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speakup

It will never go away, it will never go away, it will never go away…is my new mantra.

I gave up on the "nine feet of snow" when I realized on the first day of spring that the old joke about the Maritimes is true! You know the one that goes like…"What are the four seasons? Snow, more snow, even more snow and then it rains!"

This is what it's going to be like this year. And when spring and summer do finally get here, the black flies and mosquitoes will be so thick, we will all wish the snow back.

I know, I know that's not very positive but the snow plow just went by and I don't relish getting the blower out again.

I cannot report on our basketball weekend as our team decided not to participate in the last tournament of the season. I don't think that anybody missed the trip. Now we can all get on with the rest of our lives until the next season starts.

Over the weekend, we billeted a couple of young musicians from the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra. These kids were great – no trouble– they are a credit to themselves and the organization they represent. I don't think they got my sense of humour most of the time, but we got along!

As for those people who say Woodstock does not have a cultural side, they did not attend the N.B. Youth Orchestra's Sunday concert. I went and I enjoyed it immensely.

For a guy whose music is stuck back in the late ‘60s, early ‘70s, this is saying something! Everyone was talking afterwards about their favourite piece of music played by the talented orchestra. I liked everything, but when they started off by playing the National Anthem, the music just sent chills up my back! This is one piece that I never tire of, especially when it is played by a full orchestra.

On the previous night, I helped and attended at the Rotary Club's annual cash draw and dance. What a great time – great music, great people and great results. The band Flat Top performed its usual magic and granted the dancers an encore as the enthusiastic crowd stayed until the very end.

As for the great draw – as everybody knows, it's not the first ticket out of the drum that wins the grand prize, but the last one remaining after every ticket has been pulled out. When we get close to the end, deals are usually struck to split the grand prize and this year was no exception. When we got down to the final two, one of the ticket holders was there and the other wasn't. So one of the absentee's friends tried in vain to get a hold of them. No answer on the home number and no answer on the cell phone. So the decision was made to go to the end – the last number called was the winner of $20,000!

And the winner was the couple that was present! Pandemonium reigned as their table broke out in congratulatory hoops and hollers. High fives and hugs followed. When I saw the lucky couple the following Monday, they had the same huge smiles. What a great time.

Our son is getting ready to go on his first familyless adventure. This weekend he is off to Central America on an eco-friendly tour. He will be gone for a week of sun, camaraderie and volunteering. He has had all his shots and needles and malaria pills in the preceding weeks and we hope that he has been listening to our words of advice. You will get a more complete report upon his return. I might even include a picture if he allows it.

That's it for me this week, keep dry, keep warm, keep the shovel handy but most of all keep safe! I hope you all had a great Easter Season!