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OK, not quite the park.  But, the day was beautiful for the first day of spring.  Especially when Saskatchewan still tends to be in the grip of winter this time of year.

Out for a walk was good therapy for my knee.  Yesterday I decided I could play with our youth – or at least keep up with them.  The game should have been slightly less that injurious but I tend to go for broke. 

And onto the floor I fell.  Almost broke my head, my knee and my little finger.  But today stretching the muscles brings some relief.

We walked to a funeral – more rightly a “celebration of life.”  Tim Crump was the same age as my brother – born in 1954.  My brother died of cancer 5 years ago.  Tim Crump died of cancer this past week.  Both were friendly, smart and good with kids.  Both gathered friends who were more than just conversationalists. 

Tim and Gary both garnered work friendships.  And work was more than moments of monetary opportunity.  Each had some eccentric qualities – I love that Tim love bowties, and Winston Churchill and kids.  He lived in life instead outside of life.  Hitherto a legacy he passes on!

I’ve often appreciated leather – the smell, the tooling, the flexibility.

So, today I was in a basement workshop of a leather craftsman.  His tools are fairly simple – even down to an antique seat where you can stitch leather.

As I listened to explanations and saw the artistic work, I was impressed.  This is not an easy skill – I’m sure my expertise would not suffice.  Beautiful tooling, supple leather and intricate sewing.  All combine to make for the excellent examples I saw today.

Perhaps I need a new hobby.  But, after seeing the patience required and the excellence that results – I’m not volunteering.  Maybe I can take up chewing gum and walking at the same time!

Tim Crump, former editor at our local newspaper [The Kindersley Clarion] passed away today.  I became friends with him over these past few months.  He was witty, engaging and winsome.  At 55, his cancer finally overtook him.  Family members will gather today and mourn the loss.

As I stood with his lifeless body today, I groaned.  Tim had made no overt commitment to God through Jesus Christ.  He certainly had the background heritage and a number of concerned friends and family.  Only God knows his own decisions in this regard.  My groans were as much for his future as for the loss of a newfound friend.

May God comfort the family and friends in this time of loss.

I was culling my files and came across some of the following sage advice on writing good!  (Attributed to Sally Bulford – maybe?)

1. Avoid alliteration. Always
2. Prepositions are not words to end sentences with.
3. Parenthetical remarks (however relevant) are unnecessary.
4. Contradictions aren’t necessary
5. One should never generalize.
6. Don’t be redundant; don’t use more words than necessary; it’s highly superfluous.
7. Be more or less specific.
8. Understatement is always best.
9. Exaggeration is a billion times worse than understatement.
10. Who needs rhetorical questions?