Growing with gratitude for life's challenges
He put the people in place to undermine human rights, and give him immunity from crimes. He promised to end free and fair elections. He is arming himself with those who will do his bidding. America was warned of the danger. From up here in Canada, I wonder if this is how Rome’s neighbours felt […]
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Now that it’s dark early, putting the dogs out for their last ‘duty’ of the day, means taking extra precautions. We are always on the lookout for skunks, raccoons, possums, foxes, or even coyotes, as our backyard, unfenced, opens up to woods and farmland. The other night, I opened the door, made my usual noises […]
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“The heart has unlimited capacity when the mind is willing to focus beyond self.” I wrote these words four days after our first Ukrainian guests arrived. Prior to their arrival, I worried about so much: What will we eat? How will my body cope with noise and commotion? How will we all get along? It […]
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It’s been a year since my mother’s death and this past weekend we held a memorial. It coincided with Mother’s Day, which packed an extra punch. The grief that follows loss is seldom simple. Yes, I miss my mom. Yes, I am relieved that she has found an end to her suffering. There is also […]
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I offer our Ukrainian guest the last pot of chocolate dessert that had been dropped off that morning by a fellow Ukrainian. “There are fresh raspberries, too!” I add, gifted from another. She pauses, and then shakes her head. “Maybe tomorrow. I had sweet today.” And then she bursts out crying. I reach for my […]
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I was a ‘bad’ student. I caused trouble for teachers, skipped many classes, and still passed high school with honours. I was an enigma, our Vice Principal said. He didn’t know what to do with me, and ended up inviting me to leave. He was always respectful. That young woman joined me, many years later, […]
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When health takes a hit, the road ahead becomes littered with unknowns. After months of waiting, I finally got in to see a neurologist. Actually, the call came on the very day I was about to tell my doctor to cancel the referral. For ten years I have lived with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis. Diagnosed, that is. […]
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Two photos from our recent gathering honouring the Ukrainian poet T.G. Shevchenko (1814-1861). Schevchenko who knew imprisonment at the hands of the Russians, wrote about his love of country, the resilience of his nation, and the oppression of Russia. His publications have been banned by Tsars. He remains a symbol of hope and peace for […]
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You can’t tell from the photograph, but one woman’s cousin has been missing for 20 days. He is in the military, and all they know is 22 from his regiment are dead. Another’s brother just turned 16. She wants to bring him to Canada before the war makes a statistic out of him, but their […]
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I wasn’t taught about boundaries as a child, in fact, I was encouraged not to have any. No one said so, specifically, but in the drive to please, I came to this interpretation. Walls, however, grew organically. I remember many a time, curled up on my childhood bed, raging and in tears, repeating over and over: ”I need nothing; […]
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One Woman's Quest II 