MARCH 2023

Afewmonthsback,Isharedastorywithyouabout friendshipandhowyouneverknowhowarelationshipwill turnoutwhenyoumeetsomeone.ThefriendItalked aboutinthearticlerecentlypassedaway.Iknewitwas coming,butIstillhopedsomehowmyfriendwouldfind hiswaybacktohisoldselfandtheworldwouldberight again.

Inevermentionedthisfella'snameinthatarticleoutof respectforthefamily.Withhispassing,Iwanttosharea glimpseofsomeofmytimeswithVicGibbons.

Myphonewouldring,"Youcomingoverforcoffee?Half coffeewithwaterandmilk,andmaybegrabusatreat!"

TedWilliamswashisfavouriteballplayer. HelikedtheRaptorplayer,"Youknow,theonewiththe headband,"hewouldsaytome.

TheLeafswerehisteam.Afterall,oldMrKellytookhim andDicktoDetroittowatchthemplay…heck,heeven droveMrKelly'scarthatday!

TalbotGardenwasthebestarena.Doverhadholesinthe roof.Iwouldalwayscounterandsay,"Simcoeicewasslow; thatwastheonlywayyoucouldcatchusDoverguys,"and thenwewouldlaugh!

Hispaintingsdrewmein,butsportsgrewourfriendship.

Asanartist,Vic'screationsportrayedmanyfacets:his vibrantpaintingsofwildlife,thecalmingwinterriver runningthroughthetrees,thefarmsettingofsheep wanderinginthewintersnow,hisclassictitledPortDover, tothestunningpaintingofJudge.

Let'slookatthatpaintingforamoment,foritwasthis fantasticpieceofartthatcrackedopenthedoorjustalittle onedayandallowedmetoseeVic'slifewithinhiswork.

AswesatinhisstudiowithJudgedisplayed ontheeasel,Vicexplainedhowtheirhorse, Judge,wassuchasignificantpartofVic, LenoreandJane'slife.Hetalkedoftheir sharedadventuresastheywatchedherride competitively.Asmiletookoverhisface, andhiseyesgrewbrightasthestoryofa particularhorserace,roseandfellandsped along.Itbroughthimbackintime,andI couldsensehisenergyandlovewithin spillingoutasithaddoneonthecanvas.

Hiswordsslowedasthestoryturnedtothe passingofJudge,andVic'sagecreptback uponhisface,hisbodyslumped.Therewas adeepsadnessatthatmomentintheroom, andtheweightoftheemotioncaughtus bothoffguard.IsawVicbeyondthecanvas andunderstoodthatsharingthatmoment wasn'teasyforhim,butheunderstoodhe couldtrustmewithourfriendship.

ItwasthenIrealizedthecorrelationwithin thisstory.Thisstorywasaboutmorethan justJudge!Atthetimeofmyvisit,afamily memberwasexperiencingasignificant healthconcern.IaskedifIcoulddoawriteupaboutJudge,andVicagreed.

Iwenthomethatdayandwrotetwostories, oneaboutJudge,andtheotheraboutthe emotionsbehindthestory.

Afewdayslater,IpresentedVicwithboth stories.Helikedthestraight-upJudgestory, butthesecondoneabouttheemotions involvedwasnothiscupoftea.Iremember hiswords,"Whatthehellisthis?"

IexplainedwhatIfelthewastryingtosay thatday,thathewasdeeplyconcernedfor hisfamilymember.

Wewentwiththestraight-upJudgestory. Thefunnypartwas,Idon'tknowwhathe didwiththesecondstory!

Vicletcertainpieceshecreateddohis talkingforhim.

ManyofyouknowVictravelledalloverthe provincedisplayinghiswork,andIhearda fewstoriesaboutthebigshowinBuckhorn, butoneIwanttosharewasinourown backyard.

VicoccasionallyjoinedmewhileIwasonthe roaddeliveringthemagazine.Ofcourse,he wasalwayswelldressedandhadhis signaturehatonbecauseheknewwewould stopforcoffeeandwantedtolookgood.This onetime,wewereinacoffeeshopinPort Rowan,enjoyingourcoffeeandatreat.A fellawalksuptoVicandsayssharply,"Are youVicGibbons?"Vicslowlylookedupand, withoutmissingabeat,said,"Who'saskin'?" Theguyreplied,"MrGibbons,Iamabigfan ofyourwork!Andmydadplayedballwith yourbrotherandyou."Viclituplikea Christmastreeastheguyexplainedthe connection.ItwasgreatthatViccouldsee peopleappreciatehiswork!Finally,Iwasable todragVicoutofthecoffeeshop.Wegetin thevan,andViclooksoveratmeandsays,"I thoughtatfirstweweregoingtohaveto

Vic Gibbons

fighttheguy!"Helaughedand smiledallthewayhomethatday!

"Everychildisanartist;the problemisstayinganartistwhen yougrowup" ~PabloPicasso.

FromthosefirstChristmascardsVic madeattheageoftentohisfinal paintingLonelyDeer,Vicstayed truetohiscalling.Notmanyofus inlifecansaythat,buthecould!He remainedatrueartistatheart.

Vicgavemywifeafewprintsof foxesandwolvestouseforthe youngchildrensheworkswith.The otherday,alittletoddlerwasinher arms,mesmerized,lookingatthe foxeswhiletheynamedthefox familyafterthechild'sfamily.My wifesaiditwasapowerful moment,watchingtheimpactof hisbeautifulworkstrikingachord withsuchayoungchild.Vic's passionforhisworkwilloutliveall ofusandinspirethenextVic Gibbons.

"Artwashesawayfromthesoulthe dustofeverydaylife." ~Pablo Picasso.

Idon'tknowifViceversawthis quote,butIthinkhewouldagree. Hisarttookhimonalifelong journeythatwasconstantly rekindledbythatnextgreat painting.TheeyesinVic'spictures alwaysbreathelifeintothe moment.Itisasifthewolfis staringrightbackatyou,fullof heartandmajesty.Vicneverhadto worryaboutthedustofeveryday life!

Myfriend,Imissyoubeyond words.Thankyouforyourtime andfriendship,yourwisdomand laughter,yoursupportand guidance.Perhapssomedaywewill meetagain… Iwillbringthecoffeeandtreats!

DaveScott

Vic Gibbons

VicGibbons

REVERBERATIONS

one.” ~Seneca

Aclosefriendisseriouslyill.Hedoesn’tknowifhe willregainhisformerwell-being.Welivefarapart.I don’tseehim,butwecommunicatebye-mailand phonechats.Ourmainconnectionissports.Heisthe olderbrotherofmylong-timerunningpartnerand themostknowledgeablepersonIhaveevermeton thesubjectofsportsingeneral.Wehavebothalways lovedsports,andalthoughweareofasimilarage andbothgrewupintheTorontoarea,ourpaths nevercrosseduntilwewereaboutfifty.Hewasa highschoolathleteoftheyear,excellinginfootball, basketballandtrack.Oncewediscoveredour commoninterestandourpleasureindiscussing everythingfromthecurrentscenerightbacktothe fifties,manydetailedconversationsandwritings followed.Totopitalloff,neitherofuscanresist tellingourstoriesofthegamesweplayed,the competitionswewatchedandthememorable, sometimesfamous,athletesandothersportsfigures weencounteredoveraspanofmorethansixtyyears. Heissuchagreatstoryteller.Ilovehearingold storiesrepeated,justasIlovethoseI’veneverheard before.Webothgetagreatkickoutofitall.Of course,wealsoliketotalkaboutthepresentand makeourprognostications.

Rightnow,heisnotstrongenoughtoengageinour periodicconversations,althoughheis abletoenjoywatchingsportson television.Itallmakesmefeelpowerless. Althoughourpathsnevercrossedin competitivesports,wedidplayanumber ofroundsofgolftogetheratvarious coursesinOntarioandonone memorabletriptotheCarolinas.Those werealwaystimesforlaughingandmore stories.Itwasgreat,eventhoughneither ofuswasmuchofagolfer.

Ineverthoughtaboutsuchtimeshaving anendpoint.Iremembermydadsaying tomeonce,whenhewasinhiseighties,

“Charlie,allmyfriendsaredying.”Thatcomment hasstayedwithme.WhatamItomakeofit?

Forsomereason,inthiscase,itmakesmethinkof sportsingeneralandallthepurejoytheycanbring. Afewyearsago,Iwasstandingbesidearunner namedBobMooreatthesideofanauditorium stage.Wewerewaitingtobepresentedwith awards.Heturnedandsaidtome,“Charlie,doyou thinkwe’vewastedourlives?”Ireplied,“Well,I don’tfeelyouhave.”Moorehadrepresented Canadainthe1970CommonwealthGames marathonandbeeninductedintotheCanadian RoadRunnersHallofFame.

AsIprogressthroughtherenovationsofmynew down-sizedhome,Iamastoundedbymyownlack ofknowledge,evenifitisnotasurprise.Regardless, IamnotinclinedtosaythatIhavewastedmylife.I don’tknowwhy,butIwasdrawntosportsatan earlyageandnotbecauseofmyfamily.Ithasbeen mygo-toplaceforaslongasIcanremember.Istill havetworibbonsfrommyfirsttrackandfieldday ingrade1.Icouldhaveusedaportionofmy innumerablesportshourstodevelopsome competenceinother,morepracticalfields.Yet,if youareabletospendyourdiscretionarytimedoing whatyou’rehappydoing,whatcouldbebetterthan that?

Evenaspectsasbasicasthesoundsofsportbring meimmensepleasurewhenIthinkaboutthem. Hockeyisawonderfulsportforsounds:theraspof sharpskatescuttingintotheice,thetap-tap-tapof sticks,thepingofashotoffthepost,theboomofa missedshotagainsttheboards,thethwackofapuck careeningofftheglass,thethumpofthepuck bonkingoffgoaliepads,thewhumpofaplayer beingplasteredagainsttheboards,eventhe differentsoundsofgoalhorns.

Baseballcreatesaricharrayofsounds.Theyinclude thecrackofthebat,thepopoftheballintoa catcher’smitt,theclatterofcleatsonthedugout concrete,thewhooshonaslide,thestrrriiikecallby anumpire,theindistinguishablechatterofthebase coaches,theballparkorganrallyingthecrowd,the poppingofbubblegum,acleverheckle,theseventh inningstretchsongandeventhesardonicquipsof theballparkvendors(myfavouritefromaguyat DunedinStadiumduringspringtraining:“Twobeers forthepriceoftwo.”).

Igrewuplisteningtothesoundsoftennisatthe TorontoLawnTennisClub,situatedclosetothe sunroomofmygrandmother’sapartment:the whooshofaracquetswing,thehardpongoftheball bouncebeforeeachserve,thepopoftheballoffthe tautstrings,thescrapeofaracquetonthecourt

surface,thescuffingofshoesandthegruntingof playerswitheverycontact.

Simplycallingupthewordbasketballbringsthe soundsofthegametothefore:theboingnoiseof theballbouncingoffaparquetfloor,theswishas theballgoesthroughthenettingafterabasket,the clangofamissedshotofftherim,thesqueaksqueakofsneakersonthehardwoodfloor. Othersportsofmylifearefulloffamiliarand pleasurablesounds:thinkoftable-tennis,squash, trackandfield,soccer,swimming,andmore.Icould alsoincludethedistinctivesoundsofgolf,suchas theswooshofthedrivermeetingthepoundingclick oftheball,theplopofasoftshotlandingonthe green,orswirlingintothecup.Regrettably,Iwas morefamiliarwiththecrackoftheballoffatreeor theburstofcertainwords.

Muchpleasurehascometomyfriendandmefrom sharingourlifetimesinsports.Wedon’thaveto spendourtimeeducatingeachother;wehave learnedorlivedthehistoryofwhatwelove.Heisno longerclosetotheaction.Iwonderifthesoundsof sportreverberateforhim,echoinghislifetimeof directinvolvement.ThatissomethingIhopeIcan discusswithhim.

“Thecomfortofhavingafriendmaybe takenaway,butnotthatofhavinghad

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Vic Gibbons

Vic Gibbons

Ireallyenjoyedourpodcastthismonth!

RandyHalmoopenedmyeyestothe outstandingmusicofthelateJohnny Cash.Wediscussedhisriseonthe

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Thislife,foryou,me,and everyoneelse,isafinitething. Evenasachild,Iunderstood this.Ihavealwayshadadeep respectandappreciationfor thislifewehavebeengifted. Mypassionforeducatingand empoweringothersisrootedin thisunderstanding. Theechoofjusthowfinitethat timecanbeiscolouredbymy memoriesofmysister.

February28,2023,markedthe 10-yearanniversaryofmysister Cathie’sdeath.Shewas43 whenshelostherbattlewith cancer.Shewasdiagnosedlate withstage4colonandovarian cancer(bothprimary), metastasizingtoalllobesofher liverandstomach.Initially misdiagnosed,certaintests wereinconclusive,andothers didn’tpickitup,butthis complex,seemingly unconnectedseriesofelusive symptomsalwayspersisted. Cathiewasabeautiful, intelligent,vibrantyoung woman.Active,fun,clean living.Hersymptomswerean interruption,amysterious, frustrating,oftenpainful reminderthatsomething wasn’tright.Sadly,itrequires skilleddiagnosticiansto connectthepuzzlepiecesof oursymptoms,butevenmore so,ittakes us toadvocatefor ourselvespersonallywhen thingsarenot“normal”for us.

Diagnosedat42,Cathiefought hard,uncomplainingand enduredwhatwecurrentlycall “treatment”.Amonthshyof

her44th birthday,mysisterlostherbattle.TosayImissherissuchanunderstatement. Shewillneverbeforgotten.Everyday,Iworktoeducateothersontheimportanceof advocatingfortheirownhealth,recognizingthatsymptomsareclues-Opportunities torecognizeareasofourlivesthatmayrequireattentionandchange.Please,don’t suppress,ignoreorself-medicate.Push,educateyourself,andfindahealthcareteam thatworkswithyou.

Ibelievewehavearesponsibilitytoourselveswiththislifethathasbeenbestowed uponus.Ashumans,mostofusenterintoa“negotiation”withourlives.Ourhealthy habits,typically,areanoccasionalthingasopposedtothenorm.

Lifegetsmessy;Igetthat.Weneedtohaveabalance.Learningwhichhealthyhabits arethemostimpactfulaseverydaypractice,wherewemightrequirealifestylechange, andwhatgoalsweneedtodefineforourselves.

Manyofusgetstuckinthe“comfortzone”.Thecomfortzonecanbeaprettyfunplace, butnothingchangesinthecomfortzone.It’skindoflife,beingafanofyourlifebut neveractuallyinthegame.

Growthdoesn’thappenwithoutchange.Ittakesheart,desire,vision,time,energy,and commitment.Itcanbedauntingbecausethatcomfortzoneisatleastfamiliar. Understandingyourself,embracinglifestylechange,andaknowledgeable,dedicated healthcareteam,butaboveall,advocatingforyourownhealthandwellnessthrough self-understandingarecriticalcomponentsforhealthylives.

AsaRegisteredNutritionalTherapist,thatismycommitmenttomyclients;tobeyour coach,guideandeducator;toempoweryouwhilediscoveringwhereitisbesttofocus yourtime,energies,andresources;ondiscoveringthebestversionofyou.Imademy sisterapromisebeforeshedied.Ipromisedhertoformalizemyeducation,helpothers understandtheirbodiesbetter,andmakeadifferenceinthequalityoftheirlives.Every day,Iworkmyhardesttohelpothersadvocateforthemselvesanddiscoverwherethey canmakethechangestheyrequireinsustainable,supportedways.Eachyear,because Ilovelearningandtomaintainmylicensing,Iupgrademyeducationwithdifferent courses.

DoverApothecaryisanabsolutelywonderfulresource.Mikebuilthisthree-decade-plus careerandsharesthispassionforthehealthandwellnessofourcommunitieswiththe understandingthateducatingpeopleisthebestwaytoassisttheminmakingthe appropriatechangestotheirhealth.

ThissharedcommitmentplusrespectforoneanotheriswhyIenjoyworkingalongside MikeattheApothecaryTuesdayandThursdaymornings.Patient/client-centred protocolsareaperfectblendofallopathicandholisticexpertisetodeterminethebest careoptionsforyourneeds.

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Vic Gibbons

Hello,I’mKevin.

andIamherewithDanielat theBarnYardPatio&Pubs. Howdidyougetstarted?

Istartedwithfoodtruckswith Forkin'Perogyin2019,and thisyearweopenedthe restaurantonJanuary4.

Doyouhaveanybarnyard animals?

Idon'thaveanybarnanimals asyet.Theclosestwouldbe mytwolittledogs.

Whydidyouchooseasit-down restaurantthistime? IthinkitwasbecauseIhad alreadydonethefoodtrucks. ItwassomethingIalways dreamedofhavingwhenI wasyounger.Iactuallyhave apartnerwhocameinwith meandsplittherestaurant withmehalfandhalf.Heis onaroadtriprightnow.Heis thechefinthekitchen,andhe handlesallthemenusideof things,andIhandlethefrontendstuff.

Whattypeoffooddoyouservehere?

WeserveafullForkin'Perogymenuthateverybodyloves. Wehavesmashburgersandwehavefriedchicken sandwiches,ribs,wings,andappetizers.Themenuwill expandoncethepatioopensinthespring.

Isthisaseasonalrestaurantoropenallyear? Wewillbeopenallyearlong.

Howmanypeopledoyouhaveworkingforyou?

Icurrentlyhaveeightpeopleworkingwithme,andthose peoplearewhatmakethebusinessrunsmoothly.

Whatareyourhoursandlocation?

Wearelocatedat554NorfolkStreetNorth,andourhours are11-9(WednesdaysandSundays11-7).

Doyouenjoywhatyou'redoing?

Iloveit.ThereisneveratimethatIwakeupanddread whatIamdoing.

HowmanyfoodtrucksdoyouhavewiththeForkin'Perogy? IhavethreeForkin'Perogytrucksandonecoffeetruck. Thankyouforyourtime.

K����

Vic Gibbons