INSTANT COFFEE OR INSTANT KARMA…YOUR CHOICE!

“Well we all shine on, like the moon and the stars and the sun” John Lennon

For the purpose of this article, I asked some co-citizens of Sutton to share their thoughts on the present theme of Le Tour - “A TRIBUTE TO A SLOW PACE”(or slowness). Having been through the process of slowing down for the past few years, I personally feel that just about everything is going too fast. Of course age (or mile-age) may have something to do.

• Last year I was discussing music with Françoise Turcotte, Sutton’s in emeritus violin professor. She slowly explained how, by scientific research, it has been found that the pitch (vibrations) of internationally certified musical notes, as on music sheets, has gone up in the past century. The notes Do, Re and Mi are actually vibrating faster now then they were when our grandparents listened to recordings of their time. Can you believe it?

• How about this one? Monsieur G. told me the other day that the caterpillar (how slow can you get?) that becomes the imperial butterfly changes DNA while it cocoons. Ever heard of quantum physics? It’s a funny world we live in.

• “OUR MISS BROOKS” (1949/1958) was a radio and television show that drew as much attention from professional educators as from viewers and critics. Guess what! Sutton has its own MISS BROOKS and Debbie is her name. I came unannounced to her door one mid-afternoon. We just kept talking and talking about how important it is to appreciate the moments we all live in. I was treated to an inspiring conversation. Early evening came and she casually prepared us a sumptuous supper of Thai food. No complaints from me!

Debbie recently returned to Sutton from the Maritimes after many years spent doing what many people do after raising their family in these parts. She took the time to realign herself with the universe. And she feels great. She reminisced on the upbringing she received out east and how much slower the pace was then.

Mostly she conveyed an aura of contentment for the values she received as a youngster and how she tried to pass them on to her own children. No fast food outlets were she came from. An afternoon snack meant going out to pick some fresh berries. Miss Brooks made me take notice of something I had never thought about before. We spoke about the energy in spiritual terms. She feels that the vibrations in our society have speeded up since the end of the Second World War. The desire to achieve at any cost is very prominent but at this Moment, we are now slowing down in order to better appreciate life.

• During winter Noëlle Goad is an experienced ski patroller at Mount Sutton. In the summer she transforms into La Belle Fermière and affectionately cares for peoples’ gardens. Having known her for more than twenty years, I can state that she is also a beautiful person.

In Noëlle’s own terms, “A TRIBUTE TO A SLOW PACE” is when she rides on the chair lift and takes the time to wonder at the crystals (as she calls them) on the tree branches and in the summer when, on her knees and fussing over some roots, she looks up and gazes at the blossoming plants. “You gotta slow down and smell the flowers boy!”

Mike Champagne is Noëlle’s new beau. He now lives in Cowansville but is seriously considering moving to Sutton. He can’t get enough of how different the pace is around here. He finds everyone so friendly and laid back. We concluded that the time we take to get to know each other plays a large role in the level of acceptance and tolerance that prevails in these parts. I guess if you really take the time to get to know someone, it turns out everybody has a nice side. Of course, it helps if you are in love.

• Ilia Kavoukis runs Le Centre Du Soleil in Sutton where she teaches dancing through a program she created that enhances the expression of one’s self through gesture and body movement. The object is to reach just the right level of relaxation so that our bodies effortlessly interpret the music. She is also a licensed massage therapist. Having myself seen her dance, I guarantee you she is quite the treatment for your eyes.

We only chatted briefly but I found out that her family name means “the shell of a turtle” in Greek. It seemed quite ironic that the topic was on ‘slowness’. As usual, Ilia fondly articulated with great passion and detail “A TRIBUTE TO A SLOW PACE”. Her affirmations made it clear that we all must appreciate that the present is a gift from the Universe. So, slow down and smell the fresh coffee, just as we were doing on a village terrace this enchanted sunny day.

Personally, I found out the hard way that if you don’t take a break, life is going to give you one and it might not be the one you were wishing for. Call it Instant Karma!

“Instant Karma gonna get you,
Gonna look you right on the face,
Better get yourself together darlin’,
Join the human race,
How in the world you gonna see,
Laughing at fools like me
Who on earth d’you think you are
A super star…. Well right you are!

John Lennon

Rolland Potvin