"Cowardice asks the question...is it safe? Expediency asks the question...is it politic? Vanity asks the question...is it popular? But conscience asks the question...is it right? And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular but one must take it because it is right." ~Dr. Martin Luther King

Sunday 2 August 2015

LIFE IS FULL OF OPPORTUNITIES

I did write as a child, mostly letters; for want of a penny, not always mailed .

Family members had me write letters but nothing was made of it. My childhood was not the norm for the times. It's the one I know best so I am in no position to judge. 

Writing about my life would mean re-living all of it. I have no inclination. I often reflect, If people knew what was ahead, they wouldn't go. That's idle thinking. "Gather ye  rosebuds where ye may" to make life palatable. 

A homily posted on Facebook yesterday notes one doesn't have to attend every argument 
invited. It's true. Many are not worth the breeze to blow them away. 

But life is chock- a -block with foolishness. Only three options exist for an individual to maintain equilibrium. Complete withdrawal, abject acquiescence or fight the good fight. 

The first two hold no appeal. I choose to stand and fight. I regret only the ones I let get away. 

Chritsmas before last ,Theresa gave me a  hundred dollar gift voucher at a new spa in town.
Despite the  hard sales pitch launched immediately into the session I enjoyed the pampering. 
After  it was over I did pick up a magic potion before leaving. No price tag. The cashier rang up $65.45. It was a shock. I wasn't sure about sales tax. I asked for details. Price was immediately dropped by $20. without explanation. 

I always regret not making an issue of the deliberate overcharge. It probably happens regularly 
and not just with elderly clients. It was never repeated with me.

**********************

The first in camera meeting of the 2010/14 Council was another invitation I let slip by.

Councillor Gaertner had earlier indulged in offensive  defence of the defeated alliance. 

Mayor Dawe in closed session, in accordance with no procedure rule ever heard of, ripped into the Councillor and threatened her if she ever did that again.  

O.M.G. I thought...what have we here? 

The Councillor had allies at the table but no reaction ensued to gratuitous belligerence from the presiding member.

I owed Councillor Gaertner nothing.  But I regret not taking up the cudgels to defend the dignity of the  office won fair and square in the  recent election. 

It may not have made a difference. 

But that's not the point of taking a stand on principle. 

So, yes .....every invitation to an argument doesn't need to be taken up. But split second decisions sometimes let the right ones slip away. 

The ones one remembers with regret. 

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

It's like catching minnows but on a much larger scale.
One cannot get them all.

Anonymous said...

I believe you are correct.
Jimmy Carter has a book out at ninety.
I respect the man but will am not interested in reading it.
There will have to be material on opportunities taken or missed.

Anonymous said...

A mentor always said to me "pick your battles".

I never agreed with him as I never would ignore people taking advantage or being shifty.

Too many times these are happening in multitudes and at the same juncture.

I may not always agree with you but we have to fight the good fights.

Anonymous said...


Well here we go as Harper smacks Canadians with a summertime election, a very unpopular entertainment. Are any of us really going to pay attention to this walking economic death, although himself an economist by training? His government has never seen a surplus and the latest numbers would indicate that Canada is heading into a "legally defined" recession - i.s. two negative quarters in a row.

So what can we expect? More federal money thrown at Conservative ridings for infrastructure or anythings that rings a bell. Please bear in mind that this largesse is your money and mine, but we have no say in how, where or why it is spent. Where is the responsibility and accountability that is supposed to be an integral part of democratic government? Neither has existed for the Harper years.

Harper castigates Putin but they have many things in common.

Mulcair looks capable, Trudeau looks very young and on occasion his photos remind me of what a sister would look like.

We're in for another long mud-slinging affair with attack ads being the issue, not the issues of economics, employment, dairy and egg wars with the PTT, and dozens of other real and important matters that mean serious things to Canadians.

At last we don't have 17 candidates fighting to represent the Republican party in next year's American presidential election. And Trump presently leads the pack. Quick, pinch me, I'm dreaming.

Anonymous said...

You kinda let the air out of my balloon knowing that you don't have any intentions in writing a book. I hope that one day you reconsider that decision. You really do have a talent. Those small snippets of your childhood really are magical.








Anonymous said...

hope you are ok - that sucker went thru with a roar, likely more to come.

Anonymous said...

Trump leads in polls as it cost nothing to vote for him now,The weeding begins Thursday.
If the VP could be convinced to run, I might take an interest.

Anonymous said...


Suspended Senators no longer so as election call ends their 'unique' status. Although some will benefit more than others.

Anonymous said...

Only one senator benefits.

Anonymous said...

Senators have to wait until end of month for pay cheque

Anonymous said...

" His government has never seen a surplus and the latest numbers would indicate that Canada is heading into a "legally defined" recession - i.s. two negative quarters in a row.

So what can we expect? More federal money thrown at Conservative ridings for infrastructure or anythings that rings a bell. Please bear in mind that this largesse is your money and mine, but we have no say in how, where or why it is spent. Where is the responsibility and accountability that is supposed to be an integral part of democratic government? Neither has existed for the Harper years."

Insert the Ontario Liberals and McGuinty and Wynne into this diatribe and you would have a seamless match!!!