Falling into Winter
November is one of those pivotal months – a time of dramatic change in the landscape and the way we dress when out of doors. Snow changes the green forests to a vision in white on white, then along comes the wind and changes the view again. The colour of the lake changes with every shift in the wind. Again comes the snow and the whole outdoors looks like a set for a Christmas movie.
The most moving sight this month for me was the arrival of a large flock of Bohemian Waxwings that hovered and perched on the mountain ash tree stripping it of berries in a short time. Such beautiful birds – and always on the move. It made me wish I had a whole lot more mountain ash trees with berries so they would stay a bit longer.
There have been wind storms with quite strong gusts moving down the valley with even stronger winds up on the plateaus above. The backroads and trails are criss-crossed with fallen trees in places.
One day some weeks ago the wind blew a tree onto the telephone line. An alert resident noticed it and called Telus to inform them so they could take action before the tree broke the line. He was informed that until the line was broken it wasn’t Telus’s problem and he should call the local government to take care of it. Our local government being theTNRD meant that nothing would happen. So he kept calling around – Interior Roads, Hydro and back and forth. In the end Hydro did send someone out to remove the tree before the lines were damaged.
As good as your word
Some events at Loon Lake the past month have reminded me of one of the rules of life here when I grew up. My parents always insisted that “a man is as good as his words.” It meant more than that a person could be counted on to do what they said they would; it meant also that one was measured by what one said or didn’t say.
People here have always been outspoken on issues and events and people knew who could be counted on, who was unreliable and who would use the occasion to puff themselves up to look bigger than real life. This was vital knowledge to survival in country areas.
In the past year the community of Loon Lake has been debating a series of concerns, some of which were identified in my column of Nov. 1 in this paper. Since then I have received many comments - most positive, but two were outstanding for their ire. One would take steps to “stop the rhetoric”, while the second told me I would be ‘thrown out of the community hall”. They said that I was wrong to expose Loon Lake’s “dirty laundry” to the readership of The Journal.
This comment surprised me a great deal, as I know of no “dirty laundry” at Loon Lake to expose. Most residents are glad for the clarity and information so everyone knows what is going on. Where there are opportunities to have issues and situations brought out before everyone for discussion and information, the community is healthier and “dirty laundry’ is less likely to happen. The bright light of day is the best sanitizer for “dirty laundry”. It is unhealthy to let gossip and a few bullies control what can and cannot be talked about. These few who wish to control and try to intimidate people into silence show their lack of respect for the right of residents to express their opinions without interference. And, for me, it still is a rule that “a man or woman is as good as their words”.
Successful fundraiser
The Loon Lake Garden and Creative Club would like to thank all those who came out to support the Nov. 12 Fundraiser for the clinic in Guatemala. It was a good turnout with people in good spirits and all the funds will be turned over to the clinic in early February.
Access to lake continued
The year has been an eventful one at Loon Lake with some issues still to be resolved. The problems created by the sale of the Marigold Resort for those who used it as a base for access to their homes on the south side of the lake has been positively resolved. Linda and Kevin Lennox will be taking over the main part of the resort and will continue to offer parking and docking services for the water access only residents. They will also be making improvements and expanding services in the convenience store at the resort.
Season to snuggle by the fire
It is the Christmas season – a time to visit with neighbours, say thanks for all the good things over the past year and snuggle by the fire with the family. Best wishes to everyone for a happy and relaxing season, prepared just the way you like it.