ADORATION of the VAGABONDS

Burtonia continues to serve as a playground and often a crash pad for some of the world's most fabulous grownups. A treasured and esteemed list of folks we call friends. Some of these loved ones have their names etched on a barstool and others we see less often for reasons of geography. We are fortunate to have such an eclectic and interesting group of regulars.  

 

All guests bring smiles to our faces as they appear on the doorstep but none are quite as anticipated as the Vagabonds. The random and temporary return of the kids who blew off a life in Niagara for its narrow scenery, limited population and unbearably cold winter weather. Nothing brings greater perspective on what truly makes life large than hearing globetrotting stories fall from the tanned lips of a person who owns a backpack and little else. It makes a Burton wonder if maybe there was a miscalculation in the master plan when we put the root down.

The lifestyle differences are glaring and hard to ignore.

• a Burton says: "last Tuesday I looked at a really interesting investment property"
• a Vagabond says: "last Tuesday I looked at the Sphinx" 

Everyone life meets a Mirror Holder. Those people in your life that not through lecture but pure inspiration cause you to stop, take a long look at yourself and your place in the world.  It could be for reasons of health, wealth, experience or loss. They present a situation or story that precedes your glance at the clock of existence and fuels a concern; it might be later than I think. The only true poverty might be a lack of time. 

For the Burtons the Vagabonds are the Mirror Holders.  A live illustration of that balance between your present and future self.  An endless battle that can't be won. There are some days we wonder if we are doing it right. Question: if Burtonia was yanked from the root and if we traded it all for plane tickets and power bars how long and far could we journey? We love to travel but we take 'vacations'. There is no comparison and we know it.

For a sample perspective that makes our heads spin check out this interview with Mr. Rolf Potts, an accomplished author and long term traveller.  His book "Vagabonding" is a dog eared member of the Burtonia library.   AB

NEWNESS of the YEAR

Let's hit this. 2012.

So cliché but like everyone the wintery starter spark of the new year is a time of both reflection and forward thinking for us. So what does this flip of yet another calendar mean in Burtonia?

Professionally we start a new Burton business fiscal year. We run stats and host meetings on how to better service our clients and tenants in the year to come. We learn from our tough times and celebrate our successes. Then collect and pack 12 months of ledgers and files to wrap up 12 months of revenue, expenses and accounting. Throw a lid on that banker box and hope CRA sees things the same way that we did.

Personally we can hardly believe 2012 has finally arrived. We have talked about this particular year for such a long time. It is our 10th year of marriage and the last 9 have overflowed with speculation and conversations of who we would be when 2012 finally came rolling in. It started in the cab ride from The Little White Chapel with a wedding certificate in one hand and the world as our oyster in the other.

Unreal.  Time to start dreaming of who, what and where Team Burton will be in 2022.  AB

DECKING of the HALLS

The Christmas of 2011 was the first to be celebrated right here in Burtonia. We are typically the ones packing up a car with a variety of catered items, wine bottles plus stacked and packed boxes of gifts to be driven all over the golden horseshoe to make mandatory holiday appearances. 

This holiday season we took over.  Burtonia turkey, Burtonia tree and a Burtonia table set for the whole family.  There was merriment and babies, Christmas crackers and egg nog.  The whole deal. 

The turkey roasters of yesteryear where all too happy to relinquish the Christmas controls.  Now we know why.  The set up was endless as where the inquiries.  Who was attending?  Who needed presents for who?  What can each person bring?  What time are all events to be held?  In Burtonia our love of lists and charts was in full effect. As an experienced party planner I won't play that it was too much to handle.  It all came together in the end and the items that were missed just didn't seem to matter once we were all around the table with smiles and toasts abounding. 

 It is so cheesy but true that it didn't really matter that my first course was iffy at best and didn't quite turn out the way I planned.  When I set each plate down in front of each guest I realized whatever the content of the menu was each of these special people had decided to spend this very special day here, with us. 

I have wonderful childhood memories of Christmas.  Always a day of family and food with all of the fanciest plates and linens set on the table, mom in the kitchen, Poppy endlessly playing with me and my new toys.  We are so happy that Burtonia will now be a part of the Christmas memories of some very special little Burtons.   AB