We're so blessed to live in a place where we can experience four seasons in a year. And September is very special, for sure. Every autumn my mouth falls open at the day by day miracle of leaves changing colour -- the ashes suddenly yellow, a stand of young maples, where only one is transformed from green to an orange that's almost pink. Sometimes, when a single branch has turned to flame, I think it looks as though a dragon has breathed on a tree,.
Ah dragons. Isn't it interesting that these mythical creatures are so popular in popular fiction right now? A lot of the dragon characters are more sympathetic than evil, too. Which begs the question whether they need to be fought and overcome, or merely tamed.
It seems to me that one of the effects of our improved, instant, world-wide communication is that we're given the possibility to look at evil and meet it face to face. Whatever shapes or forms these dragons assume, let's hope to find the courage to deal with them in the right way.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Monday, September 24, 2007
Can clothes influence activity?
Today I'm wearing jeans that come to mid-calf. I'm reminded that, when I was a teenager, we called this style of pants 'pedal-pushers', ... so they bring memories of bike rides around our neighbourhood. And in North America, they're also 'clam diggers' -- a term that brings to me a pleasant mental picture of fun on the beach.
Words and fashion -- both have always fascinated me. Sometimes I wonder who thinks up the names. Once upon a time, we wore capes with hoods, and these were called cagoules. Now we wear sweaters with hoods and call them hoodies. In Britain that term is almost synonymous with teenage yobbos. Maybe the term was badly chosen? hoods and hoodlums?
Anyhow, that's what fluttered by me today. And now, ta da, I'm heading to the garage to take out my bike and give it an airing.
Words and fashion -- both have always fascinated me. Sometimes I wonder who thinks up the names. Once upon a time, we wore capes with hoods, and these were called cagoules. Now we wear sweaters with hoods and call them hoodies. In Britain that term is almost synonymous with teenage yobbos. Maybe the term was badly chosen? hoods and hoodlums?
Anyhow, that's what fluttered by me today. And now, ta da, I'm heading to the garage to take out my bike and give it an airing.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Me and reality TV
Sometimes I think I should have my own show -- just occasionally, and just for laughs you understand. I mean, what other granny requires three changes of clothing before 11 a.m.? And I can't even blame them on the babe.
Firstly, in a panic to leave our temporary accommodation in good shape for the owner who's returning for one night, I managed to spill my grapefruit juice down my front (teeshirt and pants), the kitchen cupboards and onto the newly-washed floor.
Then, in my haste to provide the little person with a bottle after he woke from his nap, I neglected to check whether the cap was on properly. It wasn't, and whoooops, there went the milk, down Nana's front, teeshirt and pants, and onto the newly-swept, if not washed, floor.
Sigh.
A good friend of mind might suggest I'm 'out of order'. But the day is bright, anyhow.
Firstly, in a panic to leave our temporary accommodation in good shape for the owner who's returning for one night, I managed to spill my grapefruit juice down my front (teeshirt and pants), the kitchen cupboards and onto the newly-washed floor.
Then, in my haste to provide the little person with a bottle after he woke from his nap, I neglected to check whether the cap was on properly. It wasn't, and whoooops, there went the milk, down Nana's front, teeshirt and pants, and onto the newly-swept, if not washed, floor.
Sigh.
A good friend of mind might suggest I'm 'out of order'. But the day is bright, anyhow.
Friday, September 14, 2007
serendipitous gifts
Well, I didn't really expect the government of Canada to change its plans to accommodate me and my dear husband. But I'm happy it did, anyhow. Thank you.
The thing was, our temporary condo pied a terre was a sublet from an out-of-town member of parliament. This meant we were looking at a two weeks discrepancy between moving out of there and into our new home, and would have had to cram into our son and daughter-in-law's townhouse -- potentially not good for maintaining happy family relations. So now we can stay put till the end of the month and enjoy downtown living for a little longer.
Meanwhile, being with the little person carries the perq (among many others) of allowing myself plenty of outdoor time -- especially on these lovely still, sunny autumn days. Spring in South Africa brought very similar weather fyi.
In the garden sunflowers, self-seeded, are blooming. And yesterday they gave me a simple little poem. Here it is:
I could swear
I could see
A sunflower
Smiling
At me
The thing was, our temporary condo pied a terre was a sublet from an out-of-town member of parliament. This meant we were looking at a two weeks discrepancy between moving out of there and into our new home, and would have had to cram into our son and daughter-in-law's townhouse -- potentially not good for maintaining happy family relations. So now we can stay put till the end of the month and enjoy downtown living for a little longer.
Meanwhile, being with the little person carries the perq (among many others) of allowing myself plenty of outdoor time -- especially on these lovely still, sunny autumn days. Spring in South Africa brought very similar weather fyi.
In the garden sunflowers, self-seeded, are blooming. And yesterday they gave me a simple little poem. Here it is:
I could swear
I could see
A sunflower
Smiling
At me
Thursday, September 13, 2007
still in transition
"We don't do this as easily as we used to," I commented to the dear husband with a sigh. He agreed. We can console ourselves with the knowledge that moving to another place is rated high on the stress scale, but I know that our difficulties come partly because we're older than we were. (Ahem).
On the other hand, I'm aware that aging provides a certain compensation because I experience the world in a richer way than ever before.
Still, it's been hard, leaving a beloved and beautiful home and garden, extricating ourselves from our community, saying 'good-bye' to loved and valued friends, not to mention critique partners.
How many times did I think "we must be crazy??"
So, transitions are tough. But now the packing up's behind us and we can draw breath. It seems to me it's only once a decision is acted on and accomplished that it's possible to assess and know whether what you've done was right... or not. Even though we haven't moved into our new home yet, things are feeling good.
On the other hand, I'm aware that aging provides a certain compensation because I experience the world in a richer way than ever before.
Still, it's been hard, leaving a beloved and beautiful home and garden, extricating ourselves from our community, saying 'good-bye' to loved and valued friends, not to mention critique partners.
How many times did I think "we must be crazy??"
So, transitions are tough. But now the packing up's behind us and we can draw breath. It seems to me it's only once a decision is acted on and accomplished that it's possible to assess and know whether what you've done was right... or not. Even though we haven't moved into our new home yet, things are feeling good.
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