Intention vs Gremlins

Many pieces have been written for this blog. Some have come easily and some have come dragging out of me like recalcitrant children not wanting to go to school. None of them fine pieces of literature. All the while, I have enjoyed spinning tales or poems, throwing together an opinion piece, book reviews and musing about this, that or the other thing.

Tonight, and probably for the past ten years, my intention to develop a certain piece keeps running up against a very thick brick wall. What is each brick composed of? Nothing more solid than thoughts and old beliefs in my head. Troublesome gremlins that annoy and prevent me from writing about……well, I’ll keep quiet for now about what exactly that writing is.

So tonight, my task was to write, not for publication anywhere, a piece of just a few hundred words, on the subject of my concern. Three hundred and twelve words written over several hours - I just love the delete button on the computer. Back up, try that sentence again. No, that’s not good enough. The conversation in my head was really quite busy. A short walk shook some of the words into place.

I’ll leave it be for tonight and return tomorrow to see how much sense it makes.  My intention remains fixed, the gremlins quieted for tonight. Thanks for listening to my ramblings.

“Silencing the brain’s ramblings gives the 

chance for wonderful thoughts to blooms.”

~ Steven Redhead, The Solution

Distorted Intention

Intention
Lost somewhere in the mists and messes of active addiction
Pushed and shoved by family and bureacracy
Shaped and molded to be one’s own
but not one’s own.

Intention
Stunted and misshapen
Roots planted, transplanted, repotted
until only small shoots survive
thin and wasting .

Intention
A mishmash of directions from
chemicals and from outside forces
until no direction can be found
blurred and lacking in true desire.

“All people know the same truth: our lives 

consist of how we choose to distort them.”

~ Woody Allen

In Memory of Coetta Macdonald, Nurse Practitioner

Sept 30, 1954 - April 17, 2014

My intention changed rapidly from wondering to ‘Let’s get it done.’

Coetta Macdonald was that kind of nurse and forever student, that kind of friend, and that kind of person in all of her challenges through life. Although she and I seldom connected after my move back to Canada in 1999, when we did, the bond was unchanged with this friend and colleague. At work, all staff were confidant when Coetta was on duty. Outside of work, she could be counted on to lend her support and wisdom.

And right now she’d be saying - ‘Enough already. And that’s a lousy picture of me.’

“So long as the memory of certain beloved friends

lives in my heart, I shall say that life is good.”

~ Helen Keller

Weather or Not

Intention slipped
fine cold rain drizzled softly
thoughts clouded and damp.

“The best thing one can do when

it’s raining is to let it rain.”

~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

A Plea to the City of Vancouver

It’s  the final day of the long Easter weekend. Family time and for many, a deeply religious time as well. Part of my family time has been walking at lovely Trout Lake in John Hendry Park with my son and his dogs. We met several others there, also walking their dogs.  I really should clarify ~ the dogs were racing about and playing, wrestling and generally having a good time. Dog owners and myself were discussing the City of Vancouver’s proposed changes to the dog park. Opinions expressed by these dog owners and residents of East Vancouver were of extreme concern about the proposed changes. Is it the intention of the City of Vancouver to push dogs and their owners out of this lovely park?

Off leash dog parks are a necessary part of any community where there are responsible dog owners, and there are many. From the prairies where there is lots of green space, I recognize that the need for control of the limited green spaces out here on the west coast is paramount. In Victoria, BC now for the last 10 years, I visit one of our off leash areas frequently to enjoy the dogs in the dedicated green space and in spring, the daffodils. My sons, now in Vancouver, have frequented the John Hendry Park at Trout Lake with their dogs.

John Hendry Park is a moderately sized park and the amount of off leash area that dogs are permitted will be reduced by almost 80%. The remaining amount off leash area will decrease their running room and at the same time increase the chance of risk to humans, Vancouver residents, their families and tourists. Some residents and visitors that are unable to be dog owners enjoy the dogs and watching their play. Putting these family pets in a confined space increases the risks of territorial fights between dogs.=

When this non-resident and non-dog owner visits, our walks there, with my sons and my grand dogs, are cherished parts of our family time together.  

This singular voice asks, in the interest of both family and dogs, that the City of Vancouver modify their plan and expand the amount of green space available for dogs and their human families.

“A dog reflects the family life.Whoever saw 

a frisky dog in a gloomy family, or a sad dog 

in a happy one? Snarling people have snarling 

dogs, dangerous people have dangerous ones.”

~Arthur Conan Doyle, 

The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes

Satisfaction

There was no real intention for today ~ at least after this morning.
And no real traditional Easter meal ~ at least in the evening.

A quick shopping trip to the Gourmet Warehouse for supplies
then a side trip to the dog park at Trout Lake for more chasing and playing.

A wonderful brunch this morning around noonish with
friends and family - a small gathering around the dining table ~
Scalloped potatoes made with garlic, cream and blue cheese topped with
poached eggs and homemade hollandaise sauce
crisped thinly sliced prosciutto atop
Green salad with slivered almonds and cranberries on the side
Orange juice with white wine, berries and orange slices for some
Orange juice with sparkling elderberry juice for others
Aaaahhhh..........Delicious
Sorry, no pictures ~ just trust me ~ Jason is a wonderful chef!
Did I mention homemade berry sorbet to cleanse the palate at the end of the meal?  So lovely!

The rest of the day ~ napping, visiting, TV ~ and repeat.
The evening ‘meal’ ~ a wonderful bowl of homemade jambalay.
Intention and no intention ~ both satisfied.

“Whatever satisfies the soul is truth.”

~ Walt Whitman

Moveable Intention

This photo taken on a sunny day last fall.

Intention
Set off on the 9 a.m. ferry to Vancouver
Done - and saw a couple of whales on the way over!

Intention
Get to Jason’s around 11:30
Done ~ after a bit of an (unplanned) scenic drive

Intention
Brunch with Jason and Jeff
Done and delicious and fun.

Intention
Take the dogs to the dog park
Done - in cold wind and wet rain - but the dogs had fun!

The real Intention
To continue and spend Easter weekend with my charming sons.
Not done yet!

Happy Easter all!

“I have two delightful sons, who I love dearly.”

~ Charles Keating