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”
Tag Archives: isolation journals
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”
Lesson learned
While working through a separation and divorce, my lawyer suggested I figure out a way to show the judge that I am trying to improve my own situation and provide a good life for my children by obtaining more training. I registered for the Provincial Instructor Diploma which would qualify me to teach my specialtyContinue reading “Lesson learned”
Dream Day
Even without Toffee here to wake me early in the morning, I find that I am usually wide awake by 5. This morning I slept in an extra hour, possible because of a late night phone call with one daughter who just experienced a very stressful week and needed to decompress. I was reading throughContinue reading “Dream Day”
Home
The question was making it’s way around Facebook not long ago — “how many different homes have you lived in?” I ran out of patience to answer that question, but today I decided to attempt an answer. There was the first house where we lived until I was 6 years old. I remember the backyardContinue reading “Home”
Dead Wrong
This morning I decided to try to move out of my shell a bit, and joined in on the Hatch, a monthly virtual coffee hour for those who support the Isolation Journals. What I didn’t realize was that when we are encouraged to write it’s difficult to get started. So, I looked at one ofContinue reading “Dead Wrong”
Thin Places — St John the Divine in NYC
It was back in 2010. My husband, Michael had recently died following a valiant battle with a brain tumour. My youngest daughter was singing with a small choir and I was invited to travel with them as their collaborative pianist on their tour to New York City. My daughter was excited that I could spendContinue reading “Thin Places — St John the Divine in NYC”
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”
Reflections 