Rhythm

Rhythm 

Began with slow waking

Picked up through the morning

discussion danced back and forth 

over lunch and lemon spiked waters

Afternoon slow and easy 

picking up stray tasks 

chatting with neighbours 

’til quiet underlined by 

music and hum of the dishwasher

softened today's rhythm

“There is music wherever there is rhythm, 

as there is life wherever there beats a pulse.”

~ Igor Stravinsky

Discussion

Maybe not or maybe so 

a decision hard to make 

when opinions from all sides 

push like gentle pins 

until I feel like closing 

my eyes and ears when 

discussion has swept 

sanity and civility from the table

The moral of this story is to 

keep quiet, step back and 

just decide 

according to what’s right.

“I’d rather lose an argument than get into 

a long discussion in order to win it.”

~ Rafael Nadal, tennis player

A Subjective Change

Topical issues are only a flowery surface 

in beeps and bytes ~ to get to the roots 

below the rhetorical chatter we have to get our hands dirty, get out the spade and the hoe, or stay home and enjoy the flowers. I’ve seldom been a very successful gardener, and never a politician but I do have opinions that are just that ~ opinions for a round of kitchen table discussion that drains the coffee pot and chews the fat of an evening unless someone changes the subject to something shallow like the fanciful Oscars fashions, the latest Iron Man movie or a Margaret Atwood novel favoured by a salesperson. That’s when the discussion gets seriously hilarious, 

clearing the kitchen table of any crumbs of topical issues.

“‘You is trying to change the subject,’ the Giant said sternly. ‘We is 

having an interesting babblement about the taste of the human bean.”

~ Roald Dahl, The BFG

I'm Serious Too!

I seldom have meaningful conversations with two year olds. Tonight was no different. There was discussion about colours, numbers, listening to sing-song-y songs, cutting up apples, getting more orange juice, mom and dad encouraging her to eat her supper and so on and so forth. I don’t really remember what issue brought a burst of laughter from mom, dad and great-grandmother (better known as grandma). I mean real genuine laughter. All I know is that I looked sternly at said two year old and said in my best ‘great grandmotherly voice’: “I’m serious!” Without missing a beat, her best two year old little voice said: “I’m serious too!” We just all broke up ~ well, not all of us ~ Miss Two Year Old continued playing.

“The fundamental job of a toddler is to rule the universe.”

~ Lawrence Kutner

Chapter Two, Episode Forty-Five - A New Path - Situationally Theirs

A New Path

Living again inside the comings and goings of the Estate, Elizabeth often heard snippets of passing conversations. This morning, while Miss Em and Brigitte were having breakfast there was only tension. Filling the sink with hot water and soap, she washed up the few dishes from their breakfast. “Elizabeth! Good morning. Have you got tea ready?” Drying her hands on the kitchen towel she kept handy, she went to the cupboard for more mugs. “Good morning, Martha. Tea’s ready - and coffee’s ready for James.” 

James took Martha’s light jacket and hung their things in the mudroom off the kitchen. “Thank you, Elizabeth. I’m ready for a second cup of coffee. Any news from your side of the world this morning?” He went to the fancy coffee machine that he hadn’t wanted to purchase. Brigitte had been so good to Miss Em that he finally gave in. She spent more hours with her than she was paid for. After only a week, he couldn’t understand why he had been so stubborn. 

“James and I passed Miss Em and Brigitte on our way in, Elizabeth. They looked to be in pretty deep and serious discussion. Do you know what’s going on?” Martha helped herself to croissants and jam still on the table from breakfast. “Come sit down. Work will wait for a bit longer. You look worried, Elizabeth.”

“Oh, not worried, Martha, dear. Just a bit troubled I suppose. You know Miss Em and Brigitte usually talk and laugh about things - whether it’s serious business or what Samuel, or you or I are doing……..Well, this morning, the tension in here was so thick I could almost see it. They hardly said anything to each other over breakfast. Just walked out of here together, Brigitte almost in tears.” She picked up a croissant and thoughtfully broke it in half, taking a bite as she looked toward the back door.

~~~~~

“So who do you want to tell first? Martha? You’ve been renting from her. Are you going to UVic or to UBC on the mainland? If you go to UVic you could keep Martha’s little place and have a nice quiet place to study.” Miss Em had gone through a range of emotions with Brigitte’s news that she would be leaving the Estate. Sadness, fear and a bit of panic that she would be losing her to a different world. Without realizing it, she was flooded with excitement for this new journey. One that she had barely finished before marrying Michael and getting lost in the Beaufort world.

“Slow down, Miss Em. I applied at both places and a couple of others on the mainland. I was accepted at all of them, but decided to stay on the Island. I’m an Island girl and that’s where I want to stay. Especially since all the Covid worries and restrictions. I don’t want to be half way across the country from mom and dad. I’ll talk to Martha about her place. My parents may help me out with the rent. And I can help out around here, if ever it’s needed and I’m not buried in books.”

Walking around the track, they were almost back where they started. “Didn’t we pass James and Martha when we left the house, Miss Em? I was so upset I barely noticed them.”

Miss Em was planning. She would contribute to the rent for Martha’s house. She’d have her eat over at the Manor. On days when Jeremy was working, she could help her study…… “That’s just crazy”

“What? You’re talking to yourself, Miss Em.” Brigitte was so relieved that she’d finally told Miss Em. Now her boss was looking more excited that she felt! She wouldn’t be losing anything. 

“I’m sorry, Brigitte. I was just thinking about what an exciting thing you’re doing. Took me back a lot of years. I didn’t finish what I started when I went to University. Oh, I did finish my time there, but Michael and I married and I didn’t pursue a career. I’m so glad that you are on this path now. Anything I can do, please ask. If I ever get too intrusive, you just tell me. Dez is going to be so excited!” Brigitte stifled a laugh, her boss was stumbling over her words!

“I was so worried that you’d be mad at me! You’re not mad at all - just kind of….well…. mad as a Hatter. Now I’m worried that you’ve lost it. To answer your question about who to tell first, let’s get back in the kitchen and tell Martha, James and Cook. They should be just about finished their morning visit. We’ll give them something more to talk about.”

“There was some relief in letting go of those dreams, 

of silently accepting their fate and embracing the unknown.”

~ E.C.Colton, Shards of Sky

Book Review: The Half Sister by Sandie Jones

Set in London, England, The Half Sister opens in the waiting room of a doctor’s office. Kate, one of two sisters, and her husband are waiting to see their IVF doctor. After many unsuccessful pregnancies they are trying one last time. At least that is their hope. The story moves on to a family dinner at their mother’s home. Every two weeks, Kate and Lauren and their husbands have gone to their parent’s home for many years. One seat at the table has been empty for a year - their father, Harry passed away the previous year. While Kate and her husband Matt, happily married, are trying desperately to conceive. Lauren and her husband Simon, in a very rocky marriage, have three young children. Their stories begin to unravel when a woman comes to the door, drops a bomb shell on this apparently almost perfect family and is quickly ushered out.

Messy family dynamics, suspicions, sibling rivalry, and DNA all while the truth is expertly revealed. With short chapters, alternating between Kate’s life and Lauren’s life, Sandie Jones expertly weaves a very tangled web. She unravelled it all at the end, with an almost predictable surprise - but not quite. I sighed with relief. Relief that I could slow down and breath! This page turner is an excellent fast read. One comment on the book jacket stated: “a great summer read”. Well, it’s mid winter and, I can attest, it’s a great mid-winter read too. 

Discussion this evening over Zoom with the Regina book club I joined last summer was lively. In general, The Half Sister was felt to have many loose ends, some that didn’t seem quite logical. Some felt that the ending was weak, although satisfying.

“Oh what a tangled web we weave

When first we practice to deceive…..”

~ Sir Walter Scott, 

From the poem Marmion: A Tale of Flodden Field.

Author: Sandie Jones

Copyright: 2020

Publisher: St. Martin’s Publishing Group

Type: Mystery

Format: Fiction

ISBN - 978-1-250-26551-7 (Hardcover)

ISBN - 978-1-250-77499-6 (International, Sold outside of the U.S.)

ISBN - 978-1-250-265523-4 (ebook)

Chapter One, Episode 24 - Let's Talk - Situationally Theirs

May 30, 2020

Review, Edit and Update

In Let’s Talk, Dez Eliot and Emelina Beaufort, had been isolated in Emelina’s home. Emelina had  a big idea and started writing out a plan. Dez, her younger sister, challenged her assumptions, as she had since they 'were kids’.

There were few repairs to be made in Let’s Talk  - sentence structure, punctuation. Regarding sentence structure in relation to dialogue, I hesitate to make changes to any awkward sentences spoken by a character. My question to myself is: “Would that particular character have spoken in that manner?”. 

Let's Talk

“I did get rid of that horrible painting from Mike’s den. I hope he doesn’t come to me in my dreams to chastise me tonight.” Emelina’s husband Mike had passed away five years before, and until now Emelina had not wanted to change anything in his den. She had someone else take his clothes out of their room because she just couldn’t do it. After her two day exploration of her house, she decided it was time she went a little further. Besides she had really exciting plans. A notebook and pencil at the ready, she listed things in each room as she went through them. Items to Stay.  Items to Go. Undecided Items. Her sister, Dez, had come out from Hartley on her day off from Mr. Jorgenssen’s DryCleaning and Laundry where she had had her fill of shelves of stock items and long lists. Emmie was full of energy and ready to take Dez through the house with her.

“What did you do with the painting?” Dez was curious. In the short time they’d spent with each other while self isolating, she’d never seen her sister quite so animated. “Are you sending it to a thrift store?”

“Oh, Dez. Of course not. I may not have liked it but it is a valuable piece of art. One of the other members of the Arts and Culture board took it and will be putting up for raffle or donation. If we decide to raffle it the proceeds will go to the Food Bank. Or some of the proceeds will come back to me for the supplies that we’ll need.” Emmie flipped open her notebook to the back page and made a quick note.

“What are you talking about, Emmie? What supplies? And if you and I didn’t like that painting, what makes you think that anyone else will?”

“Well, Mike loved it and there were a lot of others that were trying to buy it. I didn’t tell you about the supplies we’ll need yet, did I? Digby keeps a master inventory for the household that he, Martha and myself go over regularly. I’m afraid I’ve not paid much attention. I don’t know where my mind has been. Anyway, if we take people in and I use the den for my bedroom……’

Dez gently took the notebook from Emmie. “Emmie, slow down. What are you thinking? Where do you think these ‘people’ are coming from?”

“Well, health care workers of course that are working with Covid19 patients and need to protect their families, of course.” Emmie tried to get the notebook away from Dez. Dez held the notebook in the air and backed up. Emmie sat down in resignation.

“No. You’re not doing this. Let’s talk about it first. It’s a wonderful idea but don’t you think you’re going about this too fast? Don’t cry, Emmie. I just want you to think about what the realities are for you. You want the rest of us to just go along with this half-baked scheme……no, I don’t mean it’s a bad idea, just you need to take more time to do it right. If I’m right, and assuming we’re all going to jump in this with you, if even one of us says ‘no’ then your whole plan falls apart. And if the one that says no is one of your employees will that put their job in jeopardy?”

Emelina was silent. She took a deep breath. “Are you saying that you don’t want to help me ‘fix this’. That’s what you said a couple of days ago that ‘we could fix this’. So you didn’t really mean that?” 

Dez sat down across from Emelina. “That’s not what I’m saying. What I’m saying is that this is not as simple as supplies and rooms and raffles. We ~ and I mean all of us that you want involved in this ~ have just been through self isolation from this virus. Martha from her grandchildren, Digby at home alone, you and I living together after 10 years apart and not even sure we'd like each other. Your plan to get some life into your home, is actually bringing the potential of this deadly virus in here. It could destroy everything that you have, and the employment you have given several others.”

“ When you put it that way, it makes me sound selfish, when all I wanted to do was something good. Even when we were kids you would ruin all my plans with your stupid logic.” If Emelina had been eleven years old, she would have been stomping her feet, tossing her blond hair and storming out of the room. “Okay, is my whole idea wrong and ridiculous?” 

“No. I just think you haven’t thought about how it might affect the rest of us ~ assuming that we'll all buy into your idea. What rules would we need to make it safe? I’ve worked a lot of different jobs ~ cleaned a lot of toilets, worked in offices and waited tables. And that’s the short list. The places that had a good solid plan were great to work for. The others that just hoped everything would be alright ~ those jobs I only took because I needed a paycheque, but I got out as soon as possible. You’ve been an employer for a long time. You keep your staff.”

“What does that have to do with it? They are good people and I pay them well. They have health benefits. Of course they have stayed with me. I can’t imagine any of them leaving.”

“It’s quite easy to fall under the spell of assumptions.”

~ Steven Redhead, Life is Simply a Game

Book Review: A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

My first e-book!

Count Alexander Illych Rostov, born into Russian aristocracy was, if you were to ask him, a gentleman. But as a gentleman, he was confronted by the overthrow of the aristocracy in the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917. Count Rostov was given a life sentence, not in Siberia but in Moscow’s Metropol hotel. Although not able to leave the hotel, he enjoyed all the conveniences. All but the spacious suite of rooms he had occupied previously where he had, much reduced in number, treasured family furnishings. He was moved, at the butt of a gun by two military officers and a further reduced number of family furnishings, to a garrett room on the sixth floor. The hotel staff, from the concierge to the bellhops to the restaurant staff treated him with the respect that was his due. Count Rostov was confident in his vast knowledge of  literature, philosophy and any other topic of conversation. That is until, one day at lunch, a nine year old girl dressed all in yellow, came to his table and changed his gentlemanly and well ordered world. Nina, curious and precocious, lived in the hotel with her governess. She had obtained, surreptitiously no doubt, a master key to all the rooms in the Metropol. From there she opened the Count’s world from his aristocratic confines to the intrigue of anytime forays into different parts of the hotel, from top to bottom. Not for pilfering or destruction, but to look out the windows, eavesdrop on meetings and in general explore a world he knew nothing about. Nina, who has left her indelible mark on the Count, leaves the story briefly, but returns several years later and leaves her young daughter with the Count, promising to return within a relatively short period of time. But she does not return and is never heard from again. So the Count was to raise this child, Sofia, to adult hood in this hotel, from his garrett room, and with the support and help of the hotel staff. The Count is friends with all ~ there is Emile, the chef and Vasily, the Concierge, Arkady, who manned the front desk, Marina the seamstress are but a few. A new waiter, that he names the Bishop because of his 'ecclesiastical' bearing, does not seem to know the appropriate wine for a meal. He rises to different positions in the Metropol, despite his apparent lack of knowledge and unsophistication. The Count and this 'bishop' have an immediate and continuing dislike and distrust of each other. 

Our book club met over Zoom yesterday afternoon for discussion of this wonderful novel. Originally canceled due to our present stay at home circumstance, our little group of 70 + ladies learned a thing or two about keeping in touch electronically. In Count Rostov’s time (1922) he was confined to a hotel at the time of the Bolshevik Revolution. We are confined to our homes in this time of our own global crisis. Count Rostov provided us insight into the gracious acceptance needed when circumstances - or young children - change one's world. Discussion of this novel full of intrigue, Russian history, romance and just plain fun was a real bright spot for each of us.

“For standing at the edge of his table was the young girl 

with the penchant for yellow - studying him with 

that unapologetic interest peculiar to children and dogs.”

Amor Towles, A Gentleman in Moscow

Title: A Gentleman in Moscow

Author: Amor Towles

Copyright: 2016 by Cetology, Inc

Publisher: Penguin Books 2019

Type: Novel

Format: Fiction

ISBN: 9780670026197 (Hardcover)

ISBN: 9780399564048 (ebook)

ISBN: 9780735221673 (International edition)

LCCN: 2016030082

Book Review: Autumn by Ali Smith

Evermore, and with humility, I must confess that I did not like nor dislike Autumn by Ali Smith. This has made writing this review a bit difficult. Had it not been for this afternoon’s book group discussion, I would have been left wondering what I had just read. Mental gymnastics, Brexit from 2016, Christine Keeler scandals (1961-1963), pop-artist Pauline Bote of the 1960's and a lovely relationship between a young girl, Elisabeth and an old man, Daniel Gluck ~ as well as dream sequences of the strange and bizarre. Their relationship began as a companionship that evolved into quaint and meaningful discussions about the meaning meaning of time, art, music, story and life. Elisabeth's mother was not always in favour of the discussion topics. Elisabeth to obey - for three days - but returned to the fascinating discussions and the respect she received from Daniel Gluck. Ali Smith really did weave all of this very skillfully through only 260 pages. Taking this very literally many times, I did struggle to follow the thread of the story, but soon let go of trying to find my way. Our group's afternoon discussion also revealed a great loss of mine with some good laughs. Several in our little group found much laugh out loud humour in this story. Could this be the fault of this reader being too serious? I did get a chuckle from the scenes she writes, when Elisabeth as a young woman, gets her passport renewed, could be in any passport office. Especially about the stringent regulations about the needed photographs. Will I read this book again? I’m really not sure. It has, however, made me curious.

Autumn is first in a four book series: Autumn, Winter, Spring, Summer. 

“We have to hope, Daniel was saying, that the people

 who love us and who know us a little bit will in the end 

have seen us truly. In the end, not much else matters.”

~ Ali Smith, Autumn

Title: Autumn

Author: Ali Smith

Copyright: 2016

Publisher: Penguin House

Type: Novel

Format: Soft cover and hard cover

ISBN: 978-0-14-319789-8

ISBN: 978-0-14-319788-1 (ebook)

Coffeeshop Contest

Passages through the air space of time and current events as

an all female walking group

traveled over iced lattes and tea in deep discussion of history, politics, art and Downton Abbey ~ Almost over powered by an all male walking group in equally deep discussion of history, politics, finances and mechanics?

“Old age and the passage of time teach all things.”

~ Sophocles

A Retirement Schedule

Rushed ~

only my own schedule

loose, flexible

until a time set with friends

Retirement ~

busy but not with busy work.

spending time with friends ~

A huge privilege!

Discussion ~

Outrageous and funny

Serious and offended

Definitely mature.

“Tis the privilege of friendship to talk nonsense

 and to have her nonsense respected.”

~ Charles Lamb