❤️ Don Fletcher

What a bloody horrid way to wake up! I heard the birdie at 5:30. I’d awakened earlier but I was enjoying being off my sore foot and warm and cozy under the covers, and I wondered how one of the animals made the birdie noise. And then BAM! I was on my feet, into my clothes as quickly as I could, and then out I went to the shed to start the generator. The power was out.

I realized that the birdie was the sound of my smoke alarms dying from lack of power, and I’m grateful for the noise because once on my feet and thinking properly, I realized that I had a vial of medicine in my fridge that cost $4,500 and that had to stay below a certain temperature. Hence the rush to my generator.

But bless that machine! It started on the first pull of the starter cord, and in a few minutes, I had my computer and fridge, one light and my router operating. I went to the Hydro outage map and learned that 2,700 households are out in the outage affecting me. There are an awful lot of outages this morning in the southwest of BC, so I’m glad to be part of such a large outage because we will be a priority.

God bless my generator. I am comfortable and content because the fire keeps me warm and I can spend hours online writing this post and reading websites and watching things on YouTube. Plus, once the sun is up, I can do so much more. I’ve a good book to read about my goofball colleague, Murray Farr.

Don Fletcher: the best teacher ever.

Last night, I went on Facebook just before I went to bed. I wanted to look at our community page to see what was up with the island’s big mystery. Someone put up cones on the road leading uphill from the ferry and it’s become quite the scandal on the island. Also, the fire department board is having another crisis and it’s fabulous to read about because there are three Trumpian assholes on the board that need to go.

But there were no new scandalous posts. Instead, I got some very, very sad news about a man who had a huge impact on me. Don Fletcher was my grade five teacher, and he was one of many adults who saw the sorrow in me. He was courting our music teacher, Miss Wheeler, and together they made my life a much more comfortable and happy place to be. They were in the play I wrote that almost became a movie, and the two of them were at the opening and I was able to introduce them to the audience after the curtain call, and to present Donna with a huge bouquet of red roses. I felt so, so good thanking them for something they had done so long ago, and in the presence of their adult children. That felt extra good.

What I saw on Facebook, was notice of Don’s passing. Donna passed away a few years ago. I was gutted when I saw it. It was a post written by their son, so I left a passionate and sympathetic note for them on their post. But oh, the sadness of a couple whom I have loved my entire life. Mr. Fletcher, our neighbour Mr. Jackson, my Aunt Audrey and my cousin Ann, they were the four angels of my youth. They all ‘saw’ me and made my life much better. I have never forgotten any of them. (Ann, however, turned sour. She ghosted me and her eldest son, and I was not able to get back in touch with her.)

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Our morning walk was not the pleasant uplifting experience I am used to. Instead of the wonderful fragrances of the forest, all I could smell as I walked was a smell like rotting fish. Sheba had her head in the air all the time. She was licking her lips, so I kept her close. She is a sixth generation cadaver dog who was rejected for service because she is white and can’t be seen easily in a snowy landscape, and since cadaver dogs in BC work avalanches, she was able to become my partner. 

There were a lot of chores for doing in the house yesterday. I saw opportunities everywhere. I had scores of emails to answer, there were birds to feed, recycling to sort, and then there were the two top shelves of the pantry to finish. And when all my chores were done, I had a book to read from Connie.

At 15:00, it started pouring and it was so dark, I had to turn lights on everywhere. And the wind picked up. At times, I was very worried about losing power and having to start the generator in such horrific weather. It can get rather frightening during Winter storms. At least, when it’s dark, I can’t see the trees bending over and looking so scary. 

It was almost as dark as night by 16:00. We were not going to go for our third walk. It was too wet and scary, so I decided to get out of my day clothes and put on what I wear instead of pajamas: sweatpants and my hoodie. I was on the chaise at the time, so I swung my feet onto floor and immediately started to seize. It was my second of the week which was a surprise. Of late, I’ve been having only one a month.

As soon as it started, I was very happy to find Sheba at my feet. She knew something was wrong, and she was intent on attending to me. I adore my girl and I was deeply moved by her concern and attention. It passed, and once changed, I went out to the shed for wood.

I love this live, even with the storms. I love having a shed and chopping my own wood. I love heating with wood, and I love the new layout of the house. I love what I call the ‘lobby look.’ I also love these days of solitude, and the freedom I have to do as I please. I also love being so much thinner It’s given me a whole new wardrobe of things I haven’t been able to wear for years and years.

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Today has dawned with clear skies, so it’s chilly out there, but walking Her Highness will be a joy, and if we’re going to have no power, it’s a lot easier to take when the sky is clear and bright. 

I have another SPACE Zoom call today, otherwise, the day is mine to enjoy as I please. I expect to be doing a lot of reading by the fire. I have chores that I want to do, but I need light to finish up in the pantry. Every day is a good day at Pinecone Park.

I'll watch anything and everything involving Olivia Coleman.
Isn't this a lovely photo of this talented personably woman!