HUNKERED DOWN IN VANCOUVER

POST #4 NOVEMBER 14 2011 THE LEAVES ARE FALLING FAST
So here it is November 14th already, which means it's time for the weekly blog once again. Considering that my days aren't very busy, it always amazes me just how fast a week can go by. Already I am two thirds of the way through this current housesit, and by the time next week rolls around it will be done and on to the next venue.
So it's been another week of being hunkered down in Vancouver, and with a mixed bag on the weather front, there have been moments when I have been very grateful to be inside, dry and warm. There are some who are not so fortunate, and I count my blessings daily. My dog companions Jackson and Peach even had times this week when they debated with each other whether or not it would be wise to go outside, or once outside they were soon staring at me through the window with a "LET ME IN NOW PAUL" look in their eyes.
When there has been a break in the cloud cover and rainshowers, I made sure to get out of the house for some exercise, not ever knowing for sure when the next cloudburst would take place.
Of course, none of this weather is unusual for this time of year in Vancouver and as long as one doesn't have to work outside in it, things aren't too bad really. I spared a thought this week for my former work mates at Aquabus Ferries who would have to brave the weather while they shuttled customers back and forth across False Creek.
So as autumn progresses, the landscape begins to change accordingly. One day I was relaxing on the couch while J and P were having a snooze, and I happened to be staring out the window, lost in thought, but with my eyes focused on a large tree. It had already lost a large amount of its leaves throughout the week as we had experienced some pretty good winds during that period. At this moment there was only a breeze blowing and the effect it had on the remaining leaves was to make them wave back and forth, back and forth. The thought I had while observing this was that the tree was like the world, and the leaves were the countries, and even though they were all still attached, there was a precarious feel about the whole situation. It seemed to be a metaphor for what is going on around the world at the moment. We are on the cusp of change, and going forward it's going to be very interesting to say the least as to what kind of world we end up with, and just how many leaves are going to be still attached as time marches on.
While I contmeplated the future, Jackson and Peach continued to snooze away, oblivious to the changes coming their way. There are times when I think it would better to have a dogs view of the world, that is, to have a more immediate view of what's going on, but humans have the ability to think into the future, and while that can bring about good things, it also has the effect of being able to paint a picture of a possible future by looking at what is going on in the present, and coming up with a potential outcome. And the leaves continued to wobble back and forth precariously on the edge of a fall.
But this morning the clouds have been blown away with a brisk wind, and the sun rises in the east as it always has and always will, and we face the day and try to make the best of it, all the time counting our blessings for what we have.
Jackson, Peach and I got our lazy butts off the couch, and decided to go out and cruise the neighbourhood and see what has changed or stayed the same since our last walk. For a while at least we can all think like dogs.