Alberta's Winter Finale AKA Lockdown The Sequel: Day 1

 Many TV shows have a winter finale.

So why not our province?

As of today, it's here. 

Lockdown: The Sequel

So I'm settling in.

Me and my pal Celery Man from my Facebook page.

Thanks to all in Alberta who must work through this lockdown.

Grocery workers and delivery drivers.

Bus, DATS and cab drivers.

Truckers bringing us goods and services

Hospital and care home workers.

I know I appreciate the workers in my care home these days!

Thank you all so much!

I love you all!

And my heart goes out to all the businesses that will struggle.

And possibly cease to exist.

Due to Alberta's lockdown.

I love you all too!

Here's hoping we can significantly tame this virus!

And get back to something approximating the Before Times!

My T-shirt says "Refuse To Lose".

I suppose that's a good motto to adopt.

As far as my attitude and mood toward myself.

And those I may interact with on social media, text, or phone.

As well as those I am required to interact with safely here at home.

Because that is really all I can do at this point.

Take care all of you!

During this very different holiday season.

I am not sure if my thoughts make much sense today.

I just sat down and typed.

But I will be back with something tomorrow.

Every day in fact.

With special stuff on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Years Eve and Day.

But for now, take care, one and all!

I close with some hope, from a man whose thoughts usually did make sense when he sat down and wrote.

None other than Mr. George Harrison.

Your Partner In Lockdown Life (with Celery Man)

My Buddy Don

 

This is my buddy Don.

I had the honour and privilege of  knowing him for over 30 years.

And for all of that time, he  retained the smile pictured above.

His favorite saying? 

"Hello, Sunshine!"

And he truly meant it,

Don was always truly happy to see you.

It didn't matter if you were a good friend of his, or if he knew you slightly.

The smile was always the same.

If you were having a down day, just a smile or hello from Don would improve it instantly.

I know quite a few of my days were brightened and improved just by knowing him.

I  first met Don around 1991 at a meeting of the Cerebral Palsy support group.

He was always a positive and energetic presence at those meetings, as well as the dinner and bowling nights the organization would put on.

Later on, Don and I wound up living in the same assisted living facility, and we would often get together at one another's places to watch movies or listen to music.

And I remember a few Grey Cups and Super Bowls at his place with Pepsi from the building machine, and pizza from 73.

And when I ran movies in the building, Don was the usher and was always happy to look after the lights.

And on those occasions when he and I would go for coffee at either West Edmonton Mall or Westmount Mall, I watched him bring smiles to complete strangers, simply by saying hello.

The same thing happened when we would occasionally go see his favorite oldies bands such as Gerry and the Pacemakers and Herman's Hermits.

And we certainly had fun watching The Fab Fourever, an outstanding Beatles tribute band from Vancouver, in 2014.

We were absolutely blown away by their recreations of the Beatles music and eras, and by the hospitality of the guys, who happily agreed to pose for the above picture after the show.

I used to sometimes joke with Don that I was jealous of him because he saw Beatlemania firsthand.

Paul McCartney once said in an interview that he was proud to be in a band that thought the thoughts and felt the feelings  that led to songs like All You Need Is Love.

And I have to say that I am proud to have known a guy like Don Matheson, who not only really liked that particular song, but lived its ideals for his entire life.

I'll miss you bud.

Thank you for being my friend.

And for helping me see the positive in life when I needed it.

You were a heck of a guy.

Your buddy,

Mike

Joey Moss: An Inspiration

 I never had the opportunity to meet Joey Moss.

But from 1984 on, I sure knew who he was!

He worked in the Oilers dressing room, starting in the same year as the Stanley Cup dynasty.

And Joey kept that position, as well as well as a similar one with the Edmonton Football Team, for over three decades.

And it always seemed to me, even in the mid-80s when I was in my teen years and just starting to figure out how to manage life with challenges, that he never let his own challenges get in the way of doing the work that he loved.

Or enjoying his life  to the absolute fullest.

He had one very good (and perhaps best) friend.

Who just happened to be the best hockey player in the world.

And he had support from his large and loving family.

And Joey's teammates and coworkers from Edmonton's two most storied teams had his back too.

Joey was definitely a part of the Oilers story, and the Football Team's story.

The city of Edmonton's story, really.

All it took, according to reports, was dedicated work that he loved, a hug and a high five, usually shared with teammates, whether after a win or a loss.

Throughout his career, Joey was honoured by both teams.

The NHL honoured him with its "Seventh Man" award.

The Alberta Sports Hall Of Fame celebrated him as well.

The Winnifred Stewart Association, which assisted him in living his life fully despite his Down's Syndrome challenges, named all their Edmonton group homes "Joey's Homes".

How did all this goodwill and good fortune come to Joey?

Simply by being himself.

I can tell you that as a teenager in the mid-80s, there was a lesson for me there.

And that as an almost middle-aged adult now, the lesson is there still.

There is also hope.

For all of us, whatever our challenges.

If we are able to recognize our gifts, and use them.

Rest in peace Joey.

Thank you for being an inspiration.

You did good.

Wherever you may be, I hope you are joyfully belting out our anthem with Mr. Paul Lorieau.

Mike

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You're At School! But You're At Home!

 

Hello girls!

I heard you started school three days ago!

It's a special kind of school.

Because you are at home!

That means your mom and your dad will be your teachers this year!

You are very lucky, because your mom and your dad are both really smart people!

And your mom and I watched Memere Annie be a very special teacher when we were your age.

So I just know that your mom and your dad will do their very best to teach you two.

I know that Memere Annie would be very proud of you both!

Just like Auntie Shawna and I are!

And I love your smiles!

Because learning is fun when school is at your house, isn't it?

Good luck with this school year Penelope and Mikaela!

We'll all be cheering for you!

Love you so much Penelope and Mikaela!

Uncle Mike

Penelope And The Birthday Unicorn!

 

Happy Birthday Penelope!

Wow! You are already nine!

Time sure goes by fast doesn't it?

But that's OK!

You have many years of adventures to come!

I heard you had some very special guests at your party yesterday!

Of course, everyone that comes to a party is a special guest.

Like the people you invited, and your mom, dad and sister.

And we sure can't forget Auntie Debbie!

But princesses and unicorns are pretty special when they come to a party.

Wow!

Looks like you had lots of fun!

Auntie Shawna  and I are so happy to see that!

Happy Birthday Penelope from Auntie and me!

And may you have many more fun birthdays to come!

Uncle Mike

Christmas 1985: Mom Buys Us An Apple

The years 1984 to 1986 were a heady time as far as new technology was concerned. Apple was new and shiny, particularly in schools. 

Classes were starting to be devoted to the personal computer (both Apple and IBM PCs), usually once or twice a week.

And they were fascinating machines. So much so that you would hate for the half-hour or 40-minute period to end.

That's the way it was for me and my sister in any case.

And like the commercial says, an Apple IIc could be had for "under 1,300".

Not something that Jacquie or I ever thought would be a possible purchase in our single-parent home.

Mom worked very long hours at school and home to provide the necessities.

And we were very grateful and happy kids.

But during the Christmas season of 1985 Mom surprised us.

We got an Apple IIc!

And because she wanted to help us in our schooling, a monitor and printer!

We had three of the "thousands of programs".

A version of Space Invaders.

A game involving the BC comic character

And the AppleWorks word processing program.

And we were grateful for them all.

Because it saved my life where assignments were concerned!

Especially copying rows of words five times each for spelling!

One night, after about three years of this routine, our friend Alain was over.

Watching me do more spelling copying.

And he said, "Mike, I'm gonna show you something.".

The copy feature!

D-oh!

Open Apple-C!

But that's ok. Because it made me an above-average speller!

Thank you Jacquie, for not minding that the computer was mostly taken up with my homework needs.

I love you!

And of course, thank you Mom for scrimping and saving to get us the IIc.

You had help from the church and community.

But still...you probably went without a lot for our benefit.

And we were, and still are, so so grateful!

I know that my love of words and computers can be traced back to those years!

Thank you again Mom! Jacquie and I love you so very much!

And Happy Birthday!

Love Michel and Jacquie

Family Day Fun!

Hello Penelope and Mikaela!

How are you today?

We sure had fun on Family Day, didn't we?

Thank you so much for coming to Edmonton! (Mom and Dad too!)


First when visiting Grandpa Paul...

He sure liked it when you guys played piano for him!

Later we went to Auntie Shawna's...

That is sure  a sweet picture of Auntie Shawna, Mikaela!

And I was sure glad when I saw Penelope and you do this...

You let your sister wear your hat Penelope.

I know sharing can seem hard to do sometimes.

Sometimes I didn't share all my toys with your mom when we were little and she would ask.

I am glad that she loves me anyway! I sure love her!

But I'm sure glad you shared your hat Penelope, even if it was just for a few minutes.

Because sharing is important

Grandpa Paul sure taught your mom and me that when we were little!

If you both keep sharing your things with each other, then you will always be there for each other.

And sharing will help you get along with many people as you grow up.

I love you so much Penelope!

I love you so much Mikaela!

Uncle Mike