EPISODE 518 FLORIDA, BRAZIL, AND ONTARIO….JANUARY 2022 CONTRAST
alan skeoch
Jan. 2022
A friend just sent these three pictures from a lush wilderness in
Florida. January 24,2022…seems some Canadians are on the move no doubt
carefully. While the rest of us are cocooned up in eider down bags counting the
days to spring and the end of our two year terror of Covid 19.
Another friend sent a note from Brazil where the alligators or their kin await
foolish swimmers and on shore the tiger ants await a bum that is lowering to rest on a log.
What do we face in Southern Ontario after that huge snowstorm? In our case Woody
Marjorie and I were pleasantly surprised while playing Scrabble .
“What’s that noise?””
“Jack and Andy have arrived with the snow blower….digging us out.”
“Wait until I get the blueberry pie for them?”
“Is that really necessary?”
“Yes,…for your son and grandson…nice to know they are thinking of us.”
“But half a blueberry pie seems excessive.”
“Is that a gator just behind your boat?”
NOTE FROM PATRICIA…THAT SHOULD BE COMFORTING TO THOSE OF US IN ONTARIO
I got an email this morning from a friend who is a kayaker and here’s her description of kayaking on the Myakka. It is bang on. We were shocked at the size of the gators when we canoed down the river – easily 12 to 14 feet. Huge! We were glad to be in an aluminum canoe. Use what you wish from this description below. I confirm it’s validity.
“Hiking along the Myakka ….interesting….we kayaked down ( or up…I don’t know) the Myakka last week and there were alligators all along the bank , Hugh prehistoric looking creatures, who would get up and walk down to the River and slip in directly in front of my kayak. And that River is very shallow, I always thought that I was going to hit one on the head with my paddle….and that he might be a tad upset….but there were an awful lot of them.”
By the way, hiking is done on a marked trail. Alligators stay by the water. A wild pig dashed across in front of us. That was scary. Bigger than a Labrador, quite black.
We both carry large thick walking sticks.
Best!
Patricia
Another friend sent
pics from Brazil….water looks grand but no swimming or the alligators (?) will get you…and the ants love to bite.
It is a malicious comfort to know the alligators prevent you from swimming. Is that one following your boat?
Envious? No, how could I be envious? I am currently deep into our 230th game of Scrabble. Why should I be
envious of you basking in Florida sunshine or even our friend Arnaud on a sand beach with
scantilly clad swimmers.
Below are some pictures that show we are having a great time up here where there are no gators or bum biting ants.
“:Some of these pictures are repeats , Alan.”
“I know that.”
“Then why send them?”
“Just so those Florida people will feel sorry for us…”
“I am expecting notes from Florida and Texas?”
“Why?”
“They will want us to shovel out their driveways.”
“ALAN, tell them about the coyotes.”
“You mean tell them the coyotes are mating and howling on winter nights?”
“No, tell them how cute the coyotes are as they jump through the snowdrifts.”
“Cute? They are looking for cats.”
“Woody seems to like them.”
“Not after that coyote bit him on the ass.”
“Look, Marjorie, the old iron bridge still exists.”
“Blocking the Fifth line below Steeles Avenue”
“How long will it be here?”
“Not much longer the assassins with chain saws are cutting the trees on both sides
of the Fifth line. Soon the old iron bridge will be in a scrap yard.”
“Do you think we could move it to the farm…to span two of the ponds.?”
“We could but doubt it.”
“Why?”
“Because too many of our goddamn friends…would be helpers…are now in Florida or Texas…or Mexico…or Brazil?”
“You sound bitter Alan?”
“Not me…”
“Alan, send that picture of the isolated farm house to the sun seekers down south”
“Why?
“To make them feel guilty for sending all those pictures of FlorIda!
“Good idea…”
