Growing with gratitude for life's challenges
Over brunch, my new acquaintance and I discover we have a lot in common – both former teachers, interested in art and poetry, with a love birds. She is just getting back into life after a long stint of caring for a sick husband, who died a year ago. I am finding my footing in […]
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Fear and intimidation formed the basis of his power. To this day I tremble, afraid I’ve misstepped – parked the car wrong, forgot to close the door properly, or spoken out of turn. My father was a hand grenade with the pin perpetually pulled. He was also motivational, citing the works of Carnegie, Peale, Gibran, […]
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Children grow up, establish new lives, and if we’re really lucky they bring home new members to add to the family. I have been doubly blessed with the addition of a son and a daughter-in-law. I can’t say enough about them, and I’m sure they’d kill me for posting their photographs, but it’s my blog […]
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Marrying for the third time entailed blending families – not always an easy task. I had three; he had two – bookends to mine. Falling in love is one thing, but the chances that all parties will be enthused about the idea is another. Ric’s oldest, a son, was already an adult when we met, […]
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” I’m worried about my generation, Mom. There are so few male role models to set an example, how are we supposed to know how to live our lives?” My son was fifteen when he shared this concern with me. Having watched his own father turn his back during our divorce, and witnessing the same […]
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“Mom, I want you to know that I don’t harbour any ill will toward our past. If I seek to know what happened, it is only to understand myself so that I might heal.” Mom nods, considers my words. “There is so much I could have done differently.” “No. You did what you could with […]
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One more train. Then she’d be away. Â Far enough to lose all communication. Â Far enough that he could not find her. “Can I help you Ma’am?” Â a porter reached for her luggage. Passengers crowded in behind. “Just a moment, thanks.” Pulling her suitcase aside, she fidgeted with her purse, pretending to be searching for a […]
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“Sometimes I just wish I could roll back the years and start over.” “Hard to imagine it. Â Life would have been very different.” Our what if’s are wistful, laced with regrets. Â Not that we had any power over what happened – we were only children when decisions that would affect us forever after were made. […]
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“I’m quite happy to spectate,” I offer when the cry goes out for team members. It’s Friday night, and darts are the big event at the neighbourhood clubhouse. “No! No! You must play. Â Everyone plays.” This is our second social this week in our new community, and I must say the locals are friendly and […]
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“I’m not as smart as you. Â I’d probably be okay if I was smarter.” “That’s not true, June. Â You are very smart.” “Do you really think so?” My sister and I are doing dishes after supper. Â June suffers from paranoid schizophrenia. “You got 96% in your nursing program,” I remind her. Â “Intelligence is not your […]
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One Woman's Quest II 