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October 12, 2004
Renfrew County Plowing Match, Part One
September 18th, 2004
Part One of Two
The Renfrew County Plowing Match
The alarm kicked the radio on at 5:29 a.m. Surprisingly, Sandy had woken up 15 minutes before. Raggmopp gave a little growl from her spot on the couch as Sandy looked past the Old English Sheepdog. The sun had yet to rise.
‘It is still dark outside. I can’t remember the last time I was up this early!’, thought Sandy.
‘That’s not one of the things you have to remember,’ replied Raggmopp. She tried to be comforting, to be supportive.
‘Well, even if it’s dark, we’re going for a walk’ said Sandy. However, the dog stayed on the bedroom’s sofa. Sandy had a shower, dressed and got a coffee.
‘I love the smell of your decaf hazelnut vanilla,’ Raggmopp said as they headed out the door. The house was left unlocked as they headed for the newspaper boxes, three blocks away. The Saturday TV Times was needed so Sandy could leave a voice message for the blind. However, at 6 a.m., the Ottawa Citizen hadn’t arrived so the C.N.I.B.’s Newsline service would have to wait. As it turned out, they arrived back in the late afternoon and Sandy as able to call it in then. A tad late. Meanwhile, other volunteers would be leaving their messages, informing the users of the service of the movies in town, sales at groceries stores and even the obituaries. It was an awkward system that desperately needed a technological miracle that hopefully would come soon. Sandy’s specialty was listing the television schedule from 7 p.m. until 10:30 p.m. . “Debbie Travis’ Facelift is still on cable 49. Golly, that apparent cleft in her chin is probably her belly button! You can be ‘Touched By An Angel’ in the market for $50 bucks or you can catch her on TV, cable 61. He’s still dead and on WPBS tonight at 7; Lawrence Welk on 64.” You get the idea.
Being able to skip the 15 minutes on the phone, meant they were able to leave early. Sandy and his loving companion hopped into the front of the CAPT TV Community Cruiser. It had been parked outside overnight because it probably didn’t fit into the garage. Sandy hadn’t even tried to get it into the garage. The television station was a wonderful part of the community and he was proud to have it parked for all to see. Besides, the neighbours would see it and wonder what was going on.
The Old English Sheepdog had her harness on before getting into the jeep. Sandy then hooked the seatbelt through it to secure her. It would keep her from moving around and hopefully protect the dog in a collision. Better than nothing.
Sandy caught the CFRA News from the top of the show as anchor Norman Jack introduced, “…the news for the HORSES of Rideau Carleton Raceway.”
‘Why don’t they have news ‘for DOGS’ as well?’
“I don’t think he means the news is to be heard by the HORSES of Rideau Carleton. They are listening; just paying for it.”
‘Well, if the horses aren’t going to listen, they might as well pay for news for dogs!’
‘Besides, where did the horses get the money to buy commercials? Tell me that!’
“Can you find another station?” said Sandy, successfully changing the topic.
The anchorman on CBO Radio One was introducing a story about proposed changes to hunting. Before he threw to Ron, a reporter in Thunder Bay, the anchor said that the largest group of hunters in Ontario had agreed with the Ontario government’s idea “of a Métis Controlled Hunt”.
‘Oh I don’t like the sound of that,’ said Raggmopp.
“He didn’t mean that people would be hunting other people,” defended Sandy.
‘It is just a short step from hunting Métis to trying to kill and stuff talking Old English Sheepdogs.’
“Shush. I’m trying to listen to the news.”
Changing the radio station again, they came across an American report on President George W. Bush. While recently signing a defence spending bill, the U.S. President declared America’s terrorist enemies “never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people…and neither do we.” This report added the explanation from White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan who noted, “even the most straightforward and plain-spoken people misspeak.” He added that the terrorists know what Bush means.
‘Any Canadian news?’ questioned the dog as he switched stations. She found a story about the health talks in the capital. Canadian Press along with Broadcast News reported:
“There was a flash of excitement today during the Federal Provincial Health Conference in Ottawa. A crowd of federal–provincial officials, journalists and security guards was given an impromptu PEEP show as they milled outside the national health-care summit. The unexpected performances came from guests at the Westin Hotel across the street from the convention centre where the talks were being held. The spectacle began in the morning when a woman appeared topless at a window in the hotel. Another woman came to her window on the seventh floor several times wearing only a bra and a black-thong. Cheers went up from some in the crowd below at each of her appearance. One person decided to link the show to the outcome of the talks. As he put it, “white bra means there’s a medicare deal, black means there’s no deal and nude means we’re all coming back tomorrow.”
‘Reminds me of the signals the Cardinals give while deciding on the next Pope,’ reflected Raggmopp.
Thirty minutes later, they were passing the new traffic lights at Renfrew. As Highway 17 headed downhill to a bridge crossing the Bonnechere, (bone-Cher), a house stood out, perched high on a cliff, to the right. They took the second right once they got over the river, and followed the Storyland signs. They were permanent. There were also temporary and pointed the way to the Renfrew County PLOWING Match.
‘Shouldn’t that be spelled, ‘poUGHing’, asked Raggmopp.
“I know what they mean,” Sandy defended. He expected the volunteers who organized the event to be wonderful, and Sandy was right. Francis was waiting at the main gate. She hopped into the back of the Jeep.
“You’ve got to be Sandy. And who are you?”
Raggmopp, they both replied. Saying the same thing happened rarely so they both turned to look at each. Then back to the woman, closing the back door from the inside.
She hadn’t caught their looks; no one could hear Raggmopp except Sandy; and she just gave directions. “Head straight down to that man and he has a special spot for you.”
As the CAPT TV Community Cruiser got closer to the next volunteer, she added, “Call him Eric; he’ll be impressed.”
With his arm reaching out the window, Sandy yelled, “Eric? Is that you Eric?”
“Sandy and his Old English Sheepdog, Raggmopp!”
‘Dougherty’, said Raggmopp.
“Eric Dougherty!” Turning to look over his right shoulder, Sandy told Francis that it had been more than thirty years. He hadn’t seen Eric and his sister since all three had sung in the Trinity St. Andrews United Church junior choir.
‘It was so long ago, Jesus had only five disciples.’ The dog kept trying to be funny but the concept of time was difficult.
To be concluded in Part Two
Posted by Gary MacDonell at 02:27 PM | Comments (867)