Does this seem strange to anyone else?
By Bill Fox/Columnist
I loved my dog and in general I love pets, even though I am allergic to cats and most breeds of dogs. Still I question the actions of eight kind volunteers from a local rescue group that loaded four vans with supplies a few weeks ago and went to Texas right after Hurricane Harvey and brought home over 40 shelter dogs back to Canada. Does that seem strange to you?
The Toronto Star of Sept. 2 in Page 1 of the Automotive section, featured the 10 best back to school cars for 2017. These were 2017 vehicles all under $25,000. I was taken aback, that the Toronto Star would think that there is a need to feature the best back to school brand new cars. Tuition by itself is extremely expensive. Are people today that wealthy? Does that seem strange to you?
A few hours after 9/11 a TV analyst asked Donald Trump a mere wealthy property owner back then, if his building at 40 Wall Street had any damage. “… What’s happened down there?” Trump’s response focused on the fact that the World Trade Center was no longer the tallest building in the area. Trump said, “I mean, 40 Wall Street actually was the second-tallest building in downtown Manhattan, and it was actually before the World Trade Center the tallest, and then when they built the World Trade Center it became known as the second-tallest, and now it’s the tallest.” Does this response seem strange to you?…and now he is the President?
Lou Holtz a former New York Jets and Notre Dame University coach once said, “80% of the world doesn’t care about your problems and 20% are glad you have them! Does this seem to be a strange analysis to you?
According to a recent Stats Canada release from the 2016 Census, the median total income of Canadian households reached $70,336 in 2015, an almost 11% increase from $63,457 in 2005. In Ontario the median (meaning mid-point, NOT average) was $74,287 a 3.8% increase in 10 years. Meanwhile the inflation rate during those 10 years was 18.8%. Do those figures seem strange to you? They should because it seems that in Ontario, our wages increased very little and compared to the inflation rate we actually lost a lot of ‘real income’.
Will it seem strange to you if I close this column with some recent quotes from Pope Francis?
“This life will go by fast. Don’t fight with people, don’t criticize your body so much, and don’t complain so much. Don’t lose sleep over your bills. Look for the person that makes you happy. If you make a mistake, let it go and keep seeking your happiness.
Never stop being a good parent. Don’t worry so much about buying luxuries and comforts for your home, and don’t kill yourself trying to leave an inheritance for your family. Those benefits should be earned by each person, so don’t dedicate yourself to accumulating money.
Enjoy, travel, enjoy your journeys, see new places, give yourself the pleasures you deserve. Allow dogs to get closer. Don’t put away the fine glassware. Utilize the new dinnerware; don’t save your favourite perfume, use it to go out with yourself; wear out your favourite sport shoes; repeat your favourite clothes.
…Why not now? Why not pray now instead of waiting until before you sleep? Why not call now? Why not forgive now? We wait so long for Christmas; for Friday; for reunions; for another year; for when I have money; for love to come; when everything is perfect…look…
Everything perfect doesn’t exist. Human beings can’t accomplish this because it simply was not intended to be completed here. Here is an opportunity to learn.
So take this challenge that is life and do it now…love more, forgive more, embrace more, love more intensely and leave the rest in God’s hands. Amen.”
I can be reached at ‘bdfox@rogers.com’ but please no strange emails.