toffeereflection

Giant

From the “Blessed Shiver” prompt from the Isolation Journals, I am encouraged to write about one of my earliest memories in vivid detail. There are a few memories from the age of three or four….decades before starting kindergarten! I was the middle child of four siblings: my older brother, and younger twins were the onesContinue reading “Giant”

Notes to self….

I joke often that I still feel like I’m 18 years old. At 18 I was very shy, although learning to talk to people one-on-one in normal conversation. Yet, in front of the classroom (I was a substitute band teacher back in the days when all you needed was the skills and not the papers)Continue reading “Notes to self….”

remember to breathe

Last year, before the pandemic shut down our choir rehearsals, another choir director prepared special buttons for each of our singers. We had some leftover, which I happily kept. Children love to receive gifts, no matter how small, and these ones seemed quite special. The button that I kept reads “remember to breathe”. It isContinue reading “remember to breathe”

What? How?

The Isolation Journals prompt that I am using today is from poet Victoria Redel. She challenges us to write poem or prose using words with only one syllable. How much can I write in 10 minutes with that limitation? We’ll see: This morn we woke upstars and moon still high in the skymy dog andContinue reading “What? How?”

Blessings

Eleven years ago my children decided that a puppy would help improve my life. My late husband’s best friend was probably the one who encouraged that thought, knowing that I was lonely and lost. When Toffee came into my life, he was 3 months old, and so very cute. I was told that I couldContinue reading “Blessings”

Ten Images

Here are just 10 images from the past 24 hours. Thank you to Ash Parsons, via the Isolation Journals. the drip coffee waking me up enough to answer messages from my brother the Canada goose pretending to be a swan decoy in the pool the crisp, cool air at 6 a.m. the delicious aroma escapingContinue reading “Ten Images”

Rituals…

I’m not much good at creating or following rituals. In the past I have rebelled against them. I could not have gone along with Sheldon Cooper’s life-style of expecting a specific meal on each night of the week. When I first met my late husband, Michael, I soon realize that he had certain “rituals” thatContinue reading “Rituals…”

“Fine”

Almost a year ago I subscribed to Suleika Jaouad’s “The Isolation Journals”. Over the year I have received many writing prompts, which included short essays about the author, as well as background on the prompt. My life became very busy again so unfortunately many of those email remain unopened. But, during the spring break lastContinue reading ““Fine””

Obstacles or Opportunities?

Yesterday the BC health authorities announced more restrictions; today people are complaining and criticizing the inconsiderate shut-downs, saying they were blind-sided. How can anyone be blind-sided? We could see the numbers rising, and anyone who pays attention to the news should have expected this, or at least similar guidelines and restrictions. I can’t criticize businessContinue reading “Obstacles or Opportunities?”

Moon

A few minutes ago I was looking at photos taken of the full moon overnight in Bangkok, Thailand. This was posted by someone who sang in a choir that I directed many years ago when I lived there. She was very young, just in university, and we reconnected via Facebook earlier this month. It isContinue reading “Moon”