Consider the crazy idea — it might be the right one. In late summer 2020, Dad told me his cancer had spread. I longed to see him. His doctor said we could count on Christmas, but not on Easter. Travel for him was out of the question. But my work was portable: all I needed […]
When Grandma died in November, family and close friends came together informally to mourn. We ended up in a big circle in my cousin’s home, looking out on Grandma’s beloved Rideau River. We shared stories, memories and sorrow. People spoke of how much they learned from her, how much they loved her, how much they’d […]
I signed up for an exercise class with a friend and ended up getting three good things for the price of one: exercise, laughter and socializing. I don’t need to go into just how great these three things are for health, stress levels and even longevity. Use your google-fu and you’ll find a whole lot […]
In which I explore a grumble about talkers… and then salute them. I’ve written before about how normally my worst grumbling happens at home. However, during a workshop this year I caught myself grumbling excessively during my work day. It was a group discussion with four women during a course. At one point I found myself […]
In May, the Alberta city of Fort McMurray burned. People across Canada watched as residents fled with what little they had time to pack or could carry. Videos of near escapes, of cars driving through smoke, of houses in flames riveted our attention. Seeing the images and listening to the stories told in shell-shocked voices was heart-wrenching. […]
On the surface of it, these two beliefs seem harmless. People should show appreciation for work done to benefit them or the household. People should do their share of the household work in a timely fashion if they are able to. Obvious, right? Who could argue with those? And yet, I’ve come to the conclusion […]