December 10, 2024

1 thought on “Dusting ourselves off to make a point

  1. Dear Stan:

    It is with a sad and heavy heart that I regret to inform you that our relationship must come to an end.

    I know I have not been as of attentive lately. But the demands of work and family have been such that I have had to curtail my extracurricular activities.

    True, it was easier for us to connect in the summer. Since the kids were on vacation I did’t have to worry about those annoying post-school things: you know, the dance rehearsals, sports, music lessons, dinner and the like. Our regular 7 p.m. slot during the regular school year worked so well for me. Especially, since I also had to work late on a regular basis.

    But it appears that time is now an inconvenience for you. And for the efficiency of public business.

    So this will be my “last call.” The proverbial one. Perhaps, not as dramatic as the “last call” of the game (which some referee will have to make, hopefully unnoticed, and yet is so appropros on this the 100th Anniversary of one of our truly unique Canadian games–so inconveniently held when winter is always at our doorstep), or the “last call” for papers (a constant concern for my CEO clients who need to be included in the speakers schedule of the latest must-attend event), or the “last call” for RFPs (you know, Requests for Proposals, which I believe are a precursor to construction contracts in more modest municipalities east of us where transparency and open government is not so higly regarded as in our own).

    No, I tend to think of this as the more prosaic “last call”: that where the publican at your favourite watering hole stands and announces its time for everyone to go home.

    This party you and I had, which I conveniently thought of as “citizen participation”, must come to an end. Our schedules simply don’t work anymore.

    Its been fun. I greatly enjoyed our time together. In your honour, I will come at our usual appointed hour the next few weeks and revel, as I always have, in your magnificent and illuminating performance. You have always brought an inspired, if not unconvential, interpretation to the role of public service.

    After that, I will need to bid you adieu. I won’t be able to make the 4 p.m. call in the future.

    With remorse, your loyal fellow citizen,

    scott

    P.s. find me here at consider-this.ca

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