Frantic
Seniors Choice December 2004
- With Joel Rickard -
Yes, it is THAT time of year, again.
The older I get, the more I appreciate the little things; sunsets; sunrises; my pillow. A good B.M.; elevator music; a flower; a weed. A pebble or a stone can hold my attention for hours.
I have been brought up to listen to things. Our furnace; water dripping; the sound my tires make when going from snow to black ice and I can hear a light bulb burn out from another room.
I sense simple things as well such as how the full moon affects the animals and even the fish in the fish tank. Weather changes and the coming of rain or snow is a 'gimmee' along with knowing who (or which relative) is calling on the phone.
When this time of year slides into third base, all hell breaks loose. The look; the look of pressure has taken over the rolled up eyes after tasting a fresh picked apple. This is the time the world is about to come to an end on several levels.
The farmers, even the laid back ones, are stocking up for the winter - even though they have moved from the prairies and there is no winter to speak of here. We can't forget things called "drifts" and pump handles (the frozen types).
The local folks are stalking up for the third world war. Anyone who goes to Costco knows this.
When it comes to the event?yes event called Christmas (or whatever other term your group uses) the rush is on. The giant second hand ticks?ticks ever so quickly towards two magic hours; one usually being the 25th of December and the other January 1st.
As I get older, I find myself, obviously, observing more. The different generations of frantic is most evident in the days and hours leading up to that huge subliminal stop sign called Christmas.
I remember getting A gift; a single present under a real tree. By the time I was in my teens, there were - may be - a half a dozen gifts under the real Christmas tree that we all still went out and cut down?.physically. It was a family thing.
I had the proud responsibility to purchase a present for my mom and dad. I also respected my sister enough to even think of her when I went down to the general store in town. Mom was the hardest to "shop" for as it had to be just the right present?one from the heart.
Have you visited a Mall lately? Try Costco, Zellers, The Dollar Store or even places who call themselves lumberyards or tire stores and watch the frantic happening; almost turning into greed.
Fads, new toys and expensive jewelry now take the place of the wooden whistle.
There is no such thing as "going for a drive" two weeks before the end of the year. Frantic is there on the highways and side streets as well.
We, my wife and I, are finding many folks in our age group escaping frantic. We have purchased, throughout the summer, the "hugs" we will be sending along to our now spread out, worldly, families. They are not coming home for Christmas as THEY are now the home. We must respect that.
So, we are gone for the frantic. We will return for the finale; the day before New Years. Next year, if we are healthy, we may even stretch the escape from frantic, like many of our friends do now, for a few days more.
They follow the smart Mallard Ducks and go places that are secret places even to us, their neighbors. They will come home all brown and smiling. I hate them and respect them at the same time.
But, as I challenge each day as that huge frantic second hand ticks closer to 'the event', I find myself relating to my hero?.Ferdinand the Bull.
Even though he was jump started by a bee and had to fight in the rings of frantic, he did return?to his hill?.to simply smell the flowers.
Myself?
Well, there are no wild flowers growing in the winter time but, usually there are beautiful fat snowflakes falling from the sky.
To stop and catch a, no two alike, crystal snowflake on your tongue, in the middle of a crowd, is my way of showing the world that frantic can be stopped. It also gives frantic a strong message.
It is amazing how many people, especially my age, smile?stop?and also stick out their tongues. Giggles and child like behavior (like holding hands) usually follows.
It is also refreshing how many young children stop their frantic parents to take a few of those precious seconds to catch a miracle as well. Children know, you know, how frantic is not 'a good thing'.
It is amazing how frantic can be stopped by a single snow flake.
Darlene, Julie and I truly wish you ALL a memory of peace on earth and good will towards all folks.
It just takes a moment - frantic will wait.
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