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Friday, August 25, 2017

Giving Notice



It was a brief interaction
just enough for a young woman to notice
~ notice a need and offer a kindness
~ offer her chair to an older woman with swollen feet
Kindness does not need much more.




“We become aware of the void as we fill it.”
~ Antonio Porchia,  Italian poet


Thursday, August 24, 2017

A Woman Alone

Many of the things
I did today were tasks
that were all about me
this woman alone
supporting my life
still learning about living
in the world of bill paying
doctor visits
grocery buying 
until the aroma of baking bread and granola
the laughter, kindness and wisdom of fellow writers
coloured by the colours and shapes of home
show me life as a woman alone but not lonely.

“You don’t have to be part of a couple to be happy, you know.”
~ Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, Alice Alone


Wednesday, August 23, 2017

Summer Camp Kids

There were at least twenty of them. Twenty children - five or six years old - with young women leading at the front and shepherding at the back. I was already comfortably sitting on the bus towards the front so was privileged to see this great troop of kids pouring onto and through a bus already half full. They were chattering and chattering, while paying attention in a kid sort of way to their guides. Colourful backpacks, bright yellow vests (or were they orange), this summer camp group made their way to the back of the bus. Oops! Available seats were scattered and so not enough for order to be maintained. The kindness of strangers came to the fore. Settled bus riders vacated their seats for these happy kids - shifting around to support the leaders and maintain a semblance of order on the bus.

“Three things in human life are important; the first is to be kind, 
the second is to be kind, and the third is to be kind.”
~ Henry James


Tuesday, August 22, 2017

In Memory: Charles Patrick Ward

I just went through some old family photos and found this photo taken about 40 years ago on one of many visits to Saskatchewan with Sylvia and the kids. What I remember about Charles - better known as Chuck to most family members -  is his steadfast return to Raymore to visit the family every year, always remembering his mother and ensuring all the cousins grew up together. Probably one of the greatest kindnesses a man can share with his family.

I don’t recall Chuck’s birthday; I will remember that on August 21, 2017 he eclipsed this world. 

Rest in peace, Charles

“May you be in heaven a full half hour before the devil knows you are dead.”
~ Irish Blessing


Monday, August 21, 2017

Solar Eclipse

Concentrating on pen and paper
it was only a sense of dimness
a change in sunlight streaming
in the window right and left
pulling my focus to the wide blue sky.

I left pen and paper aside stepping into
coolness and the dimming brightness
of a timid day moon slipping past
the ruling and glorious sunshine with 
only a wisp of cloud to share the crossing

in awe filled kindness and respect 
there should have been silence
a stop to cars, motors, hammers, 
calling out and conversation
to hold our collective breath
as celestial giants crossed their skyward paths

“Moonlight drowns out all but the brightest stars.”
~ J.R.R.Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings

Sunday, August 20, 2017

Slow Cycle



Falling asleep felt like 
fading into invisible softness
a kindness of the body
when couched in quietness

Awakening felt like
Slowly entering light and sound
A kindness of the body
when cycling back into the world.







“No day is no bad it can’t be fixed with a nap.”
Carrie Snow,  comedian