The Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw once wrote, “Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.” And that is what honourary Dunveganite Rosemary Chatterson has done, once again. Just as she did during her 35-year challenging career in Guelph, Ontario with The Cooperators, her retirement has been equally varied. From providing musical accompaniment at churches in the area and delivering Meals on Wheels, to writing, producing and performing in the smash Dunvegan Recreation Christmas fundraiser “Music & Mayhem”, Rosemary has thrown herself into her adopted community.
Back in October of 2020, I wrote about the latest project this remarkable woman has become immersed in: the making of fidget blankets for individuals with autism, Alzheimer’s or dementia. One common symptom of these conditions is exhibiting anxiety or agitation by fidgeting with their hands. Fidget blankets have been found to help restore calm by providing tactile stimulation for restless, fidgety hands. If you’ve never seen one, imagine a colourful mini quilt about two or three feet square to which all sorts of engaging objects like buttons, zippers, snaps, cords and bells have been attached. Or better yet, take a peek at Rosemary’s “Hillcrest Stitchery” page on Facebook.
Just a little over ten months later, I’m astounded to announce that Rosemary has reached the impressive milestone of over seven hundred — that’s right, 700 — fidget blankets created for persons in need across Eastern Ontario, and as far afield as Nova Scotia, Vancouver, Canmore, Cambridge, Waterloo and Ohio. When I asked who received blanket #700, I was told it was a four year-old Cornwall boy with autism. Rosemary always asks if the person who will be receiving the blanket has a favourite colour or interest, and then tries to incorporate this in her design, even if it means Googling appliqué designs for cars, farm animals… or dinosaurs, as was the case for number 700 off the Chatterson assembly line.
When I say assembly line, I’m only referring to the level of output. Each and every one is handmade, albeit with the help of an over-heated sewing machine. In terms of time, this represents an enormous number of volunteer hours. Rosemary tells me each blanket takes approximately an hour and a half to create. So, if we multiply 700 x 1.5, this equals 1,050 hours. And that doesn’t include the time she devotes to sourcing the raw materials or packaging and delivering her creations. Wow!
Knowing my readers, I hear some of you asking yourselves, “How can I help?” I know for a fact Rosemary is always grateful for donations of fabric and fidget items. For example: old quilts or quilted mattress pads for backing; zippers; thread; metal, plastic and wooden rings; fringe; large colourful buttons; keys; tassels; cord; shoelaces; ribbons (aside from lace ones); beads; and any type of fastener (other than Velcro). Failing this, monetary donations are always appreciated to help underwrite Rosemary’s frequent trips to Value Village and Dollarama. Drop-offs or pick-ups of raw materials can be arranged by calling her at 613-525-1336.
At the conclusion of her email to me, Rosemary summed up her passion for creating Blankets of Hope. “I feel I have found my purpose,” she wrote. George Bernard Shaw might disagree and say that she had created herself. Either way, there are over 700 people out there who are delighted she has found this new persona.
Power to the people
A reader from Fassifern passed along an excellent idea that she had come across in her recent travels through the County. Apparently, a number of enterprising Glengarrians are taking the matter into their own hands and creating their down-home version of a Covid-19 vaccination passport. Having done their civic duty and been fully filled with Moderna, Pfizer or A-Z juice, they want to be able to provide proof to the world, in the hope that full vaccination will help pave the road to normalcy.
It’s not a concept without precedent. In the early 19th century, the Montreal Bank (forerunner to the Bank of Montreal), the Bank of Upper Canada, the Bank of New Brunswick, the Bank of Nova Scotia and the Bank of Prince Edward Island were in the practice of printing their own bank notes. Similarly, large merchants like the Hudson’s Bay Company issued ‘trade tokens’. Although devoid of legal status, these notes and tokens were accepted locally as currency.
While we’re waiting for the various levels of government to squabble about the gender neutrality, indigenous inclusivity, level of micro-aggressions and carbon footprint of vaccine passports, you too can take the matter into your own hands. To create a Glengarry VaxxPass, print the official receipt you received after being fully vaccinated and have it laminated at a local stationary or office supply store. Ideally it should be wallet-sized, if for no other reason than convenience. So if your e-receipt is over-sized, fret not. The laminating service provider should be able to produce a reduced-size copy suitable for encapsulation in plastic.
Now if we could only complete this circle of common sense by encouraging local businesses, restaurants, tourist attractions and events to request proof of VAXX-2.
Ecclesial reminder
Rev. Jim Ferrier has asked that I remind members of Kenyon Presbyterian Church in Dunvegan that worship for this coming Sunday, August 8th, will be cancelled. That’s not to say you’re free to hop in the pool, head for the waterpark or hit the golf field or court or whatever it’s called. The plan is that Dunvegan will be join its sister congregation — St. Columba Church in Kirk Hill — for their annual Memorial Sunday service at 11:00 am. Regular worship services in Dunvegan’s Kenyon Presbyterian Church will resume the following Sunday.
Virtual ticket debut
And, since we’re in a ‘reminderly’ frame of mind, don’t forget — if you like Classical piano music, and stars (the twinkly-in-the-sky type) — Dunvegan is the place to be tomorrow evening. The Glengarry Pioneer Museum is hosting a “Classical Music Under the Stars” concert Thursday, August 5th at 7:30 pm featuring pianist Nicholas Deek from Ottawa. For what it’s worth, I’ll be MCing the event and have my fingers crossed that the weather will cooperate. If it doesn’t, we’ll move to socially distanced seating under the wooden big top.
Assuming there are some left, you can get your ticket(s) by using the museum web site’s convenient new Online Box Office at GlengarryPioneerMuseum.ca. The cost is $20 per person, or $15 for museum members. Be advised that I use the word “ticket” here loosely. There are no real tickets, as in the printed pieces of cardboard sense of the word. Instead, just print off the e-receipt from your on-line Box Office transaction and bring it along. And if you forget that, museum staff at the entrance gates will check your name off the list… upon presentation of your Glengarry VaxxPass. Just kidding.
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