life – Reflections

Tattoo

Several years ago I was determined to get a tattoo that symbolized the freedom in my life that I was starting to feel. Freedom from abuse, from feeling cornered in every part of my life, unable to live the life that I desired. The freedom that was helping me to see who I was andContinue reading “Tattoo”

Never give up

Yesterday was a rough day. I felt emotionally drained by mid-morning and the day went downhill from there. Some random events triggered strong emotions and each one compounded on the others throughout the day. A few years ago I received incredible assistance coping with, and working through some trauma from the past, including childhood traumaContinue reading “Never give up”

Watching the garden grow

Each evening since arriving in Cape Breton almost 7 weeks ago I have attempted to take a photo of this backyard. A couple of days were missed while I was travelling but the main goal of tracking the growth of the garden has been maintained. It is easy to lose sight of progress when watchingContinue reading “Watching the garden grow”

Before Sunrise

Yesterday my friend and colleague called to let me know that she had experienced a mini-stroke, and would need me to help out with some of the work we do together. We have been colleagues for many years, and work well together. We don’t socialize, but we often find time to have deep conversations eitherContinue reading “Before Sunrise”

Rest

Several weeks ago I tried to write. My plan was to get my life in order and re-establish a routine. My life is not in order, and my plan is still in the pre-planning stage; that stage where I know there needs to be a plan but nothing stays in my mind long enough toContinue reading “Rest”

Space

There are mornings where I can’t sleep in past 5:00 a.m. In fact, most mornings these days I am on my 2nd cup of coffee before the sun rises. The photo above was taken on a particularly smoky morning last week. The wildfires burning in the north sent the smoke our way and helped createContinue reading “Space”

Alone vs lonely

Yesterday was move-in day. Once the piano was placed in its perfect spot (in my humble opinion) I could start setting up the rest of the house. The moving truck left before noon, my sister and brother-in-law spent a few hours helping with some of the heavy lifting, then I was alone. I spent myContinue reading “Alone vs lonely”

Moving on

Taking a break from sorting and packing, I am sitting in my lazy-boy chair and looking past another stack of boxes, out the window. The cloudy, grey sky past the green leaves of the rhododendrons, and the cedar branches is typical here throughout the fall, winter and spring. Am I sad to be leaving? NotContinue reading “Moving on”

Moments

This morning as I was searching for a particular photo in my embarrassingly large collection, I was struck by how many photos I had taken early in the lockdown of 2020 of little things. Simple moments. Observations that I had made when life had suddenly slowed down. Life got busy again…far too busy for meContinue reading “Moments”

Grandpa

This morning while drinking my desperately needed strong cup of coffee as I sat in the bedroom, looking at several sections of paper towel littering the desk beside me, I was taken back to the days of visiting my grandparents. My maternal grandfather was a large man — I thought he was like Santa Claus,Continue reading “Grandpa”