the end of the world as we know it and i feel fine

Yup, I'm back again (I guess this would be Act II -- to carry the metaphor from my last post), and what an act it's already shaping up to be! Despite the best efforts of Stephen Harper to protect us from the irresponsible human-rights mongering of a triple coalition of "corruption, socialism and separatism" (Harpers words), the greatest affront to Canadians, one that makes the granting of the vote to women look like a typo on the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, SAME SEX MARRIAGE (everybody scream now!), is about to become the law of the land. After tonight's much anticipated win for the pro-same-sex marriage side, the legislation will be a mere hop-skip and a jump away from enshrined in federal law. Of course Stephen Harper, and any MPs regardless of partisan placement who choose to vote against this legislation are not villains for representing their constituents (if that is what they're doing). I respect that there are many points of view and understand that politicians should represent them according to their mandate, but the way in which some of them have gone about 'getting the message out' has been, well...to be polite, let's say 'over the top.'

No, that's not entirely it. Let's not mince words here: It's been a battle.

I think we'll all admit, with so much overblown rhetoric on all sides, a lot of not-nice-namecalling, and some pretty dire predictions coming out of the alarmist "debate" on this issue, the whole exercise has been hard to watch with a clear head. I'd like to remind us all that despite the constant labelling by the media of this legislation as a "same sex marriage bill," it is in fact called the Civil Marriages Act. Let me emphasize the word CIVIL, as in, can we be a little more civil, a little more open and a lot less angry, because whether you happen to be gay, homophobic or simply ambivalent, we're talking about minority rights - something, I'm afraid, that is beyond the ken of polls to decide, and even out of the hands of God in a religiously pluralistic yet SECULAR nation such as Canada.

I read a quote on the weekend that stuck with me, especially in light of the uproar that currently passes for our House of Commons. These are the words of British theatre artist Ann Jellicoe, as she explains why she avoids politics in her work:

"If we set out to challenge the basic political feelings of the communities we serve, we will alienate large sections of them and lose their support...Politics are divisive. We strongly feel that the humanising effect of our work is far more productive than stirring up political confrontation."

The bold emphasis above is mine, perhaps the simplest truth about politics I've stumbled across in a long time (although if you think about it, it's pretty obvious). My dream for Canada: I would like to see more "humanising effect" and less "stirring up of political confrontation" in our political leadership, in our institutions and in our everyday lives.

Obviously the 32 degree weather has gotten to me today...as you can see from the above, I'm becoming delusional...

Ah well, baby steps, right? At least the big, bad and ugly on the mighty Hill of Power in Pleasant Valley will soon break for a summer of BBQ schmoozing, leaving us to sit back and watch as nothing much changes, except possibly the announcement of a couple more civil marriages here and there...hardly anything to get upset about, right?

intermission

I've now reached the 2.5 month mark in the valley, a strange anniversary I know, and in looking back on the past few weeks I feel as though all my original assumptions about this time in Pleasant Valley have been tested to the limit - some still hold true, others not so much...

This entry is not intended to be an apologists manifesto for my patent lack of posts lately, but simply to say that I don't have a lot to say right now; the experiences have been a little denser than usual this month, so I'm still actively trying to unpack it all, and for this reason am admitting something of silence into my world, just to calm down and try to see with a little more clarity what I've actually been doing since I hit the valley.

So this is a temporary intermission, perhaps a little longer than the standard 20 minutes, but enough time to grab a quick glass of wine at the bar, use the facilities and find the seats again before the curtain rises on Act II...

coming up for a spot of air in pleasant valley...

it's been a manic few weeks in and out of pleasant valley...

I sincerely apologize (once again), for my lack of posts of late - it's been one helluva ride these past few weeks, and it all began with my after-shocks of Toronto, and a resettling into valley life, only to have the world go 'pear shaped' once again.

I'll begin with the sad news: my great uncle Harold passed away on May 30th. He was 85, suffered from Alzheimer's for a decade, but left behind a tremendous legacy, as was evidenced by the incredible family gathering at his funeral last week. He was one of 7 siblings, my maternal grandfather's brother on the Irish side, so needless to say an Irish funeral is not simply a sad affair. The massive amount of relatives combined with a generous amount of food and drink were the right ingredients for our version of an Irish wake - and although I had to leave before the night was through, I was told the dishes were washed to the karaoke soundtrack of "Stars on 45" (a disco staple). You can't keep a good family down. And it truly was incredible to reconnect with so many relatives, far-flung across the country, many of them now living out west; I left the funeral with a promise of a train-trip out West next summer - something I've never done, and which promises to be an amazing adventure.

Just before Harold's passing my good friend Ed descended upon Pleasant Valley to shoot a portion of a documentary; landing on Sunday and leaving on Tuesday afternoon, his visit prompted two fabulous nights on the town, and I've now rediscovered the Pleasant Valley market - and actually remember most of the places we ended up imbibing. It was pure patio weather, although the threat of thunderstorms loomed overhead (but NEVER materialized, thank God!), and we wended our way through the Byward Market, adding and subtracting to our group at various stops along the way. It was such a perfect antidote to my post Toronto PV doubtfest, and though I did suffer the short-term effects of staying up way past my bedtime (a 6am wake-up time never felt so brutal), it was restorative in another, much deeper, way. Although I am still trying to find my niche in the valley, I've found myself less and less prone to fits of urban superiority - which, I think, is progress.

Most recently (you notice how for me time isn't so linear these days?), I spent 2.5 days on a staff retreat in Gananoque, at a fabulously low-key resort on the St. Lawrence. I'm not entirely at liberty to discuss all the after-hours adventures (nothing too dirty, I promise!), but you can see from the picture above (taken on the drive to the resort), what the tone of the time probably was; I leave the goings-on to your imagination...

I realize more and more that my move from Toronto has been driven by a yearning for all the other spaces I had almost forgot were out there. Spending time with good friends during this retreat (who are also coworkers - a rare gift of fortunate circumstance!), many of them friends I left behind in Toronto, in such a fine and relaxing location, with none of the usual distractions that cut shared time short, was another powerful antidote to some of my post-urban angst. Perhaps I'm over-focused on this little angst of mine, but without a 'smoking-gun' political situation to harp on about (although there is another round of confidence votes next week!) I've become a touch introverted in my valley surroundings.

And why not? Two parties and a funeral (or three parties if you count the funeral) have to pluck some existential strings, don't they? I would worry if they didn't.

Now I'm looking ahead to the rest of the month - no less than 2 more rounds of visitors from Toronto before the main valley event of the season (Canada Day, for those who needed it spelled out), and apart from record smog levels and a humidex rating that makes it feel like 37 degrees outside, I'm feeling just fine in the valley, thank you very much.

So yes, I'm back after a lot of life crammed into three weeks, taking in a spot of smoggy and overly-humid air, and looking forward to nothing more than whatever happens next...