William Wordsorth wrote:
I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd, 
A host of golden daffodils.

Let's all hope that our health care workers can find some time to enjoy a walk on our precious Parkway trail. They are working through a “crisis, a disaster, an overwhelming and long term situation.” Thank them somehow. A thoughtful gift?

I have too much spare time during the COVID-19 lockdown, so I wrote:
The Leafs and Habs played hockey last night,
I tried to watch, but they skate too fast.
Current standings have the Leafs in first,
Sadly we know, their bubble will burst.

Now, an awkward segue, and a bit of a stretch, but the letters “C” and “H” have played big parts in my life. For many years, I was a diehard fan of the Montreal Canadiens. The Flying Frenchmen, the Habs, Les Glorieux, the Rocket. 

I learned during my years living in Montreal that the CH on their red white and blue sweaters doesn't mean Club de Hockey Canadien. (Not jerseys, PunCH, they are sweaters. Roch Carrier wrote “Le CHandail de Hockey.” “The Hockey Sweater.” With a good solid Quebecois accent, it means Centre Hice.

Now to the present. The CH of CHautauqua is such a part of my life. CHQ is to be loved. Such an eclectic neighbourhood, with so many people walkin' their dogs and strollin' the streets to and from Ryerson Park and Lake Ontario./Toronto skyline views. CH is everywhere, if you look. Lotsa' CHit Chat. Let's have some fun with our vocabulary.

Visitors from CHina and CHicago. A CHilled bottle of Niagara CHablis or CHardonnay, paired with Aged CHilton CHeese or CHeddar. For later, a CHeap bottle of CHianti. Take-out CHinese food cooked by CHef CHarlie CHong. SzeCHuan CHicken eaten with CHopsticks' of course. Let us propose a toast, CHin CHin.

Try to stay with me, as I ramble with CHs. God bless my well-used 1964 Cassell's English Dictionary. 

Now, about the new NOTL park bylaws. Do the powers that be think we are CHildren? Two young men playing CHess under a big tree. A CHestnut? CHeckmate!

CHeryl CHambers preparing hot dogs on her little hibaCHi-style barbecue. Be sure to clean up after the picnic and don't leave any hot CHarcoal in the park. CHarlotte Elliott's tiny little, yappy CHihauhau might burn his paws. Just once, eh?

I wouldn't want to be the bylaw officer CHap or lady who tells me to leave Ryerson Park on a nice evening at 10 p.m. (By the way, why is curfew at Queen's Royal Park not until midnight?) Not to be CHurlish, but don't tell me a sunrise swim before 7 a.m. is illegal. There might be an awkward and embare-assing sit-in demonstration. Don't make us CHautauquans angry. 

Just copy the rules for Knightsbridge Park up river in CHippawa. Let adults and CHildren have FUN!

Our CHautauqua Residents Association prez, kyropractor John Gleddie, might organize a CHallenge to these silly rules. Let's get the parking problem solved and spread the love in NOTL. Our town parks are so bucolic, so well-maintained. When we travel in Canada or abroad, we try to find wee parks to enjoy. Maybe even get lucky and meet a few of the welcoming local folk. 

Was that a CHipmunk? In CHQ, if the birds ain't CHirping at 7 a.m., there is no noise. Precious …

So, CHapeau to Niagara-on-the-Lake. Let's work with our tireless public health professionals to defeat the global pandemic. I will be inviting lots of them down to Ryerson Park to toast a sunset after the fight is finished.

Feel fortunate to live here.