Author: Ron Baker

I love statistics and figures.

The old 100% figure –  100% of us who are living will die.

The old 80% – 20% –  This goes for just about any volunteer organization.  20% of the people will do 80% of the work.

2/3 vs. 1/3 –  Generally the number of people needed to give permission for change is 2/3 or a group (the 50% concensus is usually problematic – the more the merrier!)

50% –  The amount of weight needed on each side of a teeter totter to keep things balanced (also goes for life in general)

7% – Good for GST, PST but quite movable depending on the will and whim of politician!

Got any other figures you would like to pass along??

Yesterday we got a call from my parents.

They are former residents of Kindersley – 50 years ago.  Over the years they have visited siblings and children living in the area.  We are trying to convince them to return.

Yesterday we got a call from my parents.

Right now Kindersley has had enough rain to turn the grass green.  The trees are in their full splendor and flowers are coloring the streets.  This is as close to resort season, prairie style, as you will ever get.

Yesterday we got a call from my parents.

They are flying out on Thursday.  They’ll stay overnight in Saskatoon with some friends.  Then we will pick them up and bring them to Kindersley for a week or so.

Should be fun!  They’ll visit friends and relatives.  They’ll rest.  And I hope they will enjoy their time!

You know you are a father when  you have pictures instead of cash in your wallet.

A father who is a man of integrity will be blessed of God, and his children will follow in his footsteps.  I look at  both my father and my father-in-law.  Both are/were known for their honesty, and for their love for their families.  They never talked about money as much as they loved to talk about their children.  

Dad Baker and Dad Cooper both knew their children  —  the points of stress in their children’s lives, and the points of rejoicing.  They prayed for us.

Dad Cooper died a few years ago in a swimming accident.  He wanted to be with his son-in-law (me) and with his granddaughter.  We started an adventure of swimming across a river.  He never made it to the other side of the river.  He died having embarked on an adventure with his loved ones.  And he waits for us to finish our journeys down here so he can see us again.

Dad Baker continues to “love on us” as children and grandchildren.  His time with us over the years, has always been concentrated on us.  He would give us the shirt off his back, or more likely the money we needed — to buy homes or cars or things that would make our lives more comfortable.  He would call us to encourage us when we were in need.  One time  he bought us a car “long distance”, picking us up our first Volvo  — all we told him was how much money we had and he got us a great deal.  Dad Baker has always had a servant heart.

So to my fathers — God’s blessings rest upon you both.

Yesterday I was officiating at a graveside service. 

Committal services follow a certain pattern, often called ritual or liturgy.  The words were all written out.  I had rehearsed the talk.

We arrived at the cemetery and stepped from the lead car.  A drop of rain fell.  A few followed but the sky was dotted with puffy clouds.  The type that don’t drop buckets — maybe just a few little spits.

We gathered in a procession to the graveside.  The spits became more intense.  The point of turning back had passed.  We stood under umbrellas as the rain continued.

And not just continued!  Intensified!  I saw a few pieces of hail land at my feet.  I opened my folder and read loudly and quickly, as the ink got wet.  At one point I asked if people could hear.  Some could — others mentioned later they could only assume what I was saying when my head appeared from under the umbrella.

The words were hearfelt.  The actual committal was short.

We came back to the reception — some went home first to change.  My suitjacket was still wet hours later.

Some say the best way to make memories is to experience the unusual. 

My memory bank has this one indelibly etched!!