cktimes.ca Archives for Notes from a Garage


Notes from a Garage

With John Gardiner

Dazed and Confused, a great guest speaker, the good news guy and young female drivers

Tuesday, April 27, 2004

Well, so there I was at another record show this past weekend, down in Windsor, and I was looking to sell a little vinyl. But the problem is that I love classic vinyl so much that I ended up buying about as much as I sold. I am just not much of a businessman, you know. I do my best, but I usually leave the people around me scratching their heads in wonderment. I'm sure people look at me regularly and can't believe I've made it this far in life. Well, it's a source of constant amazement to me as well. Here I am, in the middle of life, more of it over than not, and I'm just going along trying desparately to understand how the whole thing works and why it works the way it does. I've told my wife that when I die, I want the words, "Dazed and Confused", emblazoned on my tombstone. Because I'll go to my grave wondering why we do the things we do and why we choose to live in such a mixed-up mess instead of in paradise. A little planning, people – a little planning. You can understand why our distant ancestors were a little short of five-year plans because they were scrambling to keep from getting stepped on by the dinosaurs. But we should have things so much better. After all, we're so civilized. And I picked up some great vinyl at the record show, too. You should hear that Downchild album.

I've got to say a few words here about the minor hockey banquet I attended in Wallaceburg last week. I wasn't going to attend, but coffee buddy Kim Murray tipped me off that there was going to be a great guest speaker at the event so I decided to drop by. I first met Jeff May away back in the mid 1980's, although I'm not sure he'd even remember. I presented him with an autographed Detroit Tigers baseball that an anonymous donor wanted me to distribute to disabled kids in town. Since that time, I've watched Jeff mature into a fine, young man who is a terrific role model for young people everywhere. He was the guest speaker at the minor hockey banquet and he delivered an inspirational talk to a packed house at the Oak's Inn. He talked about passion, perserverance and positive attitude, and, let me tell you, Jeff has all three in spades. The kids were quiet and listened intently while he spoke and I was greatly impressed. Kim told me the next morning over coffee that he feels Jeff should do more motivational speaking – that he is a perfect person to offer an example of what can be accomplished in life, even against the odds. I certainly agree and hope Jeff continues to grab life by the horns and take control. Great job to Ron and Cheryl May for sharing Jeff with us. And you're right, Kim – he's a great ambassador for Wallaceburg.

Thanks so much for tuning into cktimes each week. It has really given me inspiration to keep working on a product that can make a difference in the way we live and see our community. It's kind of weird that I've become the "good news" guy in Chatham-Kent because people who know me well, know I'm a fairly serious and introspective person most of the time. Well, the idea of launching a "good news" media product has been bubbling around in my head for some years. Back in 1999, when I started the Wallaceburg Community News, I had much the same idea. I knew people would enjoy a good news approach to the news and that many people felt the same way I did about the mainstream media – that it had become a mainly negative and malicious force in our society. And I'm not necessarilly talking just about news or about television or movies or video games – it's the whole package that casts a dark and foreboding cloud over the entire planet. I hope small projects like cktimes can make a bit of a difference – I think smaller media organizations generally do. Anyway, thanks for reading along – your support is much appreciated.

Life can be a fairly hectic affair for most of us. And most of us could use to slow down a bit and smell the roses. I watch people driving these days and the stress in their lives is obvious. They sit on the edge of their seats, busy on the cell phone, right on the bumper of the car in front – have to get by – have to get by. And, usually, they're young girls racing along in their little cars, hurrying along like maniacs at Daytona. And it's true, young female drivers are catching up to young male drivers as the most dangerous class of driver on the roadways. Geesh, I keep hoping that men will be a little more like women, while women seem intent on being more like men – and I'm not sure that's a good thing.

Some great columns back in cktimes this week. Jim Gilbert returns in Cultural Musings on Chatham-Kent, Greg Hetherington is back in Off the Air and Jim Williams returns with another excellent Fin & Feather Report. Don't forget to check them all out. Special thoughts for Greg and Michelle Hetherington on the passing of Michelle's Dad in Oklahoma. Remember the good times.

Out of time for another week. Hope things are rolling along well for you and yours. Thanks for reading cktimes and let's keep this thing rolling. Don't forget to click thru our sponsorss' banners and support tham when you can – we need them to make this thing work.

Take care.....and remember, "Hew to the line; let the chips fall where they may."



John Gardiner is a 25-year-veteran of the community newspaper business, but he is also a prolific writer of moralistic short fiction he refers to as "emotional thoughtscapes" or "adult fables". Samples of his fiction can be found at:

He has also produced a noteworthy piece of humanist philosophy which can be found at: http://www.xs4all.nl/~aboiten/ad502.htm He welcomes comments on his work.