Pippi

January 29, 2025.Reading time 3 minutes.

Pippi was so nervous the day she arrived at our home in her little dog crate. Her brother had no problem sniffing out his new domain and blessing us with a tail wag, but Pippi made a beeline for our then 8-year-old granddaughter and stayed put. All eleven pounds of her shook with fear. For […]

Uniting for Women’s Rights

November 13, 2024.Reading time less than 1 minute.

The Underground Railroad was run by abolitionists and helped enslaved blacks flee to freedom in Northern States and Canada. Project 2025 wants to ban abortion nationwide, and make it difficult for women to access health care out of state. Is it time to band together in support of Woman’s Rights? Abortion is legal in Canada. […]

Can’t Breathe

November 6, 2024.Reading time less than 1 minute.

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 […]

Getting Hold of Fear

October 30, 2024.Reading time 1 minute.

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 […]

Selfless

May 29, 2024.Reading time 1 minute.

“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 […]

Vacancy

May 15, 2024.Reading time 2 minutes.

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 […]

Kindness is always appropriate

April 17, 2024.Reading time 2 minutes.

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 […]

Focus on the Good

April 3, 2024.Reading time 1 minute.

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, […]

A Rocky Path

March 27, 2024.Reading time 1 minute.

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. […]

T.G. Shevchenko Celebration

March 20, 2024.Reading time 1 minute.

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 […]

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 […]