Keeping Civilization + Want to Travel with Me? + Who Wants to Get Married?

Good Morning from Warren Grove, Prince Edward Island

PEI Covid News + PEI Weather

Thank you for inviting me into your time and space today. I hope you had a fruitful yet stress-free week.

Let’s have a cuppa? Today, I’ll have one of my favourites: our in-house blend, PEI Organic Breakfast.

While browsing a local bookstore, I noticed a book, many actually, but one in particular. The sticker on the upper right-hand corner had a sticker on the cover - Staff Book Choice of the Month.

James Baldwin, a man’s name, I’ve seen many times in many diverse articles. There he was again, James Baldwin and his book, The Fire Next Time.

I purchased and read it this week.

Spontaneity is the province of youth. ~ Jacqueline Carey

What a maestro with his words. He wrote this book in the early sixties. He paints a picture of racial injustice in a way that leaves you wondering if we have made any progress since then. 

I found myself being in awe of his writing. I had to put it down to take a break often, the subject deserved reflection.

The book and his writing is timeless. Mr. Baldwin opened my mind even more to the power of love. His grasp of humanity, learned from his life’s experience, led me, on a path toward more understanding and healing. Growth.

He writes lyrically, and we learn more about ourselves as a species. And because of this, I found it hopeful. But, he points the brutal facts. He tells it like it is. Unvarnished.

"The purpose of a writer is to keep civilization from destroying itself." ~ Albert Camus

If you wish to do deeper on James Baldwin, you may enjoy this article I read on a favourite blog of mine, Brain Pickings.

On the evening of August 25, 1970, Margaret Mead (December 16, 1901–November 15, 1978) and James Baldwin (August 2, 1924–December 1, 1987) sat together on a stage in New York City for a remarkable public conversation about such enduring concerns as identity, power and privilege, race and gender, beauty, religion, justice, and the relationship between the intellect and the imagination.

Read the article here. 

As heavy as racism and injustice can be, his words’ and his foundational values have redeeming qualities. There is Power in Love.

We look forward to the time when the Power of Love will replace the Love of Power. Then will our world know the blessings of peace. ~ William Gladstone

And here it is.

Valentines’ Day weekend, when more chocolates and roses meet their fates than any other time of the year.

Speaking of love…

Julia Child was a passionate promoter of French Cooking.

This woman probably ate thousands of pounds of butter and seemed to enjoy quite a  bit of wine in her lifetime, and lived to be 91 years of age. ~ Ian. C, a commentator on the video below.

I hope you watch it and add it to your morning smiles. The video cracked me up.

While I was in culinary school learning classical French cooking methods, her book series, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, became available.  And it was all the rage. I couldn’t afford the books as a student, but I remember loving the books’ cover design.

Music This Week: All week I have been listening to a marvellous Icelandic pianist. 

BBC Music Magazine writes, "Víkingur Ólafsson takes Bach playing to a whole new, incredible level. This is music-making that’s crying out to be heard."

Sample the beauty of his talent here.

Blog Post I Enjoyed the Most This Week: Harold Stephens Has Died.

What an incredible story. And a beautiful tribute written by friend, Peter Rukavina.

Dreams of Travelling? Let’s Go Together Somewhere Today.

Thank you goes out to Allan, Althea, Cynthia, Debbie, Jasmine, Kathryn, Laura, Lillian, Mary Lou, Melissa, Patricia, Peg, Peggy, Susan, & Suzi.  I appreciate you for taking the time to leave comments on last weeks blog.

Have a nice weekend and a intentional great week ahead.

With love from Prince Edward Island,

Bruce & Millie

ps. Your Morning Smile.

A minister was planning a wedding at the close of the Sunday morning service.

After the benediction, he had planned to call the couple down for a brief ceremony in front of the congregation.

For the life of him, he couldn't think of the names of those who were to be married.

"Will those wanting to get married, please come to the front?" he requested.

Immediately, nine single ladies, three widows, four widowers, and six single men stepped to the front.