Fun is counting, counting is fun.
Sesame Street’s The Count, in a Throwback 1981 duet with country singer-songwriter Loretta Lynn, crooned a hymn of hope relevant to today’s trying times: “Well, your nose is one, your eyes are two. Put them together, that makes three it’s true. With five fingers in your hand, you’re a counting wonderland. How I love to count on you.”
Do you remember that moment when your heart went crazy with joy after your child first recited one to ten in perfect order, without playful help from any of his/her cute fingers?
Who was so selfless enough to have said “Always count on me.” in a pinky swear of unconditional friendship?
I know of couples who openly expressed and exchanged that vow of unrequited love during their wedding.
Yes! Count on each other. Knowing that you are not alone, that you are never an unseen and undiscoverable island, is very comforting as well as spiritually uplifting.
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Local poll counts are over.
Congratulations to Marci Ien, elected Member of Parliament (MP) representing Toronto Centre and to Ya’ara Saks, who was voted MP for York Centre. Good luck and all the best!
A note to both and their colleagues: Less debates; more rebates, please.
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Hallelujah! For a time early this month, annoyed ears were de-waxed from deafening and repetitive cautious but grim conversations about the ongoing global surge in novel Coronavirus infections and positive cases.
Local media coverage of an American election on November 3 gave Torontonians a much-needed respite – No! Make it distraction – from the deadly virus.
The vote-and-count turned many Canadian eyes down south.
Viewing the stateside voting and ballot tallying was not really stress free that Tuesday.
Kabayan Tonyang missed her beauty rest. Lolo Panyong poured birdseed into the goldfish bowl. Kuyang Pedro forgot about Tik-Tok. Impong Ambo nearly fainted when, before dinner, Aling Nida looked at the refrigerator. And so on and so forth! Crazy, isn’t it?
Worse, it was back to pandemic bonkers and the count of Johns Hopkins the next morning, even if a great sunny Celsius 14-degree autumn morning enveloped Toronto. The weather is good but we need cash!
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Of course, the American poll count went on and off and will most likely go on and off until … “na na na na, na na na na, hey, hey, hey, goodbye.”
Meanwhile, there is YMCA – You Must Count America.
Elsewhere above the union, the circle of life continues.
Relatives, friends and neighbours are sane enough to return to usual daily tasks, ignoring — but for a quick curious peek of — what is happening below them.
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Joseph R. Biden Jr. reached and breached 270 electoral votes on Saturday (November 7). Biden was projected to be the 46th President of the US of A, together with vice president Kamala Harris. Well, as usual, congratulations!
Obviously, that’s old hat. Please take time to hear, read, see and keep abreast of the latest.
I can only ingest so much of what the networks tried to ram into a sore and aging throat like mine.
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But then, Fox did a great job. Its game show and soap opera reruns were absolutely good fodder for bummed out pandemic stay homers who stashed a steady supply of microwaveable popcorn.
CNN’s coverage was outstanding. John King’s election maps gave the poll run-through an amazing lift. I just can’t go on through the day and night without ear buds and mufflers.
If it means anything, I am sorry for not tuning in to other loud and noisy global media networks. I can’t afford additional subscription fees. Besides, the networks won’t let me enjoy 4D in my black-and-white TV set.
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Golf is said to be a competitive activity in which one can shake a deal, walk for health, eat good food and enjoy a sunny day inside the clubhouse.
Enthusiast Sir Tasyo admits that he likes to whack a ball hard, hit it with due force as many times as needed and, with unflinching conviction, fiercely want it to sink into a hole in the ground.
Profound! I want to see what a golfer’s balls look like when the strokes go bad and awry.
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I was told that in golf, the winner has the least score.
Hmmm. Donald Trump went golfing in Virginia on November 7.
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Were the rights and votes of more than 74-million Americans – the majority — disrespected?
Undoubtedly, only those with lesser numbers would doubt the results.
History will eventually and inevitably judge the outcome of the unsubstantiated charges and lawsuits that Trump, his surrogates and his cabal are pushing to delegitimize the 2020 American poll count.
Finished or unfinished, recount or not, belated Happy Halloween!
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Covid-19 cases across the USA are catching up with the Joneses; and every Tom, Dick and Harry knows that.
With an ambulance of caution, Happy Thanksgiving Day!
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Looking yonder an imaginary line does not necessarily mean checking out a border that remains closed to non-essential crossing until November 21 while re-opening is under review.
Travelling North? Cross fingers before crossing lines. No! The Arctic is not a suggested priority destination.
Crossing paths with Jon Snow is not happening. But read on. Santa may have more to say about this.
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Walls and Borders. It was 1986. The Berlin Wall still existed.
Intimidating watchtowers stood near the Russian-controlled East Berlin side of the wall. In the watchtowers were armed guards on the lookout for East Berliners trying to scale the wall and escape to the west side.
Some three meters behind the American-controlled West Berlin side of the same wall-spot, a billboard — rising perpendicularly — advertized a cigarette brand with a huge call-out “Let’s go West!” (See related captioned photos)
On November 9, 1989, German families, relatives, friends and neighbours separated by the Berlin Wall for decades were reunited as they crossed in and out of the wall as soon as the main gates were opened. Then, a large and long part of the wall was chipped, broken and levelled down until the infamous structure ceased to exist.
Alas! Historians will never know the count of those who dared climb the wall to buy cigarettes.
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Where on Earth is it really safe and healthy to be, in the pandemic era?
Rip Van Winkle, Sleeping Beauty and Shubenacadie Sam may likely agree: Staying home makes sense for those who like to count sheep. Zzzzzzzzzz.
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In a dream, I saw bright signs around Santa’s workshop in the North Pole.
The engaging signs read: Welcome! Be cool, keep warm. Smile. Chill. Think happy, speak happy. Enjoy a candy cane. Colour the snow.
Another sign planted on Frosty’s hand said: “Rejoice! This is a tweet-free zone.”
Sign on Rudolph’s antlers: “Keep off my nose. It’s not the golden buzzer.”
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Huhuhu. Too bad. A lot of Christmas parties a month or weeks before Christmas, I heard, have been cancelled. The bonuses and the presents, however, may be given in advance.
To follow pandemic safety protocols, it may be a better to enjoy smaller pre-Christmas Yule gatherings and celebrate Christmas in a more personal family bubble.
Can you recount the times when you were unable – for whatever reason – to celebrate Christmas with family?
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“Change the face of men’s health.” Movember is still around. It is an annual charity event in November to raise awareness on men’s health issues such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and men’s suicide.
Have you grown a moustache yet? I did and my barber laughed and I had a shave worth it.
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Life is simple process. Wake up to a new day and thank God. Pray for a better you. Drink coffee. Get ready to face reality. Be good and kind. Do the right thing. When all is said and done rightfully, thank God. Then, rest your mind, body and spirit. Be blessed with God’s next wake-up call.
While at it, dump all the virus digits of doom and gloom. Then, count the jolly days to Christmas 2020.
Always be positive, never toxic. Keep safe and stay healthy. You know the drill. #####
Pictures & Captions:
Picture # 1
Let’s Go West. (Left photo) While promoting a cigarette brand, the billboard subtly invited people of Russian-administered East Berlin to breach the Berlin Wall. The risks to life and limb, however, outweighed any thought of going west. Christophe Robin photographed the West cigarette billboard ad in 1984, near the wall in Neukölln, West Berlin. (Right photo) A graffiti-laden stretch of the infamous Berlin Wall facing West Berlin served as backdrop for foreign media professionals attending an advanced course at the International Institute of Journalism in Berlinin 1986. Butch Galicia
Picture # 2
Brandenburger Tor. (Left photo) Captured in the 1986 photo were the Brandenburger Tor (Brandenburg Gate), an 18th-century neoclassical monument; the infamous Berlin Wall; and a watchtower in Russian-controlled East Berlin. (Right photo) Visiting Berlin in 1991, I stood on space where the wall once was until 1989. I felt joy. There is one spot where freedom is sublime. It is where anyone can proudly proclaim “Ich bin ein Berliner.” Butch Galicia
Picture # 3
The family, relatives, friends and colleagues of JUAN “John” ROSERO wish to thank all those who condoled and prayed with them during their moments of grief and bereavement. In a recent traditional burial defined by pandemic protocols, John’s remains were interred beside those of Elenita G. Rosero. Butch Galicia