A Time to Learn

John Ianson - Scriveners and Garden Club member

Winter is coming and there is nothing we can do about it, so embrace it. We are in the northern hemisphere where the earth tilts away from the sun and it does get cold, but lucky for us the Pacific Ocean allows us to put on lighter jackets than the rest of the country.

Winter is a very important season, not only does it stockpile our mountains with snow which provides us with clean drinking water, but in the spring it flows into our creeks and rivers and irrigates our crops as far away as the prairies. Winter is a time of replenish, deciduous tree leaves fall to replace nutrients in the soil enriching it for plant growth in the spring. What a fascinating process! OK we have to deal with snow from time to time in the city, but personally I like snow, as long as I’m making a snowball and throwing it at somebody instead of shovelling a sidewalk. Snow and short days of winter initiate bears and bats to hibernate, but that doesn’t mean we have to hibernate, there is too much to do and learn

The Monterey Recreation Centre, which I call the Monterey Learning Centre offers a wide variety of activities that serve the needs of a wide variety of people. From fitness and wellness to all the adult programs where one can express themselves through art, dance, music and language, to the special interest clubs and talks on important topics in society. Then throw the field trips on top of all that. I went to my first Open House in September and was really impressed with all the tables representing the activities at the Centre. I had no idea there was so much to do here. I think I talked to every table, and realized talking to people who are actually in the clubs gives you a real sense of what it’s about. The Open House is a must! Life is about participation, and life is about learning. The Centre is an essential place for us to keep our bodies and our minds active, especially in the winter. It’s important to remember that as much as we learn from programs and speakers, we learn just as much from fellow members.

It d oesn’t matter how much you know, there is so much more to know.