How You Look At It
How many times have you heard that expression? Usually it
surfaces when people are trying to agree. Everyone ends up saying, “It all
depends on how you look at it.”
I think that our latest shot of winter was a joy. The first
few inches of white that fluffed up our world and made everything soft again.
The wetness on the pines, spruces and balsams released a sweetness into the
air. There was more to see. Animals lost their sleuth as their tracks recorded
every move. And each deep cold breath invigorated.
But as December ties the knots on the gifts of this season,
many folks start thinking about moving to more moderate climes. A migration
begins and the flocks leave Canada. In fact we just heard about one who is
making a five year commitment to another country. Mark Carney, the governor of
the Bank of Canada is leaving us to become the governor of the Bank of England.
That’s a huge loss for the BoC and what a gain for the BoE. Carney is one very
talented Canadian. He was born in the Northwest Territories, spent his youth in
Edmonton, and then went to university at Harvard. While there he was the
back-up goalie for the hockey team. After Harvard he went on to Oxford and met
his wife Diana. Carney’s trek to London looks like an amazing career move but I
wonder if he will miss seeing the snow and the magical clarity of our northern
winters. I do hope that he keeps some of his Canadian heritage close to his
heart. May he always remember those freezing nights leaning on a hockey stick
and watching steamy breath rise up to the stars.
Of course heading outside to enjoy all this requires quite a
bit of different attire than the jeans and runners of early autumn. Each cold season,
as I haul out the lidded tote labelled “winter boots”, I peruse our
accumulation of felt-lined, leather and rubber choices. But somehow I always
end up with those old, made in Canada, boots that I just can’t seem to throw
out. Fashionable they aren’t; dependable
they are.
They are heavy clod hoppers. But they are the best, with wide
rubber bottoms, high leather tops and original laces that are so long it takes
at least a minute to string up each boot. Repeated layers of shoe goop cover up
splits in the rubber but thick bumpy soles still look brand new. I’ve had these
boots for almost 20 years and they have been faithful. They’ve carried me
through knee high snowdrifts during games of pie tag on recess yard duty. They’ve
gripped my wooden and sinew snowshoes over the ups and downs of bush trails.
And they hold my balance as I pick my way along frozen, ice-covered, cobble
beaches.
The approach of winter enhances the beauty of the night sky.
Last Friday morning, as I looked at out over Lake Superior, I noticed a planet sparkling
beside the full moon. A quick read of the mag, Sky News, let me know that it was Jupiter. The name corresponds to
the idea of brilliance or celestial light. Mythology says that Jupiter himself
had some unusual ideas. Once, when besieged Romans asked Jupiter for advice, he
told them to throw bread over the wall at their attackers. This was to show the
enemy that the Romans were doing well, not starving and not intimidated at all.
Such a unique approach is certainly opposite to traditional warfare. But it
goes along with Jupiter’s turn at sky dominance. On Sunday December 2 it was in
direct opposition to the sun, rising at sunset and setting at sunrise.
On that day, at dawn, just as the sun was rising, an owl
flew in and perched on a post near our house. Probably a Barred, the bird turned
its feathery round head from side to side surveying the ground for mice or
squirrel or bunny. The owl’s beautiful striped (or barred as its name implies)
chest was easy to admire, even in the dim morning light. When we stepped outside
it cared not; the only concern was for a tasty breakfast. The bird visited for about half an hour before
swooping to the ground beyond our sight. Whether it found a morsel or not, I do
not know. However, but it did leave me with a thought.
Often it is not so much how we look, but more how we see.
The approach of winter enhances the beauty of the night sky.
Last Friday morning, as I looked at out over Lake Superior, I noticed a planet sparkling
beside the full moon. A quick read of the mag, Sky News, let me know that it was Jupiter. The name corresponds to
the idea of brilliance or celestial light. Mythology says that Jupiter himself
had some unusual ideas. Once, when besieged Romans asked Jupiter for advice, he
told them to throw bread over the wall at their attackers. This was to show the
enemy that the Romans were doing well, not starving and not intimidated at all.
Such a unique approach is certainly opposite to traditional warfare. But it
goes along with Jupiter’s turn at sky dominance. On Sunday December 2 it was in
direct opposition to the sun, rising at sunset and setting at sunrise.