Monday, October 25, 2010

Next Meeting

From Christine in regards to our next meeting's assignment...


As you might remember, I was reading a poem from a poster of Nelson, which I have had in my possession for many years. Here it is:


"To live content with small means;
to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion;
to be worthy, not respectable;
and wealthy, not rich;
to study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly;
to listen to the stars and the birds, to babes and sages;
to bear all cheerfully, do all bravely, await occasions, hurry never.
In a word, to let the spiritual unbidden and unconscious grow up throught he common."
...This is life in Nelson


Opinions where divided about the poem and how it really relates to living in the City of Nelson, but that is in the eye of the beholder.


What I would like to ask as an assignment is for everybody to write something up about Kimberley. Could be a poem, a story or even a rant - whatever comes up.

3 comments:

  1. Meeting Tuesday November 2nd
    Writing exercise.
    Christine provided the following opening sentence that we had to finish in story form...
    "So Nick Wally lived a half hazard life from the day he was born. Mostly due to no fault of his own but by the time he was seventeen....."
    Margaret's Nick headed out for new horizons in his van with his dog.
    Kay. Nick discovered that he was a genius which meant that life only became tougher for him.
    Heather's Nick lost his virginity albeit late in the day after being successfully taunted by Candace.
    Nina. Nick had to take responsibility for his actions. Someone was dead and Nick believed he was involved.
    Sue. Nick plunged into degenerate negativisms being on drugs and shooting up in the foul washroom of the Cecil Hotel. Death was waiting to release him from his despair.
    Don. Nick had been in jail three times that he claimed was no fault of his own. Once for hosting a drunken party that got out of hand and again for delivering a box of health food itmes to a friend in Mexico that the customs agents believed were drugs.
    Christine's Nick left his half-crazed mother to go in search of his dad who his mother told him was dead and had gone to hell.
    Mike. Nick was determined to leave his Italian Mafia connected relatives to find hbis own way in the world.

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  2. Tuesday November 2nd writing assignment
    "Impressions of Kimberley"

    Christine wrote three short pieces that captured for her the essence of Kimberley very succinctly. In summary they included 1. fresh-baked huckleberry pies, nature's beauty, a bath in a mountain lake and not looking for Happy Hans. 2. Friendly locals in a welcoming community who were there when a crisis struck.
    3.After 22 years Christine feels she is almost a local. They know my name, my children, my house and my car.

    Don read excerpts from his book "Headwinds and Horizons" which recalled the first memories of arriving in Kimberley in 1967 with his new bride. June's reaction was to burst into tears and sob uncontrollably. Don didn't help matters by spending time in the pub with the locals for a couple of hours leaving June to discover his whereabouts after her short shopping spree.

    Sue's impressions were of the beauty of the natural environment and Kimberley folk being hardy souls with an incessant cheeriness. They give directions based on how things used to be. They need to take a trip to Frigon Island to get get a dose of world reality and drink something other than berry and flower tea.

    Nina came to Kimberley via Toronto "to be" Lost memories haunt her of a life once lived. She feels a lack of attachment, ambition and purpose so far but has a sense of freedom.

    Heather. Two poems captured her impressions. Kimberley, how do I love you? Let me count the ways. They included kindred spirits that reside in the mountains blessed with elk and bear, toddlers laughter, Mark Creek's ebbs and flows, wingterscapes and trails, resplendent forests, lakes and rivers. Let me end my ode. Calgary is the toad.

    Kay has a new used dog for company to ease the loneliness of waking alone. She is looking for a partner. That charming young man she discovered, after an evening of gin and tonics, confessed his love for leading a single life. She is resigned to being single. There is still room on the bed for the dog.

    Margaret shared lots of reflections of her 25 years in Kimberley that included seeking recreation rather than employment, to be recognized, to listen to trees and deer, to await seasons patiently, to evolve never. She loves the brisk mountain air, the reflective clear waters and graceful golden larch. It's here that she is able to pursues her passions.

    Mike. Kimberley has changed over the years from a working class commmunity that has morphed into a middle and upper class community becoming dominated by vacant holiday homes of the wealthy. Where there were once forests surrounding the town with trails close beyond the backdoor there are now barbed wire fences across old trails and resident bears that once roamed free are being slaughtered because of the encroachment into their habitat. There has been a loss of it's character as a diamond in the rough and commmunal independence has been lost. It is certainly a diffferent place.

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  3. Next meeting is on Tuesday November 16th at 7 pm
    Margaret will be the facilitator and the assignment is titled "Messages"

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