Merle Shain lived and wrote in Toronto, Ontario. Her work for the CBC, the CTV and for magazines such as Chatelaine, McCall's, Cosmopolitan, Toronto Life, among others, influenced a generation of women. Her numerous books on love, intimacy and commitment won unreserved praise in the Canadian and American Press.*

"Instead of handing out Bibles you might be compelled to hand out copies of Some Men Are More Perfect Than Others." ~ Helen Worthington of the Toronto Star. The Hamilton Spectator wrote about When Lovers are Friends, "What a book! Rarely have so many truths been crammed into one slim volume." Her books are filled with poetic prose, wisdom, healthy observations and understanding, and most of all, awareness of the human condition.

Merle was a feature writer for the Toronto Telegram; associate editor of Chatelaine; columnist for the Toronto Sun and host of the CTV news program W5.

Merle Shain died at the age of fifty-four in 1989. Her books include: Some Men are More Perfect Than Others, When Lovers are Friends, Hearts We Broke Long Ago and Courage My Love.

*McClelland and Stewart Limited, Toronto, Ontario.

"There are many who believe that fulfillment is to be found by finding one person and sharing your life with them, but I do not think that is how it works, because so many of the people who believe in that are looking for the perfect person still while other sources of fulfillment pass them by.
I think instead that life is round, that the current runs from each to each and then back a different way, and when it does not, life is a broken thing.
And I would tell you this ~ if you are looking for a friend, look for a person who is loved. Look for a friend with many sources of supply. And while there might be days when you'll wonder if there'll be anything left for you, in general I think that you will find what you get is a richer brew." *

~ Merle Shain (1935 - 1989) Canadian Author and journalist

* When Lovers Are Friends, J. B. Lippincott Co., N.Y., 1978,

Order Out of Chaos

Graham Greene wrote to "make order out of chaos." In the grind of a busy week, calendars, day-timers, scribble pads are essential to an orderly routine.
Plans change. Cancellations and postponements are inevitable but in the general scheme of things, a person is careful to be consistent. The human brain insists on some semblance of order.

Why is it then that we accept the politician's (not all) flip-flopping ~ saying one thing one day, another the next? A municipal councillor recently told me one thing to my face, then stood up in a public meeting and said exactly the opposite because it was to his benefit.

A politician's rendition of an event or a policy is prone to change, I suppose, because he is talking to a lot of people. I respect that. He is inundated with ideas and conflicting information. However, I think we should be able to expect a simple qualifying statement or explanation, even if it is, "Yesterday, I thought this... Today I have changed my mind."

Election Day is Monday, October 25. Make your voice heard.

Thought For Today:

"The ideals which have always shone before me and
filled me with the joy of living are goodness, beauty, and truth."

~ Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955) German physicist, author.

Nature's Gifts to All Are Free

"Why, ye tenants of the lake,

For me your wat'ry haunt forsake?

Tell me, fellow creatures, why

At my presence thus you fly?

Why disturb your social joys,

Parent, filial, kindred ties? ~

Common friend to you and me,

Nature's gifts to all are free:

Peaceful keep your dimpling wave,

Busy feed, or wanton lave;

Or, beneath the sheltering rock,

Bide the surging billow's shock..."

On Scaring Some Waterfowl, Robert Burns, Scottish poet (1759 - 1796)

Photo: Lake Erie, Ontario (Click on photo for larger image.

Your Smile for Today:

"Every human being has hundreds of separate people living under his skin. The talent of a writer is his ability to give them their separate names, identities, personalities and have them relate to other characters living with him."

~ Mel Brooks (b. 1926) American film director, screen writer.

Solar Sentiments

Solar Sentiments are clear on Mount Olivet Road in Haldimand.

(Tongue-in-cheek: We may have to rethink the purpose of The Neat Little Bookshop blog.)

There are important issues facing our area. Folks are feeling that there is an imminent invasion of unwelcome outsiders. There is a concern that our council be ready to collaborate with the necessary levels of government and form the necessary partnerships in order to minimize the impact of the influx of wind and solar farms. There is a movement afoot to ask the province to declare a moratorium on windmill and solar farms until thorough research can be conducted and stronger regulations enforced.

Municipal election is on Monday, October 25. Make your voice heard.

For a list of candidates go to http://www.haldimandcounty.on.ca/