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The Last Colours of Autumn in Muskoka - Throughout Muskoka the Tamarack trees have turned to a beautiful golden yellow colour signifying that late fall has arrived and winter is just around the corner.
The Tamarack is found eveywhere in Muskoka, but more common in the region north of Huntsville where this photograph was taken near Sprucedale. Most conifer trees keep their needles year round but Tamaracks are deciduous conifers – its needles fall off in the autumn and new ones grow in the spring. Tamarack trees are a popular subject for many of the local artists. (Photo By Fred Schulz)
A BRIEF WORD ON THE KILLING OF THE BEAR-CUB - MY OPINION ONLY
WHEN YOU RUN PROVOCATIVE NEWS STORIES, AND SHOCKINGLY GRAPHIC PHOTOGRAPHS, THE NEWS MEDIA WANTS TO GUAGE THE REACTION OF ITS READERS. IN MY DAY WITH THE PRESS, WE COULD SEE NEWS STAND SALES GO UP, IF WE HAD THE KIND OF BREAKING NEWS SCOOP, THAT APPEALED TO THE PUBLIC'S APPETITE, IT WAS A WINNER WEEK FOR US NEWS STAFFERS. IT WAS ALWAYS ASSUMED ADVERTISERS WANTED SPIKES LIKE THIS, IN SALES, FOR MORE AD EXPOSURE FOR THEIR BUSINESSES. I'M SURE THEY WERE RIGHT, BUT MY NARROW FOCUS WAS SIMPLY TO WIN OVER MORE READERS THAN THE COMPETITION, WITH SOLID, ENTICING, ENTERTAINING PAPERS COVER TO COVER. WE HAD SOME SHOCKING PHOTOGRAPHS BUT NOT OF A LIVE-KILL.
THAT'S PRETTY MUCH THE LEGACY OF JOURNALISM FROM THE BEGINNING OF NEWSPAPERS. ALLURING READERS TO YOUR PUBLICATION. PUBLISHERS AND EDITORS HAVE LONG DEBATED HOW TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THIS, AND EVERY ENTERPRISE HAS ITS OWN POLICY ON JUST HOW FAR TO GO.......TO BOOST AN AUDIENCE. I HAVE NO DOUBT THE POLARIZING OF THE COMMUNITY READERSHIP HAS NOW OCCURRED, HERE IN SOUTH MUSKOKA, FOR AND AGAINST WHAT HAPPENED TO A WEE BEAR THIS PAST WEEKEND. ALL CAUGHT ON FILM, AND IN THE REPORTER'S ACTUALITY OF BEING ON THE SCENE OF THE NEWS OCCURRENCE.
THE GRAVENHURST BANNER CARRIED A COMPELLING, HEART WRENCHING STORY, AND DISTURBING PHOTOGRAPHS TODAY, ABOUT THE QUESTIONABLE MERCY KILLING OF AN INJURED BEAR CUB, THE RESULT OF AN EARLIER TRAFFIC ACCIDENT ON BETHUNE DRIVE, IN GRAVENHURST, THIS PAST WEEKEND. THE PAPER CARRIED A FRONT PAGE LEAD-IN TO THE STORY, WITH A WARNING THAT THE IMAGES COULD BE DISTURBING; A MULTI PHOTOGRAPH INCLUSION IN SUPPORT OF THE NEWS STORY, AND AN EDITORIAL ON THE OPINION PAGE. THE ISSUE IS NOT THAT AN INJURED ANIMAL WAS PUT OUT OF ITS MISERY, BUT RATHER HOW THE MERCY KILLING WAS ADMINISTERED. AN INDIVIDUAL AT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT, WHICH HAD SERIOUSLY INJURED THE BEAR CUB, DECIDED THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION WAS TO KILL THE ANIMAL AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, TO END THE CREATURE'S SUFFERING. THE FACT THAT HE USED A SUBSTANTIAL ROCK, FOUND AT ROADSIDE, TO ADMINISTER THE FATAL BLOW, MAY HAVE SEEMED HUMANE AS AN OBVIOUS FIRST REACTION, BUT THE FACT THAT IT TOOK MANY BLOWS TO KNOCK OUT THE CUB, IS THE SUPER-DRY KINDLING FOR A REALLY BIG IMPLOSION OF EMOTION YET TO COME. THE PHOTOS ACCOMPANYING THE NEWS STORY CAPTURES A BLOW ABOUT TO FALL ON THE PRONE, HELPLESS, SMALL BEAR, LYING ON THE ASPHALT, AND THEN, ANOTHER SHOWS THE COMATOSE CUB, AND THE BLOODIED ROCK AT ITS HEAD.
MY ONLY QUESTION TO THE PUBLICATION'S EDITOR, WOULD BE WHY A PAPER THAT GENERALLY PUBLISHES SOFT NEWS, THESE DAYS, AND EVEN ON THE FRONT PAGE THIS WEEK, WOULD OPT TO RUN SUCH PROVOCATIVE AND TROUBLING PHOTOGRAPHS, WHEN THE ARTICLE ITSELF, WOULD HAVE BEEN SUFFICE TO PRESENT THE ACTUALITY OF THE STORY. THE PHOTOS ACT, BY THEMSELVES, AS A STRONG EDITORIAL, WHETHER THEY THOUGHT ABOUT THIS IN ADVANCE OR NOT....BECAUSE VERY FEW READERS TODAY, WOULD HAVE READ THE STORY BEFORE JUDGING THE EVENT BASED ON FOUR PHOTOGRAPHS ACCOMPANYING THE PRINT COPY. IF YOUR IMPULSE WAS THE SAME AS MINE, I WOULD HAVE THRASHED THIS MAN....AND SO WOULD THE REST OF OUR FAMILY MEMBERS, WHO DISCUSSED THE STORY AND PICTURES AT GREAT LENGTH THIS AFTERNOON. WASN'T THAT THE POINT OF RUNNING THESE PHOTOGRAPHS? TO MAKE AN EDITORIAL POINT. RAISE IRE? TO GARNER THE MOOD OF THE READERSHIP? THE CAMERA LENS DOESN'T LIE. RIGHT? AN ACT OF EXTREME CRUELTY WAS BESTOWED UPON AN INJURED BEAR CUB. END OF STORY. BUT IS IT? IT COULD BECOME A LEGAL MATTER IF CHARGES ARE LAID, BY THOSE WHO HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO SO. THERE IS ANOTHER SIDE TO THE STORY, AND IT SHOULD COME OUT. THE NEWSPAPER'S READERS SHOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY, TO KNOW WHAT THE MAN IN THE PHOTOGRAPH, ADMINISTERING THE MERCY KILLING, USED AS REASONING, AT THAT PRECISE MOMENT THE ROCK WAS RAISED FOR THE FIRST TIME. THE EDITORIAL SEEMS TO COVER THIS BUT NOT FROM HIS LIPS.
RUNNING THESE PHOTOGRAPH IS THEIR EDITORIAL PRIVILEGE, BUT SEEING AS IT WAS THRUST INTO MY DRIVEWAY, WITHOUT SOLICITATION, I FEEL A PERFECT RIGHT TO COMMENT. I LIKE IT WHEN NEWSPAPERS ARE BALLSY, AND I ONLY WISH WITH THE BANNER IT WAS A MORE CONSISTENT, WEEK TO WEEK REALITY. AS A LONG TIME NEWS HOUNDS MYSELF, IT'S MY OPINION THE SOFT NEWS APPROACH IS THEIR NEW NORMAL. I DON'T LIKE IT BUT WHAT CAN YOU DO. SO GETTING HIT IN THE FACE WITH THE BEAR-KILLING WAS A LITTLE OVER THE TOP.....FOR WHAT WE HAVE BECOME USED TO RECENTLY.
IF I HAD BEEN THE NEWS PHOTOGRAPHER ON THE SCENE OF THIS ACCIDENT, AND AFTERMATH, I CAN TELL YOU THIS FACT; AND THERE ISN'T ANYONE I HAVE WORKED WITH, OR LIVED WITH, THEN AND NOW, OR KNOWN INTIMATELY IN MY LIFE, WHO WOULDN'T AGREE.......I WOULD ALSO HAVE USED MY CAMERA AS A WEAPON ALRIGHT.......AND DOING SO, BY STEPPING DIRECTLY BETWEEN THE BEAR AND THE MAN WITH THE ROCK, PLANNING TO BEAT IT TO DEATH. I'M ENTIRELY CONFIDENT, THAT MY CAMERA LENS IN HIS FACE, CLICKING AWAY, COULD HAVE FORCED THE KIND OF IMMEDIATE REACTIVE RECKONING, THAT MAY WELL HAVE BOUGHT SOME WIGGLE ROOM FOR THE BEAR, UNTIL THE PROPER AND HUMANE CARE COULD HAVE BEEN SECURED. IN MY EXPERIENCE, MOST FOLKS IN THIS KIND OF ACTION, AND REACTION, DON'T WISH TO HAVE THEIR IMAGES PUBLISHED IN THE PRESS. I USED THE CAMERA IN THIS FASHION MANY TIMES FOR MUSKOKA PUBLICATIONS, WHEN I WAS IN DIFFICULT AND EVEN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS, ESPECIALLY AT ACCIDENT SCENES. I WAS OFTEN THE TARGET OF DISGRUNTLED MOTORISTS, ANGRY THE PRESS WAS ON THE SCENE; BUT A RAISED CAMERA ALWAYS THWARTED POTENTIAL ATTACKS. WOULD THE MAN HAVE HIT THE PHOTOGRAPHER WITH THAT ROCK, FOR INTERVENING? I THINK NOT, AS THERE WERE A LOT OF WITNESSES....AND I'M PRETTY SURE THE PERPETRATOR WAS, AT THAT MOMENT, ONLY ACTING OUT OF HIS OWN SENSE OF URGENCY AND PRIORITY, AND WOULD NOT HAVE HAD ANY INTENT TO CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY, TO ANOTHER INTERESTED PARTY. I HOPE HIS STORY GETS SOME INK. WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED ON THAT ACCIDENT SCENE, AND NO, THE PHOTOGRAPHS DON'T TELL THE WHOLE STORY.
AND AS A FORMER EDITOR, NO, I WOULD NOT HAVE USED SEVERAL OF THE MOST OFFENSIVE PHOTOGRAPHS IN OUR PAPER. THIS, IS OF COURSE, RETROSPECTIVE. THE STORY WAS MORE THAN ADEQUATE TO CARRY THE WEIGHT OF THE NEWS OCCURRENCE.
THE BANNER EDITORIAL STAFF IS GOING TO HAVE A VOLATILE WEEK OF INTERACTION WITH READERS I'M SURE. TELL YOU ONE THING.....I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING HOW THEY FOLLOW-UP THIS STORY.......BECAUSE THEY MUST!
THE STORIED INTERACTIONS THAT OCCUR IN A MAIN STREET SHOP - FROM THE REMARKABLE TO THE CURIIOUSLY ABSURD
IT'S BEEN THE TIME OF OUR LIVES - AND EVERY DAY IS AN ADVENTURE
SINCE THE FIRST OF OCTOBER, I'VE BEEN WRITING THESE BLOGS FROM THE STUDIO ROOM, OF OUR VINTAGE MUSIC AND ANTIQUE SHOP, ON THE MAIN STREET OF GRAVENHURST......MUSKOKA ROAD, ACROSS FROM THE HISTORIC OPERA HOUSE. BOTH OUR BOYS HAVE THEIR OWN VINTAGE MUSIC OPERATIONS; ANDREW SPECIALIZES IN GUITARS AND NOSTALGIA, AND ROBERT IS HEAVILY INVOLVED IN THE SALES OF VINTAGE AND NEW VINYL, AS WELL AS HAVING A RECORDING STUDIO, ON SITE, AND A STUDIO ENVIRONMENT FOR HIS GUITAR STUDENTS. SUZANNE OPERATES HER "COOKERY NOOKERY," ONE ROOM BACK OF THE STUDIO, OFFERING VINTAGE AND OUT OF PRINT COOKBOOKS, AND KITCHEN COLLECTABLES, AND I'M JUST A COUNTRY PICKER (OF THE ANTIQUE VARIETY), WHO DOES MOST OF THE HUNTING AND GATHERING THESE DAYS, TO FILL THE REST OF THE OPEN SPACE, HERE IN THE OLD MUSKOKA THEATRE BUILDING. THE BOYS ARE IN THEIR NINTH YEAR AT THIS LOCATION, AND FOR US, THIS IS NOW OUR SECOND YEAR. THE ONLY COMPLAINT I HEAR THESE DAYS, IS THAT "DAD, WE NEED MORE INVENTORY." I'M PLEASED TO SAY, THAT DESPITE WHAT SOME MAY FIND DIFFICULT ECONOMIC TIMES FOR RETAIL, WE FIND THE OPPOSITE TO HOLD TRUE. I WOULDN'T LIE TO YOU. AND I CERTAINLY WOULDN'T WANT ANYONE TO FOLLOW DOWN OUR PATH, AND OPEN A RETAIL OUTLET, WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING WHAT EXPERIENCE MEANS TO OUR ENTERPRISE. WE DON'T CONDUCT OUR RETAIL TRADE LIKE EVERYONE ELSE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND WHILE IT WORKS FOR US, IT MIGHT NOT FOR YOU.
OUR BOYS, AS YOU MAY KNOW, HAVE BEEN A PART OF THE ANTIQUE AND COLLECTIBLE TRADE FOR THEIR ENTIRE LIVES. I CAN SAY THIS WITH HONESTY, BECAUSE WE USED TO CARRY THEM, EVEN AS NEW-BORNS, IN SNUGGLY-BAGS, ON OUR CHESTS, THROUGH ANTIQUE MARKETS, SHOWS, FLEA MARKETS AND AUCTIONS. WE DIDN'T BELIEVE IN HAVING CHILDREN AND THEN FOBBING THEM OFF ON BABYSITTERS, SO WE TOOK FAMILY STATUS ALL THE WAY, AND PRETTY MUCH ALL THE TIME. FOLKS WHO KNOW US, CERTAINLY RECOGNIZE THAT WE LIVE A LITTLE LIKE THE TELEVISION "WALTONS," ALTHOUGH WE DON'T HAVE A MOUNTAIN, OR A FARMHOUSE, BUT WE HAVE A STORE AND A MODEST BUNGALOW.
WE HAVE PARTNERED IN THE ANTIQUE AND COLLECTIBLE BUSINESS FOR A LONG, LONG TIME, AND IN FACT, THE YOUNG LADS EVEN HELPED AT OUR PREVIOUS SHOP, ON UPPER MANITOBA STREET, IN BRACEBRIDGE, KNOWN BY THE NAME "BIRCH HOLLOW." THEY'VE WORKED FROM EVERY ANGLE OF THE ANTIQUE TRADE, FROM BOOKS TO PRIMITIVE PINE, OLD GLASS, TO OIL LAMPS, SPORTS MEMORABILIA, VINTAGE TOYS, SPORTS CARDS, TO ANTIQUE INSTRUMENTS, FROM PUMP ORGANS TO GIBSON GUITARS, AND ALL THE AREA IN BETWEEN. I'VE BEEN IN THE ANTIQUE TRADE PROFESSIONALLY SINCE I OPENED MY FIRST STORE IN 1977, BUT TRUTHFULLY, I'D BEEN COLLECTING SINCE THE EARLY 1970'S. THE RELEVANCE OF THIS, IS THAT WHEN I WRITE ABOUT THE PRESENT RETAIL OPERATIONS, HERE IN GRAVENHURST, I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR, WE'RE BY NO MEANS A CAST OF ROOKIES, EXPERIMENTING WITH RETAIL. WHEN THE BOYS OPENED THEIR FIRST SMALL ROOM IN THIS BUILDING, NINE YEARS AGO, WE HAD A TOUGH BUSINESS PLAN IN PLACE EVEN THEN, AND OVER THIS SAME PERIOD, WE EXPANDED FLOOR SPACE ON SIX OCCASIONS.....EACH GROWTH SPURT WEIGHED CAREFULLY AGAINST MARKETPLACE CONDITIONS. IT WAS A RETAIL EXPERIMENT, BUT WE NEVER ONCE OVER-ESTIMATED OUR CAPABILITIES. WE DID THE BEST WE COULD, AT OFFERING QUALITY INSTRUMENTS, EXPERT GUITAR REPAIRS, QUALIFIED MUSIC INSTRUCTION, AND KEPT UP A HIGH STANDARD OF CUSTOMER SERVICE. OURS IS NOT JUST A TOURIST TIME BUSINESS, BUT A SERVICE-HINGED RETAIL ENTERPRISE FOR EVERYONE, TWELVE MONTHS A YEAR. THE MOST INSULTING THING YOU COULD CALL US IS A "TOURIST BUSINESS," AND SECOND TO THAT, "A SEASONAL BUSINESS."
ALTHOUGH I TRY TO SHARE OUR FAMILY AND BUSINESS EXPERIENCES OPENLY AND HONESTLY, WITH CUSTOMERS AND READERS OF THIS BLOG, THERE ARE NEW CONCERNS ABOUT COMPETITION COMING SOON, IN THE ANTIQUE TRADE; AND MY SUSPICION IS, THAT BY NEXT SUMMER, WE WILL HAVE TO INCREASE OUR LEVEL OF COMPETITION SUBSTANTIALLY TO KEEP OUR MARKET SHARE. WE LIKE TO BE CHALLENGED, AND WE HAVE NEVER RUN AWAY FROM COMPETITION. AND WE'LL EVEN ARM WRESTLE TO WIN APPROVAL. TRUTH IS, WE LIKE COMPETITION IN THE ANTIQUE ENTERPRISE, BECAUSE IT IS VERY MUCH THE CASE, THE MORE THE MERRIER. ANTIQUE HUNTERS WOULD BE VERY PLEASED, IF OUR TOWN COULD OFFER THEM MANY MORE ANTIQUE AND SECOND HAND SHOPS, AND BELIEVE ME AS AN INDUSTRY INSIDER, DESTINATION-SHOPPING WOULD DEFINITELY COME INTO PLAY. EVEN NOW, THERE ARE TWICE AS MANY OUT-OF-TOWN VISITORS, COMING TO SEE US WEEKLY AND MONTHLY, THAN LOCAL RESIDENTS. WE HAVE AT LEAST TWENTY REGULARS COMING FROM BETWEEN HUNTSVILLE AND NORTH BAY; OTHER ANTIQUE HUNTERS ARRIVE HERE FROM ORILLIA, BARRIE, PENETANG, MIDLAND, ORO-MEDONTE AREA, AND YES, FROM TORONTO. THEY WILL DRIVE FROM DWIGHT, DORSET AND BAYSVILLE, AND WE HAVE LOTS OF FRIENDS COMING FROM BRACEBRIDGE REGULARLY.
AS FOR LOCAL CUSTOMERS, THIS HAS BEEN SLOW TO DEVELOP, BUT WE CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT WE'VE TRIPLED THE VOLUME IN THE PAST TWELVE MONTHS. THE BOYS HAVE A FIFTY-FIFTY SPLIT OF CUSTOMERS. THEIR ADVANTAGE, MORE SO, IS THAT THEY NETWORK WITH MUSICIANS AND COLLECTORS ONLINE CONSTANTLY, AND A GOODLY PORTION OF THEIR SALES ARE NOW DONE VIA THE INTERNET. WHEN THEY GET INTERESTING VINTAGE PIECES, THEY SEND OUT GRAPHICS WITH DESCRIPTIONS TO THEIR BEST ONLINE CUSTOMERS, WHO CAN'T GET INTO THE SHOP EASILY. SO AS NOT TO FAVOR ONLINE CLIENTS OVER SHOP VISITORS, THE ITEMS GENERALLY HIT THE FLOOR AT THE SAME TIME AS THEY HIT THE AIR WAVES. I'M FASCINATED BY THIS CHANGE IN BUSINESS PROTOCOL, AND EVEN THOUGH I WAS SLOW TO BELIEVE IN THE MARKET ADVANTAGES OF ONLINE SALES, WE NOW COULDN'T DO WITHOUT ITS NETWORKING CONVENIENCE. IT IS THE BIGGEST SINGLE REASON WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STAY FISCALLY DYNAMIC THROUGH THE TRADITIONAL SHOULDER SEASON, IN MUSKOKA, AND WE WILL BE MARKETING OUR COLLECTIBLES IN THE SAME MANNER, IN THE NEW YEAR, AS WELL AS THROUGH NORMAL SHOP SALES.
SO EVEN IF THE RUMOR MILL REPORTS ARE CORRECT, AND MORE ANTIQUE COMPETITION MAY BE ON THE WAY TO OUR FAIR TOWN, WE HAVE ENOUGH RESILIENCE IN THE TRADE, AND EXPERIENCE IN THE BUY-SELL TRENCHES, TO WEATHER WHATEVER COMES OUR WAY. WE DO HOWEVER, HAVE TO KEEP A FEW OF OUR RETAIL SECRETS OUT OF THE PUBLIC DOMAIN, IN CASE OUR COMPETITORS ALSO FOLLOW THIS BLOG. THE ONE THING I CAN SHARE HOWEVER, IS THAT OUR BUSINESS DEPENDS ON ONE QUALITY FOR CERTAIN, THAT GUARANTEES SUCCESS. WE LOVE OUR PROFESSION. WE JUST ADORE THE INTERACTIONS WITH OUR CUSTOMERS, AND THE GREAT STUFF WE HAVE COMING IN AND GOING OUT. JUST A FEW MOMENTS AGO WE HAD A FRIEND BRING IN A LATE 1940'S LIONEL TRAIN SET, WITH A MAGNIFICENTLY CONSERVED IRON ENGINE, THAT WOULD BE AN ORGASMIC TRIP AROUND THE BEND, FOR ANY COLLECTOR TO HOLD ONTO....EVEN FOR JUST A MOMENT. IT APPARENTLY WAS THE FIRST TRAIN SET MANUFACTURED AFTER THE SECOND WOROLD WAR. WE ALSO GOT TO SEE SOME VINTAGE TOY CARS AND TRAIN ACCESSORIES FROM THIS SAME PERIOD. THE TRAIN EVEN HAS ITS ORIGINAL INSTRUCTION BOOKS. SOME CUSTOMERS ASK US IF WE SLEEP OVER AMIDST ALL OUR NEAT STUFF, AND IF NOT, COULD THEY. I'M NOT KIDDING. AS WE HAVE THE BACK ROOM NOW SET UP AS A 1950'S TO 1980'S RECREATION ROOM, WITH A STAGE, OUR FREE CONCERT-GOERS BEG US TO LET THEM LINGER, AND LINGER. WE CAN UNDERSTAND THEIR AFFECTIONS, BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN LINGERING AND LOITERING, AND FONDLING THE PAST, WITH SINCERE AFFECTIONS, SINCE WE BEGAN THIS CRAZY RELATIONSHIP WITH HISTORICAL ARTIFACTS, AND SUCH. EACH WEEK WE GET IN EXCITING PIECES, AT LEAST IN OUR OPINION, AND ITS A GREAT FEELING OF CONTENT, WHEN WE CAN PUT THOSE SPECIAL PIECES WITH NEW OWNERS WHO APPRECIATE THE PROVENANCE ATTACHED. THE CHRISTMAS MORNING ENCHANTMENT FOR US, IS A YEAR ROUND THING. WE GET ANXIOUS WHEN WE HAVE A FEW DAYS GO BY, AND WE HAVEN'T HAD SOMETHING STRANGE OCCUR, OR ODD PIECES ARRIVE ON OUR DOOR STEP. YOU DON'T GET COMPLACENT IN THE ANTIQUE TRADE, THE WAY WE RUN OUR SHOP. IT'S LIKE LIVING THE LIFE-ADVENTURES OF A WHIRLING-DERVISH. AND NOTHING HAPPENS ON A SCHEDULE, WHICH MEANS WE OFTEN HAVE OVERLAPPING SITUATIONS, WHERE PICKERS ARRIVE WITH DELIVERIES, AT THE SAME TIME AS WE'RE PLAYING WITH A MODEL TRAIN SET, AND A COLLECTION OF DINKY TOYS THAT CAME WITH IT.....AND THERE'S A CONFLUENCE IN THE AISLES, WITH CUSTOMERS LEAVING WITH THEIR PURCHASES.
I AM IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL THIS NOW, WRITING MY DAILY BLOGS. THE PROBLEM WAS, THAT I WAS HUNTING ANTIQUES THROUGH THE DAY, AND DOING SOME MINOR REFINISHING, AND THEN COMING HOME DEAD TIRED, AND TRYING TO WRITE THE BLOGS. I WAS RUNNING INTO SOME SERIOUS TIME CONSTRAINTS, AND GETTING MAD AT MY OWN INEPTITUDE. SO SON ROBERT SET ME UP WITH A LAPTOP AND A COMFORTABLE CHAIR, IN HIS STUDIO, AND A BOARD FOR MY LAP, (TO PROTECT THE YOU KNOW WHAT) AND SO FAR, IT'S BEEN FANTASTIC. SO I'VE BEEN SPENDING ABOUT TWO HOURS EACH DAY, USUALLY THE MORNING, TAPPING AWAY AT THIS KEYBOARD. THE BEST PART ABOUT IT, IS WHAT I HEAR GOING ON IN THE ROOMS AROUND ME. SO I ACTUALLY BEGAN THINKING OF WAYS TO CAPTURE SOME OF THE ACTUALITY, SO I COULD WRITE ABOUT IT, WITHOUT VIOLATING ANY OF OUR CLIENT'S PRIVACY. WE'RE VERY GUARDED ABOUT THIS, BECAUSE WE HAVE QUITE A FEW CELEBRITY MUSICIANS WANDERING ABOUT OUR HALLS, AND PLAYING IN THE STUDIO, MAKING IT TRICKY TO ALLOW THEM PRIVATE TIME IN THE MIDST OF BUSY MAINSTREET RETAIL. SOME CARE ABOUT BEING RECOGNIZED WHILE OTHERS, LIKE VALDY, AND JIMMY VAUGHAN, WERE KIND ENOUGH TO POSE FOR A PHOTOGRAPH WITH ANDREW, DESPITE CUSTOMERS COMING AND GOING. THIS IS THE KIND OF DAY TO DAY ADVENTURE IT'S HARD NOT TO LOVE.
SO I'M PLANNING ON WRITING FROM THIS WONDERFUL LITTLE STUDIO ROOM THIS WINTER, AND THE CHRISTMAS SPECIAL FEATURE SERIES OF BLOGS, WHICH WILL BEGIN ON NOVEMBER 15TH UNTIL NEW YEARS DAY....., ALL INSPIRED BY OUR HOME TOWN AND HOME REGION, AND OH YES, THIS PORTAL ONTO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY. I THINK YOU'LL FIND SOME INTERESTING READING THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON......SHARING IN SOME OF OUR ANTIQUE ADVENTURES HERE IN SOUTH MUSKOKA.
THANKS FOR VISITING TODAY. SEE YOU AGAIN, REAL SOON!
A BRIEF WORD ON THE KILLING OF THE BEAR-CUB - MY OPINION ONLY
WHEN YOU RUN PROVOCATIVE NEWS STORIES, AND SHOCKINGLY GRAPHIC PHOTOGRAPHS, THE NEWS MEDIA WANTS TO GUAGE THE REACTION OF ITS READERS. IN MY DAY WITH THE PRESS, WE COULD SEE NEWS STAND SALES GO UP, IF WE HAD THE KIND OF BREAKING NEWS SCOOP, THAT APPEALED TO THE PUBLIC'S APPETITE, IT WAS A WINNER WEEK FOR US NEWS STAFFERS. IT WAS ALWAYS ASSUMED ADVERTISERS WANTED SPIKES LIKE THIS, IN SALES, FOR MORE AD EXPOSURE FOR THEIR BUSINESSES. I'M SURE THEY WERE RIGHT, BUT MY NARROW FOCUS WAS SIMPLY TO WIN OVER MORE READERS THAN THE COMPETITION, WITH SOLID, ENTICING, ENTERTAINING PAPERS COVER TO COVER. WE HAD SOME SHOCKING PHOTOGRAPHS BUT NOT OF A LIVE-KILL.
THAT'S PRETTY MUCH THE LEGACY OF JOURNALISM FROM THE BEGINNING OF NEWSPAPERS. ALLURING READERS TO YOUR PUBLICATION. PUBLISHERS AND EDITORS HAVE LONG DEBATED HOW TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THIS, AND EVERY ENTERPRISE HAS ITS OWN POLICY ON JUST HOW FAR TO GO.......TO BOOST AN AUDIENCE. I HAVE NO DOUBT THE POLARIZING OF THE COMMUNITY READERSHIP HAS NOW OCCURRED, HERE IN SOUTH MUSKOKA, FOR AND AGAINST WHAT HAPPENED TO A WEE BEAR THIS PAST WEEKEND. ALL CAUGHT ON FILM, AND IN THE REPORTER'S ACTUALITY OF BEING ON THE SCENE OF THE NEWS OCCURRENCE.
THE GRAVENHURST BANNER CARRIED A COMPELLING, HEART WRENCHING STORY, AND DISTURBING PHOTOGRAPHS TODAY, ABOUT THE QUESTIONABLE MERCY KILLING OF AN INJURED BEAR CUB, THE RESULT OF AN EARLIER TRAFFIC ACCIDENT ON BETHUNE DRIVE, IN GRAVENHURST, THIS PAST WEEKEND. THE PAPER CARRIED A FRONT PAGE LEAD-IN TO THE STORY, WITH A WARNING THAT THE IMAGES COULD BE DISTURBING; A MULTI PHOTOGRAPH INCLUSION IN SUPPORT OF THE NEWS STORY, AND AN EDITORIAL ON THE OPINION PAGE. THE ISSUE IS NOT THAT AN INJURED ANIMAL WAS PUT OUT OF ITS MISERY, BUT RATHER HOW THE MERCY KILLING WAS ADMINISTERED. AN INDIVIDUAL AT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT, WHICH HAD SERIOUSLY INJURED THE BEAR CUB, DECIDED THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION WAS TO KILL THE ANIMAL AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, TO END THE CREATURE'S SUFFERING. THE FACT THAT HE USED A SUBSTANTIAL ROCK, FOUND AT ROADSIDE, TO ADMINISTER THE FATAL BLOW, MAY HAVE SEEMED HUMANE AS AN OBVIOUS FIRST REACTION, BUT THE FACT THAT IT TOOK MANY BLOWS TO KNOCK OUT THE CUB, IS THE SUPER-DRY KINDLING FOR A REALLY BIG IMPLOSION OF EMOTION YET TO COME. THE PHOTOS ACCOMPANYING THE NEWS STORY CAPTURES A BLOW ABOUT TO FALL ON THE PRONE, HELPLESS, SMALL BEAR, LYING ON THE ASPHALT, AND THEN, ANOTHER SHOWS THE COMATOSE CUB, AND THE BLOODIED ROCK AT ITS HEAD.
MY ONLY QUESTION TO THE PUBLICATION'S EDITOR, WOULD BE WHY A PAPER THAT GENERALLY PUBLISHES SOFT NEWS, THESE DAYS, AND EVEN ON THE FRONT PAGE THIS WEEK, WOULD OPT TO RUN SUCH PROVOCATIVE AND TROUBLING PHOTOGRAPHS, WHEN THE ARTICLE ITSELF, WOULD HAVE BEEN SUFFICE TO PRESENT THE ACTUALITY OF THE STORY. THE PHOTOS ACT, BY THEMSELVES, AS A STRONG EDITORIAL, WHETHER THEY THOUGHT ABOUT THIS IN ADVANCE OR NOT....BECAUSE VERY FEW READERS TODAY, WOULD HAVE READ THE STORY BEFORE JUDGING THE EVENT BASED ON FOUR PHOTOGRAPHS ACCOMPANYING THE PRINT COPY. IF YOUR IMPULSE WAS THE SAME AS MINE, I WOULD HAVE THRASHED THIS MAN....AND SO WOULD THE REST OF OUR FAMILY MEMBERS, WHO DISCUSSED THE STORY AND PICTURES AT GREAT LENGTH THIS AFTERNOON. WASN'T THAT THE POINT OF RUNNING THESE PHOTOGRAPHS? TO MAKE AN EDITORIAL POINT. RAISE IRE? TO GARNER THE MOOD OF THE READERSHIP? THE CAMERA LENS DOESN'T LIE. RIGHT? AN ACT OF EXTREME CRUELTY WAS BESTOWED UPON AN INJURED BEAR CUB. END OF STORY. BUT IS IT? IT COULD BECOME A LEGAL MATTER IF CHARGES ARE LAID, BY THOSE WHO HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO SO. THERE IS ANOTHER SIDE TO THE STORY, AND IT SHOULD COME OUT. THE NEWSPAPER'S READERS SHOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY, TO KNOW WHAT THE MAN IN THE PHOTOGRAPH, ADMINISTERING THE MERCY KILLING, USED AS REASONING, AT THAT PRECISE MOMENT THE ROCK WAS RAISED FOR THE FIRST TIME. THE EDITORIAL SEEMS TO COVER THIS BUT NOT FROM HIS LIPS.
RUNNING THESE PHOTOGRAPH IS THEIR EDITORIAL PRIVILEGE, BUT SEEING AS IT WAS THRUST INTO MY DRIVEWAY, WITHOUT SOLICITATION, I FEEL A PERFECT RIGHT TO COMMENT. I LIKE IT WHEN NEWSPAPERS ARE BALLSY, AND I ONLY WISH WITH THE BANNER IT WAS A MORE CONSISTENT, WEEK TO WEEK REALITY. AS A LONG TIME NEWS HOUNDS MYSELF, IT'S MY OPINION THE SOFT NEWS APPROACH IS THEIR NEW NORMAL. I DON'T LIKE IT BUT WHAT CAN YOU DO. SO GETTING HIT IN THE FACE WITH THE BEAR-KILLING WAS A LITTLE OVER THE TOP.....FOR WHAT WE HAVE BECOME USED TO RECENTLY.
IF I HAD BEEN THE NEWS PHOTOGRAPHER ON THE SCENE OF THIS ACCIDENT, AND AFTERMATH, I CAN TELL YOU THIS FACT; AND THERE ISN'T ANYONE I HAVE WORKED WITH, OR LIVED WITH, THEN AND NOW, OR KNOWN INTIMATELY IN MY LIFE, WHO WOULDN'T AGREE.......I WOULD ALSO HAVE USED MY CAMERA AS A WEAPON ALRIGHT.......AND DOING SO, BY STEPPING DIRECTLY BETWEEN THE BEAR AND THE MAN WITH THE ROCK, PLANNING TO BEAT IT TO DEATH. I'M ENTIRELY CONFIDENT, THAT MY CAMERA LENS IN HIS FACE, CLICKING AWAY, COULD HAVE FORCED THE KIND OF IMMEDIATE REACTIVE RECKONING, THAT MAY WELL HAVE BOUGHT SOME WIGGLE ROOM FOR THE BEAR, UNTIL THE PROPER AND HUMANE CARE COULD HAVE BEEN SECURED. IN MY EXPERIENCE, MOST FOLKS IN THIS KIND OF ACTION, AND REACTION, DON'T WISH TO HAVE THEIR IMAGES PUBLISHED IN THE PRESS. I USED THE CAMERA IN THIS FASHION MANY TIMES FOR MUSKOKA PUBLICATIONS, WHEN I WAS IN DIFFICULT AND EVEN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS, ESPECIALLY AT ACCIDENT SCENES. I WAS OFTEN THE TARGET OF DISGRUNTLED MOTORISTS, ANGRY THE PRESS WAS ON THE SCENE; BUT A RAISED CAMERA ALWAYS THWARTED POTENTIAL ATTACKS. WOULD THE MAN HAVE HIT THE PHOTOGRAPHER WITH THAT ROCK, FOR INTERVENING? I THINK NOT, AS THERE WERE A LOT OF WITNESSES....AND I'M PRETTY SURE THE PERPETRATOR WAS, AT THAT MOMENT, ONLY ACTING OUT OF HIS OWN SENSE OF URGENCY AND PRIORITY, AND WOULD NOT HAVE HAD ANY INTENT TO CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY, TO ANOTHER INTERESTED PARTY. I HOPE HIS STORY GETS SOME INK. WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED ON THAT ACCIDENT SCENE, AND NO, THE PHOTOGRAPHS DON'T TELL THE WHOLE STORY.
AND AS A FORMER EDITOR, NO, I WOULD NOT HAVE USED SEVERAL OF THE MOST OFFENSIVE PHOTOGRAPHS IN OUR PAPER. THIS, IS OF COURSE, RETROSPECTIVE. THE STORY WAS MORE THAN ADEQUATE TO CARRY THE WEIGHT OF THE NEWS OCCURRENCE.
THE BANNER EDITORIAL STAFF IS GOING TO HAVE A VOLATILE WEEK OF INTERACTION WITH READERS I'M SURE. TELL YOU ONE THING.....I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING HOW THEY FOLLOW-UP THIS STORY.......BECAUSE THEY MUST!
THE STORIED INTERACTIONS THAT OCCUR IN A MAIN STREET SHOP - FROM THE REMARKABLE TO THE CURIIOUSLY ABSURD
IT'S BEEN THE TIME OF OUR LIVES - AND EVERY DAY IS AN ADVENTURE
SINCE THE FIRST OF OCTOBER, I'VE BEEN WRITING THESE BLOGS FROM THE STUDIO ROOM, OF OUR VINTAGE MUSIC AND ANTIQUE SHOP, ON THE MAIN STREET OF GRAVENHURST......MUSKOKA ROAD, ACROSS FROM THE HISTORIC OPERA HOUSE. BOTH OUR BOYS HAVE THEIR OWN VINTAGE MUSIC OPERATIONS; ANDREW SPECIALIZES IN GUITARS AND NOSTALGIA, AND ROBERT IS HEAVILY INVOLVED IN THE SALES OF VINTAGE AND NEW VINYL, AS WELL AS HAVING A RECORDING STUDIO, ON SITE, AND A STUDIO ENVIRONMENT FOR HIS GUITAR STUDENTS. SUZANNE OPERATES HER "COOKERY NOOKERY," ONE ROOM BACK OF THE STUDIO, OFFERING VINTAGE AND OUT OF PRINT COOKBOOKS, AND KITCHEN COLLECTABLES, AND I'M JUST A COUNTRY PICKER (OF THE ANTIQUE VARIETY), WHO DOES MOST OF THE HUNTING AND GATHERING THESE DAYS, TO FILL THE REST OF THE OPEN SPACE, HERE IN THE OLD MUSKOKA THEATRE BUILDING. THE BOYS ARE IN THEIR NINTH YEAR AT THIS LOCATION, AND FOR US, THIS IS NOW OUR SECOND YEAR. THE ONLY COMPLAINT I HEAR THESE DAYS, IS THAT "DAD, WE NEED MORE INVENTORY." I'M PLEASED TO SAY, THAT DESPITE WHAT SOME MAY FIND DIFFICULT ECONOMIC TIMES FOR RETAIL, WE FIND THE OPPOSITE TO HOLD TRUE. I WOULDN'T LIE TO YOU. AND I CERTAINLY WOULDN'T WANT ANYONE TO FOLLOW DOWN OUR PATH, AND OPEN A RETAIL OUTLET, WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING WHAT EXPERIENCE MEANS TO OUR ENTERPRISE. WE DON'T CONDUCT OUR RETAIL TRADE LIKE EVERYONE ELSE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND WHILE IT WORKS FOR US, IT MIGHT NOT FOR YOU.
OUR BOYS, AS YOU MAY KNOW, HAVE BEEN A PART OF THE ANTIQUE AND COLLECTIBLE TRADE FOR THEIR ENTIRE LIVES. I CAN SAY THIS WITH HONESTY, BECAUSE WE USED TO CARRY THEM, EVEN AS NEW-BORNS, IN SNUGGLY-BAGS, ON OUR CHESTS, THROUGH ANTIQUE MARKETS, SHOWS, FLEA MARKETS AND AUCTIONS. WE DIDN'T BELIEVE IN HAVING CHILDREN AND THEN FOBBING THEM OFF ON BABYSITTERS, SO WE TOOK FAMILY STATUS ALL THE WAY, AND PRETTY MUCH ALL THE TIME. FOLKS WHO KNOW US, CERTAINLY RECOGNIZE THAT WE LIVE A LITTLE LIKE THE TELEVISION "WALTONS," ALTHOUGH WE DON'T HAVE A MOUNTAIN, OR A FARMHOUSE, BUT WE HAVE A STORE AND A MODEST BUNGALOW.
WE HAVE PARTNERED IN THE ANTIQUE AND COLLECTIBLE BUSINESS FOR A LONG, LONG TIME, AND IN FACT, THE YOUNG LADS EVEN HELPED AT OUR PREVIOUS SHOP, ON UPPER MANITOBA STREET, IN BRACEBRIDGE, KNOWN BY THE NAME "BIRCH HOLLOW." THEY'VE WORKED FROM EVERY ANGLE OF THE ANTIQUE TRADE, FROM BOOKS TO PRIMITIVE PINE, OLD GLASS, TO OIL LAMPS, SPORTS MEMORABILIA, VINTAGE TOYS, SPORTS CARDS, TO ANTIQUE INSTRUMENTS, FROM PUMP ORGANS TO GIBSON GUITARS, AND ALL THE AREA IN BETWEEN. I'VE BEEN IN THE ANTIQUE TRADE PROFESSIONALLY SINCE I OPENED MY FIRST STORE IN 1977, BUT TRUTHFULLY, I'D BEEN COLLECTING SINCE THE EARLY 1970'S. THE RELEVANCE OF THIS, IS THAT WHEN I WRITE ABOUT THE PRESENT RETAIL OPERATIONS, HERE IN GRAVENHURST, I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR, WE'RE BY NO MEANS A CAST OF ROOKIES, EXPERIMENTING WITH RETAIL. WHEN THE BOYS OPENED THEIR FIRST SMALL ROOM IN THIS BUILDING, NINE YEARS AGO, WE HAD A TOUGH BUSINESS PLAN IN PLACE EVEN THEN, AND OVER THIS SAME PERIOD, WE EXPANDED FLOOR SPACE ON SIX OCCASIONS.....EACH GROWTH SPURT WEIGHED CAREFULLY AGAINST MARKETPLACE CONDITIONS. IT WAS A RETAIL EXPERIMENT, BUT WE NEVER ONCE OVER-ESTIMATED OUR CAPABILITIES. WE DID THE BEST WE COULD, AT OFFERING QUALITY INSTRUMENTS, EXPERT GUITAR REPAIRS, QUALIFIED MUSIC INSTRUCTION, AND KEPT UP A HIGH STANDARD OF CUSTOMER SERVICE. OURS IS NOT JUST A TOURIST TIME BUSINESS, BUT A SERVICE-HINGED RETAIL ENTERPRISE FOR EVERYONE, TWELVE MONTHS A YEAR. THE MOST INSULTING THING YOU COULD CALL US IS A "TOURIST BUSINESS," AND SECOND TO THAT, "A SEASONAL BUSINESS."
ALTHOUGH I TRY TO SHARE OUR FAMILY AND BUSINESS EXPERIENCES OPENLY AND HONESTLY, WITH CUSTOMERS AND READERS OF THIS BLOG, THERE ARE NEW CONCERNS ABOUT COMPETITION COMING SOON, IN THE ANTIQUE TRADE; AND MY SUSPICION IS, THAT BY NEXT SUMMER, WE WILL HAVE TO INCREASE OUR LEVEL OF COMPETITION SUBSTANTIALLY TO KEEP OUR MARKET SHARE. WE LIKE TO BE CHALLENGED, AND WE HAVE NEVER RUN AWAY FROM COMPETITION. AND WE'LL EVEN ARM WRESTLE TO WIN APPROVAL. TRUTH IS, WE LIKE COMPETITION IN THE ANTIQUE ENTERPRISE, BECAUSE IT IS VERY MUCH THE CASE, THE MORE THE MERRIER. ANTIQUE HUNTERS WOULD BE VERY PLEASED, IF OUR TOWN COULD OFFER THEM MANY MORE ANTIQUE AND SECOND HAND SHOPS, AND BELIEVE ME AS AN INDUSTRY INSIDER, DESTINATION-SHOPPING WOULD DEFINITELY COME INTO PLAY. EVEN NOW, THERE ARE TWICE AS MANY OUT-OF-TOWN VISITORS, COMING TO SEE US WEEKLY AND MONTHLY, THAN LOCAL RESIDENTS. WE HAVE AT LEAST TWENTY REGULARS COMING FROM BETWEEN HUNTSVILLE AND NORTH BAY; OTHER ANTIQUE HUNTERS ARRIVE HERE FROM ORILLIA, BARRIE, PENETANG, MIDLAND, ORO-MEDONTE AREA, AND YES, FROM TORONTO. THEY WILL DRIVE FROM DWIGHT, DORSET AND BAYSVILLE, AND WE HAVE LOTS OF FRIENDS COMING FROM BRACEBRIDGE REGULARLY.
AS FOR LOCAL CUSTOMERS, THIS HAS BEEN SLOW TO DEVELOP, BUT WE CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT WE'VE TRIPLED THE VOLUME IN THE PAST TWELVE MONTHS. THE BOYS HAVE A FIFTY-FIFTY SPLIT OF CUSTOMERS. THEIR ADVANTAGE, MORE SO, IS THAT THEY NETWORK WITH MUSICIANS AND COLLECTORS ONLINE CONSTANTLY, AND A GOODLY PORTION OF THEIR SALES ARE NOW DONE VIA THE INTERNET. WHEN THEY GET INTERESTING VINTAGE PIECES, THEY SEND OUT GRAPHICS WITH DESCRIPTIONS TO THEIR BEST ONLINE CUSTOMERS, WHO CAN'T GET INTO THE SHOP EASILY. SO AS NOT TO FAVOR ONLINE CLIENTS OVER SHOP VISITORS, THE ITEMS GENERALLY HIT THE FLOOR AT THE SAME TIME AS THEY HIT THE AIR WAVES. I'M FASCINATED BY THIS CHANGE IN BUSINESS PROTOCOL, AND EVEN THOUGH I WAS SLOW TO BELIEVE IN THE MARKET ADVANTAGES OF ONLINE SALES, WE NOW COULDN'T DO WITHOUT ITS NETWORKING CONVENIENCE. IT IS THE BIGGEST SINGLE REASON WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STAY FISCALLY DYNAMIC THROUGH THE TRADITIONAL SHOULDER SEASON, IN MUSKOKA, AND WE WILL BE MARKETING OUR COLLECTIBLES IN THE SAME MANNER, IN THE NEW YEAR, AS WELL AS THROUGH NORMAL SHOP SALES.
SO EVEN IF THE RUMOR MILL REPORTS ARE CORRECT, AND MORE ANTIQUE COMPETITION MAY BE ON THE WAY TO OUR FAIR TOWN, WE HAVE ENOUGH RESILIENCE IN THE TRADE, AND EXPERIENCE IN THE BUY-SELL TRENCHES, TO WEATHER WHATEVER COMES OUR WAY. WE DO HOWEVER, HAVE TO KEEP A FEW OF OUR RETAIL SECRETS OUT OF THE PUBLIC DOMAIN, IN CASE OUR COMPETITORS ALSO FOLLOW THIS BLOG. THE ONE THING I CAN SHARE HOWEVER, IS THAT OUR BUSINESS DEPENDS ON ONE QUALITY FOR CERTAIN, THAT GUARANTEES SUCCESS. WE LOVE OUR PROFESSION. WE JUST ADORE THE INTERACTIONS WITH OUR CUSTOMERS, AND THE GREAT STUFF WE HAVE COMING IN AND GOING OUT. JUST A FEW MOMENTS AGO WE HAD A FRIEND BRING IN A LATE 1940'S LIONEL TRAIN SET, WITH A MAGNIFICENTLY CONSERVED IRON ENGINE, THAT WOULD BE AN ORGASMIC TRIP AROUND THE BEND, FOR ANY COLLECTOR TO HOLD ONTO....EVEN FOR JUST A MOMENT. IT APPARENTLY WAS THE FIRST TRAIN SET MANUFACTURED AFTER THE SECOND WOROLD WAR. WE ALSO GOT TO SEE SOME VINTAGE TOY CARS AND TRAIN ACCESSORIES FROM THIS SAME PERIOD. THE TRAIN EVEN HAS ITS ORIGINAL INSTRUCTION BOOKS. SOME CUSTOMERS ASK US IF WE SLEEP OVER AMIDST ALL OUR NEAT STUFF, AND IF NOT, COULD THEY. I'M NOT KIDDING. AS WE HAVE THE BACK ROOM NOW SET UP AS A 1950'S TO 1980'S RECREATION ROOM, WITH A STAGE, OUR FREE CONCERT-GOERS BEG US TO LET THEM LINGER, AND LINGER. WE CAN UNDERSTAND THEIR AFFECTIONS, BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN LINGERING AND LOITERING, AND FONDLING THE PAST, WITH SINCERE AFFECTIONS, SINCE WE BEGAN THIS CRAZY RELATIONSHIP WITH HISTORICAL ARTIFACTS, AND SUCH. EACH WEEK WE GET IN EXCITING PIECES, AT LEAST IN OUR OPINION, AND ITS A GREAT FEELING OF CONTENT, WHEN WE CAN PUT THOSE SPECIAL PIECES WITH NEW OWNERS WHO APPRECIATE THE PROVENANCE ATTACHED. THE CHRISTMAS MORNING ENCHANTMENT FOR US, IS A YEAR ROUND THING. WE GET ANXIOUS WHEN WE HAVE A FEW DAYS GO BY, AND WE HAVEN'T HAD SOMETHING STRANGE OCCUR, OR ODD PIECES ARRIVE ON OUR DOOR STEP. YOU DON'T GET COMPLACENT IN THE ANTIQUE TRADE, THE WAY WE RUN OUR SHOP. IT'S LIKE LIVING THE LIFE-ADVENTURES OF A WHIRLING-DERVISH. AND NOTHING HAPPENS ON A SCHEDULE, WHICH MEANS WE OFTEN HAVE OVERLAPPING SITUATIONS, WHERE PICKERS ARRIVE WITH DELIVERIES, AT THE SAME TIME AS WE'RE PLAYING WITH A MODEL TRAIN SET, AND A COLLECTION OF DINKY TOYS THAT CAME WITH IT.....AND THERE'S A CONFLUENCE IN THE AISLES, WITH CUSTOMERS LEAVING WITH THEIR PURCHASES.
I AM IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL THIS NOW, WRITING MY DAILY BLOGS. THE PROBLEM WAS, THAT I WAS HUNTING ANTIQUES THROUGH THE DAY, AND DOING SOME MINOR REFINISHING, AND THEN COMING HOME DEAD TIRED, AND TRYING TO WRITE THE BLOGS. I WAS RUNNING INTO SOME SERIOUS TIME CONSTRAINTS, AND GETTING MAD AT MY OWN INEPTITUDE. SO SON ROBERT SET ME UP WITH A LAPTOP AND A COMFORTABLE CHAIR, IN HIS STUDIO, AND A BOARD FOR MY LAP, (TO PROTECT THE YOU KNOW WHAT) AND SO FAR, IT'S BEEN FANTASTIC. SO I'VE BEEN SPENDING ABOUT TWO HOURS EACH DAY, USUALLY THE MORNING, TAPPING AWAY AT THIS KEYBOARD. THE BEST PART ABOUT IT, IS WHAT I HEAR GOING ON IN THE ROOMS AROUND ME. SO I ACTUALLY BEGAN THINKING OF WAYS TO CAPTURE SOME OF THE ACTUALITY, SO I COULD WRITE ABOUT IT, WITHOUT VIOLATING ANY OF OUR CLIENT'S PRIVACY. WE'RE VERY GUARDED ABOUT THIS, BECAUSE WE HAVE QUITE A FEW CELEBRITY MUSICIANS WANDERING ABOUT OUR HALLS, AND PLAYING IN THE STUDIO, MAKING IT TRICKY TO ALLOW THEM PRIVATE TIME IN THE MIDST OF BUSY MAINSTREET RETAIL. SOME CARE ABOUT BEING RECOGNIZED WHILE OTHERS, LIKE VALDY, AND JIMMY VAUGHAN, WERE KIND ENOUGH TO POSE FOR A PHOTOGRAPH WITH ANDREW, DESPITE CUSTOMERS COMING AND GOING. THIS IS THE KIND OF DAY TO DAY ADVENTURE IT'S HARD NOT TO LOVE.
SO I'M PLANNING ON WRITING FROM THIS WONDERFUL LITTLE STUDIO ROOM THIS WINTER, AND THE CHRISTMAS SPECIAL FEATURE SERIES OF BLOGS, WHICH WILL BEGIN ON NOVEMBER 15TH UNTIL NEW YEARS DAY....., ALL INSPIRED BY OUR HOME TOWN AND HOME REGION, AND OH YES, THIS PORTAL ONTO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY. I THINK YOU'LL FIND SOME INTERESTING READING THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON......SHARING IN SOME OF OUR ANTIQUE ADVENTURES HERE IN SOUTH MUSKOKA.
THANKS FOR VISITING TODAY. SEE YOU AGAIN, REAL SOON!
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