Social media was smouldering hot from one guy who lives in Conception Bay North. He was counting down the days until he could no longer stand the contemptible Newfoundland and Labrador weather. He was ready to pluck the tent pegs and shove it all into the U-Haul and head west.
You know, out where the hail is as big as golf balls and the occasional tornado buzz-saws the yard, front to back.
But, finding the N.L. weather so depressing, I guess he’s leaving.
Meanwhile, I was out in the contemptible N.L. weather — rain gear in full — doing some fishing (no licence required) for trout on a pond 10 minutes from my back door, sipping a cup of tea.
The weather is a nuisance, not a barrier, I believe.
The next day while grocery shopping I happened upon an acquaintance of mine who has a penchant for discussing politics and matters of social concern. The discussion started out about the cost of food, and then it made a radical leap to Muskrat Falls.
“Just wait ’till Muskrat come on! You think’s we’re paying for food now! Won’t be able to afford to live then!”
Faced with his own line of thinking: stop eating or get the hell out, I guess he’s leaving.
I’ll earnestly own up to the fact that I don’t understand the intricate fiscal outfall of this power megaproject, but I will openly state that I am impressed with the magnitude of it, as well as with the ingenuity that it took to build it.
It is a testament to the fact that Newfoundlanders and Labradoreans can build anything; not their fault that the crew running the ship were living in an alternate headspace.
There’s no getting the Muskrat horse back in the barn, but the province-wide cloud of negative energy surrounding it is worse than that guy’s weather in C.B.N. We can’t discover solutions if we’re infatuated with the problem.
Then there are those who complain about their work.
Their work — not their lack of work or difficulty finding work.
“We’re not allowed to leave before 3:30 now! Got to have someone stay until 4!”
Working hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. — no wonder he’s leaving!
Did I mention politics and the news?
One individual told me he could barely watch the news anymore.
“It’s the same ’ol thing over and over! Fishery gone and power goin’ to double, and Trump in the U.S. goin’ right off his head! I watches it in the morning, and again in the evening, it’s the same thing! Depressing!”
I guess, when torn between switching off the news and leaving, he’s outta here.
The news — you know, that entertainment-sensational coverage of the worst that society has to offer — is just that: offered.
It’s up to us how much media junk food we devour.
I don’t know if the weather is going to improve for the summer.
I don’t know if my light bill is going to go higher than Everest, or if the media is going to start to bring us some good news, but I do know this: it’s time to move out from under the shadow of cynicism and negativity.
Obsession with negative current events, both local and global, can become an emotional fire, and our fixation with them is a fuel.
This cynical little article isn’t meant to offend or ruffle, but rather to hold up a mirror.
I’m not suggesting we hold hands and sing the Ode to Newfoundland, but it can’t hurt to hold up our negative horses.
We’ll get tired if we continue to swim against every tide. I think it’s time to be for something, and not against everything.
Count the simple and free pleasures in this province and we should see there’s a lot to be thankful for.
If that sounds somewhat passive or naive, I’m OK with that.
A spoonful of simplicity will do more for the mind and soul than a mountain of moaning and groaning over how we’d like things to be.
I’m not going anywhere.
Jeff Hutchings,
C.B.S.
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