Shoulder Seasons

It’s always cheaper to 

vacation in the shoulder 

seasons, the weather 

not as great, the views 

a bit clouded, but 

stepping aside 

from the chaos is 

worth the challenge.

“Thankfully, shoulder seasons can’t last forever.”

~ Michael Haubert, A Shoulder Season of Life

backpackinglight.com

A Grateful Heart

Relying on myself has been a pretty big deal over the last many years. In retrospect I couldn’t have made my sojourn to Texas, my return to Canada, my move to Victoria and my return to Regina without the help, support and love of family, friends and neighbours. These big moves were each so I could move forward. Garage sales, a traveling companion, Trip Tiks from my Uncle, phone calls, meals, encouragement, muscle, a bed for the night and just being there when asked. Sometimes, even when I didn’t ask. With each move, someone helped me find my way around a new city, new job and new friends. 

I’ve made a lot of small moves within each city. I’ve received the same help and support regardless of my reasons. I bow my head to each of you. 

“Always remember people who have helped you along the way, 

and don’t forget to lift someone up.”

~ Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart

Phase-ology 102

I wrote and posted Phase-ology 101 in November of 2014. I am now in the next phase of a long term writing project. When I wrote the second line ‘not too long…but just long enough’ I had no idea it would almost be 10 years for this next phase. There have been many writing phases since 2014 all with the help of everyone who has read my stories, essays, poems over the years.  Finally arriving at Phase-ology 102, I still have lots of work to do.

Phase-ology 101 

New phases, like the phases of the moon, need breathing space

Not too long….but just long enough

Centering, regrouping but more importantly

….remembering.

Remembering each difficult, or not so difficult, task was accomplished with all the same skills

learned over a life that keeps rolling along,

shifting with changing spaces of time and talent,

carrying the vitality of belief and experience into each new phase.

With belief and creativity in mind and heart ~ 

Deep breath, 

Spread out,

Pull back in

And lean into the work once more.

“There’ll come a writing phase where you have to defend the time,

unplug the phone and put in the hours to get it done.”

~ James Taylor

Phase-ology 102 

New phases, like the phases of the moon, need breathing space

not too long….but just long enough and much longer than imagined

fears, insecurities, self-doubt hovering just out of reach ~

centering, regrouping and more importantly

….remembering.

remembering difficult, or not so difficult, 

tasks were accomplished with skills

learned over a life that keeps rolling along,

shifting with changing spaces of time and talent,

carrying the vitality of belief and experience into each new phase.

always with the support and encouragement

       from everyone, anywhere, 

reaching out when my heart is too full,

my mind feels too empty, or my soul too dry

With belief and creativity in mind, heart and soul ~ 

Deep breath, 

Spread out,

Pull back in

And lean into the work once more.

“There’ll come a writing phase where you have to defend the time,

unplug the phone and put in the hours to get it done.”

~ James Taylor

Chapter Two, Episode Thirty-One - Kitchen Help - Situationally Theirs

Review, Revision, Edit and Update

Tinkering. That's it. A couple of misplaced words, one or two words missing. Fixed. Done and dusted.

When it is only one or two words that are the subject of revision, it could almost seem a waste of time. It's not only because there is a mistake, but because it interrupts the flow of any piece of writing.

Who would notice? As a reader, I notice. (Too bad this writer didn't notice in the first place.)  

Kitchen Help

Elizabeth wouldn’t write to her brother-in-law Charlie just yet. She knew Martha was just being kind when she suggested that she write to him. She knew her tears were too ready to smudge the ink on the paper. They ate breakfast, cleared away their dishes and set out for a good brisk walk to Martha’s cottage on the other side of the Estate. It had been a great comfort to have her stay the night. The two women had talked till the wee hours, carefully avoiding the reality of Lily’s death. Elizabeth would be getting to work in the Estate kitchen and Martha would stop in to see James before continuing home. She was certain that Martha would spill all the beans about her blubbering and carrying on. But she didn’t mind. The three of them had known each other too long for that to worry her. Or that they'd eaten all Samuel’s raspberries and the whole loaf of banana bread! She smiled as she put on her apron. 

“There. That feels better. Now I can get on to some real work. I suppose I should give Samuel a call and let him know I’m all right. I don’t think I was very nice to him yesterday. Just pushed him right out the door without so much as a by your leave.” Muttering to herself while she was methodically going through the pantry, refrigerator and freezer, she didn’t hear Miss Emelina come downstairs. “Good morning, Cook. I have a favour to ask.” Cook stood up straight and whirled around. “Miss Emelina! You scared the living daylights out of me!” She’d been so caught up in her own muddling thoughts that she had been completely oblivious. “Of course I’ll do any favour you want, but I didn’t think you were home! Is Dr. Jeremy with you?”

“I know it’s sudden but I just found out myself. He’s been at work for the past week and has been given a few days off. He’ll be out here this afternoon - he’ll only be using the front door. Did I tell you our plans for protecting us all from the virus?” Cook did not look well. Her eyes were puffy, her face pale and drawn. “Are you all right? Have you been sick again?’

“No, no, Miss Emelina. I’m fine. Just received bad news from England. Had a few tears last night but I’m right as rain today. Now, what can I do for you?” Turning away from her boss, she filled the tea kettle, cleared off the cupboard and checked to see if her writing things were where they always were. “Cook, stop. You are not ‘right as rain.’ I’ve never seen you so nervous. Emelina took the teakettle from Cook and put it on to boil. “Come sit down with me and I’ll tell you what I need. You don’t have to tell me anything about your news.”

Cook took a tissue from her apron pocket and wiped her eyes. She was quite annoyed with herself. Not able to control herself in front of Miss Emelina was just not right. But she decided that whatever she could do for her would be the best thing to get her mind settled. “Jeremy will be out here for two - maybe three - days. While he’s here, we’re going be staying upstairs. Not really isolating because we’ll be going out on walks, but we’ll take all our meals upstairs. Do you think you could make up some sort of a menu for the weekend. You told me quite a while ago that the old dumbwaiter still works.”

“I think I could get something together and have it ready for you to look at this afternoon. I’ll get Samuel to come in and make sure that old lift is working properly. Meals up and dirty dishes down. I’ll get out the thermal coffee pot and another with hot water for tea or cocoa. I’ll need to bake bread for sandwiches.” She pulled out her pen and paper from her apron and started jotting everything down. She looked up at Emelina “I’ve got some good beef stew in the freezer - do you think Dr. Jeremy would be satisfied with that? I’ll make you a proper dinner tomorrow. Maybe a roast chicken?” She jotted down - Samuel, chicken, stew from the freezer. Emelina was relieved. The tension had drained from her dear friend’s face. She knew that Cook would tell her what her troubles were when she was ready. 

“Now, are you ready for a cup of tea, Miss Emelina? I don’t have any fresh baking, but here’s those oatmeal cookies that you like.” Cook was already up and getting out mugs for tea, a couple of napkins and a plate for the cookies. “Better now, Miss Em. I’d been feeling all bunched up. You tell me about how you and the Dr. are doing. You’ve been taking his meals into him? And I haven’t been here to help you with that.”

Emelina smiled. “Oh, but you have, Cook! You have had so many lovely dishes of food in the freezer. I’m just glad I didn’t take the beef stew! You probably noticed that things are looking pretty empty. Now you are back, and I’m so relieved that you’re feeling better. Now what are you scribbling?”

“I need to talk with James about an order for groceries. Just that.” Cook finished her tea. “Now I must get to work.”

“When a person is down in the world, an ounce 

of help is better than a pound of preaching.”

~ Edward Bulwer-Lytton

Help Wanted?

Surprisingly simple

this act of service.

Surprisingly difficult

when I don’t feel like serving

Surprisingly simple

just to help with the dishes.

Surprisingly difficult

to wash when you’d rather dry.

Surprisingly simple

to walk or jog for a cause.

Surprisingly difficult

to know what cause to support.

Surprisingly simple

to just say no to any demand.

Surprisingly difficult

to discern what is really needed.

Surprisingly simple 

to volunteer for everything.

Surprisingly difficult

to know when not to volunteer.

Surprisingly simple and difficult

to listen to your mind or to your heart.

“The art of decision making includes the art of questioning.”

~ Pearl Zhu, The Art and Science of Decision Making

Supported

Supported

Simplicity was her middle name. Melodie hated the name she once loved. When everyone at school had found out, she had been called Simple, Simpering, and Simply Pimply. One of the guys, one of the cool guys that she was head over heels in love with, shouted at her one day in the hall filled with students - “Hey Simple-minded, don’t bother writing your exams!” Well she wasn’t in love with him any more and he was definitely not cool. What a jerk. The roving band of ‘popular girls’ always hung around him and his buddies. They picked up where the guys left off with their taunts and cruel jokes.

Melodie was fourteen. Not a pretty girl but definitely not ugly - except for the pimples that kept sprouting all over her face. They had earned her the horrible nickname ‘Simply Pimply’. Every time she looked in the mirror she cried and slathered on more concealer that really only made things worse. And got her worse names like Cake Face. So she had fixed her makeup so it didn’t look all cake-y. She brushed her auburn curls still they gleamed then pulled them neatly into a pony tail tied with a plain ribbon. Melodie was tall. Too tall for a fourteen year old according to the same bullies that called her names. She always wore flat shoes and tried to stay in the background, not always with success.

The bullying was almost more than she could bear. For a long time Melodie had kept silent, but her mom and dad finally butted in, like they always did and asked her what was wrong. It was at breakfast one morning. When they started asking her why she had been so quiet, she just looked down at her lap as though she had spilled something. She could feel tears welling up in her eyes and tried desperately to shut them off. They would make her makeup run and she’d be late for the bus and…..and…..

‘Oh, honey. What is the matter?’ Her mom got up out of her chair and came to her. Her dad’s coffee cup halted in mid air. ‘What’s going on?’

Their conversation went on for most of the morning. Once the truth had come out, Melodie’s father called the school and told them his daughter was sick. She wouldn’t be in today and he would call again tomorrow. Melodie was terrified. If anyone found out it would just be worse. What could her parents do? But she was trapped at school and now at home not knowing what to do. Then she heard her mother calling her boss. Her mom called in sick but asked to speak to the Employee Counsellor there. And then her dad called in to his office and said he wouldn’t be in.

Over the next two weeks, Melodie’s life changed….not in leaps and bounds…but she didn’t feel alone with her problem any more. She was not returning to the same school, but she knew that the school's principle, her old teachers and the school counsellor knew about her problem. The new school had an Anti-bullying Program. She joined it right away, partially on the advice of her parents and new teachers, but because she was so tired of feeling like the biggest victim ever. She had been introduced to others that had faced the same problem. And to people that just wanted to understand and help. She learned that all the make-up she’d been using was just making her pimples worse - just like her mom said it would.

Melodie returned to loving her beautiful name: Melodie Simplicity Jones. Her smile returned and she stood straight and tall. A happy ending, but not without a lot of work to find happiness again.

“Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim.”

~ Tim Field

All is Well - Again

Taken from inside the ferry on the way home.

Yesterday, midmorning began with an ominous click

A signal 

memory work and desire 

had stumbled - I locked myself outside without keys, phones or ID.

All was resolved and then I returned to Victoria to:

No internet - and thus no email access

Not on my phone

Not on my laptop

Not on my iPad

(And sadly no Netflix)

Deep breath

How can I make this creative!

It’s really not necessary except

For all the online bills I pay

Including…..wait for it……

My rent for January, 2018!

Inner wisdom to the rescue: pick up the phone.

Telus support at 07:30 am was amazing.

With kind, cheerful direction,

I turned the modem upside down and sideways

 - unplugged this cord and that cord and hit reset

   - read teeny, tiny little lettering on labels

……..all unsuccessful

Tuesday evening awaits.

Solution for the next couple of days: 

go anywhere else with wifi when it is necessary - or just for fun.

Once more all is well.

(until planet Mercury picks up the pace!)

“We are all now connected by the Internet, like neurons in a giant brain.”

~ Stephen Hawking.

Still Singing

“We are the General girls. We wear our hair in curls………”. These are the opening words to our school song at the Regina General Hospital School of nursing. This Alumnae brunch was the 44th gathering of students and instructors of a nursing school that is no longer operating. Nurses take their training in different venues today and have for many years. Still it is always a joy for me to come home to this vibrant group of women. We were 206 strong today. Our class, the class of 1968, occupied two tables of eight today, an increase from the past couple of years. The oldest class here were women from the class of 1949. All of the classes have lost many colleagues over the years and they are still missed. To still be part of this strong group of women is a privilege. Whether high points or low points, these ‘General girls’ are always with me. And I’m not the only one still working, although the majority are retired. One of our group remarried this past June! We support each other with our various perspectives gleaned through our journeys. Dedicated, serious but always a fun bunch, this weekend each year is one that I cherish.

Classes celebrating five year reunions were:

Class of 1952 - 65 years

Class of 1957 - 60 years

Class of 1962 - 55 years

Class of 1967 - 50 years (known as the Golden Girls)

My class, the class of 1968, will celebrate our Golden anniversary of 50 years next year.

“Panic plays no part in the training of a nurse.”
~ Elizabeth Kenny

Nurse’s Week 2016 May 06 - May 12

Now that Mother’s Day celebrations have quieted, I take a turn at celebrating all nurses out there ~ Have been out there, not just in hospitals, but in clinics, in schools, in the streets following directions of physicians in the same health care systems.

Just as importantly, in the world of  24/7 health care, nurses follow the directions and experience and support of instructors, mentors, relatives throughout generations ~ always caring for those that cannot care for themselves

Challenging
Disease    Debility    Brokenness    Trauma

Welcoming Newness
Infants    Babies     Children

         Honouring young and old
Passing from this life

Healing
Minds    Bodies     Spirits

“Our job as nurses is to cushion the sorrow and celebrate the job, 

everyday, while we are ‘just doing our jobs’.

~ Christine Belle

Alone Against a Deep Current

The chant was loud and clear. The roar spread across the land to the excitement of young students ~ and the outrage of the public. Communication with the country and very possibly the world at large in this instance was not taken into consideration - surprising in this age of texting, instant messaging, camera’s on every phone, and Twitter. CBC radio is my information site and reporting there has been swift and certain.

Despite poor judgment in regards to avoiding the many forms of social media and technology, responsible leaders did not communicate to said students that they were actively participating in a blatant announcement of forthcoming bullying of the young and vulnerable. Bullying that would very likely have devastating and very dreadful results. 

This chant apparently has a very long history, twenty years I am told, however long history does not provide an automatic approval status for behaviour so very dreadful. 

Bullying starts with distorted attitudes, is fueled by such chants and ends up in life long consequences for those that have been bullied. Many of the bullies, or perpetrators, are also scarred when they realize just what they have done. Our educational institutions are places where attitudes are changed, new learning happens and lives are built. This recent chant from two schools of higher learning is very diametrically opposed to any institution of higher learning.

Another thought - were there some students pulled into the fray not clearly aware of the meaning behind the words of the chant? And if so, what kind of a response are they having?

“Knowing what’s right doesn’t mean much unless you do what’s right.”

~ Theodore Roosevelt

Alterations in Time Travel

AA, Al Anon and all Twelve Step programs introduced us to 

the concept of One Day at a Time.

One day at a time, familiar throughout society, 

has been normalized as a good idea.

A few alterations to this ‘one day at a time’ concept:

One second at a time

Fifteen minutes  - or any minutes - at a time

One hour at a time.

A beat

A rhythm.

Body awareness of

the sweep of the sun

Time for a next step

Forward 

Sidestep

Back step

Turn and dip

Swing and step.

With each step

I see, feel and touch life 

keeping my feet on the floor, 

my toes in the grass.

Dancing with a gentle, changing rhythm 

to the tune of time and touch.

“Lose not yourself in a far off time,

seize the moment that is thine.”

~ Friedrich Schiller