On an Afternoon Walk ~ Regina Architecture

Joists and joints strained and straining for a hundred years? Repairs, replacements, restructuring on the inside and the outside? Must have been for housing people. The brick work, the details - so very beautiful. Many such buildings are throughout the city. Some in better condition than others, some more beautifully detailed than others but all are city seniors from another era.

“Architecture should speak of its time and place, 

but yearn for timelessness,”

~ Frank Gehry, 

(Canadian born, American architect)

After Effects

Four years ago tonight

my nursing career 

came to a gentle stop: 

 

Life has blossomed with

craft projects for 3 year olds, 

new friends and old, 

exploring Regina again,

the kitchen as my happy place, 

writing projects in progress. 

and beautiful ordinary household chores,

shopping for groceries and home

   caring for my feline roommate. 

It’s all good!

“If you’re brave enough to say goodbye, 

life will reward you with a new hello.”

~ Paul Coelho

Perspective ~ 5

This will be short ~

My dilemma:

Returning a gift when transportation was awkward.

My success:

I did it successfully, 

other errands done in about 3 hours, 

then home to hot soup and a crisp salad.

Ukraine’s dilemma:

Defending their country and freedoms while keeping their citizens safe.

Ukraine’s success:

Despite constant shelling they continue their fight. Few citizens are safe, many have died or been injured, almost all have lost their homes ~ 28 days and counting.

“loving people live in a loving world. 

hostile people live in a hostile world. same world.”

~ Wayne W. Dyer

All the Small Things

All the small things

The living room lamp

Cutlery in our kitchen drawers

Clean, ready to butter our bread

Books and pillows

Stories that transport and educate

Pillows bright and colourful to cheer our homes

Colourful toys for children 

that inspire play and curiosity.

The dust mop that hangs limply in a cupboard

Ignored until the floor is too messed

Crossword puzzles and games 

to keep minds from softening

All the small things

In our homes, on walls and floors

The ticking of a clock ~ 

Louder in the silence

Floor mats to trip over

Taken for granted and annoying

As we tire and feel frozen in time

Until we grill delicious steak and roast herbed potatoes,

Trek through ink stained mountains, 

Find ‘breaking news’ in crackling silver grey paper,

Pencil in words up, down and across

Breathing slowed, heart at ease 

Grateful for all the small things.

“Little things console us because little things afflict us.”

~ Blaise Pascal

Re-Ordering.....

When all seems out of order

outside our homes, 

inside our heads,

seeing where our feet are

stills any fear or dread.

Are shoes in need of polish?

Or toenails painted red?

Sniffing still air around me, 

is it time for homemade bread?

Few short steps into the sun, 

see hummingbirds out of their beds ~

Look way up to treetops, ebon crows

squawk, finding mates way overhead.

Painting doomsday pictures for 

the world outside or in our heads,

keeps us stuck in overdrive

spinning tires without a tread.

So, listen to what’s deep inside 

our hearts and not our frightened heads.

Choose gratitude and fortitude,

and leave the rest unsaid.

“With all it’s sham, drudgery and broken dreams,

it is still a beautiful world.

Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

~ Max Ehrmann, Desiderata: A Poem for a Way of Life

Abundant

Health and wealth 

not always a good pair

except for their rhyme.

Health comes and goes

with the genes we are given

and the lives that we lead.

Wealth seems a golden mirage!

but abundance can be seen

within homes, minds and hearts.

2020 is here in cloud or in sun

So Cheers! to whatever we're given

in this blessed new year.

“Live from abundance; 

Utilize with economy;

Share in advance.

~ Geoffrey M. Gluckman, Deadly Exchange

Back Alley Levels

Taking the carpeted back alley 

past doors closed against early morning

past bronze banks of mail boxes

to the laundromat ~

not on a Main Street  ~

but in the sculpted basement

where cars park underground  

where machinery runs the elevator

under houses with different names ~

condos, suites or apartments ~

are seldom recognized

as the homes that they truly are.

“Home is where we tie one end of the thread of life.”

~ Martin Buxbaum

** This piece was inspired by going to the laundry room this morning - the only peace I could find is that I now have clean clothes - but I was unable to include the word 'peace'!  

Christmas Convoy

Colourful Christmas lights

Draped and shaped over 

monstrous machines that

 build our homes

  deliver our mail

   maintain our infrastructures

  ferry our food stuffs and

transport residents and visitors all

Crowds of young and old

bundled against West Coast cold

umbrellas at the ready,

we lined dark, damp asphalt

awaiting the brilliance and fun of

the amazing creativity of this

honking, growling annual marvellous parade of trucks.

“If you’re not in the parade, you watch the parade. That’s life.”

~ Mike Ditka

IEOA: Island Equipment Owners Association Truck Light Convoy and Food Drive. This 19th Annual Light Truck convoy collects food donations for local food banks as it winds it’s way throughout Greater Victoria.

Author's note: Edited February 24, 2024

Questions after Vimy Ridge - April 9 - 12, 1947

Amid the war to end all wars. 

Advancing over the homes and bodies of children, women and men while territories, borders and beliefs were embattled ~

Our world still wars somewhere. 

Advancing over the homes and bodies of children, women and men while territories, borders and beliefs are embattled ~

And still there are wars. 

In World War I, injuries of body, mind and soul were horrific.

The battles bloody and forgotten. 

The wounded that came home survived. 

And survived. 

And then there was World War II

And still there are wars.

When will the world be satisfied?

Where has our world gone wrong? 

Do individuals, countries, dogmas or financial empires need to be right? 

Do each of us need to have the most? the best?

Did our grandfathers, mothers and fathers die…….

No, are we to dishonour not just their memory, 

but their pride and belief in what they did for us? 

How can we come together in peace and fairness?

What do our warriors die for in these wars in our world?

“It is forbidden to kill; therefore all murderers are punished 

unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets.”

~ Voltaire

Senior's Forum Review

The last few days have been fun, busy and very interesting. To start the last few days, The Senior’s Forum, held this past Thursday, held a glow of illumination in this corner of the world. When I received an invitation to this Forum, I was intrigued. 

Always rather surprised to include myself under the Senior identification, nevertheless, I planned to attend. It was a wise decision. The topics were wide ranging and addressed articulately and pointedly by attendees and the panel. The panel included Carole James, MLA for Victoria-Beacon Hill, Rob Fleming, MLA for Victoria-Swan Lake, Judy Darcy, MLA New Westminster and Selina Robinson, MLA for Coquitlam-Maillardville. Selina Robinson is presently the New Democrat opposition spokesperson for mental health and addictions, seniors, local government and sports. Judy Darcy is the New Democratic Opposition spokesperson for Health. Other speakers were a caregiver, both professionally and personally, as well as a paramedic sharing their on the job experiences.

After introducing themselves and their portfolios, the panel shared the microphones with the attendees asking for specific concerns experienced, as well as concerns some of us may face over time. To my surprise, the most discussed concern was regarding affordable housing for seniors. Having had cause in the past couple of years to find new housing for myself, I had had opportunity to identify this as a very real problem for myself. As incomes become lower and fixed, all housing costs, whether rental or owned, are escalating. Those of us becoming hospitalized, and unable return to our homes due to incapacity, often have nowhere to go. Fortunately I am not in that situation. Besides the lack of housing, participants have also indicated a decreased availablity and quality of care. A physician from the James Bay community shared his very real concerns about a ‘staggering degree of waste’ in our health care system. Several participants asked the very real question about the funding necessary to create and enhance programming for seniors. Other issues raised were transportation, health care accessibility and even, brief discussion regarding recent legislation for Medical Assistance in Dying.

How do I describe this packed house of senior citizens? I could talk about all the gray headed women and men. I could talk about walkers, canes and bent backs. Instead I’ll talk about the vibrant aura of active interest in life, living and willingness to challenge and communicate with our government.

“We can’t legislate a roof over someone’s head, 
but we can legislate a roof over someone’s car.”

~ Senior’s Forum participant

Possibilities Within Time

Possibilities within time ~
blossoms that hide shyly 
waiting to be seen, to be heard,
to be invited into the sunshine
Fragile colour for homes and hearths.

“Realize deeply that the present moment is all you will ever have”

~ Eckhart Tolle