Wordless Wednesday: Unwelcome?

Something seems to be missing ...

Times are a'Changing

Change is in the air. The days are getting shorter and now when I leave for work in the morning, it is barely daylight; a reminder of the impending end of summer as if the back to school ads weren't enough. Kidlet is gearing up for her second year of university. The reappearance of her hockey equipment is signalling her decision to try out for the varsity team. She has missed the game I admit that I have too so if her tryouts are successful and her shoulder holds out then her roomies will have the pleasure of her omnipresent hockey bag in various degrees of stench being stowed in the utility room. And I will pass the along the Fabreez to her worthy mates.

Harmony is in the throes of shifting creative directions in her career and my oldest daughter is finding new roommates. To add to the change mix my organization is in flux as well - thank you Mr. Harper. Oh well,  fall seems to bring about change and I have learned its better to embrace than avoid.

I started back to the gym this week after months of being MIA just like my waistline.  I figure it's better to spend lunch hours getting exercise rather than overeating or spending money. And it's part of my effort to keep a promise to myself for better work / life balance and good health.

I've missed our little cabin up north so I am looking forward to the upcoming weekend - our last summer hurrah at the cottage. Hope Harmony caught the rogue mouse that was roaming around. It's been two weeks so I know I will notice lots of changes - maybe even some partially clad trees and such. 

Politically there has been some chatter about our left wing and moderately left parties merging to conquer our conservative government. I think it makes sense, but then again I lean to the left and anything that will create a strong opposition to the destruction path our leader is taking the country down is good in my books.

Change is in the air. I can smell it.

Monumental and Minuscule

Forces of nature; the weekend was full of them. Hurricane Irene barreled up the eastern coastline leaving a wake of destruction and anxiety and dominated CNN coverage. Apparently they are only capable of covering one story at a time. In Canada our attention was fixed on all things Jack Layton ... synthesizing his passing; watching his celebration of life; pondering his legacy. 

Earthquakes, hurricanes, revolutions, revelations, uprisings and rising up. And in between, fresh tomatoes from my dad's garden, walks by the water, tea with my sister, daughter time and family dinner. 

Life is like that ... the monumental intertwined with the minuscule. Equally rich.

A Canadian Send Off

Today I, like so many of my fellow Canadian around the country, watched the celebration of life for Jack Layton, a beloved leader who passed last week. I sat mesmerized by the outpouring of love, admiration and appreciation for his optimism, integrity and his commitment to his ideals and causes. My hero Stephen Lewis delivered the eulogy with his unique brand of eloquence and grace. 

Everywhere I went today I saw signs of grief for the man who will be sorely missed. Flags were flown at half mast; yellow and orange (his political party colour) ribbons were tied around trees and lamp posts and his campaign signs were randomly posted around town.

More than we would admit in life, he moved us more in his passing  ... the reality that a light had been extinguished; a powerful, socially conscious voice silenced. Canadians seem to be thirsty for vision and hope for a better country - a country of greater equality, justice and opportunity. He fought tirelessly for those ideals, and in the throes of his dying, he reached out to assure us all that hope was not extinguished, but that change for the world we want to live in could be ours to create. 

Every once in a while a person comes along who can touch the hearts of the collective and remind us of the fairest face of humanity.

“Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day I can hear her breathing.”

- Arundhati Roy

Back to School

Back to school! That used to mean loads of washing and clothes to organize; new lunch boxes; haircuts for the girls; shopping for new shoes and school supplies. It meant the return of routine, bedtimes that gave way to some mommy quiet time; lunch meat; Glad sandwich bags and daycare. It meant regular bath times and braiding hair. And it usually meant a few shed tears on the first day (me doing the shedding).

Back to school these days looks a different around our house. Kidlet rounds up the boxes and cr@p really important stuff that she didn't unpack when she moved home after first year; we strip the cupboard of pasta and random canned goods; we shop for bedding that will compliment her purple room; and I keep my fingers crossed that her beloved hockey bag will miss her enough to follow Kidlet to school.

Kidlet and I spent the day meandering around her university town. I tripped along behind as she made the rounds to the bookstore, the registrar's office and the bank. I discreetly peered from behind clothing racks as she dropped off resumes and took impromptu interviews. The best part was the sneak peek I got of her student housing apartment which was more than a little upscale from the student pads of my era. There were no holes in the wall, no critters popping out of cutlery drawers, and all of the cupboard doors were on their hinges. Her mattress is not propped up on bricks, there were no empty wine bottles draped in candle wax (not yet anyway) and there was actually a suite of cleaning products on the counter. I think once Kidlet and her roomies figure out how to get those nasty stains out of the toilet and how to get the carbon monoxide detectors to stop beeping, they will be in for some good times.

This time of year  I always get in a back to school frame of mind. I am looking forward to the change that the fall brings. I will miss the quiet that befalls the house when Fritz has no one to bark at; and the pile of shoes Birkenstocks at the door that are so fun to trip over not to mention the collection of hockey sticks that attack me when I pull the vacuum cleaner out of the closet. And I take comfort knowing that whatever changes occur when Kidlet leaves for school -- they are temporary. She'll be home again before I know it.

Noble Life and Gracious Exit

Canada lost a favoured son today. It's after midnight so technically it was yesterday. He was the consummate leader - someone people wanted to follow. He was a whirling, swirling vortex of energy, principles and charisma. His was champion of the causes of working men and women; the disenfranchised; the underdog - giving voice to those without one.

He swung to the left in his politics; a socially conscious citizen of the world dedicating his life to service and change, and pursuing his ideals with passion and eternal optimism. And regardless of what political stripes you wore, you couldn't help but admire and respect an individual so genuinely committed to fighting for the causes he believed in.

His name was Jack Layton and just four months ago, he came from behind in the election to become the leader of the official opposition in Canada. He ran his campaign while fighting to hold onto his health, and shortly after his historical victory, he succumbed to cancer. But just two days before he passed, he wrote a letter to Canada; a letter that would bring a tear to a glass eye. I am posting a link to it here that you may also become inspired, as was I: Letter to Canadians from Jack Layton

The world needs people like Jack Layton.

"My friends, love is better than anger. 

Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. 

So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world."

Telescoping Autumn

I cringe in denial at about what I am about to write ... the signs are there; the transition has begun; autumn is in the air. This weekend at the lake, I saw the first hints of fall. The heat of the day gave way easily to cool evenings and even cooler nights - just perfect for sleeping. When I stood on our deck overlooking the still waters of the lake, I could smell autumn. The white birches were already shedding their yellowed leaves like tears on the dock.  I am not ready to let go of summer. It passed all too quickly. But it has been exceptional to spend so much time immersed in nature, decompressing away from the city.

So I will be sure to enjoy our next few weekends of summer and fit all the swimming in that I can. Soon I will retire my bathing suit  and trade tank tops in for fleece, flip flops will give way to rubber boots and our fireplace will get a real work out. The maples will turn crimson and gold and the forest will be stripped barren except for a lush carpet of dropped leaves.

But I am getting ahead of myself. What happened to living in the present? Summer, spring or fall, I love the changes and variety of each season. Yup, it's all good!

The evidence as follows:


inner secrets



campfire remnant

 

It's started

 

Signs of aging

Thanks MIH