this cafe, and it's impressive to see the level of support by individuals and companies. 

Wishing everyone and those you hold dear an enjoyable Thanksgiving weekend. Always a good time to reflect on our good fortune.

The blessing of fine weather... (BY DIANE)

 In the midst of climate horror stories from around the world, we in Toronto have been experiencing a stretch of exceptionally lovely fall weather. I could hardly believe that I could have lunch on a patio on Friday, almost the end of September. And Saturday was perfect for walking. What a pleasure! 

Now, being a true Canadian, I do believe we will pay for this largesse come winter. In the hopes of being proven wrong, I consulted the Farmer's Almanac. Unfortunately, the Farmer must be Canadian too - here is the forecast.

From the Atlantic seaboard to Arctic shores to the Pacific Coast—in almost every nook and cranny that typically sees snow—Canadians should expect oodles of fluffy white throughout the season. This will be coupled with seasonably chilly temperatures at or below normal.

So, enjoy the upcoming week or two because you know in your heart that this bounty will end. But that is okay, because we walkers are a hearty bunch. To paraphrase "neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet, nor hail shall keep TPW from their appointed rounds." (Okay, okay, maybe we can sit out the sleet and hail but you get the idea). We will be ready, armed in our fleece lined gear, to walk our distances!