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Life is fragile; handle with care
I’ve been thinking a lot recently about the fragility of life. How we take it for granted and how we put things off until ‘later, when we have more time.’ In my circle of acquaintances, there have been four deaths in the past month. One was an elderly person who had been fighting an illness for a long time – a blessing some would say, that his is no longer suffering. But the others have all been lives snuffed out far before they should have been. A sudden illness, a tragic traffic accident, a mental health crisis. Families changed forever.… Read more…
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Westward ho: does taxi service for kids ever end?!
I’m just back from a mini-vacation with my middle child. In the past, I’ve taken his siblings on one-to-one trips, but his, like so many holidays, was scuttled by COVID. This year, when he decided to tackle a huge hike through the Rocky Mountains (you can learn more about the Great Divide Trail here), he realized he needed a ride about three hours south of Calgary to where he wanted to begin. When we realized it coincided with Calgary Stampede, a mother-son trip was born. The trip did not start well. As we were clearing security, my phone dinged. The flight… Read more…
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The value of touch
I miss human touch. I miss the loving embrace of a hug. I miss handshakes. I miss the feel of lips that kiss a cheek in greeting. I miss feet that meet in the middle of a couch on a sleepy Sunday afternoon with the newspaper or with books. A head that drops on a shoulder in a darkened theatre. I miss the feeling of a hand that clasps a shoulder in recognition of a job well done. Damn pandemic. Scientists have long since proven that which we all know from experience. Human touch soothes. It is compassionate and loving.… Read more…
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Here we go again
Does anyone else feel like we’re living in the movie Groundhog Day? Cases are down, let’s reopen. Cases are up, close down again, but only sort of. And repeat. Ad nauseam. It reminds me a bit of the childhood camp song we learned from Sharon Lewis and Lambchop. This is the song that never ends… You can thank me later for putting that ear worm in your head! I’m feeling a bit frustrated with the current state of affairs today. I’d like to rant and rave, but there’s nobody to yell at. Some people are doing a good job of obeying whatever… Read more…
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Twitchy eyes
My eye started twitching a little over a week ago. It’s not like it hasn’t happened before. In times of stress, it’s not unusual for one or the other of my eyes to flutter. It’s annoying, but I understand why it’s happening. I know what the stressor is and I know when things settle, it will go away. This time is a bit different. I have no idea why this annoying spasm is happening. There’s no one particular thing that has put me over the edge. And yet my eye is twitching. I listened with disappointment on Friday when the Premier of… Read more…
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Virtually giving thanks
It’s been a strange Thanksgiving weekend. There was no family gathering, no turkey, no stuffing and no cranberry sauce. Without the festivities to keep me occupied, I put the garden to bed and covered the patio furniture. These are things that remind me we’re about to be shut in our houses, with cold weather coming. It usually reminds me of gatherings in front of fire places, red wine shared and the promise of Christmas coming faster than I want to admit. But this year, there’s a depressing painting spreading out in front of me. The global coronavirus, and our inability… Read more…
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Empty pockets
My pockets are empty. Like – hold them upside-down and shake them out, looking for a penny – empty. Like tons of other people whose vacation plans were upended this year by COVID-19, I’ve turned my attention inward and had a close look at the four walls (and garden!) in which I’ve been spending all my time. Contractors have been doing booming business as all the money we would have spent on travel has been plowed into home renovation. In my circle of friends, there have been patios built, home offices constructed, basements finished, pools installed and gardens expanded. In my… Read more…
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Coronavirus conundrum
So. We’re three weeks into self-isolation and home working due to COVID-19. Everyone’s lives – all around the world – have been turned absolutely upside down as we do our best to ensure we stay healthy and don’t transmit this illness to those we know. I’m fortunate to be fully employed, and even if there has been a pay reduction, work keeps me busy during the days, and money in my bank account. For that I am very fortunate. But it’s still hard. I’m missing my coworkers. I’m missing the jokes in the hallways, the coffee room chatter and the… Read more…
