April 2003 - Nr. 4
Letter from the Editor
Dear Reader
Just a little late as an April fools joke the weather did a few summersaults for us and made roads and backyards into ice rinks. That was probably why no one was laughing.
The local wildlife - birds, squirrels and racoons - practically came into the house to beg for some food, and the dishevelled husband was swearing under his breath as he tried to clear at least the sidewalk to comply with the bylaw. To top it off the shovel handle broke off. He is refusing to buy a new one and threatens to move to Mexico instead. An attempt to flee by car was rewarded with a big crack in the windshield.
Now that the streak of bad luck is over we expect to win in the lottery for which we did not buy a ticket!
The
Easter bunny might have to burry its eggs and goodies in snow holes, while
we look enviously towards Europe and balmy conditions. I had forgotten that
in the early years from 1968, when we arrived in Canada, we had a maxim: it
always snows on my birthday (April 9th). In 1988 spring came so early that I
sunbathed on that day in Allen Gardens, where daffodils and other spring
flowers were growing in abundance. But I must say it did snow in England on
April 9th,south of London, even though briefly. Something the
natives have not quite forgiven me for yet.
I wonder what the weather has in store for me this year. What ever it will be, I will be seen in the Roy Thompson Hall, taking in a concert. Music has always been able to get me over any rough spots that life has to offer, especially the rotten weather. Read more about it in Sybille reports.
But no matter how we feel about the weather Easter will come and with it our tried and true customs of egg colouring and pretty flowers, a new suit or hat, or shoes, as the case might be, the hiding and searching for Easter eggs, the get-togethers and Easter walks. All this we would prefer to do in clement weather, but we will do it in any weather.
I do want to welcome 19-year-old Rachel Seilern to our paper. She submitted her award-winning essay on the merit of culture and heritage to us. We hope she will make other contributions to us as a representative of the younger generation.
I wish all of you a happy Easter!
Sybille Forster-Rentmeister
Comments to: editor@echoworld.com
