Daisy Days!

You might say I had it coming. I was warned, after all. Ten days ago, my neighbour told me, “Rita, you have a little time but not much. It’s going to get cold, very cold! Just you wait and see! All of the leaves are going to drop.” He’d been doing yard work on a…

Remembering Dad

Grief has no timeline. You can feel like you’ve moved on from grieving the loss of a loved one and then grief hits you hard, tugging—no, yanking!—at your heartstrings. Holidays and anniversaries of the loved one’s passing intensify this feeling.  For our family, it’s a double whammy. Dad passed away around the time of Thanksgiving…

Through a Daughter’s Eyes

Let me tell you about my mother. If you could peek inside her room in the retirement home, you may see a senior, who looks much younger than her stated 93 years. You might feel sorry for her as she’s been in isolation for weeks because of the pandemic. She’s only recently been allowed out…

Priceless Heirlooms

This tale may not be of interest to everyone. It’s more of a Mother’s Day tribute than of a May Two-Four long weekend piece. My timing is off but that’s the way life’s surprises are . . . unexpected and delightful. My older daughter had asked me to keep an eye out in our home…

The Good Shepherd

Being a decent mother-in-law can be tough considering how many jokes you hear about them. There’s definitely a unique bond between in-laws. Some would call it something different, that’s for sure! Yet, you really have no say in the matter when it comes to who your children fall in love with, do you? No one…

Cheaper by the Dozen!

“Don’t buy me roses for Valentine’s Day, babe! The prices are so jacked up that it’s just not worth it!” How many of you have uttered similar words? I said just that to my husband, Guy. I meant it because it’s true. Roses are costly in mid-February. Nonetheless, I was secretly delighted Guy didn’t honour…

Back to School…and Beaten!

Among all of the back-to-school photos posted on Facebook, one photo stood out. It didn’t feature a cute sign listing the little scholar’s future career ambitions and favourite foods. Nope, the photo didn’t depict the latest style of fall fashions, either. It wasn’t of an adorable four-year old embarking on his/her very first day of…

On Being Serenaded

Every woman should date a musician at least once. Just to see what it’s like to be with an artsy type of guy. I did just that in my first year of university. I was studying math and sciences.  Calculus and statistics and biology and physics labs. Rick was a blue-eyed, blond-haired guitarist studying communications.…

No Nursing Homes, Please!

Two women. One’s about to turn 90, and the other one’s already 91. They’ve lived totally different lives but share something in common. Both are fiercely independent and have no intention of stepping foot inside a nursing home. My Mom turns 90 on the ninth day of the ninth month this year. Mom’s raised six…

Words Rang True

Well, I was right about something I mentioned in my last post. The twin teenagers who sat in front of me at church were definitely blind. This week,  I arrived before the daughters and their mother. I watched them approach the pew in front of me again. The girls’ white canes were instantly folded into a quarter of…