From the upcoming FIFA World Cup and the recent disheartening outcome for the Montreal Canadiens, to cherishing Niagara’s homegrown corner store chain and an overlooked park in NOTL, Ross Robinson’s Ramblings run the gamut this week.

“Life was tough and a never-ending challenge. Travelling on foot or on horseback or in wagons. Am I the only one who never thinks about this stuff? It was a long way to the West Coast, wasn’t it?” writes Ross Robinson.

“I don’t think any sport has changed as much as hockey during the past 60 or 70 years. Back in the day, most of the players came from Canada, so we could say with straight faces, ‘Hockey: it’s our game,'” writes Ross Robinson.

“Polar bears, dolphins, lions, red vested bunny rabbits, caterpillars. And more,” writes Ross Robinson. “The sky seems to be the limit as we bloom into the future.”

“It was only a few decades ago that most parenting decisions were made by parents. Today, we seem to involve several levels of government, Moms and Dads, and people in between,” writes Ross Robinson.

“This is such a great town. Take some time and visit our community centre. Read the plaques, and absorb the ambience of this happening place,” writes Ross Robinson.

“Let us accept that change is coming to Niagara-on-the-Lake. So be it. But let us work in good faith, together and respectfully, to get the best possible results for the most people possible,” writes Ross Robinson.

“Whoever came up with the design for the hospital gown? Or did it evolve naturally over the years? Seriously, it must have been the brainchild of a highly unqualified committee,” writes Ross Robinson.

“A subtle aspect of planning a trivia night is selecting questions that are challenging, but not too challenging. We paying participants don’t need to be reminded how dumb we are,” writes Ross Robinson.

“Henry Paffard accomplished so much, and helped to create our town fire department. This was a busy citizen, and remember, all without modern means of communication,” writes Ross Robinson.

“I have lived here for some 40 years, and have driven or run past Mennonite churches hundreds of times, with little thought about their history,” writes Ross Robinson.

“As a parent of two former Secord students, who between them performed in four great Secord musicals, last Saturday evening was certainly a trip down memory lane,” writes Ross Robinson.

“What was the point of having black maple leaves on the Canadian ice hockey sweaters? Was it Nike’s creative folks dictating to our national Olympic bosses?” writes Ross Robinson.

“In my crystal ball, at the 2030 Winter Olympic Games, I think we will have curling referees in black and white striped shirts, blowing whistles to signal infractions,” writes Ross Robinson.

“This winter, like almost every other winter since we have been keeping accurate and useful meteorological records, has been cold. And this year, really cold,” writes Ross Robinson.

“Prolonged really freezing temperatures, ice and persistent accumulations of snow had basically shut our town down. But our Fish Fry crew had thawed the haddock, and it just isn’t right to thaw it again,” writes Ross Robinson.

“Think about how tough life was for  our ancestors. We cannot even imagine. How did they survive and prosper without all the things we take for granted?” writes Ross Robinson.

“How can we still be debating the subject of immigration? Especially here in the new world, and specifically in Niagara?” writes Ross Robinson.

“Are we getting better when compared to other nations? Perhaps, but there are so many more events now. Many more opportunities to grab a medal,” writes Ross Robinson.

“Media and technology today allow us to be informed, and almost everything is in real time. Not that long ago, less than a century, news travelled at a snail’s pace, if it travelled at all,” writes Ross Robinson.

“As locals, most of us tend to fall into the trap of taking our trees for granted. Not so for Suzanne and her horticultural and history-hungry daughter,” writes Ross Robinson.

“We have no shortage of issues that will affect our futures, but may I humbly and respectfully request that we all take a few deep breaths?” writes Ross Robinson.

“Let’s all lighten up a bit and get jolly as the holly appears once again. Queen Street downtown, and indeed our four villages, are being transformed again,” writes Ross Robinson.

“From Niagara-on-the-Lake to Hong Kong and eventually to Toronto, the word ‘love’ has suddenly been added to our vocabulary. And it happened so naturally, so quietly,” writes Ross Robinson.