Halifax and Ottawa

While watching CBC's The National last night I was reminded of our fall trip to Halifax. They ran a story about the opening weekend of the new Halifax Central library. This is truly an amazing building and it was great to see so many there and to hear people of all ages so enthusiastic  about their new library.

This September's visit was just our second trip to Halifax. What a lovely city! While walking around, I couldn’t help but make a few comparisons to Ottawa. The construction of a spectacular downtown library is a case in point. The fact is they have beaten us. It's already open. Bruce Gorman, director of central library and regional services at Halifax Public Libraries, stated yesterday, "It'll be an icon, a beacon for our city, like the Eiffel Tower is for Paris."

Meanwhile, back in the nation's capital, Ottawa mayor Jim Watson announced during the summer election campaign  he's now for a public-private partnership to fund a new downtown library here. Get this--there was even talk of a new round of discussions about possible plans for a new main branch of our library! There have been talks before and many ideas have been floated and shot down over the years. The fact remains that we are now at the end of 2014, and we're not even at the drawing board yet. It takes years before anything is ever decided in Ottawa.

This summer saw the re-opening of Ottawa’s Lansdowne Park and the rejuvenation of professional football  as well. The new stadium is not called Frank Clair stadium anymore. (He was Ottawa’s best known coach.) No, of course, it's called TD Place. As my mother often says, "It's all about the almighty dollar." The former football  team was the Rough Riders. I agree it was kind of silly to have two teams with the same name (Regina) but really, Redblacks is the best they could come up with?! Ah, but I digress.

The wrangling over the re-development of Lansdowne Park went on for years. In the beginning there was going to be an international design competition but in the end, a private group of sports and developer types got control of the whole thing. A couple of months ago we walked around during an open house event. I did go in with an open mind. I was prepared to be positive, so yes, there are some green areas and there are a lot of benches and trees. The new stadium is impressive. I can see it would be a fun place to attend a concert or sports event.

However, there was no moment when I went “Oh wow!” If I had never seen the Cattle Castle (Aberdeen Pavillion) before, then that would have been my “Oh wow “ moment. It is a remarkable building and thank goodness it was restored several years ago. Another building that was saved and restored is the Horticultural Building. What simply does not easily blend with these architectural gems are the new buildings: the condos, the stores and the movie theatres. None of these were necessary        (unless you’re a developer looking to make money) but I could have accepted them if they were more attractive. So, we now have Whole Foods (often called whole pay cheque) and a movie complex which will take customers away from existing businesses along neighbouring Bank Street. The new public skating rink is a real asset but did we need a new Winners store there as well?

Over the years we have been lucky to visit many outstanding city parks: Central Park in New York, Balboa Park in San Diego, Luxembourg Gardens in Paris, and Stanley Park in Vancouver. It’s hard to enjoy those parks and not think about what could have been, on that magnificent site along the Rideau Canal in Ottawa. There are no condos, grocery stores or movie theatres in those other world famous parks.

Which brings me back to Halifax. That city is blessed with many parks, among them the Halifax Commons, Point Pleasant Park and the Halifax Public Gardens. Point Pleasant Park is an immense park with many paths.

While walking along the water you turn a corner and suddenly there is this beautiful gazebo - just one of the many visual treats along the way.

A gazebo..what a gift to a city!

The Halifax Public Gardens are a real treat.The actual gardens are stunning but it is not just the flowers. There is a huge pond, fountains,

stone bridges, walking paths and plenty of seating.  While there we had the good fortune to enjoy one of their free afternoon concerts.

It was a marvellous summer day. Hundreds of people were there, many of them getting an ice cream cone in the old Horticultural Hall  before sitting down to listen to the music. It was a perfect way to spend a summer afternoon.

Yes, our nations' capital could take a few lessons from this Maritime city. They know how to provide wonderful gathering places for their citizens. The Halifax Central Library is just another "Oh wow" place to add to their already impressive list.

Possessions

In case you think I disappeared into a frenzy of Chicken Soup book signings, it is much more mundane matters that have been keeping me busy lately. One of my sisters recently proclaimed me as a member of the club sandwich generation. This, after I recounted some of our recent time spent with our children, grandchildren and parents. However, I am not complaining. We are grateful to have this time to spend with our loved ones. As I think about Christmas gifts and shopping lists, perhaps time is the most precious gift of all.

Last weekend we helped Pat's family move his mother into another retirement home. The previous home was just fine and the staff members were very helpful. However this new place is closer to friends and family, so visits will be easier for them. This is Rita's fourth move, since leaving the original family home about a dozen years ago. Through these moves her belongings have steadily dwindled. It really makes you think about how much we accumulate and how much we really need.

Now I am not advocating a life with few possessions. We all derive pleasure from many of our things and that's great. I remember thirty and forty years ago, how much Rita enjoyed her belongings. She worked in a china shop and would put items on a layaway plan until she could afford them. When we visited, she was eager to show off her new figurines, china and pictures.

By the time we moved her out of her apartment last January, her tune had drastically changed. Her treasured things now seemed like a confusing burden to her. "They're only things.  What am I going to do with all this stuff?  Where did that come from?  Take what you want.  Please." She does not have a kitchenette in this new room so there is no need for dishes. However, it is me, not her, who is having a harder time adjusting. It is hard to imagine that a person who collected and enjoyed dishes so much can be reduced to none. I simply could not leave her without dishes. On a bookshelf we left, among other things, six salad plates, decorated with shamrocks, just in case. The  china we took home will always serve as a reminder of her and her love of china and all things Irish.

It is amazing how much stuff we all have. If there is a lesson in all of this, it is that we should continually evaluate our possessions and ask if we really need to keep them. I shudder to think of our kids having to deal with the amount of stuff that is currently living in our basement.

Memo to self: For 2015, for every new item brought into the house, discard at least two.

The ups and downs of Chicken Soup

Well, it looks like my fifteen minutes of fame has stretched to sixteen. Our local community paper, The Kitchissippi Times, did a piece on the book. That has helped with our fundraising campaign. Together with my parish of St Josephs, we are selling one hundred books, with proceeds going to the St Joes Supper Table. Sales are going well and it feels good to be able to help out in this way.

On the harsh reality side, I visited a couple of Chapters stores. I was curious to see how they had displayed the book. I expected a table, piled high with various Christmas books. After the rah rah book launch in Toronto, it was a downer to have a salesperson tell me that Chicken Soup does not really sell well anymore. They had a whole two copies in that store. Now I knew it was not a contender for a Giller, but two copies? In the next store, they could only find one beaten up copy, in their interior design/arts and crafts section. In the last store I ventured into, it was on a table they have labeled, "For the Old Soul." Yikes! What am I? Ninety-five?

Oh well, all that matters to me right now is that we have sold almost all the copies I ordered for the supper table and people seem to be appreciating them as Christmas gifts.