Shades of Pink

July 16, 2019.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Protested pink, as a child,associated, as it was, with all things weak –or so I perceived. A new generation redefinesthe contours of pink –adds edges and functiona statement of empowerment Now, I adopt the shade,insert pink in place of blue,transform expression –celebrate pink’s invention. (Inspired by Nancy Merrill’s A Photo A Week challenge: shades of […]

V.J.’s Weekly Challenge #57: Presence

July 15, 2019.Reading time 2 minutes.

“Isolation threatens to consume me,” I tell my therapist in a recent visit. “I’m not willing to disappear into the woodwork again.” The doctors say my illness is relapsing; it’s how they explain the onslaught of infections. I’ve just finished another round of even stronger antibiotics. While my immune system fights invasion, I am staving […]

A Dog Knows

July 9, 2019.Reading time less than 1 minute.

A trip to the river never fails to surprise –this dog with life-jacket caught my eyes. Ready, he was, to set off downstream,happily dependent on his human team. (Lens-Artists have left their weekly challenge open – the perfect chance to share this sweet photo story with you.)

V.J.’s Weekly Challenge #56: Language

July 8, 2019.Reading time 2 minutes.

“We need language to tell us who we are, how we feel, what we’re capable of – to explain the pains and glory of our existence.” – Maya Angelou “Do you not like the book you are reading?” My granddaughter shrugs in response. Normally an avid reader, I wonder why she keeps setting this particular […]

Layered Realities

July 2, 2019.Reading time less than 1 minute.

We beautify the mundane,with flowers, greens and such,and for further distraction,the whimsical’s a nice touch. History holds attraction,love anything quaint –celebrate our heritage,have difficulty with restraint. (For Calmkate’s Friday Fun: layers)

V.J.’s Weekly Challenge #55: reclaim

July 1, 2019.Reading time 3 minutes.

In July of 2013, I contracted pneumonia. After a course of treatment, I continued to experience weakness, shortness of breath, and frequent tachycardia. By January, I had seen a gamut of specialists, received no answers, and was worse. Test after test eliminated obvious possibilities. In the end, I was diagnosed with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis. The doctor […]

A Town With Many Views

June 29, 2019.Reading time 1 minute.

After dinner, we drive the backroads and end up at the flats, behind the falls. A bench becomes our front row seat to the evening river view. A beaver or muskrat swims by and follows a second river away from the falls. I try to catch him, but only capture ripples and a reflection of […]

Planning a Garden

June 25, 2019.Reading time 1 minute.

Gardening is not my strong suit, but I also do not want to be the blight on the block, so Ric and I put our heads together to plan a garden. But where to start? The neighbours gardens are well-established and even their hanging pots look lush and well-pruned. Up until now, I’ve left the […]

V.J.’s Weekly Challenge #54: Subtle

June 24, 2019.Reading time 1 minute.

Subtle is: 1. not loud, bright, noticeable, or obvious in any way; 2. small but important; 3. achieved in a quiet way that does not attract attention to itself and is therefore good or clever. Cambridge English Dictionary Subtlety is not my strong suit. I am outspoken, exuberant, and often joke that I have to […]

Lottery for Life

June 23, 2019.Reading time 1 minute.

Lottery has been the focus this week. In Canada, our LottoMax now has two draws a week – the dream is apparently alive and flourishing. My mind has turned to the immigration process, part of which is a lottery program. Although, I am not fully versed in this process, I remember hearing the story of […]

I dream that I am teaching again, and having assigned the class independent work, I am spending time connecting with each student to see if they are grasping the material. It’s my favourite part of teaching, and I wake up wondering if I’ll ever have that feeling again. So rewarding. It is bittersweet, growing old. […]

Fatal Fury

Really wasn’t your faultthis fury that overcame –Words evoked onslaught,a raging river of pain. Didn’t mean to push you,miscalculated my aim,swimming in swamp watersnot a recommended game. You floundered, gurgled,cursed me by name –our love story, now viralbrought an alligator fame. (Image my own. Tale is totally fictional, I promise.)