There was a time in my youth when I wished my Mom was dead. As soon as I wished it I realized that it was a terrible solution. I knew that my Mom drove me crazy in various ways but it was certainly not fair to request her death in order to set me free … Continue reading Mom and the Old Bitch Above
Family
A Cuppa
My friend looked at me with an expression of dismay, “Well”, she said, “I don’t know what to do now”. I was at a loss too. Her husband was lying dead on the driveway with my favorite scarf jammed between the ice and his grey hair. He … Continue reading A Cuppa
The Long Form Census and Moi
Part of me wanted to defend myself, ‘but I only just lost my job last spring, and I may get a new job soon, I am waiting to hear…’ But another part of me wanted to throw her tiny ass out in the snow so I just looked at her. “Have you worked for the government for long”, I asked.
Writing about Writing
I wrote this post three years ago. Now I live without my Mom's voice and I am doing what I promised. I am working on a big project, writing a novel and my mind is playing on a big canvas. My blog posts arrive quietly in my mind while I am cleaning, sorting or … Continue reading Writing about Writing
Illness onto death, or let’s just not talk about it.
We happily live in a bubble of health until we are struck down. It is very hard to live in a constant state of appreciation for your present health without getting maudlin or morbid. It is probably best not to think about it at all. The people who live best do seem to have a … Continue reading Illness onto death, or let’s just not talk about it.
Merry Christmas and Happy Channukah!
My Mom
I should be calling her on the phone right now. And I am reluctant. It is not because she is a self-pitying or complaining, or crabby or incoherent. When I do call we have fun calls about writing, thinking, dreaming, regrets and relationships. The hard part is saying 'good bye' because I can tell that … Continue reading My Mom
My In Laws
After 27 years it is clear that they don’t really like me. And it is not so much that they don’t like me, as I will always be foreign to them. It is deep down prejudice, and it often makes me feel sad and strange when I am with them. As a group, I know … Continue reading My In Laws
We really do like Zellers!
I opened a Facebook page called 'Save our Amherst, N.S. Zellers'! and I meant it. You would think living in a small rural area would save us from the constantly changing landscape of retail take overs but in fact it makes us all the more vulnerable to it. There are two small towns near where … Continue reading We really do like Zellers!
Let’s Go to the Cinema!
It was a Sunday afternoon and I could edit my essay on XML in the Library System or take my kids to a matinee at our local film theater, the Vogue Cinema. I got my priorities settled fairly quickly and grabbed the kids. A half hour on country roads and we are in quiet little … Continue reading Let’s Go to the Cinema!
Notes from a Sinking Isthmus 