66 - 88
July 5th/24
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It is with a good deal of pleasure that I can report that Joan and I are feeling pretty well and dealing with life’s unpleasantries with patience and a good portion of humour. We are trying to make that report true but I must admit, it is not easy. The older I get, the harder it is to not explode at the constant nonsense we have to put up with every waking hour of the day. In the past 3 hours at my desk, the phone calls, all three of them, yes, one per hour with a serious sounding female voice, telling me that my Credit card, naming it, so I knew it was a scam because I don’t have one of those cards, I must react at once to save hundreds or thousands of Dollars being stolen from our accounts. Joan is constantly having to get security numbers to enter her accounts. The trials of dealing with cybercrime scam artists alone are a new and unwelcome part of this undignified world. There is probably one upside to all this complaining and that is the telephone now rings a few times a week and that is comforting, there is someone out there that will talk to us.
This is probably an appropriate place to explain the title of this piece. Over the years July has always been a special month for me. July as far back as I can remember was the start of the summer holidays at the cottage. It was my Grandparents’ cottage and then my parents took over and life for two months was as good as a little boy could ever wish for. It was like coming home as a good deal of my youth was spent with my Grandparents while they worked clearing land for the “better off”, to build their summer cottages. July was also my birthday month and it was the month and date I launched my 1st. Super project, “the re-building and restoration of the Shamrock.” Shamrock was a 40 foot Ditchburn day cruiser built in 1923 for R.Y. Eaton. It was always a subject for discussion at the Salesmen’s club at lunchtime. My group of friends were interested in my progress and that was one thing that kept me going to my goal. When will it be finished? Was the ever-present question. I don’t believe many thought they would ever have the pleasure of sailing on such a special craft. But July 22nd was the planned date for a fishing party on the grand old girl and 15 of my friends joined me on the Shamrock for the first of many years to follow and as many as 30 rowdy salesmen on two boats would look forward to July 22nd for my birthday and our annual fishing party on Lake Simcoe and Lake Couchiching. We always caught enough fish to feed the hungry gang but Joan was prepared with loaves and spaghetti just in case. All but one of the original gang are with us and George was always late arriving hoping to just observe from a comfortable lawn chair the shenanigans of over imbibed guys when they are having fun, Fishing and boats were not his forte. George is 91 and I will be 88 this month. Thus, the number 88 in my title.
On July 5th. 1958, Joan and I tied the knot and I have been swinging for the past 66 years. That story has been partially told in three of my books so enough is enough.
As always - Paul D. Scott
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