The Gift of Friendship

April 16, 2018.Reading time 3 minutes.

Pippy has driven down from Campbell River with her girlfriend, Sandy and her dog, Sam. We decide to leave the men to bond while we women go out for lunch and some catch up time. I take them to Gabriel’s Gourmet Cafe, where Ric and I ate on our first day here. It is busy […]

Texting Love

April 6, 2018.Reading time 2 minutes.

hi grandma i miss you so mach i am so excited The text came unexpectedly, one Saturday morning. It was clearly from our granddaughter, Finn. to see you, the message continued, my mom and me are so glad you will cane back Finn is six and in grade 1. Her mom did tell me she is top of […]

The Path to Wellness

April 2, 2018.Reading time 7 minutes.

“You seem to be doing better; are you going back to work?” Returning to work after time off due to flu, is expected. There might be a day or so of feeling weak, but it’s soon forgotten as the body springs back into action. Recovery from a debilitating illness, however, takes time. There are, according […]

Portland, On Hold

March 30, 2018.Reading time 3 minutes.

From Eugene, we are moving on to Portland, and as it’s only a two-hour drive, Ric leaves me to sleep in as long as I need. When I stir, around 11:00, he tells me that we are headed back to a repair shop at 2:00. The engine warning is still showing up: ” Water in […]

Is It Just Me?

March 23, 2018.Reading time less than 1 minute.

The absurdity of some things just make me smile. Is it just me? He’s got the pose down pat. Ric wanted to know if the AW Pottery is expanding: This one just makes me smile. Who needs to spend a lot of money on entertainment? Hope your day is full of smiles.

Cee’s B&W Challenge: Heads/Faces

March 23, 2018.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Faces that bring me so much joy, and one for fun. (Photos for Cee’s Black & White Challenge: heads/faces)

RV-Disabled, Take Two

March 19, 2018.Reading time 4 minutes.

It is Tuesday morning and we are sitting in the truck, in the parking lot of a repair shop waiting for news of our RV. The tow company who rescued us off the highway in the early hours of Sunday morning, and delivered us to a nearby motel – RV and all – moved the […]

RV-Disabled

March 16, 2018.Reading time 6 minutes.

“The bus is ready to be picked up,” Ric announces as he gets off the phone. It’s ten a.m., earlier then we’d expected the repairs to be completed, so we decide to forego the site we’d booked for tonight, just twenty minutes away, and start the journey north today. As it goes, 10:00 turns into […]

Pep Talk

March 12, 2018.Reading time 4 minutes.

I’ve faced worse, I told myself when the diagnosis came; I’ll get through this too. And I believe it. Whatever it takes, I am committed. That doesn’t mean that the struggle is lessened in any way. The struggle is very real. It begins with knowing self. I’ve never been one to accept anything at face value. […]

Thriving Under Pressure: TEDx Talk

March 4, 2018.Reading time less than 1 minute.

One of my favourite bloggers is Dr. Andrea Dinardo whose posts offer straightforward, and sometimes tough advice for how deal with stress and develop resilience. Especially poignant for students, her message is now available through TEDx video. Dr. Dinardo’s blog, Thriving Under Pressure is available here.

Imagine

If we could lift understandingto indigenous teachingsexpand our loveto earth, sky, and seaMake personal gain tabooand Ancients a weigh point If we could witness the mountainsslow floating across the skyand touch the dolphin’s soulanxiously swimmingwhere tuna are netted Would we cower at our insignificanceor move forward, learning to acceptthat all of life is deeply woveninto […]

Dear Child

I know a little girl,whose hair in ringletsfalls, unkempt from lackof brushing; who standswhen she should be sitting;who laughs with defiance whenchallenged, her dark eyes gleamingwith mischief; who holds her chin uphigh and stamps her feet, arms foldedin protest when she does not get her way. I see that little girl,have watched her play,with a […]

Re-de-fine-d

Ask me how I’m doingand I’ll say “fine”, notbecause I’m actually fine,but because “fine” is the onlysocially acceptable response. If I said that I have been lyinghere, for three hours now,willing my body to move,that would elicit unsolicitedadvice and tarnish my “fine”. I’d berate myself for breakingmy promise not to moan,knowing that complainingprovokes a compulsive […]