I spend time untangling and pruning vines in the vineyard, lifting fallen branches and tying them onto the supporting wires. After days upon days of slowly pruning the last of the vines, I look at my work with satisfaction. At … Read more
A phone call from a friend lasted for hours. Once the light talk was over, we had a deeper quest to talk about our situations. Confessing our concern for family and friends filled our conversation. My friend spoke words I … Read more
Life's events brought us to Canada to get a life. One of the challenges was to learn a new language. Fifty-six years later, I still speak it with an accent. When I am asked where I am from, it becomes … Read more
When my large family of four generations gets together, it is an action-filled event. Tents are pitched for sleeping, and there is much to do. The day might be spent fishing, and there is room to kick a ball. It's … Read more
It's my age that makes a conversation piece at chit-chats. Someone's birthday brings us to think of our ages, and we begin the guessing. I am not good at guessing ages, but others bravely do so. What is systematically amazing … Read more
I am reminded of a game where a message is repeated from one person to another, around a circle. Usually, when it comes back to the sender, it is a brand new message. Hardly anything of the original is left. … Read more
Advent: a time of waiting, preparing, expectation. Even in the rush of life, a moment of silence and observation enters the heart that is open to the reason for the season. We know that peace comes from God's peace, that … Read more
Planning is my favourite pastime. I plan for days, weeks, even months, and such planning brings me the onset of expectations to anticipate results. On a good day, I might do more in a day than all week. I call … Read more
It was time to have my hearing tested. While I waited at the doctor's office for my appointment, around me, I observed fellow geriatrics with walkers and canes. A lady with a hearing aid smiled from her chair to everyone. … Read more
"The weeds were bad this year," was the general subject of conversation in the country. I could attest to this fact, as I had been pulling weeds out of a strawberry field, which was contaminated, within days, with thick stems, … Read more