PAUL:	Well, it took a little time, but 
things eventually got worked out.  

Gerry’s wife went over to his 
house to deliver the papers and 
clean out her stuff.  After 
hanging around for a couple of 
hours with no sign of him, she 
figures ex-hubby has made an 
emotional move for the harbour 
and the sweet hereafter.  So she 
calls the cops.  Cops soon learn 
Bill’s involved, and quickly 
calculate that terms of parole 
are being violated.  The search 
was on.

When that igloo collapsed during 
Bill and Ger’s little fracas ... 
I thought it was all over for “da 
bys.”  Thank God for the Royal 
Mounted.  But hey, it was a 
pretty decent outing after all 
... and I’ve got to say winter 
camping has got it all over the 
summer variety.

	Don’t get me wrong, now, I love 
the summer here in Nfld.

And the fall has its attractions, 
too.

But it is the winter that makes 
you most glad you are alive in 
Nfld.

There is no pleasure comparable 
to being outdoors here in the 
winter.  The air, so crisp and 
clear, cuts in to your lungs and 
cleanses them of the accumulated 
crud of office and city.

The new snow crunches under your 
boots, like fingernails on a 
chalkboard.  Your nostrils freeze 
shut. Your mustache hardens to a 
piece with your beard.  Your 
fingertips turn numb with the 
cold.  And then you can’t find 
your nose.

This is life !

Whether your ice-fishing, like we 
were trying to do, or you’re 
skidooing, or you’re setting a 
few rabbit snares, or you’re 
trying out a new pair of 
snowshoes, or just taking the dog 
for a walk, the winter outdoors 
is the place to do it.

That’s when I feel most vital, 
most here, most with it.  Aside 
from falling in to a pond, 
anyway.

And how better to make you glad 
you are alive than by having a 
near-death experience?

I’ve had three or four in my 
life, and let me tell you, 
there’s nothing beats one of 
those for making you feel good 
about getting up every day and 
going to work, about paying 
taxes, about going to sleep with 
mid-life angst and waking up with 
chronic pain, about self-
examination with a hand mirror.

So pound back that coffee right 
now.  Get up and out and enjoy 
what you have left of your life !  
Advance carelessly to the 
pleasure centres of your being!  
Be giddy !  Be free! ... for the 
moment.  Until next week, you be 
you, and I’ll be me.

Page 3 of 3	PAULI - SHOW # 21