Dear Reader
Just like I said: Summer is for daydreaming and relaxing, for
visiting friends and enjoying the outdoors. All these things led
in Toronto to fleeing the city, because the stench of garbage
was pretty much everywhere. We have the unfortunate pleasure of
living on the first major escarpment of the city. The smell of
rotting garbage rises up from the city and gets blown right
across our hill. Until Friday night, just before City Council
had to close down so our Jewish council members could be home
before sundown, a last vote was taken and despite so much
opposition, finally, the council approved the deal that the
union had already accepted and ratified. In fact, they had
started to clean up.
Just in time for Caribbean the deal was sealed. Lucky for them.
I can just imagine the difficulty and cost to clean the debris
after 1.5 million people in the downtown area ate and made
merry. We could hear the sounds of the parade all the way on our
hill near Casa Loma. After that we escaped to the north of
Toronto, to Georgian Bay to be precise, where a stiff breeze and
sunshine blew away whatever cobwebs we carried around in our
heads. Good friends, good food and lots of laughter replenished
our spirits. Coming back we noticed especially strongly how the
city smells different from the open spaces north of here. It was
like driving into thick molasses.
On another weekend prior we spent much time in Brampton at
Carabram. This local folk’s fest was also a pleasant diversion
from Toronto’s garbage vows. We also visited Kitchener for a
Remembrance Society anniversary and you can read about our
summer pleasures in the community in this issue, which remains
small, due to my lacking desire to work. I would have never
admitted it in my earlier years, but I have come after 4 decades
to the conclusion that working too much in our short summers
deprives us of much needed and wanted outside activities. We
need that for our health, lest we turn into depressed
individuals.
Unfortunately we have not made it to our favourite spot on Lake
Erie. It simply was not hot enough to sit on top of a windy
dune, but we hope that August will give us an opportunity to do
so.
The community still has a few good picnics to offer where we
will of course participate and hope to see you there too.
 I do have a special
favour to ask of someone. I am looking for a
cat lover. Two more cats landed on my doorstep in desperate need
of a home. There is especially a beautiful black and white
female, very loving and attention seeking. I have taken care of
her but cannot take her in, because I have already 3 cats.
Another male I have kept reasonably warm and fed throughout the
last winter. He is very shy and I have no idea if I can make him
people friendly enough for adoption. I will try. But please,
isn’t there someone out there who can adopt a lovely cat? She
appears to be in good shape, healthy teeth beautiful fur - I
brush her every day - and she really wants a home. Somehow she
got lost or was forgotten. Call me if you can take her:
(416-652-1332)
For now let us enjoy the rest of the summer and celebrate each
warm day!
Sybille Forster-Rentmeister
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