Yesterday, while walking in Stanley Park, near Second Beach, we witnessed a cyclist get hit by a speeding motorist.

I was the first to get to the victim, a forty-four-year-old man who thankfully was wearing a safety helmet.

The back of his helmet was damaged when his head hit the pavement.

If he had not been wearing it – he would have been very seriously hurt – if not killed.

I called 911 and waited with the victim.

He was in shock and seemed to be in a lot of pain.

I tried to reassure him that he was going to be okay.

The driver of the car had driven another two hundred feet or so before coming to a stop.

He was an older man, and I think he initially planned to flee the scene but probably had second thoughts because of all of the eyewitnesses present.

Most people would have slammed on their brakes after hitting the cyclist, but the driver continued to drive for whatever reason.

My friend Sally, who was with me, told the driver that he was driving too fast, and the guy got very defensive and told her she did not know what she was talking about.

I gave the victim one of my business cards and told him that my gal pal and I, would be witnesses for him.

I also told the 911 operator that I would be a witness if needed and gave her my contact information.

It bothered me for the rest of the day.

Why would anyone be speeding through a park – especially now that the road is only one lane for vehicles and one lane for bicycles?

While driving home that afternoon, I got a call from the Vancouver Police Department, and the constable asked me to send them a written witness statement.

I completed the statement and submitted it to them late yesterday afternoon.

I also copied the email to my gal pal, in the event that she is also asked to provide the police with a statement.

And then my gal pal (who was also a witness), told me that I had forgotten to include the witness statement with my email.

But I had to resend the statement twice because my gal pal then advised me that I had also referred to yesterday as Friday when it was actually Thursday!

Now, instead of two lanes of vehicle traffic through the park – there is just one lane.

I cannot for the life of me understand the need for such a wide bike lane – especially because the vehicular traffic is so heavy in the park.  And it will eliminate a lot of parking spaces along the road where the bike lane is now situated.

But do not get me started about politics…

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This morning, after having coffee with my buddy Norm (the northern one), I returned home to this surprise:

Tomorrow, when my buddy Robert comes to visit, I will get him to help me roll up the carpet and underlay, and I’ll keep the floor bare until Holly is better.

I should have done that when she first had diarrhea, but my hindsight is always 20/20!

And although the photos of poop are not very nice to look at – a picture is worth a thousand words – or so they say.

I have a difficult time trying to avoid using what most people refer to the stools as SHIT.

Speaking of SHIT – I once wrote what the acronym stood for: Ship High In Transit.

Back in the day, when boats were loaded with bags of manure for use on farms, they would stamp the hopsack bags with the SHIT acronym.

Wooden ships used to have water seepage into the hold of the ship where the cargo was stored, so it made sense to keep the bags piled off of the floor to keep them dry.

Imagine the fragrance onboard, if the bags of poop got wet!

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If you are a Blue Jays fan, you are probably using a lot of profanity like I was recently watching them play.

They were doing so well until this last road trip.

But I will not waste any more space writing about them until they get back to their winning form!

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I will no longer write about my dating – if I ever decide to put myself out there again.

But I guess if another reader compliments me on my stories, I will probably meet with them, if at all possible.

Aren’t you being a hypocrite, Danny?

No, Spanky, because my readers are like family to me!

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Well, I am out of JJ Bean coffee, and I am dying for a cup of coffee – so I am going to head into the city again to buy some.

I would clear out the rest of my stuff from the Langley locker, but that can wait until next week as long as I have it emptied by the end of the month.

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A few days ago, I bought the picture from her when Sally and I were walking on the Promenade in White Rock.

And as much as I love a good sunset – the early morning sun made this photo of the walkway so beautiful!

Five years ago, I was walking on the promenade with my late cousin, Ruthie.

We had stopped and looked at Marilyn’s photos on display by the train station/museum.

A few weeks later, I surprised Ruthie, by buying one of the pier photos and sending it to her in Moncton, New Brunswick.

She really loved the photo, and I saw where she had it hanging in her bedroom when I visited Moncton a few months later.

When I got to Moncton, I was supposed to meet Ruthie at her home, the next morning, after her doctor’s appointment.

But she had a massive stroke in the doctor’s office and was rushed to hospital.

Ruthie was in a coma at the ICU of the hospital when I got to see her that afternoon.

I was with her when she died several days later.

Her daughter Jennifer and I took 12-hour shifts staying with her because I did not want to see Ruthie die alone.

I told Marilyn the story when I purchased the photo a few days ago.

And she said that she remembered me telling her about my cousin Ruthie.

So, if you are ever walking along the promenade and see Marilyn’s display, be sure to stop by and take a look at her work – her photos are beautiful.

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Also – I got an email from Norm (the southern one) and his much younger wife, Gina.

They had just returned to Bellingham from a trip to Jasper, Alberta.

But Norm referred to the trip as “the trip from Hell.”

They had terrible weather – pouring rain and limited visibility during their holiday.

And although Norm indicated they chose to enter Canada through a different border crossing – instead of the one here in White Rock.

I had invited Norm and Gina to visit me at my new digs in White Rock – if and when the border reopens.

I told them that I had a large mirror installed on the ceiling of the guest room, so their visit would be like a honeymoon.

Maybe, they found out about the hidden cameras in the guest room, too?

Just kidding, Norm!

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And for any new readers not familiar with the POETS acronym in the title – it stands for Piss On Everything Tomorrow’s Saturday!

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That is all for now.

I hope you stay safe and are still practicing social distancing by wearing a mask when inside a public facility.

Oh, and if you get a chance, please say a little prayer for my Holly.

Maybe, I will have a stiff drink at the day’s end – I think I deserve it!

UPDATE: August 20th (5:55 PM) – Today, was also a very bad day for my gal pal, Joy Dockrey.

She is the lady I often mention who has the care dogs.

Joy has dedicated years of her life, to visit patients at the hospital, cancer center, and hospices in the Surrey area.

After reading this story, Joy sent me an email with the following message:

Today would’ve been my mom’s 94 birthday had she not succumbed to the brutal heat wave we had. She died in the Jubilee Hospital ER in Victoria while I was in the ferry lineup waiting to get over to see her. 

Dedicated to Joy’s mother and Sam

I hope my stories are a gift to your head and heart.

Hugs,

Danny

Today’s tune from Danny’s library (purchased):

It must have been cold there in my shadow
To never have sunlight on your face
You were content to let me shine
You always walked a step behind

I was the one with all the glory
You were the one with all the strain
A beautiful face without a name
A beautiful smile to ease my pain

Did you ever know that you’re my hero
And everything I would like to be?
I can fly higher than an eagle
You are the wind beneath my wings
You are the wind beneath my wings

I ke i’a po ke i’a au me o’e
Ke i’a po ua ho’i ma i au
He loa ka helena ma ke a la hele
E huli wahi ma ke i’a au

Mau popo au ua i ke ho’i
Ka home iloko ku’u pu’u wai
U’a ho’i mai i’au ke i ke nei au
Ma oli au au ana hou
Ke mau popo He Hawai’i au
Ke mau popo He Hawai’i au

You are the wind beneath my wings
Ooo ooo oo oo oo
You are the wind beneath my wings
Ke mau popo He Hawai’i au