Water for Elephants

Water for Elephants is a good read.  The author, who was born in Vancouver but now lives in Chicago, created a page turner somewhat like 'who-done-it' novels.  You keep picking up the book to find out what happens next.   It is the reminiscence of a 93 year old man from his nursing home.  The story is told in the same manner as The Princess Bride where the story evolves in snippets going from present to past and back again.   http://bestsellers.about.com/od/fictionreviews/gr/water_elephants.htm

A three ring circus came to our northern Ontario town in the late 1940's by train.  On the Saturday morning there was a parade of performers and animals (which included three grown elephants and a baby elephant) down Third Avenue, our main street, to the circus site which was on a field near the Pavillion which was on the other side of our river.  I can remember sitting on my Dad's shoulders to watch the glamour and excitement.  We later went to the performance and watched high wire trapeze artists and acrobats standing bare back on horses and clowns and dogs.  But it was the parade I remember most and the fact that there were actually lions and tigers and elephants in our town!  Water for Elephants brought back these memories.

This book also gave me something else to think about - As we age and our children develop lives quite apart from ours, what exactly is our obligation to them - socially, financially or emotionally.  Can we allow ourselves to morph into something that is not predominantly a parent figure.  There are some responsibilities we will always have, but for the most part can we go off and do our own thing without having to explain our actions.  And, even if we slow down and maybe make a few 'bad' decisions, is that any reason to give our powers over to our children - i.e. "it's time you went to a nursing home".  If they are independent and we are independent, why not do whatever makes you happy and fulfills your desires regardless of the consequences, providing of course you do no harm in general.  

On another note, as I was driving down Highway 1 yesterday on the way into town, there was a young man staggering along on the right hand lane.  I called 911 and was put on hold for about seven minutes before I got through to the RCMP.   The first emergency operator had to stay on line with me and listen to continuous "your call is important to us....".    This was mid afternoon on a sunny Saturday.  I wonder how long one has to wait at peak times.  This is another indication I guess of how our essential services are deteriorating.