Y2K: No Problem for Good Shepherd's Watch
Donald A. Coggan, PE
Special Edition
MONTREAL, January 15, 1999 - It has been said, "A shepherd will lead them," and it has never been truer than now as we welcome in a new millennium. Amidst the turmoil, the humble shepherd is an icon of stability, oblivious and impervious to the daily frenzy and the sinister predictions. Taking a cue from this timeless symbol of tranquility, a Montreal designer has created the Shepherd's Watch® - a series of exquisite recreations of timepieces that have worked for centuries and will continue to do so as long as there's a sun above us. By helping to calm an agitated lifestyle, Harris Morrison's wearable sundial watches are the ideal tonic for our turbulent modern times and a powerful antidote to millennial apprehension. It goes without saying that they're totally Y2K compliant! But the Shepherd's Watch® is more than just a beautiful timepiece; it's also an elegant tool for more effective time management. In our frantic efforts to pack more stuff into each day, we often time daily activities to the minute. This keeps us busy but doesn't always lead to accomplishment. The Shepherd's Watch® can help solve this problem because it takes our focus off micromanaging our time and, along with its partner in time, the compass, it puts the emphasis where it should be... on our objectives. This management technique has worked faultlessly in the millennia behind us and will continue to work for millennia to come - Y2K or no Y2K. All we need is a reminder, a coach, in other words, a Shepherd's Watch®. We're not talking about a frivolous piece of costume jewelry. There's an extraordinary wealth of information, knowledge and experience supporting the symbolism of the Shepherd's Watch®. Some is hinted at in the informative little booklet that accompanies each watch. Some is suggested by the short descriptions of the popular Aquitaine, Explorer and Nocturnal models.
 | The most popular sundial from ShepherdsWatch® is the Aquitaine model, a replica of the ring that Eleanor of Aquitaine gave to her lover, Henry II of England, so that he would know when to leave the hunt for their daily love trysts. Almost 900 years later, the Aquitaine still resonates with romance and marks the hours of the day with a ray of sunlight that falls on the inside of the ring. |
 | Another sundial model is the Explorer, popular during the heroic Age of Exploration. Adventurers and captains of sailing ships used it to account for the latitude and take a more accurate reading of the time. The Explorer sundial is also part of American heritage - in 1777, the young Marquis de Lafayette presented a silver Explorer sundial to George Washington as a token of admiration and the Marquis' desire to fight by Washington's side in the American Revolution. |
 | Lest you think that sundials are only useful during the day, think again. The Nocturnal sundial has used the stars to tell time since the 16th century. Originally developed for navigators, you simply sight Polaris (the North Star) through the center hole and align a lever with one end of the big dipper. |
Reasonably priced from $30 each, the Aquitaine, Explorer and Nocturnal models (as well as dozens more) can be purchased directly from the manufacturer by calling 800-786-4387 (toll-free in the U.S. and Canada) or 514-933-8840 (International). They are also available everywhere quality craft items are sold. A word about designer Harris Morrison... Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, and now residing in Montreal, Harris Morrison is the creator of the Shepherd's Watch® line of elegant wearable sundials. Sundials have always held a particular fascination for this former pottery craftsman. His delight in them was heightened by the discovery of an old, faded sundial painted on the side of a barn in the Eastern Townships of Quebec. In a relatively short period of time, Harris Morrison has developed personal sundials modeled on those used over the centuries by mariners, shepherds, troubadours and royalty. He continues to search for sundial references in literature, music and art, aided by his associates and his membership in various sundial societies.
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Throughout nearly 30 years of business starting in 1967, Don Coggan has held positions ranging from sales engineer to general manager to business owner. Since early 1996, he has been providing bilingual Internet business consulting services across the US and Canada to clients in the private and public sectors. He can be reached by e-mail at don@naftatrade.com.
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