Almost every day for over two years I would climb the spiral staircase to practice and/or perform on the cathedral’s magnificent pipe organ. The first time I climbed the spiral staircase I wondered how dizzy I would become before reaching the top. In the winter the cold air gets locked in and I climb quicklyContinue reading “Steps”
Tag Archives: isolation journals
The King’s Barge
Auntie Tamada was a very special woman, a distant aunt to my first husband. We lived with her for a few months when we first married, and kept in touch through the years. Her name, Tamada means “ordinary” in Thai. She was far from ordinary. She loved life, and people, and food. Once when myContinue reading “The King’s Barge”
Visitors
Now that Toffee is gone, I receive visits from many curious creatures. Lately several cats have stopped by to check in on me. With no barking Yorkie to chase them away, they seem to be curious. Or maybe they smell the mouse that lived here briefly. One day as I sat doing some work atContinue reading “Visitors”
Spring
Parts of Canada still have several feet of snow, with lakes frozen solid and icy roads. Victoria folk are enjoy the cherry blossoms, daffodils, camellias and all kinds of other flowers. In fact, we plant winter flower gardens to keep the streets bright and colourful from late November to early March when the snowdrops andContinue reading “Spring”
Left behind
Many years ago, my daughter’s roommate left this beautiful vase behind when she moved out of our home. I loved it the first time I saw it, but because at that time it wasn’t mine, I could only look at it! Years after the roommate moved out, I tried to return it to her, butContinue reading “Left behind”
Science project
The first piano student this past Friday arrived to her lesson with her science project. I wanted to see her demonstrate her creation but we had too much work to do on her piano pieces. Teaching piano gives me a chance to peak into the lives of so many young, creative and curious children. ManyContinue reading “Science project”
Duck, duck, goose
Yesterday my friend convinced me to join her on a walk to the nearby park to feed the ducks. She would bring some bird seed, and she was very excited to show me her newly discovered hobby! Of course, the first thing I did was search for the city’s bylaws for restrictions on feeding wildContinue reading “Duck, duck, goose”
Simplify, simplify, simplify
When people walk into my living room they are presented with a music studio. I have a piano, an electric organ, a TV table with 4 boxes of music books in current use, and a desktop computer, a dining table covered with piles of books and papers, two chairs, no couch, no TV, no coffeeContinue reading “Simplify, simplify, simplify”
What we leave behind
My maternal grandmother, Hazel was a beautiful, talented and amazing woman. With her positive spirit she taught by example how to love while showing incredible patience and strength. When she died, at the age of 100, I was able to keep one of her three detailed maps that she had drawn in high school. MyContinue reading “What we leave behind”
On Rebuilding
We were the last off the airplane. Our flight took us out of Bangkok, via Hong Kong, landing in Vancouver. I had packed a few things to keep the children occupied, and the airline gave each of them a small backpack full of useful items, which remained for years as memory of the journey thatContinue reading “On Rebuilding”
Reflections 