Hoarders, and Not So Much, Collector Sensibility

HOARDERS AND REALITY TELEVISION - AND COLLECTORS WHO NEED HELP! AND THOSE OF US WHO WOULDN'T DRAW AN AUDIENCE!

SOME COLLECTORS DON'T KNOW WHEN TO STOP - SOME CAN NOT!

IF YOU'RE A COLLECTOR, OR AN ANTIQUE DEALER, WITH ANY SIGNIFICANT HISTORY IN THE INDUSTRY, YOU MOST CERTAINLY KNOW SOMEONE WHO IS, BY DEFINITION, A "HOARDER." I DON'T REMEMBER USING THIS LABEL, BEFORE RECENT REALITY TELEVISION TOOK AN INTEREST IN PERSONAL MISFORTUNE, AND NEWS REPORTERS STARTED HIGHLIGHTING FIRE SCENES, AT DOMAINS, OF WHAT THEY REFERRED TO AS TEXTBOOK CASES OF "HOARDING."

SEEING AS IT IS IN OUR REALM OF DESIRABILITY TO COLLECT STUFF, THE MINIMALISTS LIKE TO POINT FINGERS……AS IF TO SAY TO A MEDIA POSSEE, "LOOK! THERE THEY ARE…..COLLECTORS….GET 'EM. (ON FILM)." IT'S A LITTLE LIKE GAMBLING. THERE ARE PROBLEM GAMBLERS JUST AS THERE ARE COLLECTORS PRONE TO EXCESSES. IN BOTH CASES, THOSE WHO HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME WITH MODERATION, WIND-UP IN BIG TROUBLE. BUT IF IT WAS THE CASE, THAT ASSOCIATE COLLECTORS WERE ACTUALLY DOING THE FILMING OF "HOARDERS AMONGST THEM," I THINK WE'D AGREE, THE REPORTING WOULD BE A LITTLE LESS PREJUDICIAL FROM THE GET-GO. WHILE IT'S PRETTY HARD TO ACCEPT HOARDING HEALTH-THREATENING ITEMS, LIKE DECAYING FOOD AND GENERAL GARBAGE…..IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE INVOLVED THAN SIMPLY AND BROADLY LABELING EXCESSES, AS "COLLECTOR GONE MAD!" ARGUABLY, SENSIBLE PROPORTION IS A PERSONAL THING, AND FOR SOME FOLKS, A CRISIS LEVEL OF POSSESSIONS, MAY ONLY BE CONSIDERED A WEE MATTER OF HOUSEKEEPING

WHEN I TELL NEW ACQUAINTANCES THAT I'M A COLLECTOR / DEALER OF ANTIQUES, THEY GAWK AT ME, WITH A LOOK ON THEIR MUGS LIKE "I KNOW WHAT YOUR HOUSE LOOKS LIKE." WELL, IT IS JAMMED ADMITTEDLY, BUT QUITE NEAT. WHEN I FIRST BEGAN WORK IN THE ANTIQUE TRADE, BACK IN THE LATE 1970'S, FOLKS SEEMED TO BE IMPRESSED ABOUT THIS IMMERSION INTO THE FIELD OF HISTORY. AT THAT TIME, I HAD JUST GRADUATED WITH A DEGREE IN CANADIAN HISTORY, FROM YORK UNIVERSITY, AND I COULDN'T WAIT TO JUMP IN TO ALL KINDS OF HERITAGE MATTERS……INCLUDING THE BUY / SELL FROM OUR NEW STORE, ON THE MAIN STREET OF BRACEBRIDGE. I WAS BUYING AND REFINISHING FOR OUR SHOP, NOT TO AMASS ANY KIND OF COLLECTION. I WAS BUYING THEN, TO SELL, AND THUSLY PAY THE RENT. I'M DOING THE SAME TODAY, BUT WITHOUT APOLOGY, HANGING ONTO THINGS WE LIKE, JUST A LITTLE LONGER. A FRIEND ACTUALLY CALLED ME A HOARDER, A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, AND I RETALIATED, TELLING HER BLUNTLY, THAT SHE WAS "THE POT CALLING THE KETTLE BLACK," AS SHE WAS JUST AS MUCH A COLLECTOR /HOARDER THEN, AS I WAS. WE BOTH HAVE NEAT HOMES. WE TAKE OUR GARBAGE TO THE CURBS. WE RECYCLE. WE HAVE PROPER DISPLAY CUPBOARDS AND LOTS OF BOOK SHELVES FOR STORAGE. WE'RE NOT CREATING FIRE HAZARDS. BUT I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU, THE MEDIA PROFILES AND DOCUMENTARIES ON HOARDERS, BROADCAST OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, HAS VERY MUCH PAINTED US WITH A BROAD STROKE. AND IT'S A SHADE OF MADNESS. HOW ABOUT PROFILES OF RUN-OF-THE-MILL COLLECTORS? RATINGS? AVERAGE AND RUN-OF-THE-MILL ONLY WORKED FOR THE BRADY BUNCH.

I DO VOLUNTEER THE INFORMATION, WHEN TALKING TO FRIENDS, THAT "ALL COLLECTORS ARE NOT HOARDERS," IF I SENSE THEY'RE GOING TO TELL ALL THEIR FAMILY AND NEIGHBORS, THAT MR. CURRIE IS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO LIVES LIKE THE HOARDERS YOU SEE ON TELEVISION. TRUTH IS, MOST PEOPLE I TALK WITH THESE DAYS, ARE COLLECTORS ANYWAY, SO WE DON'T GET THAT INTRUSIVE ABOUT LIVING ARRANGEMENTS. ON OCCASION I WILL MEET SOMEONE WHO IS GENUINELY INTERESTED IN COLLECTORS, AND "WHY THEY DO WHAT THEY DO!" WHY DO GOLFERS GOLF? CURLERS CURL? READERS BUY BOOKS? IT'S OUR RECREATION. A HOBBY. A FASCINATION. AND SOMEWHAT PROFITABLE AT THE SAME TIME. I NEVER MIND DISCUSSING THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE COLLECTOR, AND USUALLY THE OUTCOME IS QUITE SATISFACTORY…..AND THE BENEFACTOR OF THIS EXPLANATION, MAY NOT BE SO HARSH IN THEIR INSTANTANEOUS CONDEMNATION OF COLLECTING THINGS….AS THE ASSUMED ROUTE ON THE WAY TO BECOMING A VIDEO-STAR "HOARDER."

ADMITTEDLY I HAVE KNOWN QUITE A FEW COLLECTORS WHO BECAME OBSESSED BY THEIR INTERESTS, AND EACH OF THEM HAD OTHER EMOTIONAL ISSUES. THIS ISN'T A MENTAL-ISSUES OVERVIEW, OR A CLINICAL APPRAISAL OF WHAT EXCESSES, AND HUMAN FAILINGS INSPIRE SOME OF US TO BECOME HOARDERS. IT IS SIMPLY AN OBSERVATION, THAT THE DOZEN OR SO I HAVE KNOWN, SINCE THE 1970'S, HAVE ALL HAD OBVIOUS PERSONAL ISSUES THAT ANYONE WOULD HAVE PICKED UP ON, IN THE MOST BASIC CONTACT OF DAY TO DAY LIVING. I MET A MAJORITY OF THESE FOLKS, WHEN WE HAD OUR ANTIQUE SHOP ON THE MAIN STREET OF BRACEBRIDGE, ONTARIO, FROM 1989 TO ABOUT 1995. IT WAS HERE THAT I MET DAVE BROWN, ONE OF THE MOST ECCENTRIC COLLECTORS I'VE EVER KNOWN. A BRILLIANT MAN, OUTDOOR EDUCATOR, HISTORIAN, AND MAJOR NON-FICTION BOOK COLLECTOR, DAVE'S FATHER WAS A FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF, AT THE GENERAL HOSPITAL IN HAMILTON, ONTARIO. FOR THE EARLY YEARS OF HIS LIFE, HE WAS TREATED ROYALLY, AND CERTAINLY A PRIVILEGED CHILD. THEN HIS FATHER DIED SUDDENLY OF A HEART PROBLEM, WHILE HE WAS STILL VERY YOUNG. THIS IS, IN MY HUMBLE OPINION, AND AS HIS BIOGRAPHER, WHERE THE EXCESSIVE, OBSESSIVE HOARDING BEGAN. IT COST HIM A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS MOTHER, AND A MARRIAGE. IT'S NOT EASY LIVING WITH PEOPLE LIKE DAVE BROWN. WHEN HIS WIFE ASKED HIM TO CHOOSE BETWEEN HIS MASSIVE COLLECTION OF BOOKS, CROWDING THEIR RESIDENCE, OR HER, IT WAS EASY FOR DAVE. HE WAS KEEPING HIS BOOKS. DAVE LED A LONELY LIFE BECAUSE OF HIS DECISION TO LIVE AS HE WISHED. NO MATTER HOW HE MAY HAVE TRIED TO FIND CONCESSIONS, IT WAS OBVIOUS HIS OBSESSIVE NATURE WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTAIN.

DAVE WOULD ONLY LET ONE OR TWO PEOPLE HE KNEW WELL, INTO HIS HAMILTON BUNGALOW. HE'D WELCOME YOU TO ONE OF THIS MANY YARD SALES, WHICH HE CLAIMED WERE PROFITABLE BECAUSE OF THE CHEAP FURNISHINGS ETC., HE OFFERED UNIVERSITY STUDENTS. YOU WERE PERFECTLY WELCOME TO WANDER AROUND HIS LAWN, BUT DON'T DARE ASK TO USE THE WASHROOM. DAVE HAD OVER 100,000 BOOKS JAMMED INTO THAT BUNGALOW, AND IT WAS A PRETTY SCARY ADVENTURE, NAVIGATING INSIDE……ACCORDING TO CLOSE FRIENDS. WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE YOUNG DAVE BROWN, BEING RAISED BY HIS MOTHER FOR MOST OF HIS EARLY DAYS, HE FELT A GREAT INNER COMFORT BEING SURROUNDED BY THE POSSESSIONS OF CHOICE. ALONG WITH THE BOOKS AND DOCUMENTS, HE ADORED LOGGING ARTIFACTS, FROM HIS DAYS WORKING IN HALIBURTON, NEAR DORSET, AND ALGONQUIN, WHERE HIS CHERISHED PASTIME INVOLVED SCOURING THE LAKES SHORES AND OLD LUMBER CAMPS, FOR ANY OLD RELICS OF THE HISTORIC INDUSTRY….CHAINS TO CANT HOOKS, LOGGING STAMPS TO OLD SAW BLADES. BUT HERE'S WHERE IT GOT WEIRD.

DAVE WAS A COUNCILLOR AT CAMP COMACK, NEAR DORSET, FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS. IN FACT, HE WAS VERY INTERESTED IN BUYING THE CAMP, WHEN HE FOUND OUT THE OWNER WAS CONSIDERING SELLING IT FOR COTTAGE DEVELOPMENT. HIS MOTHER REFUSED TO LEND HIM THE MONEY, AND HE REFUSED TO TALK WITH HER AGAIN. DAVE USED TO EMPLOY HIS CAMPERS, TO HUNT WHEREVER THEY WERE CANOEING, OR HIKING, FOR THESE LOGGING INDUSTRY ARTIFACTS. WHEN DAVE PASSED AWAY, AFTER A SHORT ILLNESS, EXECUTORS FOUND THAT HE HAD AN IMPRESSIVE COLLECTION OF THESE LUMBER INDUSTRY ANTIQUES, ALSO JAMMED INTO HIS HAMILTON BUNGALOW. SOME MAY HAVE BEEN FROM HIS DAYS AT COMACK, COURTESY OF HIS YOUNG CAMPERS. IS THIS WRONG? YUP, PRETTY MUCH. IMAGINE THE LIABILITY, IF A CAMPER HAD BEEN INJURED OR DROWNED, WHILE EMPLOYED BY MR. BROWN.

I'VE WRITTEN LOTS ABOUT THE LIFE AND TIMES OF DAVID BROWN, AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS LEGENDARY BOOK COLLECTOR, YOU CAN SEARCH BACK IN THE MONTH OF JANUARY, WHERE I RAN A SHORT SERIES OF BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, ON THIS SAME SITE. DAVE NEVER GAVE THE IMPRESSION HE WAS A HOARDER. I WAS SHOCKED TO FIND OUT, FROM HIS EXECUTORS, THAT THE MAN WAS WASHING HIS DISHES IN A BATHTUB, BECAUSE THE KITCHEN SINK WAS IN DISREPAIR. BEFORE THIS, I KNEW HE HAD A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE PILES OF BOOKS BLOCKING-IN HIS FRIDGE. WHEN IT QUIT, AND NEEDED TO BE REMOVED, DAVE COMPLAINED THAT IT WOULD TAKE A WEEK OF BOOK RE-LOCATION, TO GET THE OLD ONE OUT AND A NEW ONE IN ITS PLACE. I'M NOT SURE HE EVER REPLACED IT, TO BE HONEST. IT WAS CLOSE TO THE PERIOD HE BECAME VERY ILL. BUT THE MOST RELEVANT POINT, CAME FROM THE EXECUTORS, WHO DISCOVERED, WITH THE HUGE QUANTITY OF BOOKS, THAT IT WASN'T A GOOD IDEA, TO REMOVE THE BOOKS IN THE BASEMENT, BEFORE LIGHTENING THE BOOKS ON THE FIRST FLOOR. WHEN THEY BEGAN DOING THIS, THERE WAS TELL-TALE CREAKING OF THE FLOOR JOIST. DAVE HAD ACTUALLY WEDGED BOOKS FROM THE FLOOR, TO THE FLOOR JOIST. IT'S TRUE. DAVE HAD LOAD-BEARING BOOK PILES.

WHAT'S SIGNIFICANT HERE, IS THAT MANY OF DAVE'S RARE AND OUT-OF-PRINT BOOKS, WERE RUINED BECAUSE OF THE WAY HE STORED THEM. THIS IS NOT THE HALLMARK OF A RESPONSIBLE, CONSERVATION-MINDED COLLECTOR. IT IS THE SIGN SOMETHING HAS SPUN OUT OF CONTROL, AND IS RUINING A LIFE'S BEST INTENTIONS. THE OTHER REALITY OF MR. BROWN, WAS THAT HE WAS OVER-SENSITIVE TO ANY PERSONAL COMMENTS. YOU HAD TO VERY CAUTIOUS ABOUT WHAT YOU SAID, WHETHER IT WAS ABOUT HIS SLOPPY ATTIRE, OR THE KIND OF BOOKS HE COLLECTED. IF I HAD EVER MADE A SUGGESTION, HE WAS POSSIBLY COLLECTING TOO MUCH, EVEN AFTER HE ADMITTED WHAT HIS HOUSE LOOKED LIKE, HE MOST CERTAINLY WOULD NOT HAVE ALLOWED ME TO WRITE HIS BIOGRAPHY (PUBLISHED IN THE AUTUMN OF 2000). ON ONE OCCASION, A TEACHING COLLEAGUE, IN HAMILTON, WENT OUT AND PURCHASED A PAIR OF MAGNIFYING GLASSES FOR DAVE, TO HELP HIM READ. HE HAD FAILING EYESIGHT BUT WOULD NOT AGREE TO VISIT AN OPTOMETRIST. DAVE WOULD HOLD A BOOK UP TO THE END OF HIS NOSE TO READ IT. SO WHEN THE YOUNG LADY HANDED HIM THE GLASSES, HE IMMEDIATELY THREW THEM BACK, AND STORMED OFF. HE WENT A LONG TIME BEFORE TALKING TO HER AGAIN. THERE WERE THINGS ABOUT DAVE, HIS FRIENDS WORRIED ABOUT, BUT BECAUSE HE WAS SUCH A HUGE INTELLECT, AND SUCH A COMPETENT AND WELL LIKED OUTDOOR EDUCATION TEACHER, MOST JUST BIT THEIR TONGUE, WHEN IT CAME TO OFFERING ANY ADVICE. FOR EXAMPLE, I WANTED TO HAUL HIS ASS TO A DENTIST, BECAUSE HIS MOUTH WAS FULL OF ROTTING TEETH. THIS MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO HIS ILLNESS, ACCORDING TO SOME REPORTS ABOUT THE POISON CIRCULATING FROM ABCESS POCKETS…..WHICH YOU COULD SEE ON HIS GUMS WHEN HE TALKED.

DAVE WAS A HIGHLY COMPETENT AND LEARNED COLLECTOR. THOSE WHO WENT TO THE AUCTION OF HIS ESTATE, SAID AS MUCH. HE KNEW WHAT HE WAS DOING…..BUT NOT WHEN IT CAME TO MANAGING EXCESS. ONE OF THE BEST INDICATORS, WAS WHEN FRIENDS SHOWED UP AT THE HOSPITAL, SHORTLY BEFORE HIS DEATH, AND SPRUNG HIM FROM HAMILTON GENERAL, TO GO OUT FOR DINNER. THEY ASKED HIM WHERE HE WANTED TO GO, AND LOW AND BEHOLD, THE RESTAURANT WAS BESIDE ONE OF HIS FAVORITE BOOKSTORES. DID HE HAVE A NICE DINNER. THEY THOUGHT SO. DID HE BUY A BOOK? YES HE DID. WHAT DID HE SAY ABOUT IT? "YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU'RE ARE GOING TO FIND A GOOD BOOK." IT WAS ADDED TO THE 100,000 BOOKS HE HAD SQUIRRELED AWAY IN HIS BUNGALOW. DAVE PASSED AWAY SHORTLY AFTER THIS VISIT TO THE BOOK SHOP.

I HAVE HAD OTHER EXPERIENCES WITH OBSESSIVE COLLECTORS THAT WERE MORE OBVIOUS THAN WITH DAVE. I JUST DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THEIR LIVING CIRCUMSTANCES WERE LIKE. THERE WAS ONE YOUNG LADY WHO USED TO VISIT OUR SHOP, WHO HAD A VERY GENERALIST APPROACH TO COLLECTING. SHE BOUGHT WHAT SHE LIKED. NOT JUST IN ONE FIELD. WHENEVER I ATTENDED AN AUCTION SALE, THE AUCTIONEER'S GAVEL WOULD HAVE ONLY JUST FALLEN, FOR THE LAST TIME, BEFORE SHE WAS INVESTIGATING WHAT I'D PURCHASED. SHE WAS HIGHLY INTELLIGENT, AND A WONDERFUL INDIVIDUAL TO TALK WITH, BUT SHE BECAME ALMOST FRANTIC ABOUT WHAT SHE COULD BUY, WITH THE MONEY AVAILABLE. AT ONE TIME, I HAD ABOUT TEN MAJOR ITEMS ON HOLD FOR HER, AND SHE ONLY EVER PURCHASED TWO OF THEM. AT THE SAME TIME, ANOTHER LADY, A FEW YEARS OLDER, WAS DOING EXACTLY THE SAME THING. I'D COME HOME TO MY WIFE, WITH THIS SIGNIFICANT NEWS THAT I'D SOLD ANOTHER PINE BED, ONE MORE SIDEBOARD, A FLAT-T0-THE-WALL, A QUILT, JUG AND BOWL SET……AND SUZANNE WOULD SAY, "DID SHE BUY THEM ALL?" WHEN I TOLD HER ABOUT MULTIPLE SALES, SHE KNEW WHO HAD MADE THE PURCHASE, WITHOUT ME SAYING ANYTHING MORE. SHE HAD A PATTERN. AN OBSESSIVE NEED TO SPEND EVERY DIME SHE HAD. I FELT KIND OF BAD FOR BOTH GALS, BECAUSE THEY WERE BUYING QUALITY BUT THEY WERE DOING SO BY IMPULSE…..A SENSE THAT IF THEY DIDN'T JUMP ON IT FAST, I'D SELL IT TO SOMEONE ELSE. I THINK THIS IS WHAT THEY FEARED THE MOST, YET I ALWAYS AGREED TO HOLD ITEMS, EVEN IF THEY COULDN'T AFFORD A DEPOSIT. WE WERE A SMALL BUSINESS IN A SMALL TOWN, AND WE HAD TO DO WHATEVER WE COULD TO KEEP OUR CUSTOMERS HAPPY…..BECAUSE THEY WERE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN.

I REMEMBER A DAY, WHEN ONE OF THE TWO YOUNG LADIES, CAME IN AND CANCELLED THREE OR FOUR OF THE ANTIQUES WE HAD ON HOLD. IT WAS, OF COURSE, DISAPPOINTING TO ME, BUT I UNDERSTOOD ENTIRELY WHAT SHE WAS RECKONING WITH…….DESIRE OUTWEIGHING SENSIBLE PROPORTION AND PROPER BUDGETING. SHE HAD BEEN GETTING CAUGHT UP IN THE GAMBLE OF ANTIQUES…….AND THE FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY, THAT SHE WAS GETTING A RIDICULOUSLY LOW PURCHASE PRICE, OF PIECES WORTH TWICE OR THREE TIMES AS MUCH. BUT SHE WASN'T A DEALER, SO THERE WAS NO WAY OF MEASURING THIS, BECAUSE SHE WASN'T INTERESTED IN SELLING WHAT SHE BOUGHT. IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN OKAY FOR HER IF SHE COULD HAVE TURNED A PROFIT. BUT THAT WASN'T WHY SHE MADE THE PURCHASES. SHE ADMITTED, WITH TEARS IN HER EYES, THAT SHE HAD BLOWN HER RENT MONEY, HAD LITTLE LEFT FOR FOOD, AND JUST AN APARTMENT FULL OF OLD STUFF. SHE HAD, YOU SEE, FINALLY RECOGNIZED THAT HER EXCESSES WERE NOT OF SENSIBLE PROPORTION TO THE MONEY SHE HAD TO SPEND EACH MONTH. SHE HAD FALLEN BEHIND IN EVERY PAYMENT BECAUSE OF THIS. I ACTUALLY STARTED TO FEEL GUILTY ABOUT BEING AN ANTIQUE DEALER. I HAD BEEN A PARTY TO AN EMOTIONAL DISORDER…..TO THE BRINK OF NEAR BANKRUPTCY. WHAT WAS I SUPPOSED TO DO? TELL HER SHE COULDN'T BUY FROM ME ANY MORE? IT DID CROSS MY MIND TO TALK WITH HER ABOUT IT……TO SEE IF SHE WAS OKAY WITH ALL THIS RECKLESS SPENDING, BUT THERE WAS NEVER A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO GET SO INTIMATE…..AS TO TALK PERSONAL FINANCES WITH A CUSTOMER I DIDN'T KNOW TOO WELL. SHE NEVER CAME INTO THE SHOP AGAIN. AVOIDANCE. I GET IT. I DON'T GO INTO BARS ANY MORE EITHER…..AS I WAS PRETTY EXCESSIVE IN THIS DEPARTMENT.

THE SECOND WOMAN, WHO INVESTED HEAVILY IN OUR BUSINESS, WAS VERY ASTUTE, AND BOUGHT SOME OF OUR FINER PIECES. BUT SHE WASN'T WELL-OFF FINANCIALLY, AND I KNEW THAT SOONER OR LATER, SHE TOO WOULD HIT THE SATURATION POINT, AND HAVE TO STOP BUYING. SHE WAS HOWEVER, ABLE TO SELL SOME ITEMS OFF, TO AFFORD OTHERS SHE WANTED MORE. BUT IT WAS CONSTANT. THE CYCLE NEVER STOPPED OR EVEN SLOWED DOWN. IT WAS DIZZYING TO ME, JUST HOW MUCH BUSINESS SHE WAS GIVING OUR LITTLE SHOP, AND, ONCE AGAIN, ALTHOUGH I APPRECIATED IT, I KNEW SHE WAS OVER-EXTENDING HER BUDGET BY A LONGSHOT. SHE HAD MANY ITEMS ON THE RESERVED LIST, BUT SHE PAID FOR ALL OF THEM. WHEN SHE WOULD COME INTO THE SHOP, ON A MONDAY FOLLOWING A LOCAL AUCTION, SHE WAS QUITE FRENZIED TO FIND NEW PIECES. SHE'D GET THESE WILD EYES AND BECOME SILENT, PACING BACK AND FORTH, THEN WHISPERING TO HERSELF, ABOUT PROS AND CONS, OBVIOUSLY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF SHE COULD SWING YET ANOTHER MAJOR PIECE. DESPITE THE MONEY SHE SPENT, I FELT UNCOMFORTABLE….LIKE A DRUG DEALER ACTUALLY, BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE WERE GETTING A RUSH BUYING THIS STUFF…..WHICH I'VE GOT TO CONFESS, WERE JUST GOOD QUALITY PIECES BUT NOT TERRIBLY UNIQUE OR VALUABLE. EVENTUALLY, SHE FOUND THAT I HAD BECOME MORE STANDOFFISH AND RELUCTANT TO PUT PIECES ON HOLD. I ACTUALLY WOULD TRY AND CALM HER DOWN, AND POINT OUT DEFICIENCIES OR DAMAGE ON A PIECE….OR SIMPLY NOTING THAT SHE COULD LIKELY FIND SIMILAR PIECES IN OTHER REGIONAL ANTIQUE SHOPS FOR LESS MONEY. IT DIDN'T WORK, BUT I THINK THE FACT I WAS MEDDLING WHERE SHE DIDN'T FEEL I HAD THE RIGHT, BOTHERED HER ENOUGH TO DROP US ALTOGETHER. SHE JUST DISAPPEARED LIKE GIRL ONE. IT COST ME QUITE A BIT OF MONEY TO LOSE CUSTOMERS LIKE THAT, BUT I WASN'T ENJOYING MY ROLE AS AN ANTIQUE DEALER, KNOWING FULL WELL, I WAS CONTRIBUTING TO THE WOES OF AN IMPULSE BUYER, AND OBSESSIVE COLLECTORS.

THERE ARE PEOPLE I RUN INTO AROUND MUSKOKA, EACH SATURDAY MORNING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, WHO ARE OBSESSIVE COLLECTORS…..HOBBY DEALERS, WHO JUST CAN'T STOP THEIR HUSTLING AND CONNIVING TO GET PIECES THEY WANT. WHILE SOME MIGHT SAY THAT THEY'RE JUST AMBITIOUS, AND GOOD AT WHAT THEY DO, IF YOU ARE INSIGHTFUL AT ALL, YOU REALIZE THESE SAME PEOPLE ARE NOT HAVING ANY FUN OUT THERE. THE FUN PART IS WHY I STAY IN THE PROFESSION. I'M STILL A MILLION DOLLARS SHY OF BEING A MILLIONAIRE, SO EVEN AFTER 35 YEARS, I CAN TELL YOU HONESTLY, I'M NOT IN THE COLLECTING GAME STRICTLY FOR PROFIT. ONE ELDERLY COLLECTOR WE SEE FREQUENTLY IN YARD SALE SEASON, LEAPING FROM SALE TO SALE, IS ALMOST RABID, IN THE WAY SHE CONDUCTS HER HUNTING AND GATHERING……WITH A NO-HOLDS-BARRED MENTALITY. IF THIS COLLECTOR, WAS TO KNOCK YOU DOWN, ON THE WAY TO A CHINA TEAPOT, DAMN YOU FOR GETTING IN THE WAY. WITH TIME AS THE END-ALL, SHE WOULD CONTINUE ON, TO THE ITEMS SHE WANTS TO BUY, COME BACK, AND HIT YOU A SECOND TIME, IF YOU HADN'T ALREADY BEEN ABLE TO GET UP. I HAVE A PRETTY GOOD IDEA THAT EMOTION IS RULING WHERE IT SHOULDN'T, IN THIS CASE, AND I CAN SORT OF IMAGINE WHAT THE HOUSE MIGHT LOOK LIKE. I AM SUSPICIOUS OF ANY ONE WHO BECOMES OBVIOUSLY CRAZED ABOUT THIS COLLECTING THING. IT'S ONE THING TO GET EXCITED BY THE ADVENTURE, AND PLEASED BY DISCOVERY AND ACQUISITION, BUT QUITE ANOTHER THING TO LET IMPULSE RULE THE MISSION.

I KNOW TEN TIMES AS MANY COLLECTORS, WHO ARE ABUNDANTLY PATIENT, ORGANIZED, WELL INFORMED, AND EDUCATED HUNTER / GATHERERS, WHO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANT, WHAT THEY WON'T ACCEPT IN QUALITY, WHAT THEY ARE WILLING TO PAY, AND UNDERSTAND VALUATIONS BEFORE MAKING A PURCHASE AGREEMENT. THEY ARE METICULOUS, OFTEN PERSNICKETY ABOUT THEIR COLLECTIONS, AND ARE ALWAYS WILLING TO SHARE INFORMATION ON THEIR SPECIFIC INTERESTS……BECAUSE THEY ARE PROUD OF WHAT THEY HAVE ACCOMPLISHED IN THEIR FIELD OF EXPERTISE. THEIR COLLECTIONS HAVEN'T BEEN PUT TOGETHER WILLY-NILLY, AND CONDITION IS ALWAYS AN IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION. SOME OF THE BEST ANTIQUE-SHOP-TALKS HAVE BEEN WITH COLLECTORS, WHO WERE WILLING TO HOST INFORMAL TUTORIALS, FOR THOSE OF US HANGING AROUND THE SALES COUNTER……ON THOSE LONG WINTER DAYS WHEN CUSTOMERS WERE FEW, AND THE SNOW, DEEP!

WHILE FILM MAKERS GET THEIR JOLLIES EXPLOITING THE HOARDERS AMONGST THE COLLECTOR-KIND, LIKE LOVERS OF VINTAGE VINYL WHO COMPROMISE THEIR HOMES WITH EXCESSIVE VOLUME, THERE ARE MANY MORE OF US WHO LIVE SOMEWHAT ORDINARY, UNREMARKABLE LIVES……IN RESPECT TO THE CLUTTER WE DON'T KEEP……BUT THE FINE COLLECTIONS WE ARE CONSERVING AS QUALIFIED STEWARDS OF HISTORY. IT JUST WOULDN'T MAKE GOOD TELEVISION, TO JAM A CAMERA INTO A CIRCUMSTANCE OF NORMALCY. INSTEAD, THEY INTRUDE UPON THOSE WITH EMOTIONAL VULNERABILITIES, WHO JUST HAPPEN TO COLLECT BECAUSE IT MAKES THEM FEEL GOOD. MOST OF THE TIME, THEY BALK AT THE VERY IDEA, OF BEING "HOARDERS." IN THEIR OPINION, THEY'RE JUST A LITTLE MESSY, AND DON'T THROW NEAT STUFF OUT. MY FATHER-IN-LAW WAS A WELL KNOWN WOODEN BOAT RESTORER HERE IN MUSKOKA. AFTER HE PASSED AWAY, AND WE HAD TO CLEAN OUT HIS WORKSHOP, HE HAD EVERY HALL MARK OF A HOARDER. THANK GOD HE WAS, BECAUSE IT WAS THE KIND OF COLLECTION THAT WAS WORTH A LOT OF MONEY. TO ALL THE ESTATE BENEFACTORS, EACH HAD TO TIP THEIR HATS, TO A MAN WHO SAVED THE FIRST LIGHT, OFF THE FIRST BOAT, HE'D EVER OWNED. AND A LOT OF OTHER MARINE HERITAGE, FRANKLY, WE ARE THANKFUL HE HOARDED SO ABUNDANTLY FOR SO MANY DECADES.

THANKS FOR JOINING TODAY'S ANTIQUE AND COLLECTIBLE BLOG. VISIT AGAIN SOON. YOU CAN ALSO READ MY MONTHLY COLUMN IN "CURIOUS; THE TOURIST GUIDE," (WHICH IS AVAILABLE ON LINE) AND MY ADVENTURE-FILLED RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PARANORMAL, VIA A MONTHLY COLUMN, PUBLISHED IN A NORTHERN ONTARIO MAGAZINE, KNOWN AS "THE GREAT NORTH ARROW."

Toy Cars and Trucks, And A Friend Named Jack

TO HAVE AND TO HOLD - AN OLD TOY - NO KIDDING

ARE COLLECTORS OF TOYS THE HAPPIEST OF ALL? JACK WAS!

A FEW DAYS AGO, ANDREW WAS LEAVING THE HOUSE, ON THE WAY TO A MUSIC GIG, AND HE GOT ALL NOSTALGIC. HE TURNED BACK TOWARD THE HOUSE, DESPITE THE BLOWING SNOW, BENT OVER, AND PULLED AN OLD HOT WHEELS CAR, OFF A SMALL WOODEN LEDGE HIS MOTHER USES FOR HER GERANIUMS IN-SEASON. "I REMEMBER THIS ONE," HE SAID, POLISHING THE FINISH OF THE CIRCA 1980'S TOY CAR. "I HAD LOTS OF ONES LIKE THIS," HE RECALLED, SHOWING ME THE CAR I REMEMBER DIGGING UP THE SPRING BEFORE, WHEN WE DECIDED TO PUT IN THE BORDER GARDEN. "IT MUST HAVE FALLEN THROUGH THE DECKING OF THE OLD PORCH," I REMINDED HIM. "I FOUND IT WHEN I STARTED CLEARING OUT THE LEAVES, FOR THE GARDEN. I THINK THERE'S MORE OF THEM IN THE SHED." HE LOOKED AT IT FROM ALL ANGLES AND THEN SET IT BACK ON THE LEDGE…..WHICH MUST HAVE BEEN HEAT-BREAKING FOR THE LITTLE CAR, TO HAVE FINALLY BEEN RECOGNIZED BY ITS FORMER OWNER. IF IT HAD A SOUL! RIGHT? WELL, THERE ARE SOME FOLKS WHO FEEL PRETTY STRONGLY ABOUT THEIR TOY COLLECTION, AND THE REASONS YOU NEVER, EVER NEGLECT THEM……..AND IT'S NOT JUST A LINE FROM THE MOVIE "TOY STORY" EITHER.

ONE DAY WHEN WE HAD COMPANY, HERE AT BIRCH HOLLOW, VISITOR REMARKED ABRUPTLY ABOUT HOW MANY TOYS ANDREW AND ROBERT HAD……AND THAT THEY MUST BE THE LUCKIEST KIDS EVER, TO HAVE SO MANY THINGS TO PLAY WITH. IT WASN'T THE FIRST TIME I'D HEARD THIS, BUT ON MOST OF THE OTHER OCCASIONS, I OVERHEAD THE COMMENT, IT CAME FROM VISITING KIDS, AND EVEN MY PARENTS, WHO GREATLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE TOY VOLUME. BUT AS I'VE WRITTEN ABOUT, PREVIOUSLY, SUZANNE AND I RESPECTIVELY, DIDN'T COME FROM FAMILIES THAT HAD A LOT OF EXTRA MONEY TO SPEND ON TOYS. WE HAD NATURE. SUZANNE GREW UP IN ONE OF THE MOST PICTURESQUE COMMUNITIES IN MUSKOKA, AND THEIR FAMILY RAN THE WINDERMERE MARINA. FROM A VERY YOUNG AGE, SUZANNE WAS WORKING IN THE UPSTAIR'S SNACKBAR, KNOWN AS "THE SKIPPER." SHE WENT FROM BEING A KID TO BEING A SNACKBAR COOK IN ONE OPPORTUNITY-FILLED BUSINESS DECISION. IT'S NOT TO SUGGEST SHE DIDN'T HAVE DOLLS AND DOLLHOUSES, AND A JUNIOR SEWING MACHINE, OR DOZENS OF GAME-BOARDS. WHILE I WAS STILL PLAYING WITH A TABLE-TOP HOCKEY GAME, SUZANNE WAS MOTORING AROUND THE LAKES IN HER OWN WOODEN BOAT. IT'S LIKE THAT WHEN YOU OWN A MARINA, A COTTAGE, AND A HOUSE WITHIN A WHISKER OF THE LAKE. SHE HAD ACRES OF FOREST TO PLAY IN, AND I HAD URBAN OPEN SPACES LIKE BAMFORD'S WOODS AND THE GROVE. I DIDN'T NEED A TOY AT ALL, TO ENJOY THE NATURE AROUND ME. BUT IF YOU HAD TOYS, YOU WERE MY NEW BEST FRIEND.

AS I DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF TOYS MYSELF, I MADE SURE THE FRIENDS I HUNG AROUND WITH, WERE FULLY EQUIPPED FOR MY PLAY INTERESTS. BUT WHEN ANOTHER FRIEND OF THE FAMILY SUGGESTED, "YOU MUST BE MAKING UP FOR WHAT YOU DIDN'T HAVE YOURSELF, AS A CHILD," IT DID RING A BELL. I KNEW OF ANOTHER ANTIQUE DEALER, YOU SEE, WHO BOUGHT A LOT OF VINTAGE TOYS FOR HIMSELF, BASED ON THE FUNDAMENTAL ARGUMENT, HE WAS FINALLY GOING TO HAVE, WHAT HE WAS DENIED AS A KID. IT'S NOT A VERY COMPELLING OR SENSIBLE ARGUMENT, WHEN IT COMES RIGHT DOWN TO IT, BECAUSE THE VINTAGE TOYS HE WAS REFERRING, WOULD COST A LOT OF MONEY TO RE-PURCHASE.

THERE WOULD BE THOSE WHO WOULD ARGUE, THAT IT WOULDN'T MATTER, IF YOU HAD EVERY TOY YOU HAD EVER WANTED AS A CHILD, BECAUSE THE CHILD-LIKE SPIRIT, THE INNOCENT, EMERGING IMAGINATION TO ENJOY THEM, WAS NOW GONE. DRIED UP. NEVER TO BE FOUND AGAIN. "YOU CAN NEVER GO BACK," IS A STATEMENT I'VE ALWAYS DESPISED. AS AN ANTIQUE DEALER I'VE KICKED THIS OUT OF MY WAY FOR MOST OF MY PROFESSIONAL LIFE. OF COURSE I CAN GO BACK. AS A WRITER, I'VE HAD TO DO THE SAME THING, TIME AND AGAIN, BECAUSE AS AN HISTORIAN PARTICULARLY, I'M ALWAYS "GOING BACK." AS FOR BEING ABLE TO RETURN TO YOUTH, THAT'S KIND OF BODILY THING, REQUIRING A FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH. AS FOR OUTLOOK AND ATTITUDE, FRANKLY, I DON'T PAY ANY ATTENTION TO THOSE WHO ARGUE, WHETHER OR NOT, I CAN RETURN TO THE DAYS OF MY YOUTH. I POINT OUT TO THEM, "YOU MIGHT BE RIGHT, THAT YOU CAN'T GO BACK, BUT IT DEPENDS ON IF YOU EVER REALLY LEFT IN THE FIRST PLACE." I NEVER DID. ASK SUZANNE. THE BOYS. I'M WANDERING AROUND BIRCH HOLLOW WITH MY OLD HOCKEY JERSEY ON, AS IF WAITING FOR THE BIG CALL, TO RE-JOIN THE HERALD-GAZETTE RINK RATS. I HAVE THE BEST DARN TIME WRITING ABOUT MY YOUTH, GROWING UP IN BRACEBRIDGE, THE OLD GANG OF MINE UP ON ALICE STREET, AND THE THOUSANDS GAMES OF TABLE-TOP HOCKEY WE PLAYED FOR THE MINIATURE PLASTIC STANLEY CUP. I CAN RESORT TO CHILDISH FOLLY IN ONLY MINUTES, OF READING THE DAILY NEWS. I MAY GIVE THE APPEARANCE OF BEING SERIOUS, BUT THAT'S ONLY BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE A TOY CAR IN MY HAND AT THE TIME. IF I'M BEING A PAIN IN THE ARSE, ALL ARGUMENTATIVE AND STUFF, JUST HAND ME A VINTAGE CORGI AND I'LL LICK YOUR HAND. A CORGI, DINKY TOY, AND A HOT WHEELS, AND I'LL JUMP INTO YOUR ARMS.

I'M A CONFESSED ART-LOVER, AND IT'S QUITE TRUE THAT AS A COLLECTOR, I HAVE GONE OVER-BOARD. NOT JUST THIS YEAR. THIS HAS BEEN A MULTI-DECADE EXCESS. SO YOU'D THINK I'D BE OUT OF MY MIND WITH HAPPINESS, AT HAVING SO MUCH ART AT MY BECK AND CALL. TRUE. BUT I'D BE EVEN HAPPIER TO HAVE ROOMS FILLED WITH VINTAGE DINKY TOYS AND CORGI VEHICLES, AND BOXES OF HOT WHEELS TO LOOK AFTER. SO I THINK, TO JUMP BACK UP THIS BLOG, TO THE COMMENCEMENT OF MY LITTLE TOME, THAT UNQUESTIONABLY, SUZANNE AND I DID OVER-EXTEND OURSELVES WITH ANDREW AND ROBERT, SO THEY COULD HAVE WHAT WE DIDN'T AS KIDS. WE STILL HAVE SEVENTY PERCENT OF THEIR TOYS BOXED-UP AND READY TO BE RE-PLAYED WITH, IF AND WHEN THEY PROVIDE US WITH GRAND-KIDS. I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU, A TRIP TO GRANDMA AND GRAMPS WILL BE AN ODYSSEY OF TOYS. WE MUST HAVE A MILLION PIECES OF LEGO AROUND HERE. BUT IN HONESTY, AND AS A FORMER MR. MOM FOR MOST OF THEIR YOUNG LIVES, I WAS GREATLY AT EASE DOING THIS JOB…..ADMITTEDLY A DIFFICULT ONE, SIMPLY BECAUSE I WASN'T FAR OFF BEING A KID MYSELF…..A CHARACTERISTIC I'VE NEVER LOST. AS I LOVED TO WATCH THE BOYS BUILD THEIR ELABORATE TOWNSCAPES, WITH HUNDREDS OF TOY CARS, AND A NEAT VINTAGE SERVICE CENTRE, I GOT JUST AS MUCH PLAY-TIME AS THEY DID……AND I MAY HAVE, ON OCCASION, SNUCK DOWN TO PLAY WITH THE CARS, WHEN THEY BOTH NODDED OFF FOR AN AFTERNOON NAP. SUZANNE CAUGHT ME PLAYING WITH CARS ONCE BUT I TOLD HER IT WAS NOT GROUNDS FOR DIVORCE, SEEING AS I DIDN'T HAVE A FEMALE PLAYMATE OVER. I THINK SHE'D TRUST ME WITH THE FEMALE PLAYMATE, JUST NOT THE TOYS.

I HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF RESPECT FOR VINTAGE TOY COLLECTORS. I HAVE KNOWN QUITE A FEW IN MY TIME AS AN ANTIQUE DEALER, AND THE BIRCH HOLLOW LIAR'S CLUB USED TO HAVE A LOT OF IN-DEPTH DISCUSSIONS ABOUT COLLECTING TOYS AND SUCH. JACK KIERNAN, THE RIGHTFUL PRESIDENT OF THE LIAR'S CLUB, A WONDERFUL OLDTIMER, WHO LOVED TO COLLECT HIS TOY CARS AND TRUCKS, COULD TALK TO INFINITY ABOUT HIS INTERESTS, SPECIFICALLY IN DINKY TOYS, MATCHBOX, LESNEY AND CORGI. HE APPROACHED IT FROM TWO DIRECTIONS. HE HAD A PERMANENT COLLECTION THAT WAS NON-NEGOTIABLE. HE WOULDN'T SELL FOR ANY PRICE. (UNLESS HIS OWN CAR BROKE DOWN, AND HE NEEDED A GRAND OR SO TO FIX IT UP). OTHERS HE FOUND, WHILE HUSTLING OUT ON THE ANTIQUE HUNT. HE'D PATIENTLY AND CAREFULLY CLEAN THEM UP, APPLY A REPAIR IF NECESSARY, RESEARCH EACH CAR OR TRUCK, THROUGH THE DOG-EARED PAGES OF HIS GNARLED PRICE GUIDES, AND THEN PUT THEM UP FOR SALE IN OUR SHOP. THAT'S WHEN I REALLY GOT TO PLAY WITH TOYS. JACK WAS FLEXIBLE THIS WAY. 'WE'RE YOU PLAYING WITH THE TOYS AGAIN TED," HE'D ASK, SEEING THE SMILE ON MY FACE, WHEN HE'D COME IN FOR A VISIT. "OF COURSE JACK….YOU CAN'T IGNORE A TOY THAT WANTS TO BE PLAYED WITH."

JACK WAS ABUNDANTLY PATIENT WITH ME, AS A ROOKIE TOY COLLECTOR, AND HE'D SPEND HOURS GOING THROUGH PRICE GUIDES AND REFERENCE MATERIAL, SHOWING ME THE DINKY TOYS THAT WERE OF EXCEPTIONAL VALUE, FOR SPECIFIC REASONS, SUCH AS PAINT COLOR. HE EXPLAINED THAT IT WAS OFTEN THE CASE, A PAINT COLOR WAS CHANGED ON A CAR IN PRODUCTION, DUE TO A SHORTAGE OR A COMPANY SHIFT OF OPINION. WHAT IT WOULD MEAN THEN, IS THAT THERE WERE DIFFERENCES IN VALUATIONS. OUT OF 10,000 MADE, THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A LOT FEWER DONE OF ONE EXPERIMENTAL COLOR, THUS THE VALUE WAS MUCH HIGHER FOR THESE CARS OR TRUCKS. HE WAS JUST SO DARN ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT COLLECTING, AND WORKING ON HIS OLD TOY CARS. HE HAD RETIRED FROM KODAK CANADA, I BELIEVE, AND SETTLED WITH HIS WIFE IN THE VILLAGE OF BAYSVILLE, ONTARIO. HE'D COME IN TO SEE ME AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK, AND WE TALKED ABOUT POLITICS AND THE CRAPPY BUSINESS PRACTICES OF LENDING INSTITUTIONS. HE WAS AN AVID READER AND KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THE WORLD. THE HAPPIEST JACK COULD GET IN A DAY, WAS FINDING A NEAT TOY CAR, OR A DOZEN, WHILE HUNTING THROUGH THE REGIONAL SECOND HAND SHOPS. HE COULDN'T WAIT TO GET IN TO THE SHOP, TO SHOW ME HIS LATEST FINDS. JACK, WHETHER HE KNEW IT OR NOT, ACTUALLY INSPIRED TWO OTHER MEMBERS OF THE BIRCH HOLLOW LIAR'S CLUB, TO START COLLECTING OLD TOYS. IF EVER A TOY HAD A DEFENDER, IT WAS JACK KIERNAN. IF EVER A TOY NEEDED SOMEONE TO PLAY WITH IT, JACK WAS USUALLY ON-CALL. HE TAUGHT ME SOMETHING ABOUT COLLECTING, I'D NEVER REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT……AND THAT WAS THE INVESTMENT OF IMAGINATION. I MEAN, I USE IMAGINATION CONSTANTLY AS A WRITER, BUT AS A COLLECTOR? HOW SO?

A COUPLE OF TIMES I SNUCK-UP ON JACK AS HE WAS TESTING OUT THE WHEELS OF A NICE VINTAGE CORGI, OR DINKY TOY, AND I MUST ADMIT, WONDERING WHAT WAS GOING ON IN HIS HEAD. HE ACTUALLY HAD DIVORCED HIMSELF OF THE ADULT WORLD, I THOUGHT, AND IT WAS AS IF A CHRISTMAS MORNING, AND THE VEHICLE HE WAS PLAYING WITH, HAD COME FROM SANTA'S BAG. THAT'S HOW INTENSE HE WAS, CHECKING OUT THE WHEEL BALANCE, AND THE SMOOTH RIDE, AND BEING FASCINATED BY THE HIGH QUALITY OF THE TOY'S MANUFACTURE. IF THERE WAS A SMUDGE, HE TOOK CARE OF IT. HE'D PULL A LITTLE CLOTH OUT OF HIS JACKET POCKET, AND HOLD THE CAR UP TO THE LIGHT, SO HE COULD POLISH THE FINISH BACK TO A HIGH LUSTER. WHEN HIS WIFE WOULD COME INTO THE SHOP, TO FETCH HIM FOR THE TRIP HOME, SHE'D COME AROUND THE CORNER, AS JACK WAS MODELLING HIS LATEST FIND, AND SAY, "IS JACK SHOWING YOU HIS TOYS AGAIN TED." "AS A MATTER OF FACT, HE IS," I'D HAPPILY RESPOND. "BUT HE WON'T LET ME PLAY WITH THEM," I COMPLAINED. "PLAY FAIR JACK," SHE'D KID HIM. "HE GETS SMUDGES ON THEM DEAR," HE'D SHOOT BACK. THEY WERE A NICE COUPLE. I ALWAYS LOOKED FORWARD TO THEIR COMPANY. BUT IT WAS JACK'S ENTHUSIASM FOR HIS COLLECTION THAT SET THE BAR FOR MY OWN COLLECTING INTERESTS. HERE WAS THIS RETIRED GUY, WHO COULD HAVE DONE SO MANY OTHER THINGS WITH HIS LIFE, LIKE TRAVELING THE WORLD, BUT THEY BOTH SEEM TO ENJOY THEIR TIME POKING AROUND MUSKOKA…….MAKING INTERESTING FINDS IN THE SECOND HAND AND THRIFT SHOPS, FROM ONE END OF THE REGION TO THE OTHER. ALL THE VENDORS KNEW JACK. THEY ALL KNEW WHAT HE LIKED, WHAT HE WOULD PURCHASE, AND IT WASN'T UNCOMMON TO HEAR ONE OF THE BUSINESS OWNERS SAY, "IF YOU SEE JACK, TELL HIM I'VE GOT A BAG OF DINKY TOYS SET ASIDE." WE DID THAT FOR ONE ANOTHER BACK THEN.

JACK JOINED IN WITH ME AND THE WEE LADS, TO COLLECT HOCKEY AND BASEBALL CARDS, BACK IN THE HALCYON DAYS OF THE EARLY 1990'S. GEEZ DID WE EVER HAVE FUN, BUYING AND TRADING CARDS…..AND EVEN SELLING A FEW NOW AND AGAIN. ONCE WE GOT A BOOTH AT A LOCAL CARD SHOW, AND WE MADE ABOUT TWO BUCKS EACH. IT WAS A LAUGH ANYWAY, JUST BEING INVOLVED. HE WAS ALWAYS SO ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THIS STUFF, AND HE MADE OUR TIME TOGETHER SO DARN MEMORABLE. EVEN THOUGH HE COULD BE A TAD GRUFF IF HE WAS HAVING A BAD DAY, WHICH USUALLY HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE MECHANICAL WORKINGS OF HIS REAL CAR, HE COULD SALVAGE AN OUTING WITH A LITTLE TOY CHAT…..REFERRING TO SOMETHING HE MAY HAVE READ ABOUT SOME SHOW THAT WAS UPCOMING, AND HE WANTED TO ATTEND. ALL I KNOW, IS THAT HE LOVED DOING THE COLLECTING-THING, AND I DON'T THINK IT EVER BROKE THE BANK, OR THAT IT EVER MADE HIM, IN ANY WAY, OBSESSIVE ABOUT ACQUISITION. HE HAD A CHILD'S DISPOSITION, AND HE TREATED THOSE OLD, WELL USED TOYS, WITH THE GREATEST RESPECT. IF SOMEONE HAD TOLD ME, THAT A TOY COLLECTOR LIKE JACK KIERNON, COULD CHANGE MY LIFE IN THE ANTIQUE PROFESSION, I WOULDN'T HAVE EVEN BOTHERED TO ANSWER. I LIKE ART. OLD BOOKS. PRIMITIVE PINE. AND OH YES, OLD TOYS. OF COURSE JACK INFLUENCED ME. I SURRENDERED ABOUT A WEEK AFTER I MET HIM.

WHEN WE CLOSED UP THE STORE IN THE MID 1990'S, AFTER I ACCEPTED A PUBLIC RELATIONS JOB, WITH THE CROZIER FOUNDATION, IT WAS HARD TO BID JACK ADIEU. ALTHOUGH WE BUMPED INTO EACH OTHER OFTEN AFTER THIS, IT JUST WASN'T THE SAME. I MISSED HIS TUTORIALS. I MISSED THE NEWS ABOUT HIS LATEST, GREATEST FINDS. WHEN I READ HIS MEMORIAL IN THE WEEKLY NEWS, A SHORT TIME AFTER, I WAS JUST STUNNED. I DROPPED THE PAPER IN MY LAP, AND JUST SAT THERE, AS IF A CORNERSTONE OF MY PROFESSIONAL LIFE, HAD JUST BEEN KICKED AWAY. JACK WAS A MENTOR. A LOAD-BEARING MENTOR. A COLLECTOR I DEPENDED ON TO ANSWER ALL MY DINKY TOY, CORGI, AND HOT WHEELS QUESTIONS. HE WAS THE GUY WHO HAD TOLD ME, IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS, THAT IT WAS PERFECTLY MATURE, AND ADULT-LIKE, TO LAPSE INTO PLAY WITH TOY CARS. HE WAS MY ADULT-YEARS PLAY DATE, WHO COULDN'T BE REPLACED. ALL I KNOW, IS THAT JACK HAD TRULY ENJOYED HIS RETIREMENT PRE-OCCUPATION. HE RESCUED A LOT OF DAMAGED TOY VEHICLES, CLEANED THEM UP, DID MINOR REPAIRS FROM THE SALVAGE OF PARALLEL JUNKER VEHICLES, AND WAS SO PROUD TO SELL THEM IN OUR SHOP. HE WAS A PARTNER IN THE OLD TOY BUSINESS. I LOVED THE GUY.

I'M NOT AS INTENSE A COLLECTOR AS JACK KIERNAN. FEW OF US COULD MEASURE UP TO HIS DEDICATION TO OLD TOYS. HE DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF MONEY TO SPEND ON THESE ITEMS, BUT HE WORKED LONG AND HARD SEEKING THEM OUT, AT FLEA MARKETS AND SHOPS FROM ORILLIA TO HUNTSVILLE, AND SOMETIMES BEYOND. HE ADORED THE ANNUAL BAYSVILLE WALK-ABOUT, A SUMMER SEASON STREET SALE, WITH MANY PARTICIPATING ANTIQUE VENDORS. HE MAY HAVE EVEN HAD A BOOTH AT ONE POINT. I KNOW HE TALKED ABOUT IT. THEY WOULD HAVE KNOWN JACK THAT'S FOR SURE. BET THEY'D HAVE LITTLE BOXES AND BAGS SET ASIDE FOR HIM TOO. HE WAS JUST THAT KIND OF PERSON, YOU WANTED TO DO BUSINESS WITH……BECAUSE BY GOLLY, IT WAS ALWAYS SO MUCH PLEASURE. HE TALKED THE TALK, AND HE WALKED THE WALK.

WHENEVER I'M OUT ON THE HUSTINGS, AND I SEE A LITTLE COLLECTION OF OLD TOYS, A FEW HOT WHEELS, MAYBE A DINKY, MATCHBOX, LESNEY OR CORGI, I NOT ONLY THINK OF JACK…..WELL SIR, I BUY THEM IN HIS MEMORY. MY GRANDCHILDREN ARE GOING TO LOVE TO PLAY WITH THESE TOY FINDS. I'LL FIND A WAY OF INSERTING A LITTLE STORY INTO THEIR PLAY-DAY, ABOUT THE OLD FELLOW I USED TO KNOW……WHO LOVED HIS CARS AND TRUCKS! THANKS JACK. I NEVER GOT TO SAY GOODBYE……HOPEFULLY THIS MESSAGE, FROM ONE OLD FART TO ANOTHER, WILL FIND YOU IN GOOD HUMOUR, UP THERE IN THE GREAT BEYOND, UNDOUBTEDLY REGALING SOME KINDRED SPIRIT, ABOUT THE NEAT OLD CARS AND TRUCKS OF ONCE……UPON A THOROUGHLY FULFILLED, PLAYFULLY CELEBRATED LIFETIME.

A FEW YEARS AGO, WHILE BROWSING THROUGH A SECOND HAND SHOP, HERE IN GRAVENHURST, I FOUND A LITTLE PIECE I KNEW HAD ONCE BELONGED TO JACK. I KNOW SO, BECAUSE IT STILL HAD THE PRICE TAG ON IT, THAT I PUT THERE, WITH JACK'S APPROVAL. IT WAS A LITTLE PLAQUE, WITH VARIOUS MINIATURE "CEREMONIAL SWORDS," MOUNTED ON IT…..WITH IDENTIFICATION WRITTEN BELOW EACH. HE LOVED THAT LITTLE PIECE, AS I RECALL NOW, BECAUSE TO HIM IT SEEMED AN ODDITY……SOMETHING YOU DIDN'T SEE AROUND THE ANTIQUE SHOP CIRCUIT. NOT A RARITY BECAUSE IT WASN'T RARE. NOT SOMETHING A HOME DECORATOR WOULD SEEK OUT, BUT POSSIBLY SOME KID WOULD THINK WORTHY TO HANG IN A BEDROOM…..AS A MOOD SETTER. WHO KNOWS. WHEN I SAW THE LITTLE PLAQUE, STUFFED INTO THE DISCOUNT BIN OF THIS SHOP, I HAD TO BUY IT AS A REMEMBRANCE OF JACK KIERNAN. EVEN AFTER MANY YEARS, AND THE BOYS HAVING BEEN VERY YOUNG AT THE TIME, THE WHOLE FAMILY, EVEN MY MOTHER (WHO HELPED AT THE STORE), REMEMBERED IT AS "JACK'S PLAQUE."

"DON'T GET ALL SENTIMENTAL ON ME TED," HE'D SAY, WITH A TWINKLING EYE, AND TRADEMARK GRIN. "NO CHANCE OF THAT JACK; IT'S JUST CLOSING TIME. SEE YOU SOON."

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES -

WHEN THE KID WITHIN WANTS TO PLAY WITH TOYS - WHY NOT?

AS I HAVE EXPLAINED IN PREVIOUS BLOGS, I GREW UP AS A POOR KID. I DIDN'T KNOW I WAS POOR. IT'S JUST WHAT THE OTHER KIDS CALLED ME. MAYBE IT WAS BECAUSE MY TOES STUCK OUT OF THE HOLES IN MY SOCKS, OR THE FACT I HAD MORE PATCHES ON MY PANTS THAN ORIGINAL FABRIC. BUT BY GOLLY, THEY NEVER ONCE CALLED ME "PATCHES." I'M THANKFUL FOR THAT. BEING CALLED "POOR" WAS GENERIC….BUT "PATCHES" WAS PERSONAL.

I KNEW MY FAMILY DIDN'T HAVE MUCH, AND THAT EXPLAINED THE FACT I HAD TO WEAR WINTER AND SPRING BOOTS, WITH MASSIVE HOLES IN THE BOTTOM. MY MOTHER JUST KEPT WASHING AND DRYING MY SOCKS EVERY NIGHT. I HATED HAVING WET FEET AT SCHOOL, AND YOU COULD ALWAYS TELL HOW WET IT WAS OUTSIDE, BY FOLLOWING MY SOGGY FOOTSTEPS THROUGH THE SCHOOL HALLWAY. I WAS NEVER MAD ABOUT THIS, BECAUSE MY PARENTS TRIED AS HARD AS THEY COULD TO GIVE ME A DECENT UPBRINGING, AND ALTHOUGH I DIDN'T LIKE THEM ARGUING THEY WAY THEY DID, (USUALLY ABOUT MONEY) I CAME OUT OF CHILDHOOD RELATIVELY UNSCATHED. WRINKLED SKIN ON MY FEET. YOU BET. SMILE ON MY FACE. IT'S STILL THERE AFTER ALL THESE YEARS.

MY POINT FOR HIGHLIGHTING OUR FAMILY'S LACK OF FINANCIAL RESOURCES, ISN'T TO REFLECT ON OUR SADDER THAN SAD SITUATION. IT WASN'T LIKE THAT AT ALL. MERLE KEPT A CLEAN APARTMENT, AND GOOD FOOD FOR OUR THREE SQUARES A DAY. I WOULD HAVE SACRIFICED MY FEET IN HOLE-RIDDEN BOOTS, AS LONG AS THERE WAS PLENTY OF FOOD IN THAT TINY KITCHEN, IN THE WEBER APARTMENTS, UP ON BRACEBRIDGE'S ALICE STREET. THEY DIDN'T HAVE MUCH LEFT OVER AT THE END OF THE MONTH FOR FRILLS, LIKE EXTRA CLOTHING FOR ME. I HAD ENOUGH TO GET BY. TWO PAIRS OF GOOD PANTS, ANOTHER IN CASE I'D HAVE TO ATTEND A CHURCH SERVICE, FUNERAL OR WEDDING; THREE SHIRTS, ALWAYS LONG-SLEEVE, A DOZEN MISMATCHED SOCKS AND FOUR OR FIVE PAIRS OF UNDERWEAR, IN ACCEPTABLE….BUT NOT GREAT CONDITION. THE BANDS WERE ALWAYS FIRST TO LET LOOSE, USUALLY WHILE PLAYING FOOTBALL AT SCHOOL, OR BRITISH BULLDOG, AND I'D SPEND THE REST OF THE DAY YANKING THEM UP. I DIDN'T ASK FOR NEW CLOTHES. I KNEW IF THERE WAS MONEY IN THE BUDGET, MERLE NEEDED MUCH MORE THAN I DID. ED WAS THE SAME. THERE WAS NO EXTRAVAGANCE IN THE CURRIE HOUSEHOLD, EXCEPT FOR FOOD, AND MY DAD'S ALLOTMENT OF O'KEEFE ALE. THE ALE CAME BEFORE MY NEW UNDERWEAR, I CAN TELL YOU THAT…..BUT MERLE ARGUED THAT IT HELPED HIM HANDLE THE STRESS OF HIS WORK, FOR A LOCAL LUMBER COMPANY. I DIDN'T ARGUE ABOUT IT BUT SHE FELT OBLIGATED TO BRING IT UP AGAIN AND AGAIN, JUST SO I WOULDN'T FORGET IT.

AS I'VE ALSO WRITTEN ABOUT BEFORE, CHRISTMAS WAS ONE OF THE THOSE OCCASIONS OF THE ROLLING YEAR, I THINK MERLE AND ED DREADED THE MOST. HAVING TO FIND THE RESOURCES TO BUY THE ARTICLES I CIRCLED IN THE SIMPSON'S AND EATON'S CATALOGUE……A PROJECT I COMMENCED WHEN THE BOOKS ARRIVED ON OUR DOORSTEP IN THE FALL. THEY WOULD ONLY EVER BE ABLE TO AFFORD A QUARTER OF MY CHRISTMAS LIST, FROM THOSE READ AND RE-READ CATALOGUES. ONE CHRISTMAS, MY DAD CAME HOME WITH A LIONEL TRAIN SET……A DANDY. IT WAS PROBABLY THE CHEAPEST ONE HE COULD ACQUIRE. IT HAD A METAL LOCOMOTIVE, A COAL CAR, A PASSENGER CAR, AND A CABOOSE, MADE OF TIN, AND A SMALL CIRCLE OF TRACK WITH A TRANSFORMER. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO ME IN THE EARLY 1960'S, BEFORE WE MOVED TO BRACEBRIDGE. WE WERE LIVING IN A NICE APARTMENT JUST UP FROM TORRANCE AVENUE, IN BURLINGTON, A CHESTNUT TREE-LINED STREET, ONE BLOCK FROM THE SHORE OF LAKE ONTARIO. MY FIRST AND LAST LIONEL TRAIN SET. I DON'T THINK IT WAS NEW WHEN IT ARRIVED UNDER THE CHRISTMAS TREE. I COULDN'T HAVE CARED LESS ABOUT THAT FACT, OTHER THAN IF THE BOY BEFORE ME HAD BROKEN IT, AND THEN PASSED IT OFF TO A DUMB KID LIKE ME. I DIDN'T NEED IT TO BE NEW. WORKING HOWEVER, WOULD HAVE BEEN TERRIFIC. THAT SUCKER NEVER WORKED FOR MORE THAN THREE LAPS OF THE TRACK BEFORE IT WOULD QUIT. AS MY FATHER WAS NOT HANDY WITH ANYTHING AROUND THE HOUSE, HE'D TOUCH IT, UNPLUG AND RE-PLUG IT IN, SHAKE IT, STUDY IT, ADJUST THE TRACKS, AND THEN SAY….."I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT?" YOU MIGHT THINK THAT, BUT YOU DON'T SAY IT TO A KID WITH HIS FACE HANGING OUT, AND EYES WIDE OPEN. I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND IT WHEN HE WALKED AWAY, SAYING "JUST PUSH IT AROUND THE TRACK…..THAT'LL BE OKAY."

IT WASN'T OKAY. I WOULD RATHER NOT HAVE HAD THE TRAIN, AT ALL, IF IT DIDN'T WORK. THERE WAS NOTHING MORE DISTRESSING TO A KID ON CHRISTMAS MORNING, THAN TO BE TOLD THE TRAIN DOESN'T WORK, SO GET OVER-IT. IF THERE ARE ANY ELECTRIC TRAIN LOVERS OUT THERE, PARTICULARLY LIONEL COLLECTORS, THE STORY I'VE JUST RELATED, PROBABLY HAS THESE FOLKS EXPERIENCING PALPITATIONS. HOW COULD ANY ONE BE SO CRUEL…..TO GIVE A KID A LIONEL, AND THEN NOT GIVE A DAMN WHETHER IT WORKED OR NOT? IT'S JUST UNHOLY IN THE ELECTRIC TRAIN WORLD, TO SUGGEST AN OWNER "JUST PUSH THE TRAIN AROUND THE TRACKS." GADS, I COULDN'T STAND-IT. EVERY KID WHO CAME INTO OUR APARTMENT, BACK THEN, TOOK A TURN AT TRYING TO GET THE IRON HORSE TO WORK ON THAT AGGRAVATING, HARD TO PUT-TOGETHER TRACK. I'D PINCH MY FINGERS EVERY TIME, TRYING TO SLIDE THEM TOGETHER. WE TOOK THEM A PART A LOT, THINKING THIS WAS THE PROBLEM. THE ELECTRICAL CURRENT WASN'T GETTING TO THE TRAIN ENGINE. THE ENGINE WOULD SOUND AS IF IT WAS GOING TO TRAVEL AROUND THE TRACK, AND MOVE A FRACTION OF AN INCH, BEFORE STOPPING ALTOGETHER. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, ED WOULD ASK FROM TIME TO TIME, "SO HOW'S THE TRAIN WORKING." "STILL PUSHING IT AROUND THE TRACK DAD; THANKS FOR ASKING." I REALLY HATED THAT IT DIDN'T WORK, AND FOR THOSE WHO KNOW ME…..I DON'T HATE MUCH IN THIS LIFE, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THOSE WHO POLLUTE, AND THOSE WHO HAVE LIONELS THAT ACTUALLY WORK. ONLY KIDDING ABOUT THAT ONE.

I HAD THAT "PUSH" TRAIN UP UNTIL THE TIME I ENTERED UNIVERSITY, AND MY MOTHER MERLE COMMENCED GIVING MY SMALL, NOT-WORKING-SO-WELL TOY COLLECTION. AWAY TO SOME OTHER KIDS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. I KNEW THE KIDS, AND IT WAS TRUE THAT THEY COULD MAKE GOOD USE OF THE TRAIN AND TABLE-HOCKEY GAME. THEY WERE POOR KIDS, AND OF THAT I COULD RELATE. I WONDER IF THEY WERE AS PISSED AS I WAS, TO HAVE TO PUSH THAT TRAIN AROUND THE TRACK, PRETENDING IT WORKED? MAYBE THEY GOT IT GOING. I NEVER ASKED THEM.

I JUST WISH THE OLD LIONEL TRAIN HAD WORKED…..I MEAN REALLY, REALLY WORKED SO I COULD HONESTLY SAY TODAY……"I HAD ONE…..ENJOYED IT…..AND MOVED ON!" INSTEAD OF, "I HAD ONE, IT NEVER WORKED, I NEVER KNEW IF I LIKED IT OR NOT." I'M PRETTY SURE, TO REPURCHASE THAT SIMPLE, NO FRILLS LIONEL TRAIN SET TODAY, WOULD COST A KING'S RANSOM. I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU, THAT AT 55 YEARS OF AGE, I'M STILL LOOKING FOR ONE, AND OF ALL THE ANTIQUE SHOPS WE HIT IN ANY GIVEN YEAR, I'VE NEVER COME UPON A COMPLETE "WORKING" SET LIKE THE ONE I HAD……AND LOST.

I HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT FOR ADULTS WHO PLAY WITH ELECTRIC TRAINS. THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT ELECTRIC TRAINS, THAT IS SO INCREDIBLY LIBERATING. WHEN YOU SEE SOME OF THE ELABORATE LANDSCAPES MODEL RAILROADERS CONSTRUCT, TO SUIT THEIR PARTICULAR TRAIN GUAGE AND INTENT, WHAT FUN THAT MUST BE……TO WALK AWAY FROM TELEVISION SETS AND COMPUTER SCREENS, TO RE-LIVE THE DAY OF THE TRAIN…..THE DAYS OF YOUTH WHEN BASIC PLEASURES WERE ALL WE NEEDED……BEFORE THE DAWN OF THE CELL PHONE, AND SOCIAL NETWORKING. WE HAD THESE LENGTHS OF INTERLOCKING TRACK, THE RUMBLING OF LOCOMOTIVE AND TRAIN CARS, PASSING THROUGH FORESTS, AND VALLEYS, ACROSS TIMBER TRESTLES, AND INTO..….AND OUT OF, THOSE LONG MOUNTAIN SIDE TUNNELS, WITH THE CHUG OF THE ENGINE, THE ECHO OF HORN, AND CLICK-CLACK OF TRACK. IT WAS 3D IMAGINATION, WITH A CONTROLLER.

EVEN WITH THAT "PUSH" LIONEL TRAIN SET, MY IMAGINATION WAS THE POWER-SOURCE. I SET UP MANY VILLAGE SCENES, WITH LITTLE BUILDINGS I MADE OUT OF CARDBOARD, WITH DINKY TOYS POSITIONED ON DEFINED ROADS, AND IN DRIVEWAYS OF RE-MAKES OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD HOMES. I COULD HAVE JUST PACKED THE TRAIN UP. ON THE OTHER HAND, I KNEW I WAS STILL A LUCKY KID TO HAVE SUCH A NEAT TRAIN SET….WITH OR WITHOUT THE POWER TO MAKE MORE THAN THREE LAPS OF THE TRACK EACH YEAR. I SAT IT UP ON A SHELF IN MY ROOM AS A SORT OF TROPHY. MY DAD EVENTUALLY STOPPED ASKING IF IT WORKED. "LOOKS NICE UP THERE TED," HE'D SAY, POKING HIS HEAD IN TO SEE WHAT I WAS UP TO.

I WAS FORTUNATE AS A KID TO HAVE CHUMS, LIKE AL AND RICK HILLMAN, WHO HAD LOTS OF HAND-ME-DOWN TOYS, THAT THEIR OLDER BROTHERS HAD WHEN THEY WERE KIDS. WHEN RICK BROUGHT OUT THOSE CORGI AND DINKY TOYS, BY GOLLY, WE HAD THE WHOLE CONSTRUCTION THEME GOING ON…..EARTH MOVERS AND DUMP TRUCKS, EXCAVATORS AND CRANES. WE'D FIND A PLACE LIKE THE "SAND PIT" BEHIND OUR APARTMENT, ON ALICE STREET, TO CREATE HUGE CITYSCAPES, WITH AN EXPANSIVE NETWORK OF INTERCONNECTING HIGHWAYS AND NEIGHBORHOOD ROADWAYS THAT TOOK HOURS AND HOURS TO CONSTRUCT. YOU'D WELL UP WITH TEARS WHEN YOU FELT THOSE FIRST RAINDROPS, THAT WOULD EVENTUALLY CLEANSE THE LANDSCAPE ONCE AGAIN, OF ANYTHING KID-MADE.

RICK AND AL ALSO HAD LOTS OF ARMY MEN AND TANKS THAT WE USED, TO RE-ENACT ALL THE BATTLES OF WORLD WAR TWO…..AND I ALWAYS HAD TO BE THE GERMAN SIDE……WHICH OF COURSE NEVER WON. THAT DIDN'T MATTER AS MUCH, AS BEING ABLE TO PLAY WITH THESE TOYS. ALAN HAD A WIDE ARRAY OF MODEL PLANES, SOME OF WOOD, AND THE TRADITIONAL PLASTIC KIND, AND HE WAS ALWAYS BUILDING SOMETHING OR OTHER IN HIS FRONT PORCH. HE WAS GIFTED THIS WAY, AND EVEN TODAY, I CAN REMEMBER WATCHING HIM PUT TOGETHER MODELS WITH A TRILLION PIECES, AND HOW WONDERFUL THEY LOOKED WHEN PAINTED. I WAS JUST FASCINATED TO WATCH. I DID BUY MODELS FROM THE LOCAL FIVE AND DIME, AND I MOOCHED PAINT AND BRUSHES OFF AL AND RICK. MY MODELS NEVER ONCE TURNED OUT AS GOOD AS THEIR PLANES. YUP, I SPENT A GOOD PORTION OF MY CHILDHOOD BEING JEALOUS. BUT WITH KIND FRIENDS, AND I DO MEAN THIS, I GOT TO USE THEIR TOYS, AS IF THEY WERE MY OWN. UNTIL WE'D HAVE A DUST-UP…..YOU KNOW HOW THAT WORKS….WHEN I DECIDED THE GERMANS SHOULD WIN A COUPLE OF BATTLES NOW AND AGAIN.

ON SATURDAY MORNINGS, AFTER A HAIR TRIM AT BILL ANDERSON'S BARBER SHOP, IN THE CORNER OF THE OLD PATTERSON HOTEL, I'D WHIP OVER TO SEE THE OTHER "BILL,"……BILL ELLIOT, AT ELIOTT'S FIVE AND DIME (WE ALWAYS CALLED IT STEDMANS), WHERE I'D SALIVATE FOR ABOUT AN HOUR, LOOKING AT THE CORGI AND DINKY TOY DISPLAY….TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT I MIGHT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD, IF I PUT MY ALLOWANCES TOGETHER, FOR SAY….A MONTH. THE BASIC MATCHBOX CARS AND TRUCKS WERE 49 CENTS. I NEVER SEEMED TO HAVE MORE THAN A QUARTER IN MY POCKET AT THE TIME. TRUTH IS, I COULDN'T GET OUT OF BILL'S SHOP WITHOUT STOPPING AT THE CANDY COUNTER……AND WELL, THAT QUARTER WAS GONE BY TIME I HIT THE DOOR. SO THERE WAS NO WAY OF POOLING RESOURCES.

NOW HERE'S A FIRST TIME STORY FOR YOU, THAT I'M NOT PARTICULARLY PROUD OF. IT'S WHY I ALWAYS BUY APPLES FROM BOY SCOUTS. AS A FLEDGLING CUB, I ALSO HAD TO SELL APPLES TO RAISE MONEY FOR OUR ORGANIZATION. I HAD TO STAND IN FRONT OF ELLIOTS WITH MY TRAY OF SHINY APPLES HUNG AROUND MY NECK. IT WAS A COLD EVENING LET ME TELL YOU, AND FRANKLY I HATED EVERY MINUTE OF THE EXPERIENCE. WHILE I WAS STANDING THERE SHIVERING, A LADY CAME UP TO ME, SAID "MY DEAR, YOU SHOULD BE WEARING A BETTER COAT THAN THAT," WHILE PUTTING FIFTY CENTS IN THE MONEY SLOT OF THE TRAY. THEN SHE LOOKED ME STRAIGHT IN THE EYE, AND HANDED ME A QUARTER, SUGGESTING I GO TO THE RESTAURANT NEXT DOOR TO BUY A HOT CHOCOLATE. I NODDED MY THANKS FOR HER KINDNESS AND PUT THE QUARTER IN MY POCKET. WHEN THE NEXT APPLE CUSTOMER CAME ALONG, I WAS SURPRISED TO FIND THAT IT WASN'T HARD, TO GET THEM TO PUT THEIR DONATION IN MY HAND, INSTEAD OF THE MONEY SLOT. I THOUGHT THESE KIND CITIZENS MIGHT ALSO HAVE WISHED TO BUY ME A HOT CHOCOLATE. OH THE JUSTIFICATIONS I CAME UP WITH, ON THAT COLD AUTUMN NIGHT, TO SCAM THE CUB SCOUTS OF THEIR DONATION MONEY.

I MISAPPROPRIATED ENOUGH MONEY TO BUY A RED DINKY TOY TRUCK. I MUST HAVE LOOKED PRETTY GUILTY THAT NIGHT, WALKING INTO ELLIOT'S, AND STANDING THERE AT THE COUNTER PAYING FOR THE TOY, WITH THE APPLE TRAY STILL STRUNG AROUND MY NECK. I STOOD OUTSIDE, AFTER PAYING FOR IT, STILL TRYING TO SELL APPLES, PONDERING HOW MUCH MORE CASH I COULD SKIM. THERE WERE SOME CORGIS I WANTED AS WELL. FORTUNATELY, MY SHIFT ENDED BEFORE I COULD SCOOP-UP ANOTHER DIME. WHEN I GOT HOME THAT NIGHT, I FELT LIKE CRAP. THE FIRST THING THAT HAPPENED? IT DROPPED OUT OF MY COAT POCKET AT MERLE'S FEET. "WHERE DID YOU GET THAT TOY, TEDDY." SHE DEMANDED. "OH, IT'S NOT MINE. IT'S RICK HILLMANS. HE SAID I COULD BORROW IT." I WAS GOOD. I COULD HAVE PASSED A LIE DETECTOR TEST, AT THAT MOMENT. SHE BOUGHT IT, BECAUSE MERLE WOULD NEVER HAVE BELIEVED I COULD STEAL ANYTHING FROM ANYONE, FOR ANY REASON. AND THAT'S WHAT CUT LIKE A KNIFE…..THE FACT IT WOULD BREAK THE POOR WOMAN'S HEART IF SHE KNEW I HAD RIPPED OFF THE CUBS. WE DIDN'T HAVE MUCH BUT WE MADE DO. SO I HAD TO LIVE WITH MY SHORT-LIVED CAREER AS A THIEF. IT'S TRUE WHAT THEY SAY. CRIME DOESN'T PAY. IT HAS COST BE DEARLY FOR ALL THESE YEARS. THAT'S ONE TOY I DON'T WANT BACK.

ONE DAY, AFTER FEELING THE TRUTH HAD TO BE KNOWN, I THOUGHT IT WAS THE PERFECT TIME TO CONFESS MY PAST SINS. WITH MERLE VERY ELDERLY BUT ENTIRELY COGNIZANT….., AND MY COZYING UP TO A BOTTLE OF WINE. I STARTED TELLING THE POOR WOMAN ABOUT MY CHILDHOOD TRANSGRESSIONS. SHE WASN'T CATHOLIC BUT SHE STARTED TO MAKE THE SIGN OF THE CROSS, AGAINST HER CHEST, AND IT WAS THE LOOK OF OUTRIGHT FEAR OF KNOWING THIS STUFF, THAT MADE ME QUIT LONG BEFORE I HIT THE STORY ABOUT THE DINKY TOY. I LOST HER IN THE EARLY GOING, WHEN I TOLD HER I MADE IT ALL THE WAY TO THE SHORE OF LAKE ONTARIO, UNDER THE LAKESHORE AVENUE BRIDGE, WALKING THE BANK ALONG RAMBLE CREEK FROM OUR HOME. WHEN I'D GET BACK HOME, ON THOSE DAYS, SHE'D SNIFF MY COAT OR SHIRT, AND IF I SMELLED "FISHY," IT MEANT I'D BEEN CLOSE TO THE LAKE. WELL, TO BORROW A RULE FROM A GAME, CLOSE ONLY COUNTS IN HORSESHOES. I TOLD HER I CROSSED THE LEDGE OF THE TUNNEL, BORDERING THE DEEP WATER BELOW, AND ACTUALLY SAW A TANKER SAILING BY ON LAKE ONTARIO. "MY GOD, MY GOD, I MUST HAVE BEEN A HORRIBLE PARENT," SHE STARTED CALLING OUT TO THE LORD, LIKE REDD FOX, WHO, WHENEVER IN CRISIS, ON HIS COMEDY SHOW, USED TO CALL UP TO HIS DEPARTED WIFE, "I'M COMING ELIZABETH….THIS IS THE BIG ONE." GEEZ, AND I WAS GOING TO TELL HER ABOUT THE TIME THREE OF US BUDDIES, WOUND UP DRIVING ACROSS SKELETON LAKE ON THE ICE ROAD, TRYING TO GET TO A HOCKEY GAME IN SUNDRIDGE. TOOK A WRONG TURN AT WINDERMERE CORNERS. SO RATHER THAN KILL MY MOTHER, I JUST STOPPED TRYING TO EASE MY CONSCIENCE, AND BEGAN A TRADITION OF BUYING APPLES OFF THE CUB SCOUTS TO REPAY MY DINKY TOY DEBT.

FOR THOSE ADULTS WHO PLAY WITH TOYS…….LIONELS THAT ACTUALLY WORK, I UNDERSTAND COMPLETELY. I EVEN MADE A REQUEST THIS CHRISTMAS, FOR NEXT YEAR'S PRESENTS…..OTHER THAN THE WONDERFUL ARRAY OF IMPORTED BEER THE BOYS LAVISH UPON ME. I WANT TO HAVE SOME OF MY OLD HOT WHEELS BACK. AND YES, WE WERE SO POOR, MY PARENTS COULD AFFORD THE CARS, JUST NOT THE TRACK. NOW IF YOU'RE A HOT WHEELS LOVER, AND I WAS, NOT HAVING THE TRACK TO GO WITH THE CARS, IS LIKE HAVING A "PUSH" LIONEL. GOD BLESS MY PARENTS FOR TRYING SO HARD NONE THE LESS. THEY MEANT WELL FOR THEIR ONLY CHILD. TRUTH IS, I WAS HAPPY WITH ALL MY POSSESSIONS….EXCEPT AN ILL-GOTTEN RED PICKUP TRUCK THAT I CONVENIENTLY LOST IN THE MIRE OF THE ALICE STREET SAND PIT. I HEARD SOME TIME LATER, A KID FOUND IT…….AND THANKFULLY, KEPT IT!

The Kids Made The Carnival

THE KIDS - THE FUTURE OF THE TOWN - THE WINTER CARNIVAL

WINNING OVER THE PUBLIC WILL TAKE TIME

I HEARD ONE LADY COMPLAINING THAT "IT'S JUST LIKE ALL THE OTHERS." ANOTHER WOMAN, WHILE PAYING FOR AN ITEM AT A LOCAL SHOP, EXCLAIMED, "IT'S TOO COLD TO GO TO THE WINTER CARNIVAL." A GENTLEMAN VOLUNTEERED TO A FRIEND, "I'LL JUST GET A BEER, SIT OUTSIDE IN A LAWNCHAIR….AND HAVE A BOWL OF CHILI."

A KID WALKING DOWN MUSKOKA ROAD, ASKED HIS MOTHER, 'WHAT KIND OF ANIMAL IS SKOKIE ANYWAY?" "I DON'T KNOW," SHE ANSWERED, PULLING HIM ACROSS THE INTERSECTION. I WAS GOING TO YELL BACK, THAT SKOKIE IS AN "OTTER," BUT SUZANNE BECKONED ME, JUST THEN, TO LOOK IN A SHOP WINDOW. "CAN WE GO ON THE HELICOPTER," ANOTHER YOUNG MAN, ASKED HIS DAD. "WE'LL SEE, SON, WE'LL SEE." "CAN I HAVE SOME CANDY," ASKED ANOTHER WEE LAD, WHO WOULD HAVE ASKED THAT SAME QUESTION, WINTER CARNIVAL OR NOT. IT WAS A SUNNY, COLD DAY IN FEBRUARY. THE CITIZENS FELT THE NEED TO COMMENT, AND COMMENT THEY DID!

STANDING OUT ON THE WINDY CORRIDOR OF MUSKOKA ROAD, ISN'T THE BEST PLACE TO CONDUCT AN INFORMAL WINTER CARNIVAL SURVEY. BUT THERE WERE LOTS OF INTERESTING COMMENTS, BEING BANDIED ABOUT, MOST OF THEM QUITE SUPPORTIVE OF THE ANNUAL FEBRUARY BASH. OVER-DRESSED KIDS, ALMOST INVISIBLE BEHIND THICK SCARVES AND OVER-SIZED TOQUES, WOUND THEIR WAY DOWN TO ROTARY GULL LAKE PARK, WITH GREAT ANTICIPATION, SPARKLING IN THOSE EVER SCANNING EYES…..ABOUT "WHAT ADVENTURE IS THIS?" WHAT I SAW IN THEIR EYES WAS GREAT EXPECTATION. WHAT I SAW IN THEIR EYES, WHILE PLAYING ON TOP OF THE SNOW MOUNTAIN, ON THE BALL FIELD OF GULL LAKE PARK, WAS "SINCERE SATISFACTION." HAD THERE BEEN A VOTE, OF ALL THE KIDS PLAYING IN THAT PARK, AT THAT MOMENT, THE GRAVENHURST WINTER CARNIVAL COMMITTEE, WOULD HAVE KNOWN THE PRECISE LEVEL OF APPRECIATION FOR THE PAST YEAR'S WORK. "DO WE HAVE TO GO MOM? CAN'T WE STAY A LITTLE LONGER? PLEASE, PLEASE CAN WE STAY?" NOW THAT'S AN ENDORSEMENT. IF THE CARNIVAL MISSED HITTING ALL THE TARGET GROUPS WITH BEST INTENT, SUFFICE TO SAY, THAT WHAT THEY DID CONNECT WITH, WAS MORE THAN ENOUGH TO BALANCE THE WEEKEND WITH RAW FUN. GOOD FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY STUFF. KIDS ARE TOUGH CRITICS. WE NEED TO LISTEN TO THEM. MAYBE IT COULD BE A WINTER CARNIVAL CONTEST FOR SCHOOL KIDS, NEXT FALL SEASON……TO COME UP WITH SOME NEW RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR GULL LAKE PARK, WHEN THE FESTIVAL CELEBRATES ITS 2013 EVENT. THESE ARE OUR YOUNG STAKE HOLDERS. OF COURSE THEY DESERVE A VOICE….AND A VOTE.

IF YOU HAD A WINTER CARNIVAL, AND ONLY THE ADULTS SHOWED UP, THE EVENT MIGHT RAKE-IN MORE CASH, BUT IT WOULD BE A "FOR THE MOMENT" SUCCESS. IF YOU HAVE A WINTER CARNIVAL AND THE KIDS SHOW UP, AND FAMILIES APPROVE OF THE ENTERTAINMENT, YOU MIGHT HAVE LESSER PROFIT, BUT INFINITELY MORE POTENTIAL FOR THE NEXT YEAR, AND ALL THE YEARS AFTER THAT……

FROM WHAT SUZANNE AND I WITNESSED, ON THE ICE PADS ON MUSKOKA BAY, AND AT GULL LAKE PARK, I THINK THE GRAVENHURST WINTER CARNIVAL COMMITTEE CAN STOP BEATING-ITSELF UP, BECAUSE SOME EVENTS WERE UNDER-ATTENDED. NO ORGANIZER WANTS TO FIND AN ENTERTAINMENT VENUE, IN A WIDELY SPREAD-OUT, WELL DIVERSIFIED, HEAVILY ADVERTISED FESTIVAL, SHORT OF PATRONS. IT'S ENOUGH TO MAKE ANY PROMOTER NUTS, WONDERING WHAT HAPPENED. WHY DO THINGS LIKE THIS HAPPEN TO NICE PEOPLE? BUT IF ONE WAS TO AVERAGE ATTENDANCE OVER THE THREE DAYS, AND EXAMINE THOSE EVENTS WITH HIGHER PARTICIPATION, IT MAY BE QUITE UNDERSTANDABLE WHY SOME FOLKS DECIDED TO STAY OUTDOORS, INSTEAD OF WATCHING BANDS PERFORM AT THE OPERA HOUSE. THIS IS A REALITY FOR THE WINTER CARNIVAL COMMITTEE TO SORT OUT, IN THE POST-MORTEM THEY WILL OBVIOUSLY CONDUCT, SOMETIME IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

REGARDLESS WHAT MAY HAVE GONE WRONG, OR HOW MANY EVENTS WERE UNDER-ATTENDED, THE FACT THAT FAMILIES SHOWED UP WITH THOSE ALL-IMPORTANT CARNIVAL YOUTH, SHOULD MAKE ORGANIZERS PLEASED ABOUT THIS APPROVAL RATING. HAVING SO MANY YOUNGSTERS WANT TO ATTEND THE WINTER CARNIVAL EVENTS, AND KNOWING WHAT "SKOKIE" IS ALL ABOUT, MEANS THE INVESTMENT HAS TAKEN ROOT, AND BEGUN THOSE EVERSO TINY BUDS OF FUTURE INTEREST, THAT WILL PAY DIVIDENDS FOR THE COMMITTEE IN THE YEARS TO COME.

THIS IS ONLY THE THIRD YEAR OF THE REJUVENATED WINTER CARNIVAL FOR OUR TOWN. WHILE I'M SURE THE CARNIVAL COMMITTEE HOPED FOR HUGE CROWDS, I THINK WITH EVEN AN AVERAGE TURN-OUT, THERE WAS THE GENERAL FEELING "WE LIKE THIS FOR OUR TOWN." I'M SURE THERE WILL BE THOSE WHO DIDN'T THINK IT WAS RUN AS WELL AS IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN, AND DIDN'T HAVE THE VOLUNTEER NUMBERS NEEDED TO RUN ALL THE EVENTS THEY HAD PLANNED. WELL, EVEN THE MOST SUCCESSFUL LARGE-SCALE EVENTS, CAN ATTRACT CRITICISM. THE GENEROUS NUMBER OF EVENTS CREATES A HUGE NECESSITY FOR VOLUNTEERS, AND WE MUST APPRECIATE THE DIFFICULTY GETTING DEDICATED FOLKS TO SPEND MANY HOURS OUT IN THE COLD, FOR THE GOOD OF THE CARNIVAL. IT TAKES A LONG TIME TO BUILD-UP THAT KIND OF GOODWILL AGAIN, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE LENGTHY HIATUS BETWEEN THE FORMER MUSKOKA WINTER CARNIVAL, AND THE REVAMPED, RE-STAFFED GRAVENHURST WINTER CARNIVAL. A LOT OF TRUST HAS TO BE BUILT BACK INTO THE EVENT. I THINK IT'S A BORDER-LINE MIRACLE, THAT THEY'VE COME THIS FAR, AND WON SO MUCH SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY, AFTER ONLY THREE YEARS. THIS IS SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF NOW, WHEN PLANNING BEGINS FOR THE 2013 WINTER FETE.

WE TOOK A DRIVE AROUND GRAVENHURST ON BOTH SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, TWO FABULOUS WINTER DAYS IN SOUTH MUSKOKA, AND WE WERE BOTH IMPRESSED BY THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE SKATING ON THE LAKE, SNOWMOBILING ALL OVER THE PLACE, ICE FISHING, SNOW-MOUNTAIN CLIMBING AT GULL LAKE PARK, LINED-UP FOR HELICOPTER RIDES, AND JUST GENERALLY WANDERING ABOUT, ENJOYING THE ATMOSPHERE OF A VERY NICE PLACE ON EARTH……IN SUNNY WEATHER.

IF THERE ARE ORGANIZERS OF THIS YEAR'S CARNIVAL, WHO ARE STILL A LITTLE DEPRESSED BY SOME OF THE SHORT-FALLS, THEY SHOULD BE INSPIRED BY THE REALITY, THEY INSPIRED THE FOLKS WE DID SEE, TO BREAKAWAY FROM THE WINTER DOLDRUMS, AND CELEBRATE NOT ONLY OUR TOWN, BUT OUR ENTIRE REGION. WHILE IT IS STILL A DIFFUSED REALITY, THESE VISITORS TO TOWN, WITH THE RESIDENTS OF OUR TOWN, ADDED TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY……AND WE WATCHED IT. MANY BUSINESSES DID FEEL THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF WINTER CARNIVAL ATTENDANCE, AND IT WOULD BE NICE OF THESE ENTERPRISES, TO LET THE CARNIVAL COMMITTEE, AND THE TOWN ITSELF, KNOW ABOUT THE SUCCESSES, NOT JUST THE PERCEIVED FAILURES. THERE WILL OF COURSE, BE SOME BUSINESSES, WHO WILL INDICATE THE EXACT OPPOSITE, AND FEEL THE CARNIVAL ISN'T AN ECONOMIC STIMULUS AT ALL…..JUST A WASTE OF EFFORT AND TAX DOLLARS BETTER SPENT ON SOMETHING ELSE. OTHERS WILL RALLY WITH THE COMMITTEE, TO WORK A LITTLE HARDER FOR NEXT YEAR, TO MAKE NECESSARY CHANGES THAT GROWTH AND POPULARITY DICTATE, SIMPLY AS A MATTER OF COURSE. THE QUESTION IS, DID WE BENEFIT AS A COMMUNITY, BECAUSE OF THE GRAVENHURST WINTER CARNIVAL?

FROM WHAT I KNOW OF THE MUSKOKA WINTER CARNIVAL, THAT BEGAN AS A THREE TOWN EVENT, BACK IN 1971, IT WAS ESTABLISHED AS A WINTER-SEASON PROMOTION, TO ATTRACT SUMMER VISITORS TO OUR REGION IN JANUARY. FROM IT'S COMMENCEMENT, THERE WAS LITTLE REAL CONCERN, BY ORGANIZERS, FOR SATISFYING THE LOCAL POPULATION. IT WAS A TOURISM-BUILDING INITIATIVE, THAT RECEIVED FUNDING AS SUCH. AS I'VE WRITTEN ABOUT QUITE A FEW TIMES THIS WINTER, SO FAR, I BELIEVE THIS WAS THE WRONG APPROACH THEN, AND AS IT CARRIED ON IN THE SAME TRADITION, FOR MANY YEARS AFTER. BUT IT WAS THE LOCAL POPULATION, FROM THE BEGINNING, THAT SUPPORTED THE CARNIVAL VENUES…..NOT TOURISTS. THIS ISN'T TO SAY THEY DIDN'T ATTEND, BUT NOT IN THE NUMBERS EXPECTED BY THE PREMIER OF ONTARIO, JOHN ROBARTS, AND MINISTER OF TOURISM, JAMES AULD, WHO BOTH WROTE INTRODUCTORY EDITORIALS, IN THAT FIRST CARNIVAL PROGRAM. WHETHER THEY MEANT TO, OR NOT, THEY FORGOT ABOUT "US." APPARENTLY, WE WERE SUPPOSED TO ORGANIZE AND STAFF THE EVENT, BUT NOT ATTEND IT……WE COULD, BUT WE SHOULD PROBABLY STEP BACK TO LET OUR VISITORS HAVE A GOOD TIME FIRST. IT WAS WRONG THEN, AND IT WOULD BE JUST AS ILL-CONCEIVED TODAY, IF THE COMMITTEE WAS TARGETING TOURISTS, BEFORE PLEASING THE HOMETOWN GANG.

WHAT WE HAVE SEEN OVER THE THREE YEARS OF THE CARNIVAL'S RE-GENERATION, IS A STRONG COMMITMENT TO MAKE A WINTER EVENT THAT APPEALS TO THE LOCAL CITIZENRY. WE ARE GLAD TO HAVE VISITORS JOIN US….AS WE HAVE BEEN SHARING OUR REGION SINCE THE 1860'S. THIS MAY BE THE MOST DIFFICULT HURDLE TO JUMP, FOR THE COMMITTEE, BECAUSE MANY FOLKS STILL THINK OF THE WINTER CARNIVAL AS A TOURIST-THING……AND NOT FOR US. WE KNOW DIFFERENTLY, AND I SEE THE CHANGES, THAT ARE ENCOURAGING MORE YOUNGSTERS, TO ASK THEIR PARENTS, TO TAKE THEM TO OUR WINTER CARNIVAL. TAKING THE SKOKIE MESSAGE TO THE LOCAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND SECONDARY SCHOOL, WAS AN EXCEPTIONALLY SOLID INVESTMENT IN GOODWILL. BUT IT'S A LONG TERM PROJECT, AND THE KIND OF SUCCESS WE ALL HOPE FOR, IS STILL A TAD DOWN THE ROAD. IT IS THERE. I TRUST THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS HAVE THE PATIENCE TO WORK THROUGH THESE GROWING PAINS, INSPIRED BY THE OBVIOUS GAINS….HOWEVER SMALL THEY MAY BE.

THERE HAS BEEN A GREAT DEAL OF CONTROVERSY THIS PAST YEAR IN OUR LITTLE TOWN. HAVING TO DEAL WITH THE FALL-OUT OF DEVASTATING FIRES, RECREATION CENTRE INVESTIGATIONS, MAIN STREET ECONOMIC WOES, AND EVEN HIGHER PROPERTY TAXES, IT MIGHT SEEM A THREE DAY WINTER CARNIVAL WOULDN'T DO MUCH TO PUSH BACK THE TIDE OF NEGATIVITY. BUT IT DID. THE GATHERING OF CITIZENS, OF ALL WALKS, ALL PROFESSIONS, ALL POLITICS, STOOD IN THE BLOWING SNOW, FOR FRIDAY NIGHTS OPENING CEREMONY, LOOKING FOR THAT GLIMMER OF SUCCESS WE ALL WANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY. IT WASN'T ONE PARTICULAR ASPECT OF THE OPENING CEREMONIES THAT STRUCK ME, AS BEING MORE POSITIVE THAN SOMETHING ELSE, BUT RATHER, IT WAS THE COLLECTIVE OF STRONG PERSONALITIES, BUNDLED-UP IN THE COLD NIGHT AIR, THE SNOW BURYING THE OPERA HOUSE SQUARE, TO SUPPORT AN INITIATIVE, WORKED ON BY LIKE-MINDED CITIZENS WHO PULLED A TOWN TRADITION OUT OF THE PAST, AND BRAVELY RE-INVESTED. HOPING AGAINST HOPE, RESIDENTS WOULD INVEST WITH THEM. IT WAS A CLEAR DEMONSTRATION, THAT DESPITE THOSE WHO CONTINUE TO INSPIRE NEGATIVITY, BECAUSE IT SEEMS EASIER TO CULTIVATE FROM APPREHENSION, THERE'S CLEARLY ENOUGH GUMPTION, AND INTENT TO FIGHT-ON, TO RAGE INTO THE FUTURE….RATHER THAN WHIMPER ON THE SIDELINES, ABOUT HOW BADLY OFF WE ARE.

OUR FAMILY COMMENDS THOSE KIND FOLKS, OF THE WINTER CARNIVAL COMMITTEE, AND ALL THE VOLUNTEERS, WHO GAVE UP THEIR TIME, TO HELP OUR HOMETOWN. DESPITE THE RIGORS OF REALITY, AND SOME LOW NUMBERS AT A FEW EVENTS, AND THE SHORTAGE OF VOLUNTEERS FOR SOME VENUES, THE COMMITTEE HAS GIVEN US THE TEMPLATE FOR A LONG-TERM WINTER CARNIVAL TRADITION. I HOPE MORE PEOPLE WILL STEP FORWARD AND VOLUNTEER TO HELP THE COMMITTEE ACHIEVE ITS GOALS, AND OBJECTIVES FOR 2013. IT IS A BEHEMOTH CHALLENGE TO UNDERTAKE SUCH A LARGE FESTIVAL. THEY NEED YOUR HELP. OUR TOWN BENEFITS IN SO MANY WAYS, WHEN YOU DO!

JUST REMEMBER THE KIDS. SEEING THOSE SMILING, ROSEY-CHEEKED WEE BAIRNS, MADE IT ALL WORTHWHILE. THE FACT IS, WE HAVE NOT DONE AS MUCH FOR OUR YOUNGER GENERATION, OUR GREAT FUTURE RESOURCE, AS WE SHOULD HAVE IN THE PAST. WE CAN CORRECT THIS. THE WINTER CARNIVAL WAS A GOOD PLACE TO START.

CONGRATULATIONS ONCE AGAIN, ON A WONDERFUL WINTER WEEKEND IN BEAUTIFUL SOUTH MUSKOKA.

AS A FINAL NOTE, I WANT TO HEARTILY THANK THE COUNCILLORS AND STAFF OF THE TOWN OF GRAVENHURST, FOR SUPORTING THE WINTER CARNIVAL COMMITTEE, AND GIVING THEM THE ASSISTANCE, AND RENTAL FORGIVENESS, THEY NEEDED AT A VARIETY OF VENUES, FROM THE RECREATION CENTRE, OPERA HOUSE, TO GULL LAKE PARK AND BEYOND. KNOWING THE TOWN SUPPORTS THIS WINTER INITIATIVE, SHOULD PROVIDE THE COMMITTEE WITH ASSURANCE THEY HAVE A FUTURE….DOING THIS SKOKIE THING! THANKS FOR INVITING US CURRIES TO BE A PART OF IT. SUZANNE IS PLANNING MORE SKOKIE SCARVES FOR NEXT YEAR. OUR LADS, ANDREW AND ROBERT, AND THE GROUP "PRESSURE POINT." WOULDN'T MISS IT!

WHEN SOMEONE SAYS TO YOU….."SO HOW WAS THE WINTER CARNIVAL?" POSSIBLY YOU MIGHT REPLY, WITH SOMETHING LIKE, "IT WAS NICE TO SEE HAPPY FACES IN THIS TOWN FOR A CHANGE."

Living Art, The Town of Gravenhurst

COMMUNITY IN ART - ART OF THE COMMUNITY - GRAVENHURST WAS LIVING ART THIS WEEKEND

I AM A COLLECTOR OF ART. ART THAT I ADMIRE. ART THAT INSPIRES ME TO WRITE. I PURCHASE ART FOR TWO DISTINCT REASONS. FOR RE-SALE, AND BECAUSE IT INSPIRES ME.

I WAS A COLLECTOR BEFORE I WAS AN ANTIQUE DEALER. I WAS A WRITER BEFORE I WAS AN ANTIQUE DEALER OR COLLECTOR. AS A WRITER, I'M OBSESSIVE ABOUT MY SOURCES OF INSPIRATION. WHILE I DO GET A GREAT PLEASURE LOOKING OUT ONTO THE BOG, FROM MY OFFICE WINDOW HERE AT BIRCH HOLLOW, MY ART COLLECTION KEEPS ME COMFORTABLY INSPIRED WHEN I NEED IT MOST. I HAVE FOUR PAINTINGS WITHIN ARM'S REACH. COULD IT BE THAT I'M AN ART OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT MY WIFE DIAGNOSED OF ME, SIX MONTHS AFTER WE WERE MARRIED……..AND HER ONCE SPARSELY DECORATED ABODE BECAME AN ANTIQUE WAREHOUSE. I HATE MYSELF THREE AND A HALF DAYS A WEEK. THE REST OF THE WEEK I LET THESE ART PANELS INSPIRE ME. YOU COULDN'T GET THE SMILE OFF MY FACE WITH A BELT SANDER. I'VE GOT A PAINTING FOR EVERY ONE OF MY THOUSAND AND ONE MOODS.

WHEN SUZANNE WRITES MY BIOGRAPHY, WHICH IS ALREADY HALF DONE, SHE WILL NOTE OF 2012 AS "MY HUSBAND'S MOST PROLIFIC WRITING PERIOD YET." TRUTHFULLY, SHE'S ONLY GUESSING, BECAUSE I SPEND SO MUCH TIME HOLED-UP IN MY OFFICE. I COULD BE CARRYING-ON AN AFFAIR WITH A COMPUTER MATE. RELAX. I ONLY KNOW HOW TO USE THE KEYBOARD, NOT THE ACTUAL COMPUTER. REALLY! SUZANNE DOES NOT READ MY COPY, UNLESS I NEED HER OPINION ABOUT SOME DETAIL INCLUDED. IT'S OUR HISTORY. SO TRUTHFULLY, IF YOU GET THROUGH THIS PARAGRAPH, YOU HAVE NOW READ MORE OF MY WORK, THAN MY WIFE HAS THIS PAST MONTH.

AS I HAVE BEEN WORKING FEVERISHLY, THESE PAST MONTHS, SOMETIMES WRITING SEVERAL BLOGS EACH DAY, IT HAS BEEN IN PREPARATION FOR THE BIOGRAPHY I'M WORKING ON, FOR THE FAMILY OF FORMER MUSKOKA ARTIST, RICHARD KARON. IT'S LIKE GETTING READY TO RUN THE BOSTON MARATHON, OR TRY-OUT FOR THE BLUE JAYS. LIKE AN ARTIST WHO MAY SKETCH A DOZEN PANELS, JUST TO GET ONE THAT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR A LARGER ART PAINTING. I HAVE TO WRITE AND WRITE, IN ORDER TO WORK OUT MY CREATIVE ISSUES, AND OBSTACLES, IN ORDER TO FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THE KARON BIOGRAPHY. I'M NOT THERE YET. CLOSE, BUT STILL FEELING I NEED TO SEE MORE OF HIS WORK BEFORE SETTING HIS LIFE TO PRINT. I HAVE TO IMMERSE IN THE DETAILS OF MR. KARON'S PAST, AND THAT WILL TAKE ME TO WORLD WAR II POLAND, AND THIS IS NOT A GENTLE OR PASSIVE STORY. WHILE IT MAY BE THE WRITER'S PREROGATIVE TO OPINE, THAT RICHARD KARON WAS A LUCKY MAN TO SURVIVE THE GERMAN INVASION, I MUST ALSO RECKON THAT WHAT HE SAW, AND EXPERIENCED DURING THE OCCUPATION, INFLUENCED HIS VIEW OF LIFE, AND HIS EXPECTATIONS OF ART, AS EXPRESSIONS OF FREEDOM.

I AM CURRENTLY IMBEDDING MYSELF IN THE ARTIST'S BIOGRAPHY. I HAVE HAD MANY OF HIS ART PANELS OVER THE YEARS, AND I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH HIM, ONCE, AT HIS LAKE OF BAYS ART STUDIO, NEAR THE VILLAGE OF BAYSVILLE. I HAD A CHANCE THEN TO ENJOY THE FINISHED LANDSCAPES, HUNG IN THE GALLERY HE CRAFTED AMIDST THE MUSKOKA PINERY. I AM NERVOUS OF THE PROJECT, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME EAGER TO COMMENCE THE SERIOUS WORK, OF PUTTING ALL THE RESEARCH INTO AN INSIGHTFUL, RESPONSIBLY PROPORTIONED TEXT. IT SHOULD APPEAR ON THIS BLOG-SITE BEFORE THE END OF MARCH, AND WILL BE ENTIRELY INTER-ACTIVE, AND COMMENTS AND NEW INFORMATION ABOUT MR. KARON IS WELCOME.

I WENT THROUGH THE SAME RIGORS OF SELF-DOUBT, WORKING ON A BIOGRAPHY OF BRACEBRIDGE AND MILFORD BAY ARTIST ROBERT EVERETT, AND VICTORIAN ERA ARTIST, ADA FLORENCE KINTON, OF HUNTSVILLE. THE INTENSIVE RESEARCH, I UNDERTOOK, ON THE MYSTERY OF CANADIAN ARTIST, TOM THOMSON, REGARDING HIS ALLEGED DROWNING, IN JULY 1917, WHILE TRAVERSING ALGONQUIN'S CANOE LAKE, STUCK WITH ME THROUGH SIX OR MORE RE-WRITES, OVER A DOZEN YEARS, AND NUMEROUS PUBLICATIONS. YOU CAN ACCESS THE THOMSON STORIES VIA MY MUSKOKA AND ALGONQUIN GHOSTS SITE. YOU CAN READ ADA KINTON'S BIOGRAPHY BY GOING BACK ON THIS BLOG-SITE, TO RE-POSTED ARTICLES THAT APPEARED OVER THE COURSE OF 2011 IN "CURIOUS: THE TOURIST GUIDE."

FOR SEVERAL HOURS BEFORE I WRITE ONE OF THESE BLOGS, ESPECIALLY ANYTHING WITH A "LANDSCAPE" OR "URBAN VIEW" THEME, I WILL FIND SOME PIECE OF ART THAT WILL GIVE ME A LITTLE MOOD ENHANCEMENT. I MAY NOT ACTUALLY REFER TO IT, OR SHOW A GRAPHIC OF THE SUBJECT PAINTING I'VE USED, (WITH THE BLOG), BUT NONE THE LESS, IT WILL HAVE INFLUENCED THAT DAY'S WORK. FROM MY EARLIEST FORAYS IN INK, AS A FLEDGLING WRITER, I HAD ART PANELS AROUND MY DESK, HUNG EVERYWHERE THERE WAS A BIT OF OPEN WALL SPACE. I HAD GROWN UP WITH TWO WONDERFUL LITTLE PAINTINGS, MY MOTHER ACQUIRED…..ONE OF AN AUTUMN FOREST AND POND, BY ARTIST WILLIAM KRANLEY, WHO SHE USED TO WORK FOR IN TORONTO, AND AN OCEAN SCENE PAINTED BY T. LOOKSOONER. BOTH THESE PAINTINGS ARE HEIRLOOM ITEMS (ONE FOR EACH SON) THAT I WOULD NEVER THINK OF SELLING. THEY'RE NOT OF SIGNIFICANT VALUE BUT THEY HAVE ALWAYS REMINDED ME OF MY PARENTS AND THEIR FRUGALITY, WHEN IT CAME TO WALL DECORATION. I HAVE NO WALL SPACE LEFT IN OUR ENTIRE HOUSE. I GREW UP WITH THESE TWO MODEST PAINTINGS. NOW I'M GROWING OLD, LIVING PLEASANTLY WITHIN A GALLERY. SUZANNE SPENDS HOURS DUSTING THE FRAMES…..AND MUMBLING TO HERSELF THAT SHE SHOULD HAVE MARRIED A GOLF PRO, OR AT THE VERY LEAST, A MINIMALIST. IT'S NOT EASY BEING MARRIED TO A COLLECTOR AND A WRITER…..AND NOT HAVING A THERAPIST ON SPEED-DIAL.

EACH PAINTING OR ENGRAVING, SCULPTURE OR PIECE OF CANADIAN FOLK ART, HAS SOMETHING TO OFFER US, OVER THE FOUR SEASONS. MOST IMPORTANT FOR ME, IS THAT PAINTINGS ARE MY SOURCE OF INSPIRATION ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS, AND THERE ISN'T A WEEK THAT GOES BY THAT I DON'T ACQUIRE AT LEAST ONE OTHER PLEASANT OR PROVOCATIVE ETCHING, ENGRAVING, PRINT, ORIGINAL WATERCOLOR OR OIL PAINTING. I'M PRETTY BUDGET CONSCIOUS, SO EVERY ONE OF THEM IS DEEMED, FIRST AND FOREMOST, TO BE A GOOD INVESTMENT FOR THE PRICE PAID, AND A PIECE THAT WILL GENERATE A MOOD FOR ME TO, WELL, "WRITE SOMETHING." LIKE THIS FOR EXAMPLE.

WHEN I WAS A KID, GROWING UP IN BRACEBRIDGE, MY BARBER, BILL ANDERSON, WAS AN ARTIST, WHO PAINTED HIS WELL KNOWN MUSKOKA LANDSCAPES, IN BETWEEN CUTTING HAIR. I'M NOT KIDDING. HE'D TUCK ME INTO THE BARBER'S CHAIR, COMB AND CUT, WHILE HAVING A CUP OF TEA, AND STARING AT THE ART PANEL ON A NEARBY EASLE. HE WOULD STOP CUTTING MY HAIR, GET MORE TEA, AND PICK UP HIS PAINT BRUSH, TO ADD SOMETHING HE FELT THE LANDSCAPE WAS LACKING. IT WAS A FABULOUS EXPERIENCE. I ASKED TO GO TO THE BARBERSHOP. OLD BILL WOULD EVEN ASK MY OPINION, IF I THOUGHT A COLOR WAS TOO BRIGHT, OR A TREE NOT QUITE WHAT IT SHOULD LOOK LIKE. I DON'T THINK HE REALLY CARED WHAT I SAID, BUT I WAS DELIGHTED HE ASKED.

THE PHARMACIST DOWN THE ROAD, WAS BOB EVERETT, A WELL KNOWN MUSKOKA PAINTER, WHO AT ONE TIME IN HIS YOUNG CAREER, PAINTED ON THE WOOD LIDS OF CIGAR BOXES, THAT WERE SHIPPED AS INVENTORY TO THE SHOP. BOB SCAVENGED THE LIDS THAT WERE PERFECT FOR HIS SMALL LANDSCAPES. BOB, ON OCCASION, USED TO PAINT WITH GEORGE THOMSON, BROTHER OF TOM THOMSON, ON PAINTING JAGS AROUND THE MUSKOKA LAKES. THEIR WORK, WHEN VIEWED SIDE BY SIDE, IS STRIKINGLY SIMILAR. ONE OF MY SCHOOL CHUMS WAS A GAS JOCKEY AT HIS DAD'S UPTOWN ESSO STATION, IN BRACEBRIDGE, WHO PAINTED LANDSCAPES IN BETWEEN PUMPING FUEL. ROSS SMITH IS A TALENTED ARTIST, AND TED SMITH'S GARAGE WAS A GOOD PLACE TO GET GAS…..AND TALK, AND WATCH ROSS PAINT HIS PANELS BY THE SALES DESK. WHEN ROSS AND I FINISHED OUR THIRD YEAR AT YORK UNIVERSITY, IN TORONTO, HE OFFERED ME A HUGE QUANTITY OF HIS SKETCHES, AND A FEW OIL PAINTINGS, THAT HAD BEEN STACKED IN HIS ROOM. I TOOK THEM ALL. MY GIRLFRIEND, AT THE TIME, COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT I WANTED TO STUFF THE ENTIRE COLLECTION IN HER CAR, FOR THAT RETURN TRIP BACK TO BRACEBRIDGE. WHILE THERE WERE WATERCOLORS THAT COULD BE ROLLED TOGETHER, HE GAVE ME CANVAS ON STRETCHERS, THAT DIDN'T FIT COMFORTABLY IN GAIL'S VOLKSWAGON BEETLE. WE DID GET THEM TO OUR MANITOBA STREET HOUSE, AND FOR THE YEARS I LIVED THERE, THE PAINTINGS HE GAVE ME WERE AT MY SIDE CONSTANTLY. I WAS NOT AN ARTIST THEN, AND CERTAINLY NOT NOW. SO I HAVE SURROUNDED MYSELF WITH THE ART WORK OF OTHERS.

IN YESTERDAY'S BLOG, REGARDING THE OPENING CEREMONIES OF THE 2012 GRAVENHURST WINTER CARNIVAL, I REFERENCED THE WORK OF WELL KNOWN LOCAL ARTIST, DALE DURNAN. THERE IS A RE-PRINT OF ONE OF HER NOSTALGIC, NAIVE ART PANELS, PUBLISHED ON PAGE 143, OF THE BOOK, "THE MANY STAGES OF OUR LIVES - A MUSKOKA TRADITION - THE GRAVENHURST OPERA HOUSE," PUBLISHED IN 2001. THE ART WORK DEPICTS A WHIMSICAL, ROMANTIC, SENTIMENTAL OVERVIEW OF THE OPERA HOUSE (SEE ACCOMPANYING GRAPHIC), WHICH WAS USED AS THE COVER ART, FOR THE HISTORIC LANDMARK'S CENTENNIAL-SEASON PROGRAM. THE CAPTION UNDER THE GRAPHIC READS, "THE OP'S (OPERA HOUSE) ANNUAL AND ARTFUL BROCHURE, PROMOTING ITS UPCOMING STRAW HAT FESTIVAL, HAS BECOME A FAMILIAR HARBINGER OF SPRING IN MUSKOKA, SIMILAR TO THAT OF A FIRST ROBIN SIGHTING. THIS YEAR'S BROCHURE COVER WILL FEATURE THE HOMESPUN ART WORK OF GRAVENHURST'S OWN, DALE DURNAN. OF INTEREST ON THE OCCASION OF THE OP'S CENTENNIAL IS THE FACT DALE'S HUSBAND, GORD, IS THE GREAT-GRANDSON OF OPERA HOUSE VISIONARY, CHARLES MICKLE."

WHEN I STUDY THIS FOLKISH, HAPPY, LEACOCKIAN DEPICTION, OF HOME TOWN LIFE, AND TIMES, AND THE COURTYARD FETE, AGAINST THE FAMILIAR BACKDROP OF PLEASING OPERA HOUSE ARCHITECTURE, AND SIMPLE, COUNTRY-RED BRICK, I KNOW, WITHOUT A DOUBT, THAT IT IS THE HAUNTING PARALLEL OF HOW I'VE BEEN LOOKING, AND WRITING ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY FOR DECADES. IN FACT, IF THERE IS ANY ARTIST TODAY, WHO HAS TRULY CHARACTERIZED GRAVENHURST'S HISTORICAL AMBIENCE, AND STRIKING GOOD HUMOR, AT THE SAME TIME, ON THE SAME PANEL, I WOULD SAY IT IS THIS CHARMING MANIFESTATION OF IMAGINATION AND ADVENTURE. THE ART OF DALE DURNAN. I HAD BEEN LOOKING AT THE OPERA HOUSE BOOK, LAST EVENING, JUST BEFORE BUNDLING-UP AGAINST THE STORM, TO ATTEND THE OPENING CEREMONIES, OF THE GRAVENHURST WINTER CARNIVAL. IT'S TRUE, I SWEAR……I LANDED ON PAGE 143, OF THE OPERA HOUSE BOOK, SIPPING THE LAST TEA DROP IN THE CUP, AND ONCE AGAIN ENJOYED A GLIMPSE OF DALE'S MEMORABLE INTERPRETATION OF THE OPERA HOUSE AND FESTIVE GATHERING OF LOCAL CITIZENRY. AS STRANGE AS MY LIFE IS, ON MOST DAYS, ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE I MET AT THE EVENT, WAS DALE'S HUSBAND GORD, AND FROM THAT MOMENT, EVERYTHING THAT UNFOLDED WAS AS IF THE ARTIST WAS CREATING THE WHOLE THING, BRUSH STROKE BY BRUSH STROKE.

THE OPERA HOUSE SQUARE WAS BRIGHTLY ILLUMINATED, THE TREES LIMBS WERE WEIGHED DOWN BY THE AFTERNOON'S SNOW. WE ALL HAD TO RAISE COLLARS AND SCARVES, TO SHIELD OUR FACES FROM THE SHARP WIND, WHIPPING THE SNOW-CLUMPS DOWN OFF THE TREES, LIKE SPARKLING CRYSTAL CLOUDS, BEDAZZLING US, THROUGH THE INTENSE LIGHTS OF THE SQUARE. THERE WAS MUSIC, DANCING, MASCOTS, SCARVES BLOWING IN THE WIND, KIDS HURLING SNOWBALLS, HOCKEY PLAYERS WALKING BY WITH STICKS OVER THEIR SHOULDERS, PARENTS WITH WEE BAIRNS BUNDLED TIGHTLY, SAFELY AGAINST THEIR CHESTS, LITTLE RED FACES PEERING OUT, AND SO MUCH FOLKISH GOOD-NEIGHBORLINESS; A HALE AND HEARTY FELLOWSHIP, SOME OF US HAD FORGOTTEN EXISTED IN OUR TOWN. NO MATTER HOW I LOOKED AT THE SCENE UNFOLDING, THE MUSICIANS ON THE STAGE, THE DIGNITARIES AT THE MICROPHONE, A SNOW-COVERED DOG NAMED TWIGGY, AND SO MANY MITT-CLAD HANDS APPLAUDING, I SAW A DALE DURNAN PAINTING……AS IF IT HAD SLIPPED OFF AN ART PANEL HUNG ON AN EASLE, AND BY AN ACT OF PROVIDENCE, HAD SOMEHOW COME TO LIFE. IT WAS THE LIFE OF OUR TOWN, SHE CAPTURED IN THAT FORMER OPERA HOUSE PAINTING, I COULDN'T GET OUT OF MY MIND. THIS SCENE I HAD BEEN A PART OF, WAS OUR TOWN AS ART. FOR THOSE WONDERFUL MOMENTS, IT WAS ALL WHIMSICAL ADVENTURE, AS IF WE HAD ALL BEEN SHAKEN TO LIFE IN THE SNOW-GLOBE OF A WINTER CARNIVAL TRADITION. THERE WAS NO COMPLAINING, NO ERRANT SNIDE COMMENTS, NOTHING PARTICULARLY DISTRACTING. ADVERSARIES SHOOK HANDS, YOUNG LOVERS HELD EACH OTHER TIGHT AGAINST THE COLD, OLDTIMERS LIKE ME, CUDDLED OUR SIGNIFICANT OTHERS……THE NEGATIVITY OF AN ENTIRE YEAR, WAS SWALLOWED BY A CHEERFUL, SPIRITED COMMUNITY FETE, VOID OF ANYTHING SERIOUS; LIBERATED BY THE BRIGHTNESS OF POTENTIAL, ALL ON SUCH A MAGNIFICENT MUSKOKA NIGHT, AS THIS.

I HAVE AGAIN INCLUDED AN IMAGE OF MY OTHER FAVORITE GRAVENHURST ARTIST, FRANK C. JOHNSTON, AND HIS 1987 WATERCOLOR ENTITLED "THE STATION," SHOWING THE NORTHLANDER STOPPED FOR PASSENGERS…..IN A VERY SNOWY ENVIRONS. I STILL GET A TEAR IN MY EYE, THINKING BACK TO THE WONDERFUL OUTINGS, THIS ART LOVING FAMILY HAD, AT SLOANS RESTAURANT, IN QUIET CONTEMPLATION, OF FRANK'S FAMOUS STEAMSHIP PAINTINGS, THAT HAD HUNG OVER THE DINING TABLES THERE, FOR YEARS…..AND THRILLED THOUSANDS OF CUSTOMERS. THE LOSS OF THOSE PAINTINGS? EPIC! THE QUESTION IS, CAN WE GET THEM BACK? WE CAN DREAM, CAN'T WE?

I ONLY HAVE A FEW FRANK JOHNSTON PRINTS, HUNG AT BIRCH HOLLOW, BUT I WOULD LIKE MORE. I HAVE MY EYE ON A DALE DURNAN "NUMBERED PRINT," THAT I'M DUTIFULLY WATCHING, FOR SALE, AT A LOCAL ANTIQUE SHOP, WHICH ONE DAY SOON, MIGHT ALSO ARRIVE HERE TO JOIN THE COLLECTION. I AM SO VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THE WORK BOTH ARTISTS HAVE DONE, TO HIGHLIGHT OUR MUSKOKA, AND GRAVENHURST HERITAGE. THE SEASONS. THE PEOPLE WHO CALL THIS PLACE HOME. I'D FEEL QUITE COMFORTABLE CASUALLY WALKING INTO DALE'S NOSTALGICALLY ELEGANT VISION OF THE OPERA HOUSE SQUARE, JUST AS I WOULD FEEL INVIGORATED AND EXCITED, WHILE TRUNDLING THROUGH THE SNOW, BURDENED WITH WINTER-WEAR, TRIPPING WITH ENTHUSIASM WITH MY TRAIN BUDDY, FRED SCHULZ, TO CATCH THAT MAGNIFICENT OLD NORTHLANDER, STOPPED AT THE STATION..….JUST AS FRANK JOHNSTON WANTED US TO DO. HE DID EVERYTHING FOR US, IN THAT PAINTING, EXCEPT BUY US OUR TICKETS. YOU NEVER KNOW WHERE FRED AND I MIGHT HAVE WOUND-UP, ON THAT FREEDOM-TRAIN……THE NORTHLANDER, WHIPPING GRACEFULLY THROUGH THE SNOWY WILDS OF ONTARIO, LIKE A BLUE BOBSLED ON SILVER RAILS. TWO FINE ARTISTS. DALE DURNAN. FRANK C. JOHNSTON. TWO ARTISTS WHO HAVE CAPTURED THE ESSENCE OF WHAT IT'S LIKE TO LIVE HERE……WHERE FOLKS ARE ONLY AS SERIOUS AS WE NEED TO BE, TO GET A JOB DONE, BUT NEVER TOO CONSERVATIVE TO MISS A LIBERAL ADVENTURE.

I AM AN ART COLLECTOR. A WRITER. A DREAMER. A RESIDENT OF A TOWN MADE UP OF CREATIVE THINKERS, ARTISANS, CRAFTERS, KNITTERS, POTTERS, WOOD CRAFTERS, WEAVERS, PAINTERS…..THOSE WHO SEW, QUILT, SCULPT AND WRITE. WHAT ABOUT THE GARDENERS WHO CULTIVATE SUCH PROSPEROUS AND BEAUTIFUL GARDENS? ARTISTS TOO, EACH OF THEM.

I'M HAPPY TO BE HOME. WHAT ABOUT YOU?

Gravenhurst Carnival Success, A Nostalgic Treat

THE TRUE HALLMARKS OF TRADITION RESPECTED - THE NOSTALGIA OF SKOKIE, THE MUSKOKA OTTER

IT WAS SNOWY, WITH A BRISK WIND, AND ELECTRIC GUITARS, AND OH YES, IT WAS AN UPTOWN GRAVENHURST EVENT

GRAVENHURST, IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANY CONNECTION TO IT, IS THE TRADITIONAL GATEWAY TO MUSKOKA. IT IS THE FIRST MAJOR TOWN YOU ARRIVE AT, COMING NORTH. IT IS THE LAST MUSKOKA TOWN YOU VISIT, HEADING SOUTH. IF YOU LIVE IN GRAVENHURST, WELL, YOU DON'T REALLY WANT TO GO NORTH OR SOUTH, BECAUSE LIFE'S PRETTY GOOD RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW.

THERE ARE DOZENS OF HISTORICAL RELEVANCES TO THIS FIRST (OR LAST) MUSKOKA TOWN, (DEPENDING ON THE DIRECTION YOU'RE TRAVELING) AND MANY SIGNIFICANT CANADIANS WHO, AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER, HAVE CALLED THIS PICTURESQUE LITTLE BURG THEIR HOMETOWN. WE HAD DON HARRON BEFORE HE WAS CHARLIE FARQUHARSON. TONIGHT GRAVENHURST WAS FAMOUS FOR ANOTHER REASON. FOR SEVERAL HOURS, ON ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL NIGHTS OF THIS ENTIRE WINTER, THERE WASN'T A COMPLAINT, AN ARGUMENT, A CRITICISM, OR A HIGH STICK (ON THE BALL HOCKEY PAD). THE TOWN THAT HAS HAD A RATHER ROUGH YEAR, WITH QUITE A NUMBER OF NEWS EVENTS, FROM FIRES TO ECONOMIC WOES, NEEDED THIS NIGHT OF UNRESERVED, UNFETTERED FRIVOLITY. IT WAS A HEALING NIGHT, YOU MIGHT SAY, AND WE ALL FOUND GOOD COMPANY WITH AN OLD OTTER, NAMED SKOKIE, AND A RADIO MOOSE…..AND AN EVENT KNOWN AS THE GRAVENHURST WINTER CARNIVAL.

THE SNOW WAS ABUNDANT AND THE WIDE HAD A BITE TO IT, AND SOME TOES WERE GETTING NUMB, BUT YOU WOULDN'T KNOW THAT BY LOOKING AT THIS CROWD OF MUSKOKA MERRY-MAKERS. THIS LAST FRIDAY, OF FEBRUARY, 2012, WAS JUST TOO LIGHT-HEARTED AND FUN TO HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WHATSOEVER, WITH EVEN THE SLIGHTEST NEGATIVE THOUGHT. TONIGHT IT WAS ABOUT THE FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS, KITH AND KIN, FAMILIES….OH SO MANY FAMILIES, THE BABIES IN ARMS, THE TODDLERS ON THE TEAR, SNOWBALLS IN THE AIR. THIS WAS WHAT A HOMETOWN SHOULD BE DOING AT A TIME LIKE THIS. IT WAS LIKE A DALE DURNAN PAINTING COME TO LIFE…….AS IT IS HER WORK, AS A LOCAL ARTIST, THAT WOULD HAVE REPRESENTED THIS SCENE BEST. FOLKS PUTTING DIFFERENCES ASIDE TO ENJOY ENJOY A COMMUNITY FETE. A IT WAS FANTASTIC TO SEE SO MANY BUNDLED-UP "SKOKIE-LOVING" CITIZENS, OUT IN THE WINTER STORM TO PARTICIPATE IN THE OPENING CEREMONIES, OF THE ANNUAL WINTER CARNIVAL, IN THE ELECTRIC ATMOSPHERE OF THE OPERA HOUSE SQUARE.

ALL THE NEGATIVITY OF THE PAST YEAR JUST BLEW AWAY, INTO THE SPIRALS OF DASHING SNOW, AND IT WAS TIME TO CELEBRATE THE GOOD GRACES WE DO POSSESS…..LIKE THE STALWART VOLUNTEERS WHO STAFF THE CARNIVAL COMMITTEE FOR OUR BENEFIT. TONIGHT, HOPEFULLY, THE CITIZENS EXPRESSED THEIR CONGRATULATIONS HEARTILY ENOUGH, AND SINCERE THANKS TO ALL THOSE VOLUNTEERS, AND MUNICIPAL SUPPORT STAFF, AND COUNCILLORS, FOR KEEPING THIS IMPORTANT TOWN AND SOUTH MUSKOKA TRADITION ALIVE.

THE GROUP "PRESSURE POINT," DESPITE THE BLOWING SNOW, WERE ABLE TO PLAY THEIR "SKOKIE SONG,"AND A FEW MORE, FOR THE ENTHUSIASTIC WINTER-WRAPPED AUDIENCE, TO GET THE CELEBRATIONS UNDERWAY. AT THE TIME OF THE PERFORMANCE, BY THE WAY, THE YOU-TUBE MUSIC VIDEO HAD ENJOYED 1,300 HITS, OVER THREE WEEKS ONLINE. THE SONG, IN CASE YOU DIDN'T KNOW, WAS DONATED TO THE CARNIVAL COMMITTEE, AS A THANK-YOU FOR THEIR EFFORTS TO KEEP THE WINTER CARNIVAL PROGRAM GOING. OF COURSE THIS OLD ROADIE WAS PROUD. TWO OF THE BAND-MEMBERS ARE MY SONS, ROBERT AND ANDREW. THE LEAD SINGER WAS DANI O'CONNOR AND GUITARIST, AARON BINDER. BACK UP PERFORMERS WERE SINGER JON O'CONNOR AND ROB ALMOND. THEY GOT A LITTLE SNOWY AND COLD BUT IT JUST DIDN'T MATTER. THE SHOW HAD TO GO ON.

WHAT A PLEASANT SURPRISE TO FIND MUSKOKA MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT, NORM MILLER, AND GRAVENHURST MAYOR PAISLEY DONALDSON, ON STAGE, SINGING ALONG WITH THE "SKOKIE SONG." TALK ABOUT ENGAGING THE AUDIENCE. THIS WAS THE HUMANIST SIDE OF POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT WE DON'T OFTEN SEE. AND GUESS WHO MADE THE SCARVES THEY WERE PROUDLY WEARING? MY DEAR WIFE SUZANNE, WHO STARTED KNITTING THE SCARVES IN LATE DECEMBER. SHE GETS A FEW WEEKS OFF, BEFORE SHE HAS TO START FILLING NEXT YEAR'S ORDER OF SKOKIE-WEAR. I HAVE TO DON EAR PLUGS BECAUSE THE TAPPING OF KNITTING NEEDLES, SOUNDS TOO MUCH LIKE A DRIPPING TAP. YOU'D THINK THAT AFTER A QUARTER CENTURY OF THE SAME "TICKY TACKY" SOUND, I'D BE USED TO IT. AYE, SHE COMPLAINS ABOUT MY TAPPING AT THE KEYBOARD, SO WE'RE EVEN. SHE LIKES TO KNIT, AND I LIKE TO WRITE STORIES ABOUT HER KNITTING, AND THE GRAVENHURST WINTER CARNIVAL, OF COURSE, WHICH IS WHAT THIS COLUMN IS ABOUT……..A HECK OF A BIG THANK YOU TO A HOME TOWN, FOR COMING TOGETHER, TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR A GOOD OLD FASHIONED PARTY…..WHERE EVERYBODY IS INVITED. EVEN THE OLD GROUCHES LIKE ME. I NEVER GET INVITED TO PARTIES. EXCEPT THIS ONE!

IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS, AFTER WE PUT OUT A REQUEST FOR WINTER CARNIVAL MEMORABILIA, (BACK TO THE ORIGINAL THREE TOWN CARNIVAL IN 1971), WE HAVE HAD MANY FOLKS DROPPING OFF SKOKIE ITEMS, AT THE BOYS'S MUSIC SHOP, ON MUSKOKA ROAD, RANGING FROM TOQUES AND ORIGINAL SCARVES, TO BUTTONS AND PINS, WHICH THE BAND WAS WEARING FOR TONIGHT'S PERFORMANCE. WE PLAN TO KEEP COLLECTING THE MATERIAL, AND POSSIBLY NEXT YEAR, THE ORGANIZING COMMITTEE, WILL ASK US TO SET UP A LITTLE DISPLAY OF CARNIVAL NOSTALGIA AT THE OPERA HOUSE. WE CURRIES ARE EXHIBITIONISTS. GRANDSTANDERS. BUT WE MEAN WELL!

JUST A SHORT NOTE TODAY ABOUT NOSTALGIA COLLECTING, AND FUTURE BLOGS IN PRODUCTION

I'VE BEEN WRITING RECENTLY ABOUT NOSTALGIA COLLECTING, AS THE TRENDY, BABY BOOMER, "FEEL-GOOD" STUFF, OF THIS NEW CENTURY. IT'S NOT LIKE IT NEEDED A NEW CENTURY TO BE POPULAR, BECAUSE I WAS SELLING OODLES OF NOSTALGIA, WHEN WE HAD OUR BRACEBRIDGE SHOP, BACK IN THE EARLY 1990'S. I DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING LIKE WHAT OUR BOYS HAVE NOW, IN THE WAY OF VINTAGE VINYL, BUT I DID SELL A LOT BACK THEN DESPITE HAVING LESS STOCK, AND FEWER PLACES TO BUY THEM. A LOT OF PEOPLE BACK THEN, AT AROUND THE TIME CD'S STARTED POPPING UP, WERE JUST HAULING LOADED BOXES OF RECORDS TO THE LANDFILL SITE, AND DUMPING THEM INTO THE METAL BINS, WITH NARY A THOUGHT WHAT COLLECTOR'S MIGHT PAY FOR THEIR JUNK. BILLIONS OF RECORDS DIED THIS WAY. MANY BILLIONS OF DOLLARS WERE LOST. BUT, AS SUPPLY AND DEMAND WORKS ITS MAGIC, IN THE COLLECTIBLE TRADE, THE FACT THAT SO MANY RECORDS WERE THROWN OUT, MEANS THE AVAILABILITY HAS BEEN SUBSTANTIALLY DIMINISHED OVER THE PAST FEW DECADES. THERE ARE SHORTAGES OF ARTISTS, WHOSE WORK JUST HAPPENS TO BE HOT AT THE MOMENT. THIS CHANGES FAST, AND SO DOES PROFIT AND LOSS. ALL I KNOW, IS THAT I WAS ONCE, THE CHAP STANDING WITH A BOX OF RECORDS AT THAT SAME DUMPSITE….AND I'VE LIVED WITH REGRET EVER SINCE. IT WAS BEFORE I GOT MARRIED AND I WAS LIVING LIKE A VAGABOND, SO SPACE WAS TIGHT…..IN THAT SUITCASE OF MINE.

I CAN REMEMBER SAYING THIS TO ONE ELDERLY GENTLEMAN, WHO WAS IN THE MIDST OF TOSSING STUFFED BOXES AND OVER-FLOWING BAGS OF VINTAGE VINYL INTO THE GARBAGE. IT WASN'T THAT HE DIDN'T BELIEVE ME, WHEN I SAID THEY COULD BE WORTH A LOT OF MONEY ONE DAY. HE JUST LOOKED AT ME, BACK AT HIS TRUNK, AND SAID, "SON, I CAN'T WAIT THAT LONG." SO HE HANDED ME THE BAG HE HAD IN HIS HAND, AND OFFERED THE REST OF THEM TO ME. I KNEW WHAT HE MEANT, AND HE WAS RIGHT. IT HAS TAKEN QUITE A FEW YEARS TO REACH THIS MINOR PINNACLE…….OF MORE TO COME. I GAVE THOSE RECORDS, GENEROUSLY OFFERED TO ME, TO ANDREW AND ROBERT, WHO PLAYED THEM OVER AND OVER AND OVER, THROUGHOUT THEIR TEENAGE YEARS.

THEIR MOTHER GAVE THEM ALL THE 45'S SHE USED TO GET, FROM THE JUKE BOX, THAT WAS A MAINSTAY IN THE FAMILY MARINA AND SNACK BAR, IN WINDERMERE, BACK IN THE LATE 1960'S AND EARLY 70'S. WHEN THE GENTLEMAN, A MR. ARNEY, WOULD COME INTO THE SKIPPER TO CHANGE THE RECORDS OVER, FOR THE NEW HITS OF THE MONTH, HE WOULD GIVE SUZANNE THE ONES THAT WERE OUT-DATED. SHE BUILT-UP HUNDREDS OF RECORDS THIS WAY, AND THEY ALL BECAME THE BOYS' COLLECTION. NOSTALGIA WAS INTRODUCED TO THEM BEFORE THEY HAD A CLUE WHAT THAT MEANT. THEY CAME TO UNDERSTAND NOSTALGIA THROUGH MUSIC. I THINK IT WAS THE BEST LEARNING EXPERIENCE THEY COULD HAVE ASKED FOR. THEN, OF COURSE, CAME THE POISON. MAYBE THAT WORD IS TOO HARSH. BUT IT WAS THE RIGHT TURN AT THE CROSSROADS, BECAUSE THEY HAD ENTERED INTO FREE MARKET ENTERPRISE. THE RECORDS THEY LOVED, WERE ALSO ITEMS WORTH CONSIDERABLE MONEY. THEY HAD TO OWN RECORD PRICE GUIDES, AND THEN THE BOOKS ON THE BANDS, THEY HAD BEEN LISTENING TO, FOR SO VERY LONG. NOSTALGIA OFFERED THE FULL CIRCLE OF LEARNING FOR TWO LADS WHO HAD NEVER BEEN THRILLED ABOUT GOING TO SCHOOL. THEY WENT FOR THE SOCIAL INTERACTION, AND THE CHANCE TO PLAY IN THE SCHOOL BAND. THE CLASSROOM, OF PREFERENCE, WAS THE ANTIQUE ROAD TRIP, REPEATED MORE THAN A THOUSAND TIMES, ALL OVER GOD'S HALF ACRE. AND BY GOLLY, IT'S IMPACTED IN A POSITIVE AND SUBSTANTIAL WAY. IT'S THE REASON THEY PICKED UP GUITARS. TO PLAY ALONG WITH THEIR VINTAGE VINYL. COLLECTING IS A CRAZY, CRAZY ACTIVITY, NOT FOR THE FAINT HEARTED. BUT IT HAS A MAGIC TO IT, THAT IS HARD TO DEFINE….BUT EASY TO ENJOY. KIND OF THE PETER FONDA, DENNIS HOPPER "EASY RIDER" THING. AN OPEN ROAD AND MONEY TO BLOW…….ON NOSTALGIA.

WHEN I WAS WATCHING OUR LADS THIS EVENING, PERFORMING IN THE PERFECT POSTCARD SCENE, OF BEDAZZLING WINTER SNOW, SCARF-WRAPPED SPECTATORS, WITH THE OPERA HOUSE ARCHITECTURE AS BACKGROUND, IT WAS PRETTY HARD NOT TO THINK BACK TO THE WAY IT ALL BEGAN……WITH THE INNOCENT IMMERSION IN NOSTALGIA, MUSIC, AND A RESPECT FOR HISTORY. IT WAS ALL TOGETHER IN THE WORDS OF THE SONG…..THE TRIBUTE TO "SKOKIE," THE MASCOT "OTTER," FIRST INTRODUCED IN JANUARY 1971, THE FIRST YEAR OF THE THREE-TOWN MUSKOKA WINTER CARNIVAL. AS A TRIBUTE TO THOSE EARLY YEARS, AND THANKS TO THEIR FRIEND FRED SCHULZ, THEY WERE ABLE TO DON SOME OF THE ORIGINAL CARNIVAL BUTTONS, SHOWING THEIR RESPECT FOR ALL THE WINTER CARNIVAL COMMITTEES OF THE PAST. SUZANNE BEGAN KNITTING TRADEMARK ORANGE "SKOKIE" SCARVES IN LATE DECEMBER, FOR EACH MEMBER OF THE BAND. SHE WAS EXCITED TO HAVE KNITTED ENOUGH, BY LATE LAST EVENING, TO BE ABLE TO GIVE FOUR MORE SCARVES TO THE VISITING DIGNITARIES, AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS, ATTENDING THE OPENING CEREMONIES. SHE THOUGHT IT WOULD BRING A WARM NOSTALGIA BACK TO THIS WINTER EVENT. SEE WHAT NOSTALGIA CAN DO TO YOU. SHE'S GOT SKOKIE SCARF ORDERS ALREADY, FOR THE 2013 CARNIVAL WEEKEND. THAT'S NOT QUITE HOW SHE INTENDED IT TO BE, WHEN SHE THOUGHT IT WORTHWHILE TO RE-MAKE THE TRADITIONAL SCARVES. OF THE FIRST WINTER CARNIVAL YEARS. ALL I CAN SAY, IS THAT SHE LOVES TO KNIT. WHAT AN INTERESTING YEAR IT WILL BE……VERY, VERY ORANGE.

THIS OLD GRAVENHURST GROUCH FELT LIKE A KID TONIGHT. A HAPPY KID. SEEING AS VERY FEW THINGS, THESE DAYS, MAKE ME FEEL YOUTHFUL, HECK, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO A LOT MORE OF THESE ETERNAL-YOUTH WINTER FETES. THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME. CAN I COME NEXT YEAR?