SO IF I ACTUALLY RAN FOR MAYOR - WHAT WOULD I DO IF I WON? GADS, WHAT COULD THE CONSTITUENTS EXPECT OF A RELUCTANT MAYOR
WOULD POWER CORRUPT ME? WOULD I BE A HUGGABLE MAYOR, THE OUTSTRETCHED-HAND MAYOR, OR THE ELECTED PAIN IN THE ASS?
I WAS OUT ON THE ANTIQUE HUNT TODAY, LOOKING FOR INTERESTING OLD HATS, SO THAT I COULD WEAR THEM FOR PROMOTIONAL PICTURES, LIKE I RAN IN THIS BLOG YESTERDAY. GAG PHOTOS TO ACCOMPANY THE NEXT MONTH-PLUS, OF PRE-ELECTION HYPE. YOU KNOW THE WHOLE PROMISE-YOU-THE-MOON, BUT ONLY GIVE YOU A USED TOILET SEAT ELECTIONEERING! THE WHOLE "THROWING MY HAT" SPOOF, WORKS BEST, WHEN YOU HAVE A NEAT CHAPEAU; MAYBE WITH VIKING HORNS, ARTIFICIAL HORSE EARS, OR A BRIGHTLY COLORED, POINTED CLOWN HAT. GOD KNOWS I'VE EARNED THOSE STRIPES, CERTAINLY ACCORDING TO SOME OF MY CONTEMPORARIES. GO AHEAD AND ASK THEM. BUT INSTEAD, I CAME HOME, WITH ART WORK, BOOKS, A NICE LITTLE 1870'S CIRCA LAPTOP DESK, WHILE ANDREW GOT SOME FUNKY OLD KEYBOARDS. SUZANNE, OF COURSE, FOUND VINTAGE SEWING ACCESSORIES. WE ARE PREDICTABLY "UNPREDICTABLE," WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT WE HAUL HOME, YET EVERY NOW AND AGAIN, IT WILL BE A TRUE LANDMARK OCCASION, AND SOMETHING THAT SHOULD GO DIRECTLY TO THE SMITHSONIAN; SUCH AS AN EGYPTIAN MUMMY FOUND AT A YARD SALE. ONLY KIDDING. I WAS JUST CHECKING TO SEE IF YOU WERE STILL TUNED IN. TODAY WASN'T ONE OF THOSE DAYS, BUT EVERY DAY PRESENTS NEW CHALLENGES, OUT THERE ON THE ANTIQUE HUSTINGS. WE HAD A NICE HINTERLAND DRIVE, ON A BEAUTIFUL DAY, DOWN THROUGH COOPER'S FALLS, WASHAGO AND RAMA, INSTEAD OF HIGHWAY DRIVING; WHICH BY ONE O'CLOCK SUNDAY AFTERNOON, WAS MEASURED AT TEN FEET FOR EVERY TEN MINUTES, HEADING SOUTHBOUND. GEEZ, IF I RUN FOR POLITICAL OFFICE, IN OCTOBER, I CAN ACTUALLY GO OUT ON THE ELECTION HUSTINGS TO DRUM-UP SUPPORT. NAW, I'LL LEAVE THE "WALKING THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOODS" JUNKET, TO YOUNGER FOLKS WHO DON'T WADDLE AND WINCE IN PAIN WHEN THEY WALK.
FIRST OFF, YOU FOLKS DO REALIZE, OF COURSE, THAT EVERYTHING I'VE WRITTEN PREVIOUSLY, ABOUT NOT WANTING TO BE AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, IS THE SAME THIS MORNING, AS IT WAS FIVE YEARS AGO; TWO YEARS AGO, AND SIX MONTHS AGO, IN FACT. I'D RATHER PULL OUT MY OWN TEETH WITH A BLACKSMITH'S TONGES, OR CRUSH MY FINGERS IN A DOOR FRAME, THAN BECOME AN ELECTED OFFICIAL. BUT I JUST WANT CONSTITUENTS TO KNOW THE TRUTH. I CAN BE SERIOUS, WHEN WORK WARRANTS, AND AN IN-YOUR-FACE TOOL, BIG TIME, WHEN I NEED TO GET SOMETHING DONE, AND I SENSE NO ONE IS PAYING ATTENTION. SHOULD I ACTUALLY HAVE TO RUN, TO PROVE A POINT, AND HAPPEN TO WIN, IN ONE OF THOSE LOW BUDGET, MADE FOR TELEVISION MOVIES, ABOUT THE LITTLE GUY PULLING OFF A MAJOR UPSET, I WILL DEVOTE MYSELF TO THE TASK OF RUNNING THE TOWN. AH, WELL, YOU SEE, THIS ABILITY TO CONCENTRATE BEYOND MYSELF, STARTED IN CHILDHOOD, WHEN I COULD CONTROL MY MIND, TO DEAL WITH ALL THINGS THAT MAY HAVE IRRITATED ME. HERE'S AN EXAMPLE OF HOW LEARNED TO COPE BY IMMERSION. IT MIGHT COME IN HANDY AS A NEW MAYOR. MY MOTHER MADE ME WEAR CHURCH PANTS, ON SUNDAY MORNINGS, EVEN WHEN WE DIDN'T ATTEND AN ACTUAL CHURCH SERVICE. SHE HAD THIS IDEA, FROM HER OWN YOUTH, WHEN THE JACKSON FAMILY ATTENDED CHURCH TWICE TO THREE TIMES ON SUNDAYS, THAT GOD WANTED HIS FLOCK TO WEAR UNCOMFORTABLE ATTIRE; I SUPPOSE BECAUSE IT FORCED US, IN THE PIOUS SENSE, TO RECOGNIZE THAT, TO BE TRULY PURE OF HEART AND GOOD IN SOUL, ONE HAS TO SUFFER AS JESUS SUFFERED ON THE CROSS. THIS IS WHAT MERLE TOLD ME, AS I WAS PUTTING ON A WOOL SWEATER AND PANTS, OVER SUNBURNED SKIN. THAT'S RIGHT. ONE OF THE MOST NAUSEATINGLY HORRIBLE SITUATIONS, A YOUNGSTER CAN HAVE, OTHER THAN WATCHING AN EIGHT THOUSAND PHOTO, SLIDE SHOW, OF WHICH MY GRANDFATHER STAN WAS LEGENDARY, IN THOSE SAME "PICKY" IRRITAITING CLOTHES. "THEY'RE NOT PICKY," MY MOTHER WOULD SAY, "IT'S ALL IN YOUR HEAD." WHEN I COMPLAINED OF THE WAY THESE "FOR SUNDAY ONLY" CLOTHES, SHE MADE ME WEAR, EVEN ON THE HOTTEST DAYS OF THE SUMMER, SHE'D WHISPER, "IF IT DOESN'T KILL YOU, IT WILL MAKE YOU STRONGER." MOTHERS MUST HAVE A BOOK OF THESE SAYINGS, ALWAYS WITHIN REACH, WHEN THEY NEED TO ADMINISTER POETIC JUSTICE. SEEING AS SHE WASN'T WEARING THEM, I FOUND IT HARD TO BELIEVE SHE REALLY KNEW HOW CRAPPY IT FELT, TO BE SUNBURNED, SWEATING, AND GETTING ATTACKED ALL OVER THE BODY, BY WOOL FIBRES. I BET YOU KNOW WHAT THAT SENSATION FEELS LIKE, AND WISH I WOULD STOP WRITING ABOUT IT.
I TOLD MY MOTHER, ONE DAY, IN BOTH OUR ELDER YEARS, THAT HER INSISTENCE ON ME WEARING WOOLEN-WEAR, FOR A CHURCH SERVICE I NEVER ATTENDED, DID IN FACT, MAKE ME THINK ABOUT GOD. SHE SMILED, AND SEEM PLEASED HER PIOUS OPINION, OF WHAT A SUNDAY CHILD SHOULD LOOK LIKE, HAD PAID OFF. "YUP, MERLE," I SAID. "BECAUSE OF THAT, I PRAYED TO GOD CONSTANTLY, THAT HE WOULD KILL ME, SO THAT I WOULDN'T HAVE TO SUFFER WITH THOSE AWFUL SWEATERS, AND PANTS YOU MADE ME WEAR." IT TOOK A LOT OF YEARS TO BE ABLE TO ARTICULATE THIS, AND ALTHOUGH I DIDN'T WANT TO HURT THE WOMAN'S FEELINGS, I DID HONESTLY BELIEVE, I NEEDED TO VENT MY LATENT DISPLEASURE, AT HAVING TO WEAR THIS UNCOMFORTABLE ATTIRE. WHICH BY THE WAY, HAS AFFECTED MY CHOICE OF CLOTHING EVER SINCE. NO WOOL. NOTHING THAT PICKS MY SKIN. I WOULD REMAIN NUDE, IF I COULDN'T FIND SOFT AND SMOOTH CLOTHING THAT DIDN'T CAUSE ME TO ITCH AND SCRATCH. IT'S WHY, BACK IN MY YOUTH, MY MOTHER SCOLDED ME ON THE HALF HOUR, FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO SIT STILL. "TEDDY, STOP FIDGETING, OR I'LL SLAP YOU." NICE EH?
MERLE TURNED TO ME, SMILED, AND SAID WITHOUT ANY FEAR OF COMEBACK ON MY PART; "WELL THEN, YOU SEE, IT DID EXACTLY WHAT WAS INTENDED. PICKING CLOTHING, AS YOU USED TO CALL IT, MADE YOU STRONG ENOUGH TO ASK GOD TO KILL YOU." SARCASM IS PART OF THE CURRIE-JACKSON TRADITION, SO SHE HAD QUITE A WAY WITH WORDS, AND PRESENTATION. SHE WOULD ALWAYS END WITH THE WORDS, "WE ALL HAVE TO SUFFER A LITTLE BIT, OR ELSE WE'D GET SOFT; AND THEN WHEN THE RUSSIANS INVADE, WE'D JUST RUN AND HIDE!" I HAD DOZENS OF COME-BACKS, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, BUT SEEING AS IT WAS A SUNDAY, AND AN OTHERWISE PLEASANT VISIT, WITH NO PICKY CLOTHING INVOLVED, I JUST TURNED AWAY AND WATCHED THE FOOTBALL GAME ON THE TELEVISION, WITH MY FATHER ED, WHO KEPT INCREASING THE VOLUME TO DROWN US OUT. I DIDN'T WANT TO ADMIT TO HER, THAT WEARING THOSE CLOTHING PIECES, HAD ACTUALLY FORCED ME TO ENHANCE, QUITE WITHOUT KNOWING IT, MY ABILITY, LIKE A MEDITATING MONK, TO REMOVE MYSELF FROM THE UNFORTUNATE ACTUALITY OF THE MOMENT. I HAD LEARNED EARLY IN LIFE, ABOUT THE ADVANTAGES OF MIND CONTROL. I WAS A CULT OF ONE, AND TO THIS DAY, I CAN TAKE MYSELF ON A SPECIAL FLIGHT OF FANCY, TO AVOID GETTING CONSUMED BY UNCOMFORTABLE SITUATIONS. YET I STILL HAVE THE CONSCIOUSNESS, TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON AROUND ME. SO THANKS MERLE.
MY POINT TO CONSTITUENTS, IS THAT WHILE I'M NOT EXPECTING TO WIN THE MAYORAL VOTE, BECAUSE SURELY THERE ARE BETTER CANDIDATES OUT THERE THAN ME, IF BY SOME STRANGE TWIST OF FATE, I WAS TO WIN OCTOBER'S MUNICIPAL VOTE, I WILL MOST CERTAINLY, WITH A CHAIN OF OFFICE AROUND MY NECK, (AS LONG AS ITS NOT MADE OF WOOD), FACE UP TO MY RESPONSIBILITIES, AND THE DUTIES OF A 24 HOUR A DAY, SEVEN DAY A WEEK, ELECTED OFFICIAL; DESPITE THE MARGINAL SENSATION OF WEARING THOSE SUNDAY WOOLENS ONCE MORE, MAKING A FREE RANGE FELLOW A LITTLE CLAUSTROPHOBIC. I MIGHT BE FULL OF ANECDOTES AT PRESENT, AND SWIMMING IN A SEA OF "WHAT IFS," BUT WHEN IT COMES RIGHT DOWN TO IT, I'M NOT THE KIND OF PERSON, WHO WOULD ACCEPT A CHAIN OF OFFICE, AND THEN RUN THE MOST IMPORTANT OFFICE IN THE TOWN WITH DISRESPECT TO THOSE WHO MADE ME A SEMI, SORT-OF-KING. DID I REALLY WRITE THAT? WELL, I'M SURE, YOU RECOGNIZE, I HAVE THE UTMOST RESPECT FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS IN THIS COUNTRY, AND YES, MANY OF OUR FAMILY MEMBERS SERVED IN NUMEROUS WARS TO PRESERVE IT. IF THERE IS ANY PARTICULAR SORE POINT WITH ME, MORE THAN ANY OTHER, IT'S THAT GRAVENHURST HAS SHOWN, AT LEAST SO FAR, LITTLE INTEREST IN EXERCISING THEIR DEMOCRATIC RIGHT, TO RUN FOR OFFICE. OF COURSE, THERE ARE CITIZENS WHO WOULD RESPOND, WITH A SMIRK, THAT "WE ARE EXERCISING OUR DEMOCRATIC RIGHT, WISHING JUST TO SIT IN OUR COMFORTABLE ARMCHAIRS FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, AND BITCH AND WHINE ABOUT HOW CRAPPY LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS." THEY'VE GOT ME THERE!
THE REAL PURPOSE FOR YESTERDAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT, IS TO MAKE IT CLEAR, THAT THE MAYOR OF GRAVENHURST WILL NOT BE A CORONATION AFFAIR, FOR THE OCTOBER MUNICIPAL VOTE, BECAUSE IN THE FINAL HOUR, ON THE FINAL DAY FOR SUBMITTING NOMINATION PAPERS, I WILL BE AT TOWN HALL, TO FILE FOR THE POSITION OF MAYOR. THUS, IF AS EXISTS TODAY, THAT THE ONLY PAPERS FILED, ARE FROM THE PRESENT MAYOR, I WILL FORCE AN ELECTION. NOT BECAUSE I'M THE BETTER CANDIDATE, BUT BECAUSE MY PARENTS INSTILLED IN ME, A LOVE AND RESPECT FOR DEMOCRACY, THAT SOME COUNTRIES AND THEIR CITIZENS HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED. I WOULD RATHER INVEST A COUPLE OF HUNDRED BUCKS, TO REGISTER, TO AT LEAST MAKE IT A RACE, HOWEVER LOPSIDED, THAN LIVE IN THIS TOWN, FOR THE COMING FOUR YEARS, KNOWING WE ARE SO APATHETIC HERE, WE ACCEPTED STATUS QUO AS THE ONLY AND BEST WAY TO GO. WHILE THERE ARE CANDIDATES FOR THE OTHER POSITIONS OF COUNCIL, IT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT THAT THE NUMBER ONE POSITION, BE CONTESTED THE OLD FASHIONED WAY; YOU KNOW, WHEN AT LEAST TWO CANDIDATES, FOR THE MAYORAL CHAIN OF OFFICE, GO HEAD TO HEAD, AS DEMOCRACY AFFORDS US IN THIS COUNTRY.
I AM WILLING TO MAKE THE RUN FOR MAYOR SUCH A CONTEST. BUT HERE'S MY SITUATION. I WILL ONLY DO SO, IF NO OTHER CANDIDATE STEPS FORWARD. I WILL NOT SPEND A NICKLE ON ADVERTISING, SO FILLING OUT MY ELECTION EXPENSE FORM WILL BE EASY. I AM NEITHER ANXIOUS OR SHY ABOUT BEING CRITIQUED, BECAUSE HONESTLY, NOTHING YOU COULD CALL ME, OR EVEN THINK OF ME, IS WORSE THAN WHAT I OFTEN THINK OF MYSELF AT TIMES. I AM HUGELY SELF-CRITICAL, AND I LIKE TO THINK THAT'S WHAT MAKES ME DURABLE. I DON'T SUFFER FROM ANY DELUSION, BECAUSE FOLKS, I HONESTLY THINK, I WILL GET CLOBBERED, SHOULD I UNDERTAKE THIS ELECTION-THING. THEY WILL TALK ABOUT THE DRUBBING MR. CURRIED SUFFERED AT THE POLLS. IT WILL BE WATER COOLER-CHATTER RIGHT UP TO THE END OF THIS CENTURY, HOW THIS COCKY WRITER-KIND, OF ONCE UPON A TIME, WAS TAUGHT A HUMBLING LESSON BY A POPULAR CANDIDATE, AND HAD TO SWALLOW HIS WORDS FOR EVER AND A DAY.
SO BEING PRETTY GOOD AT PREDICTING OUTCOMES, I FIGURE IT WOULD BE SENSIBLE, TO OFFER MY ACCEPTANCE OF DEFEAT SPEECH, EVEN BEFORE I'VE REGISTERED. SORT OF THE FORWARD-BACKWARD PRINCIPLE. FACING FACTS, AND HAVING NO MONEY TO SPEND ON CAMPAIGN SIGNS, OR NEWSPAPER ADVERTISEMENTS, I CAN'T REALLY EXPECT MORE THAN FOUR VOTES, IF, OF COURSE, MY FAMILY MEMBERS SUPPORT ME, AND I VOTE FOR MYSELF. IF I GET THREE VOTES OR LESS, I'M GOING TO BE PISSED OFF AT MY FAMILY, THAT'S FOR SURE. OR MAYBE, WHEN I FILL OUT MY BALLOT, I SUDDENLY DECIDE, I CAN'T VOTE FOR A GUY LIKE ME. REGARDLESS, THERE IS A BIGGER ISSUE HERE, THAT CONSTITUENTS NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO; AND THAT IS, WHAT WE EXPECT FOR THE FUTURE. WE WANT COUNCILLORS TO BE RESPONSIVE TO OUR NEEDS, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE I'VE TALKED WITH, OVER THIS PAST FOUR YEAR TERM, HAVE FOUND THE COMPLETE OPPOSITE TO HOLD TRUE.
I READ AN ARTICLE THIS WEEK, IN THE LOCAL MEDIA, ABOUT THE FORMATION OF A COMMITTEE OF CREATIVE WORKERS, WHO WOULD BE GATHERING TO PLOT OUT A MAP FOR OUR FUTURE SUCCESSES. ON THE TOWN'S BEHALF I SUPPOSE. I DON'T EXPECT THEY WILL BE WORKING ON MY BEHALF, BECAUSE THEY DON'T WHAT I WANT. I READ INTO THIS, THAT THE TOWN PLANS TO BRING TOGETHER "LIKE MINDED" PEOPLE, TO HELP DEVELOP THE KIND OF FUTURE PROGRESS, THAT WE WILL ALL BENEFIT FROM; PRESUMABLY THE LIKE MINDED PART, MEANING UNIFORMITY OF INTEREST, AND EXPECTATION. AS A WORDSMITH, I'M HOPING THAT THE DEPARTMENT THIS INITIATIVE COMES FROM, APPRECIATES HOW A READER MIGHT GET THE IDEA, THAT "CREATIVE" THINKERS ARE BETTER THAN RUN OF THE MILL THINKERS, OR THAT "LIKE MINDEDNESS" IS ALWAYS A GOOD THING. WHENEVER I HEAR SOMEONE SUGGEST, THEY BELONG TO A GROUP OF "LIKE MINDED" THINKERS, I WILL ASK THEM BLUNTLY, IF THEY ARE THUSLY WORRIED ABOUT "FREE THINKERS"? "LIKE-MINDED" THINKERS, TO ME, HAS A PRETTY NEGATIVE CONNOTATION, THINKING WORLDLY THAT IS, AND IT HAS ITS LEGACY IN DICTATORIAL RULE. THE ONE LEADER, ONE PROGRAM SORT OF GOVERNANCE, WHERE THOSE OF IDENTICAL OPINION, RULE THE EMPIRE. IN FACT, I WOULD BOYCOTT ANY GROUP OR COMMITTEE, THAT SUGGESTED ANYTHING TO DO WITH A MEMBERSHIP AGENDA, THAT HAD AS ITS REQUIREMENT, "CREATIVE THINKING." GIVE ME A BREAK. WHO OF THE HUMAN RACE WASN'T GIVEN THE CAPABILITY OF THINKING CREATIVELY.
I DO NOT WANT TO LIVE IN A COMMUNITY, OF LIKE MINDED THINKERS. A SORT OF "ROSEMARY'S BABY," "STEPFORD WIVES," SYNDROME. GOVERNED BY A COUNCIL, THAT BELIEVES "LIKE MINDEDNESS," IS A GOOD THING; OR FEELING THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO DETERMINE WHAT LEVELS OF CREATIVE THOUGHT ARE BEST, TO BY SCALE, QUALIFY CITIZENS, AS A MIRROR IMAGE, OF THEIR ACCEPTED THOUGHT. TO QUALIFY THEM AS LEADERSHIP MATERIAL. I WANT TO LIVE IN A COMMUNITY OF FREE THINKERS, WHO APPRECIATE THE LIMITLESS POSSIBILITIES, OF BEING UNFETTERED IN THE PURSUIT OF NEW IDEAS. I DON'T WANT TOWN COUNCIL TO SURROUND THEMSELVES WITH THOSE WHO ARE LIKE MINDED, BECAUSE IT IS NOT IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF ANYONE, INCLUDING THEMSELVES. I WANT POINT AND COUNTERPOINT TO BE POUNDED OUT, AND THE BEST PLAN, TO ALWAYS BE THE RESULT OF FREE THOUGHT AND GREAT EXPECTATIONS.
SO IF I BECAME MAYOR, THE WORDING WOULD DEFINITELY CHANGE, IF ANY SUCH ECONOMIC THINK TANK WAS TO CONTINUE UNDER MY WATCH. THIS COMMUNITY HAS A NICE INVENTORY OF FREE THINKERS, WHO KNOW THE FUTURE DEPENDS ON A TOWN GOVERNANCE, THAT IS OPEN TO NEW IDEAS FROM ALL CITIZENS, NOT JUST THOSE IDENTIFIED AS THE MOST "CREATIVE" OF THE BUNCH. KEEP IN MIND, THAT YOU CAN'T REALLY HAVE TRULY CREATIVE PEOPLE, IN A LIKE-MINDED ARRANGEMENT, BECAUSE THE CREATIVE PROCESS FEEDS OFF INDEPENDENCE, AND THE LUST FOR FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION. TO BUILD A WALL OF PHILOSOPHY AROUND WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE MAKE CREATIVE ENTERPRISE PROFITABLE, IS CONTRADICTORY FROM THE BEGINNING, BECAUSE TO BE PHILOSOPHIC ITSELF, MEANS TO BE ABLE TO THINK WITHOUT LIMITATION.
IN A WAY, IT HAS BEEN MY NUMBER ONE CRITICISM OF THIS PRESENT COUNCIL, RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING. IT BELIEVES AND WILL ARGUE WITH CONSIDERABLE HUBRIS, THAT IT IS TRANSPARENT, AND ALWAYS OPEN TO PUBLIC SCRUTINY; JUST NOT IN THE TRUE SENSE, OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE OPEN FOR INSPECTION. THE ILLUSION OF TRANSPARENCY IS WHAT COMES THROUGH INSTEAD. A SORT OF "FOG OF COUNCIL." IT'S ONE THING TO CLAIM YOU'RE OPERATING IN A TRANSPARENT FASHION, AND QUITE ANOTHER, TO ACTUALLY BE TRANSPARENT, SUCH THAT THE PUBLIC CLEARLY SEES THE EVIDENCE OF OPENNESS, AS PART OF THE GOVERNANCE PROCESS.
FOR EXAMPLE, IF THERE WAS TO BE AN OPPORTUNITY, FOR STORY SHARING, ABOUT THE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH GETTING A BUILDING PERMIT FROM THE TOWN OF GRAVENHURST, WOULD ANY PRESENT COUNCILLOR, TAKE SERIOUSLY, THE HORROR STORIES, OF OBSTACLE LADEN, UNEXPECTED PROCEDURAL DELAYS, TESTIMONIALS ABOUT POOR COMMUNICATION, AND UNCOOPERATIVE SITUATIONS WITH STAFF? WHY NOT? IS IT NOT THE RIGHT OF THESE "THINKERS," TO OFFER THEIR OPINIONS ON WHY OUR TOWN HAS A COMPOUNDING, NEGATIVE REPUTATION, AS FAR AS HELPING PROPERTY OWNERS, FULFILL THEIR AMBITIONS. SOME HAVE JUST GIVEN UP ENTIRELY, ON TRYING TO NAVIGATE THE SYSTEM, DECIDING TO EITHER NOT DEVELOP PROPERTY, OR FORGET ABOUT BUILDING ADDITIONS ON THEIR EXISTING BUSINESSES, HOMES AND COTTAGES. DO THESE COUNCILLORS NOT LISTEN TO THE WORD ON THE STREET? WELL, IF THEY WERE FREE THINKERS, THEY WOULD WANT TO KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON AROUND THEM. YET, A FEW STILL WANT TO SEEK RE-ELECTION, TO CARRY ON THE SAME PROTOCOL, OF SELECTIVE LISTENING, AND REMOVING THEMSELVES FROM ANY NEGATIVES THAT MAY RUIN THE GLAD-TIDINGS OF A NICE DAY ON THE JOB.
THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE REASONS, I CAN'T LET A CORONATION TAKE PLACE, THAT WOULD GIVE US FOUR MORE YEARS OF SAME-OLD, SAME OLD, WITHOUT AT LEAST, OFFERING A MODEST CHALLENGE TO WHAT I FIND, AN UNSETTLING TREND OF COMPLACENCY, THAT HONESTLY, ENSURES NOTHING IS GOING TO CHANGE THAT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED. IT ULTIMATELY COMES DOWN TO THE CONSTITUENTS OF THIS TOWN, WHO HAVE BEEN SITTING ON THE FENCE FOR SO LONG, THEY'VE BECOME ROOTED IN ITS GRAIN. IF I WAS TRYING TO GET VOTES, AND WIN THE MAYORAL CONTEST, DO YOU REALLY THINK I WOULD MAKE SUCH A STATEMENT, THAT CITIZENS IN THIS TOWN ARE FENCE-SITTERS? NOT EXACTLY A VOTE-GETTER. I DON'T CARE ABOUT THAT. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO THINK, THAT SOONER OR LATER, SOMEONE WHO IS TIRED OF STATUS QUO, AND HAS SOME AMBITION TO MAKE CHANGE AT TOWN HALL, WILL GET GOOD AND PISSED OFF ABOUT BEING CALLED APATHETIC, AND A FENCE-SITTER, AND SUBMIT THEIR NOMINATION PAPERS. I WILL GLADLY SURRENDER TO THEM, AND OFFER MYSELF AS AN ADVISOR. WE HAVE TO CREATE AN ELECTION ENVIRONMENT IN THIS TOWN, AT ALL COSTS. IF THE PRESENT MAYOR WINS ANOTHER TERM, BY BEATING OUT OTHER MAYORAL CANDIDATES, THEN IT HAS ALL COME DOWN TO THE WILL OF THE ELECTORATE, AND THAT IS THE SUCCESS OR FAILURE OF THE ELECTORATE, TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION AS A POPULATION. I WILL THUSLY BE SATISFIED WITH WHAT THE VOTERS IN THIS FINE COMMUNITY DECIDE.
SEVERAL MAYORAL CANDIDATES SHOULD ALREADY BE BATTLING, OUT ON THE HUSTINGS. SERIOUSLY. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT WARM-UP TIME. MY DEAL IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT, AND THE ONLY REASON I WILL SUBMIT NOMINATION PAPERS, IS TO AVOID THE BIG NEGATIVE OF AN ACCLAMATION. WHAT'S YOUR EXCUSE. SOMEWHERE OUT THERE IN THIS VAST READERSHIP OF MINE, THERE IS SOMEONE WHO WOULD MAKE A HELL OF A MAYOR. RUN IT BY ME. MAYBE I CAN HELP.
THANKS FOR JOINING ME TODAY. SORRY I COULDN'T MUSTER ANOTHER HAT PHOTOGRAPH. SUZANNE TOLD ME LAST NIGHT, THAT THE PICTURE OF ME WEARING THE TOP HAT, LOOKED JUST LIKE THE CHARACTER "OLD JOE," THE SECOND HAND DEALER, IN THE DICKENS CLASSIC, "A CHRISTMAS CAROL." I SAID, WELL, "THANKS VERY MUCH, NOW YOU THINK I'M DICKENSIAN, MEAN OLD FART."
FROM THE ARCHIVES
WINTER IN MUSKOKA AT LAST - GOOD FINDS ON THE ANTIQUE TRAIL - CANADIAN SYMBOLS BACK ON TRACK
BLUSTERY WEATHER AND AN AILING VAN, BUT WE MADE IT BACK HOME
THE HALLMARK OF THE COLLECTOR? THE UNDENIABLE SIGN OF A TRUE ANTIQUE HUNTER? YOU BET! A VAN FULL, I MEAN FULL-UP OF NEAT STUFF! A 1930'S BAKE TABLE WITH FLOUR DRAWER, TWO SMALL PINE TABLES, A NICE VINTAGE GLASS VASE, (PROBABLY AN AMERICAN FACTORY PIECE), A VERY OLD PINE PICTURE FRAME THAT WILL FIT A SMALL ORIGINAL, OIL-ON-MASONITE (LANDSCAPE) I BOUGHT LAST WEEK. WE SECURED A COUPLE OF NEAT HAMILTON, ONTARIO, COLLECTIBLE TOOTHPICK HOLDERS (WE THINK), MADE IN GERMANY, DEPICTING THE CITY COURTHOUSE, AND THE OTHER THE C.N.R. STATION WITH A STEAM ENGINE, WITH PASSENGER CARS, ARRIVING AT THE PLATFORM. I PURCHASED TWO VINTAGE MILITARY PHOTOGRAPHS, ONE DATING BACK TO WORLD WAR I, AN UNIDENTIFIED CANADIAN BATTALION (SEE PIC), AND THE OTHER A "ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FORCE MANNING DEPOT, FEB. 1941 - PERMANENT SECURITY GUARD TRAINING CLASS."
AS FOR OUR ONGOING CHALLENGE TO FIND CANADIAN SYMBOLS, ON ANTIQUES AND COLLECTIBLES WE FIND ON OUR WEEKLY HUNTS, TODAY WAS MARKEDLY BETTER THAN LAST WEEK…..WHEN WE "GOT SKUNKED." FOUND ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, EXCEPT A LEAK IN OUR POWER STEERING PUMP. I WAS ALSO DEALING WITH THAT TODAY IN THE MIDST OF A SNOWSTORM WITH GALE FORCE WINDS. THANKFULLY IT WASN'T COMPLETELY CYCLONIC, BECAUSE I'D HAVE FOLLOWED MY BASEBALL CAP INTO THE SKY, WITH AN OIL BOTTLE IN MY HAND. EVERY TIME WE HAVE CAR TROUBLE IT'S IN A VIOLENT SNOW STORM. SHOULD HAVE STAYED HOME BUT YOU KNOW, I JUST COULDN'T. WE MADE SOME GOOD FINDS, AND I WAS ABLE TO MAKE A CONTACT WITH A FRIEND WHO OWNS NUMEROUS RICHARD KARON PAINTINGS…..AND HAS AGREED TO SHARE THEM, FOR THE ARTIST'S BIOGRAPHY I'M PREPARING FOR THIS SITE, TO BE PUBLISHED LATER THIS MONTH. MR. KARON WAS A WELL KNOWN ARTIST, WHO HAD A STUDIO NEAR THE VILLAGE OF BAYSVILLE, ONTARIO, IN THE TOWNSHIP OF LAKE OF BAYS. IF I'D LET A LITTLE SNOW THROW US OFF OUR GAME…..I'D HAVE MISSED THIS CHANCE MEETING, AND SOME VERY CONTENTING ACQUISITIONS AS WELL. TRUTH IS, I LOOK FORWARD TO OUR ANTIQUING WEEKENDS, AND I HAVEN'T MISSED ON IN OVER A DECADE. SUZANNE IS A TEACHER, SO OUR SUMMER ADVENTURES ARE SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, INSTEAD OF THESE TWO DAY EVENTS, WHILE SHE'S WORKING.
Back in January, my wife and I decided to challenge ourselves as antique dealers. Sometimes we have to do this kind of thing, to shake off complacency. We thought it would be neat, to follow the lead of a book, released some years back, entitled "The Maple Leaf Forever - A Celebration of Canadian Symbols," by Donna and Nigel Hutchins," published in 2006 by The Boston Mills Press. The fabulously illustrated, large format book, profiles many of the most recognized national symbols, dating back well into the 1800's, and progressively pronounced through the 1900's. The early pieces were not just souvenirs, but signs of a budding sense of of national identity, and pride in a fledgling nation. So it's not uncommon to find many of these symbols, depicted in early Canadian folk art, ranging from pine carvings, whirly-gigs, quilts and handcrafted rugs, to weather-vanes and food packaging labels…..many of those being designed by some of Canada's soon to be "Group of Seven" artists…..such as A.J. Casson. We decided to try our hand at hunting for these nationalistic pieces ourselves, and share our finds with readers. We decided to do this symbol hunt over the course of one year, but for the July 1st, Canada Day celebration, we also planned to show our halfway-there progress. The trick here, is that there are three defining symbols we're looking for……the beaver, the maple leaf, and the image, insignia etc., of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. We have been going at a snail's pace so far this winter, with only a few venues open, to browse for these treasures. We've made finds on all but one weekend so far. Today I was able to get a nice circa 1967, Canadian Centennial Plate, marking the country's Confederation 1867-1967, with the image of the "Fathers of Confederation." A border of provincial crests is composed of the shields, connected by a wreath of maple leaves. The commemorative plate was made by Wood & Sons of England. Cost, $2.00. The second find, which is much newer but an important resource book for us (we hunt for maple syrup related antiques), is entitled "The Maple Syrup Book," by Janet Eagleson & Rosemary Hasner, published by Boston Mills Press, in 2006. As a good condition used book, it cost us $7.00. The maple leaf is clearly visible on one of the maple syrup bottles, pictured on the front cover. We have a number of books on Maple Syrup production, and seeing as we are in an area where there are a significant number of sugar bushes, and many pioneer pieces still surfacing at farm and estate auctions, we like to have as many guide books like this as possible. This book offers a mix of new pictures, but blends them with images of maple syrup collectibles, including First Nations birch bark containers, wooden spiles and artifacts related to maple syrup making in Canada. As I've written about before, I could very easily opt to live in a sugar shack for the rest of my life. The great joy of the season, here in Muskoka, is to be invited to a sugar bush, when the sap is being boiled down. The allure of the woodlands, and the sweet smell of syrup in production…..did I mention the wood smoke, makes it truly, and naturally intoxicating. So I was happy to get this book, to add to my collection, with the small assortment of maple candy molds we found on our travels in Muskoka. As a long time reporter for the Muskoka and regional press, I have written many feature stories on maple syrup making in these beautifully haunted Canadian woodlands…..so this seven dollar investment, will help with research, on my very next call to the sugar bush.
Canadian Landscape artist, Tom Thomson - and what a nice find
In July 1917, an up and coming Canadian landscape artist, vanished while traversing (Ontario's) Algonquin Park's Canoe Lake. His canoe was found short while after he had left the dock at the Mowat Hotel, heading out for a short fishing trip on another lake. An experienced canoeist, on a perfectly calm summer day, it is alleged Tom Thomson fell out of his canoe, while having a pee over the side. At least this is what some folks have suggested as the cause of his fall into the water. Tipping from the canoe, hitting his head on the gunnel, entering the water unconscious. There was no water found in his lungs. His body was found floating between two islands, about a week after he went missing. The hastily arranged, and incomplete coroner's report, concluded Thomson had been the victim of accidental drowning. The ink wasn't even dry on the coroner's signature, on that conclusive, official document, before area residents were claiming it was more likely, the artist had been killed by someone he knew, also residing in the lakeside community of Mowat. This and the fact that Thomson's body was exhumed from the Mowat Cemetery, where it was buried, and shipped for re-burial in the family's plot, in the village of Leith (near Owen Sound). Thomson had actually been buried before the coroner could have a look at the body. The Thomson family wanted their son home, and Tom's brother George, is said to have made arrangements with a local undertaker, to handle the exhumation.
The coroner, at the inquest, had relied solely on hearsay, as there had been no witnesses to the mishap. Key testimony was provided by those who found the body, including a written report (from the on-shore autopsy) from Dr. Howland, who was cottaging on the lake at the time. An impromptu exhumation, by researchers into Thomson's death, in the mid 1950's, found that the Mowat gravesite, that had once belonged to the Canadian artist, as a final resting place, was found to have a casket and a body within. A supposedly empty plot wasn't empty at all. So for decades the question thusly has been, "is Thomson's body still in Algonquin Park?" "Or is he buried in the family plot in Leith, Ontario?" One revered Canadian artist. Two graves. It's still a mystery that inspires several books each decade, but never answering the question. If one was to leave flowers……would they be placed atop the plot in Leith, or on the still-occupied grave in Mowat (Canoe Lake)? There has never been a conclusive examination of the gravesite in Leith, to prove once and for all, Tom Thomson's body was returned home. This is a thumbnail history of Thomson's demise, and all the interesting situations that have developed since that tragic day, when Canada lost one of its most promising painters. You can read more about the Tom Thomson mystery, in a series of fully researched articles (published in Curious; The Tourist Guide originally) you can archive, on my Muskoka and Algonquin Ghosts blogside, by clicking on……..http://hauntedmuskoka.blogspot.com/
The reason for this little intro, is that I have just secured a copy of small book, the second one written about Tom Thomson, originally published in 1937, twenty years after his sudden death. The first book, was being researched in the late 1920's, courtesy a Canadian historian / biographer, by the name of Blodwen Davies. I believe her book came out in the early 1930's. She was the first writer to suggest, there was ample evidence, Tom Thomson had been murdered. In fact, she raised her concerns about this, to the Ontario Provincial Police, but they refused to re-open the case. This was after she had conducted many interviews of area residents, who had known and worked with Thomson, while he stayed on Mowat Lodge property. He worked from a small cabin on the property. I own a later printing of this book, but as a rigorous Thomson researcher, who also believes the artist was murdered by Mowat Lodge hotelier Shannon Fraser, my file remains open to any new information. I've published four feature series in regional publications, over the past dozen years, and the one book I've wanted to own, for my Tom Thomson collection, has continued to evade me. This afternoon, I was looking through the old and out of print books at a local shop, here in Gravenhurst, and by golly, there it was. It is a tiny green cloth-covered, hardcover copy, of Albert H. Robson's book, entitled simply, "Tom Thomson," published by the Ryerson Press, in Toronto. It was the first time in the study of Tom Thomson, that a publication paid for a collection of full color re-prints of his art panels. It isn't a big book, but it carries quite a bit of weight in terms of the early celebration of this artist's work.
Tom Thomson was one of the founders of the Canadian Group of Seven artists, although he died before it became an official art movement. The impressions of nature, by the Group of Seven, with Thomson's work considered part of this new and exciting expression of nationalism, were not well accepted by many of the mainstream art critics of the time, who preferred more classic, conservative landscapes. It has been said of Group of Seven art panels, that you could hear the wind rushing through the pine forests, and smell the hardwood hillsides, and feel the spray of waves crashing in a turbulent lake. It has been said of Thomson's depiction of the Northern Lights, that it inspired feelings of cold, isolation and loneliness. They were unconventional art panels to some…..a refreshing, liberating escape from tradition, for others…..some of them, even considered themselves bold and boisterous fans, of this artistic liberation. Several were connected to the major art galleries of the country…..proud to acquire these exciting new depictions of the nature of Canada.
I was very pleased to have found this evasive book, on Tom Thomson, that I would like to share with you, in tomorrow's blog. It was worth going out into the bitter cold, pushing back against the strong wind, and even having to keep refilling the power steering fluid reservoir, just to get back home…….with this little book in tow. Us antique hunters are crazy folk. As it is known, the antique profession attracts eccentrics……, well, by golly, we fit right in.
Thanks for joining me for this antique-hunting blog. If you think you might like to know a little bit more about one of Canada's legendary artists (who has two graves by the way), as noted in this hard to find little text, please reconnect tomorrow, and I'll share the story with you.
Goodnight John-Boy!
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