Dale Sorensen’s Blog

There has been a fair bit of coverage in the news recently about UPEI students risking their lives by crossing University Avenue at whatever point is most convenient, rather than diverging from the straightest path and using the lights at the intersections. Now, I have nothing against jaywalking – I’m guilty of doing it myself – but I do choose the time and place selectively to keep my chances of getting hit by a car to ZERO. What I would like to share today in relation to this particular news item is my own recent experience as a motorist with some of those students. Sandy and I were first in line waiting for the lights at the entrance to UPEI. When the lights turned green, we proceeded, but then slowed down to let some students finish crossing a little further down the street. If we had kept going, they would have been forced to wait in the middle of the road with vehicles flying by in both directions. Now here’s what bugged me: instead of hurrying across to get out of our way, the students took their sweet old time, holding up traffic behind us. I just don’t understand that kind of attitude, and I see it all the time with pedestrians. Everyone talks about PEI being this great place with really friendly, courteous people – and for the most part it’s true – but big city rudeness has arrived, and I for one don’t like it. Actually, pedestrians in a big city wouldn’t dare jaysaunter, because they wouldn’t trust the motorists for a split second. The thing about PEI is that of course everyone is going to stop and wait – that’s what we do, even if you just look like you’re thinking about wanting to cross. I’d like to believe that this rudeness is not normal for these people, that it’s just a personality anomaly brought on by the anonymity of the pedestrian/motorist encounter, but I am seeing more instances of people not being considerate – just little things, like not holding doors, not saying “Please”, “Thank You”, or “Excuse Me”. What does it all mean? It’s a worrisome trend for sure, and a sad statement on what’s happening in “civilized” society.

32 years ago, Grade One changed my life. All of a sudden, life revolved around a predetermined schedule, with teachers and new friends widening the social net beyond parents and siblings. Eventually, homework and extracurricular activities like music and sports would become a constant focus. And no more sleeping in!

This year, Grade One is changing my daughter’s life the same way it changed mine so long ago. It is interesting to watch this change, to compare her experience with my own, and to live it all again with a totally different perspective. What memories and feelings will come back to me, triggered by her experience? And what won’t come back? Riley LOVES school; I have no recollection of how I felt about Grade One. Will all the stuff she is enjoying now be eventually forgotten?

32 years later, and Grade One is changing my life again. All of a sudden, life revolves around a predetermined schedule, with teachers and other parents widening the social circle. Already, homework and extracurricular activities have become a constant focus. And no more sleeping in!

Autumn used to be my favourite season, and it still would be except that it seems to have disappeared. It was always a rather short season, having long ago sold its colder half to Christmas, but now it has apparently relinquished its tentative hold on what remained to that bully Hallowe’en. In fact, right after labour day ghouls and goblins surreptitiously made off with the last of the cornucopias overflowing with the fruits of harvest. Hey! Look over there – what is that ghostly apparition? It’s the fading memory of something called Thanksgiving. Hallowe’en – remind me what it is we are celebrating!? An elaborate play directed by the candy manufacturers, and requiring two months of rehearsals! There used to be so much more to “fall colours” than black and orange. Rise up, O lovers of Autumn! She shall not be vanquished! Step bravely past the glowing gravestones, through the clutter of cobwebs and plastic pumpkins. Tread carefully past the consumer traps! There you will find Autumn in all her splendour, blushing red and yellow and orange from the least of our attention. She thrives despite our neglect, but can the same be said for us?

Summers are always busy for me, but this past one was the busiest ever. In addition to playing 8 shows a week with the Charlottetown Festival orchestra, I was booked on many Sundays for various performances – Northumberland Brass, eklektikos, solo performances, recitals – all of which required rehearsals and personal practice throughout the week. There was a three-month period in there, from mid-July to mid-September, when I didn’t have a single day off. Out of necessity, I had to make very efficient use of the few minutes of practice time that I could scrounge out of a day. In a lot of ways, it would be nice if heavy periods of work could be spread out over the year to offset the lean times. Yet, there is also something rewarding about being forced into a situation where new things come quickly on the heels of something else. It forces us to adapt, to multitask, to be efficient, and to be creative. While it was exhausting at times, it was also really energizing, and now I feel like I can take on anything that might get thrown my way. I wish I could say that next summer might be slower, but it’s already starting to look like that won’t be the case. I guess I’ll have to get in all my beach days during the winter!