Uncategorized – Page 7 – Random Samplings

Thanks for the Memory: Part 2

My Uncle Bill’s mother, known as Aunt Emma to the kids in my family, was a lovely lady. She was very gentle and kind, and was extremely loving to her grandchildren. Aunt Emma fell victim to Alzheimer’s during middle age; young enough that I think it would now be considered early onset. She slid soContinue reading “Thanks for the Memory: Part 2”

Thanks for the Memory: Part 1

Both my mother and her only sister Carolyn married Americans. My father was from Fall River, Massachusetts, and my Uncle Bill was born and raised in New York City. Both men enlisted to serve their country, but in different wars. Dad joined the Army Air Corps in 1942, eventually completing 31 missions as the navigatorContinue reading “Thanks for the Memory: Part 1”

Ladies on Top

Yesterday I read an article in Forbes magazine concerning the countries which have mounted the most effective responses to the coronavirus pandemic. All of them have female leaders. According to the latest WHO figures, only 4,404 Germans have died from the illness as opposed to 20,453 Spaniards and 23,660 Italians. This despite the fact thatContinue reading “Ladies on Top”

Prison Life

I have had many jobs over the course of my life, but the one I liked most was at the Peterborough Public Library. I spent half my time on the adult reference desk and the other half in the children’s department, allowing me to work with patrons of all ages. I liked the staff andContinue reading “Prison Life”

Déjà vu all over Again

There are many strange and scary things happening in the world right now which have caused a ball of anxiety to take up residence in the centre of my ribs. Sometimes it gets quite large and obnoxious, amplifying the sound of my heartbeat and making it impossible for me to take a deep breath. AtContinue reading “Déjà vu all over Again”

Toro, Toro, Toro!

One of my all-time favourite children’s books is “The Story of Ferdinand”. This tale of a peaceful bull who prefers smelling flowers to butting heads was written in 1936 by Munro Leaf and features beautiful pen-and-ink illustrations by Robert Lawson. Despite its great age, Leaf’s story has endured sufficiently well that an animated retelling ofContinue reading “Toro, Toro, Toro!”

Rapid Acceleration

I am a very good student. I’m not bragging, I just happen to have been born with exactly the right traits to excel at school; I am interested in learning and do so quickly, I am a facile reader, writer and speaker, and I have an excellent memory. My father was a very talented musicianContinue reading “Rapid Acceleration”

Fire Walking

Bali is one of the most beautiful countries I’ve ever seen. It has crystalline blue water, deep green terraced rice patties marching off into the distance, and almost every street corner holds a Hindu statue sporting a hat and a red gingham skirt, with offerings of colourful local fruit strewn at its feet. The peopleContinue reading “Fire Walking”

Have a Nice Trip

I am a member of a local choir and four years ago we had the great good fortune to sing for a week at the cathedral in York, England, locally known as The Minster. There has been a church on the site of The Minster since the 7th century, while the cathedral as it standsContinue reading “Have a Nice Trip”