Hodgepodge: The Recovery Spa and Don Cherry

By Charlie Hodge.

Thanks Josh, so far your new facility is working well with my mental and physical healing. (Of course wife Tez may not concur).

On Saturday Nov. 16 Josh and Lindsay Stilborn will officially open their south Pandosy business The Recovery Spa. If it proves as effective for others as it was for me then lots of folks will be feeling better soon.

Through use of impressive cutting edge equipment including relaxation beds, spa, headphones and other products The Recovery Spa is ideal for anyone wanting to reduce stress or pain in their world.

As an older, wounded man I was interested in improving my sleep and calming anxiety. Our pre-opening visit gave me that knowledge as well as clarity on how their business is perfect for athletes and fitness fanatics needing to heal muscles or wounds, soothe the body after workouts, reduce physical or mental stress and pain…The list of various additional benefits for clients is amazing.

Products from respected sources such as NuCalm, NovoTHOR, NormaTec and the impressive mPulse Infrared Sauna line the small yet effective and relaxing new business.

“We want to help people help themselves in slowing down their mind and body while speeding up their recovery and healing. Lindsay and I have learned a tremendous amount in the past year crafting our business from dream to a reality,” Josh says looking around proudly at the house of healing.

While you may have to search a little to find them tucked away at #3 2936 Pandosy the effort is well worth it. The charming couple are hosting their open house from 9 a.m. to 4 pm so check it out.

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Ironically visiting Josh and Lindsay meant we missed red-neck hockey bigot Don Cherry’s initial racist comments during Hockey Night in Canada intermission. It finally cost him his job. He should have been fired years ago.

I was fortunate enough to spend many years hanging with Howie Meeker, a man of real class as a broadcaster. You either hated or loved Howie for his hard hitting colour commentaries during hockey games and between periods. He made you decide, He also passed on his knowledge and thoughts as a broadcaster for more than 30 years without ever uttering a racist derogative comment about anyone.

I spent five years working next to Howie on two books and sincerely say I admired the man more and more at every meeting. Howie taught me to look for the strengths in a person and to take the high road whenever possible.

A much different set of lessons than I learned from Mr. Cherry.

I remember several years ago trying to get Howie to trash talk Cherry because of an insulting comment about European players by Don. But Howie would not bite. Instead he simply looked at me and said, “He has right to his opinion. He’s in the entertainment business. That’s his style.”

I am glad we are finally done with the loudmouth Cherry. I am glad HNIC finally pitted the blowhard. Hockey does not need Cherry to shine, however Cherry needed hockey.

Long gone the ‘old boy’ and dinosaur’ mentality about hockey fights and hits to the head that Cherry and other old school thinkers of hockey perpetuated began to disappear. Hockey has slowly evolved mentally as well as physically. Howie grew and changed, Donald did not.

When I think of Howie I often think of one of his many comments about the game itself. With Cherry’s demise it seems an appropriate time to recall Howie’s words. “Hockey is still the greatest game in the world – despite the idiots that run it.”