Spring…Did It Really Arrive?
Three weeks ago I watched four robins hop from spot to spot looking for their breakfast. I smiled and quietly whispered, Spring! Finally! Why? Because seeing a robin in mid March or hearing its chirping in the wee hours of the morning is a promise that winter is coming to an end! And I’m all for that! Even so, a couple of days later, I watched in dismay as a couple of robins sat noticeably puffed up in the tree outside our balcony window when the weather took a nasty turn. But the change of...
Read MoreA Shot of Joy, A Shot of Laughter
Memories Memories, pressed between the pages of my mind. Memories, sweetened thru the ages just like wine. Quiet thoughts come floating down. And settle softly to the ground. Like golden autumn leaves around my feet. I touched them and they burst apart with sweet memories. Sweet memories. In these days of frustration and confusion—to take or not to take the shot— we must make time for a different kind of shot: a shot of joy, a shot of laughter. Wouldn’t you agree? A few weeks ago I...
Read MoreAll Creatures Great and Small
Have you ever considered the thought behind the expression, “All good things come to an end”? It’s an expression used rather loosely when we finish a good book, end a relaxing holiday, say our good-byes at a family reunion, or even acknowledge the end of a wonderful summer at MBC. The internet defines the meaning this way: “Nothing great will last forever… a wise reminder that all good things are temporary.” Another definition states that it is “a term of regret,...
Read MoreAn Insignificant Sapling in a Plastic Bag
Wearing the best grin a grade-eighter could possibly muster without feeling silly, he handed me a small plastic bag. “It’s a tree and we have to plant it,” he said, unwaveringly. I looked at the object in question: an eight inch Blue Spruce sapling. The roots were half as long as the wanna-be tree and I knew in my heart the game was over before it started. This little twig didn’t have a chance. Nevertheless, we spent a portion of my younger son’s lunch hour digging a hole and...
Read MoreBrunette or Norwegian Blonde? It Really Doesn’t Matter!
Much has been said and written—and no doubt will continue to be said and written—about the impact COVID-19 is having on our society. We are cautioned and instructed repeatedly on how we should conduct ourselves if we are to be successful in combatting this invasion. Daily reports, personal views, and speculations for the ‘new normal’ are a constant these days. And,of course, we read headlines such as, “I think we’ll be lucky to break even,” and “International plowing match...
Read MoreCrisis Experiences
A month ago today hundreds of friends joined our family as we celebrated the life of my brother Doug. Through tearful words at the suddenness of his death or understanding smiles that surfaced with a memory, many hugged and shared stories and anecdotes of their love for such a good man. One friend said, “Doug was a dear man who loved life and lived it to the fullest.” Fondly known as Dougie by his dear wife, Janet, my brother left a legacy of love, compassion, and dedication...
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