‘It’s been an interesting week Camp. I’m talking about the Olympics in Paris. It started out with a great rain-soaked spectacle at the opening ceremony. The whole city of Paris was the stage while hundreds of boats brought in the athletes. Did you see it?

            ‘As you know, I don’t have a TV and no, I didn’t see it. I was kind of busy trying to make a living. Summer is still the best time for a book store. People need books for the holidays.’

            ‘You need to watch Celine Dion’s closing song ‘L’Hyme d’Amour, performed from the 1^st level of the Eiffel tower. Considering what she’s been through with her health it was a stunning performance with the whole world as her audience.’ 

            ‘I’ve heard about it and will get Muriel to dial it up on U-tube.’

            ‘I love watching the live drama that only the Olympics can provide. Like the soccer spying scandal making Canadians look like cheaters and the players on the women’s team like heroes.’ 

‘It all started with Ben Johnson who won the Olympic gold in 1988 and then was stripped of it, three days later when he tested positive.’

‘Are you suggesting that everybody is spying on the other teams with drones?’

            ‘I’m saying that others undoubtedly spy on their opponents but they haven’t been busted like the Canadians.’  

‘Reminds me of the doping scandal in bicycling. First it was only Lance Armstrong who was caught cheating and then confessed to Oprah but he still had to ride and win the Tour de France seven times. Then it turns out that everybody was doing it. Did that level the playing field? Of course not. Only when everybody is drugfree is it a fair measure of strength and endurance.’

             ‘I love the true winners though, like the gravity defying Simone Biles or Summer McIntosh who already won 2 gold medals in the pool and at 17 is a true inspiration.’

            ‘Yes, unbelievable. The power of youth is evident at these games.’

            ‘To change the subject what do think of Kamala Harris so far?’

‘I like her and she is a breath of fresh air in the US political circus. Still, half the people still think Trump needs to be president, despite all the indicators that he is losing his marbles on every front.’

‘You’re referring to his outburst at the interview at the National Association of Black Journalists’ (NABJ) annual convention in Chicago? The one where he questioned Harris’s race, claiming she went from Indian to Black.’

‘That remark alone would disqualify anybody seeking public office but not in this case. It doesn’t matter what he says or claims, his followers never question anything he says or does.’

‘He’s just plain weird. That’s the new way to address the Trumpian cult. Weird, as in a bunch of weirdos following the chief weirdo over the cliff.’

‘Let’s hope people will come to their senses when they’re inside the polling booth. The US is not Venezuela, despite Trump wanting to be just like Maduro.’

It’s hot these summer days and we’ve already had one devastating fire that burned down over 350 houses, a third of all structures in Jasper, Alberta. At present over 300 wild fires are burning in BC.’

‘Did you know that Ukraine had more land burned by wildfires than any other country in Europe last year. They lost more than 214’000 hectares to forest and wildland fires,’ Camp said.

‘You’re full of good news as usual.’

Just at this moment Vicky, who is working all summer long, served up two fresh brews. I had to ask?’

‘Are you watching the Olympics?’

‘I’ve watched some of the highlights. My favorite is the Italian gymnast, Georgia Villa who poses on Facebook with wheels of cheese.’