It’s all a bit much these days. I wrote this poem back in early-November when we were just heading into the dark months. We’ve come through, but darkness lingers in many corners. If you’re feeling it, like I am, do what you need to care for yourself. I keep hearing a voice in the back…
The first Monday in January is its own kind of beginning. The holiday season is behind us (almost—tomorrow, Epiphany, wraps it up), and we resume our regularly scheduled programming. My calendar is already peppered with things this week. Gerry’s off to the fitness center this morning while I return to routine at home, and we’ll…
I’ve long appreciated the second day of Christmas—Boxing Day, as it’s called here in Canada and elsewhere. After the bustle of the preceding weeks and The Big Day itself, Boxing Day is a day to take a breath and relax. No big meal to cook, no expectations to manage, just a quiet day spent doing…
I follow writers and poets for inspiration and the sheer pleasure of reading their work. What a grand world we live in, where this is possible, and creative work is so accessible. Apart from a growing group of poetry books next to my reading chair, I can dip a net into the online world at…
I thought by now that my propensity to get tied up in thinking, thinking, thinking would have eased, but I still wake in the night imagining scenarios, reliving conversations, and trying to predict the future. It’s a losing game. I come from a long line of deep thinkers. (I don’t know if that’s really true,…
Nothing has to be complicated. In fact, I prefer when it’s not. I no longer decorate or put up a traditional Christmas tree either. Glitter and glitz were fun for a time—mostly back when there were children around. These days, I lean into quiet contemplation around this time of year. We’re looking forward to an…