Discovering Nostalgia

It’s been around -20 degrees yesterday, -18 degrees today. The crunch of the snow felt solid under my feet. Cars and trucks didn’t whoosh by but did more of a crunchy-whoosh. The trees shivered under frost and snow, outlining them against the thinning gray clouds. It could have been a day to curl up on the sofa by the fireplace for a good sister visit. It could have been a good day for us to cook a hearty soup, then bake some cookies. But, no, we had other plans. Which did start our with a hearty breakfast and hot coffee. Then it was off to an Antique market in Calgary. My eyes popped when we walked in to Elaine's Antiques & Collectibles Show in the Marlborough Park Community Centre. Tables of antiques and nostalgic pieces from all areas of daiyl life were arrayed around the room. The room was filled with buyers and browsers. I hesitantly made my purchase - I really only wanted the lid, but the little red Pyrex refrigerator dish like my own is in better condition than mine. 

Then it was off to another Antique sale - this time to Where On Earth Did You Get That. This Antique Mall held not just the small items we had seen previously, but furniture. Oak bedsteads, old trunks, rocking chairs and china cabinets all from another era and time. Patsy Cline serenading us from vinyl records being played with old radios arrayed on shelves above and around. Bookshelves filled with all manner of old books. One set of the Hardy Boys mystery books - was it complete? I dared not check to be certain. No purchases made there. 

More importantly, this browsing through nostalgia seemed to balance and ground me into past, present and into myself and many family memories. And yet, the day was not done. We went for High Tea at the Hayloft Restaurant in Airedrie, a popular local restaurant. Check out their menu at www.hayloft8th.com . Then home to the farm for naps and an evening of visiting.

“For it is up to you and me to take solace in nostalgia’s arms 

and our ability to create the everlasting from fleeting moments.”

~ Sanober Khan, A touch, a tear, a tempest

Tales and Time Travel

I was invited to attend the dress rehearsal for an upcoming evening of storytelling in Calgary, Alberta on a weekend visit to the home of one of my sisters. The stories were all Canadian stories by members of the Calgary chapter of TALES (The Alberta League Encouraging Storytelling). The evening opened with a First Nations Cree welcome song and welcome to the First Nations land that we are on. The first story was of a young couple who escaped slavery in Kentucky and finally arrived and settled in York (now Toronto). The stories then ranged from the Devil’s Brigade in WWII, the beginnnings for a young nurse in the VON (Victorian Order of Nurses), a following your dreams to Canada in Polish folk tale and song, and an enchanting story of the building of the Chinese railway. There were more than those stories performed for an audience of four and each fascinating for the pieces of Canadian history that is missing from the school room. And of course, my reason for being there was to see my sister’s performance.

In January of 2016, my book club read and discussed the biography of Nellie McClung by Charlotte Gray. This evening I have had the opportunity to watch Nellie McClung in action. Nellie McClung was born October 20, 1873 and died at the age of 77 on September 1, 1951. The audience was invited to time time travel to 1930 this evening to listen to a populator speechmaker of the day, Nellie McClung. For those of you who don’t know her, Nellie McClung was an activist who fought for women’s rights in the early 1900’s. She had many other focuses to her fiery speeches, but the most notable was her involvement in the Persons Case. Betty Hersberger, my sister, as Nellie McClung tells us of this case. A case when women, in the eyes of Section 24 of the British North America Act, were not persons and therefore could not be legislators at any level. Betty’s portrayal was realistic, balanced and a joy to watch. Her dress was appropriate to the day and time - hat, gloves, a bit of lace.

I am sorry that I’ll miss the full performance next Friday when all will have completed their dress with authenticity.

“My very first lessons in the art of telling stories took place in the kitchen…

my mother and three or four of her friends….told stories…with effortless 

art and technique. They were natural-born storytellers in the oral tradition.”

~ Paule Marshall

It's All Relative

The flowers will come!

Cold, driving rain slashed at my face, a sign that March weather was having it’s way with Victoria. The hospital parking lot, filled with drenched cars waiting for employees, was slowly emptied. Umbrellas, turned inside out, useless. Icy rain - or was that snow - or maybe sleet - made the air as gray as the sky and the asphalt lot. Streetlights coloured ever deepening puddles and water sluicing down the gutters. Brown skeleton trees, no longer a natural protection, were shaken by the wind adding their rainy drops to an already wet sidewalk. My raincoat, shiny black. My blue leather purse, soaked from light blue to navy blue. My jeans, turned from dry khaki darkened to wet khaki. The only balance in this day was the dry warmth inside to ease the wet cold of the outside. My only bit of gratitude? It was not a blizzard. (But it has been biting cold.)

“Cold is cold.”

~ Lailah Gifty Akita

Author's note: Edited February 05, 2024

Enthusiasm for International Women's Day

Enthusiasm for the moment ~
the moment when we celebrate
on this international Women’s Day
celebrating women and all we
have been and have done
can be and can do
will be and will do
there must be a balance
between all genders
not to become someone else
for someone else
because of someone else’s rules and beliefs
but to become
who we can be
who we want to be
when we want to grow and expand our horizons
showing our sons and daughters
how we live our lives with
Enthusiasm for each moment.

“[Tradition] has to move according to the time that we live in.”

~ Angelique Kidjo, Boniness Grammy Award-winner

Beyond Today

Beyond Today

Carefully scanning each day’s horizons for signs of cloud or storm would be a part of his life that would leave a hole. Not a little tear, not a blind spot but a huge gaping hole. Even so, Courtney smiled. He had ridden the prairies for years, worked his ranch faithfully and, with his wife, had raised a fine family. His wife was gone now. His daughter and his son both married and away in their own lives. With all of them gone, loneliness had settled on his shoulders. At first Courtney just shrugged it off, caring for his prized horses and the few head of cattle he still kept. And it worked. For a while. He would get into his new pickup, go to town and shoot pool with men he had known since high school. Everything felt flat. Courtney felt useless. The balance that family and his ranch had given him kept tilting, leaving him dizzy and unsettled. The idea came slowly when he listened to his friends visiting about their travels. It dawned slowly when he was on his morning ride, breathing deeply of the crisp air. He had married young. He and Esther had had big plans to travel and explore the world once the kids were grown and gone. Esther had died too, too young and left him behind. It was not too late for adventure and he was not too old for adventuring. He hadn’t seen Vancouver Island yet, hadn’t seen the Maritimes and so very many places in between. So he got busy. Not ready to sell, he found a young family to take over the ranch. He traded in the pickup for a travel trailer and set up his computer system in his new rolling home. Courtney spoke to his banker to make certain his finances would pay for it all. Saying good bye to his horses was hard. He promised them all he’d be back. He could still scan each day’s horizons, but it would be on the edge of a cliff, or behind the wheel as he drove down the highway. Maybe….just maybe…..he could fill a big part of that gaping hole.

“One does not discover new lands without consenting 

to lose sight of the shore for a very long time.”

~ André Gide

Waves and Motorcycles

Waves and Motorcycles

‘Naturally ridin’ life’s waves is the only way to get through a day.’ Grandpa Joe was patient with little Ethan. ‘Take a look at those waves out there. Pretty wild, aren’t they? If those waves were comin’ at me, I’d be gettin’ out of the water in a hurry or they’d be takin’ me under! See on the inside of the breakwater. Those waves are movin’ a bit, but at least if I fell overboard, I’d be able to paddle to the dock.’

‘But Grandpa, I just don’t get it. Those guys look so cool! And look at their bikes! What has that got to do with waves?’ Ethan looked up at his grandfather, his blue eyes innocent and curious.

‘Honey, have you ever seen ‘em ride together all at once?’

‘I sure have and they look pretty awesome. Their bikes all shiny and roaring. Serious looking guys! And some of them even have teddy bears on their bikes. Did you ever ride a motorcycle, Grandpa?

‘Didn’t I ever show you the picture of me and my bike? It’s out in the garage. Let’s go home and take a look? Those rides were like ridin'  the waves on the bay on a windy day. Balancin' around each curve, leanin' into them or standin’ straight. Hmm...hmm.” Grandpa lost himself in his memories.

Ethan, his short steps trying to match his Grandpa’s slow stride, followed his hero to the car? Tugging on his Grandpa’s coat, Ethan brought him back. ‘Do you think mom would let me have a motorcycle when I grow up? If you taught me how to ride?’

‘Well, son, we sure can ask her. For now while you’re growin’ up, I’ll teach what I know about waves and motorcycles.”

“The wave is the signature of every experience of life. By understanding 

the nature of waves and their characteristics, and applying that 

understanding to our lives, we can navigate life with a little more grace.”

~ Jeffery R. Anderson, 

The Nature of Things-Navigating Everyday Life with Grace

Choosing Courage

Choosing Courage

Artfully creating personal choices at this time of day is impossible! Today’s ‘personal choices’? What the heck do I wear to this interview? I have two choices. My new black dress that I was hoping to save for a romantic date - that may or may not ever materialize. And my old red dress, much more casual. I’m so tired of it I want to throw it out. I suppose I’ve got time to decide. It’s six o’clock in the morning and my interview isn’t until three o’clock this afternoon.

Rachel picked up her coffee cup. The coffee was weak, but at least it was hot. She really needed the job. The pay wasn’t great but it was more than she was making now. Two kids and rent and groceries and utilities and…...Rachel lost count. Balancing it all was too much..too much. Tears tipped over tired eyelids. She laughed bitterly. At least I don’t have my makeup on yet. Pulling her old blue fleece bathrobe tightly, she took her coffee to the window to watch the sunrise. The kids weren’t awake yet. The house was quiet. The squeak of wheels the only sound from the street. Rachel felt a jolt of fear, then a tiny bit of gratitude blossomed. The woman pushing the overloaded shopping cart looked older than her. The dress she wore Rachel couldn’t see, hidden by the old oversize coat she was wearing. Her shoes were boots that had seen better days many years ago. Rachel’s coffee had grown cold as she stared.

Okay. So I need to ‘artfully create a choice’ today - isn’t that how my mom put it? The only grocery cart I’m going to push is when I'm at the grocery store. I’m getting that job today. My red dress will more than ‘just do’. I have scarves and shoes…...shoes…..they need polishing. My gold stud earrings will be perfect. "Kids! It’s time to get up. I’m cooking breakfast. You’ve got 30 minutes to get to the table. The bus is here early this morning so you have to be ready soon. Your dad’s picking you up after school. We’re all going to meet for supper at Grandma’s house. Let’s go!"

“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, 

but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who 

does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”

~ Nelson Mandela

Author's note: Edited February 05, 2024