Freedom 55

It has been a dream of mine to be a snow bird. I am going to make this happen. I have already been checking out the early retirement deal.......and yes, Sandy may have to work longer to send me money while I sip girlie drinks on the beach. He won't mind, he loves hockey, and would miss winter terribly. I also need someone to stay and take care of Molly.

It seems to be that most of the people who love Manitoba also love winter. Incredible. I have a hard time believing that. I think they are lying.

I guess the long winter serves a purpose.....I can use it as an excuse not to do anything. The best excuse to sit around, watch the fire, read a book, and soak in the tub. I really hate having to go outside in winter. The best thing I ever got was heated car seats!!

All of those lucky sun soaked people that live near the equator. I am so jealous.

Mums The Word

I’ve started dreaming about my own private studio to escape to. A nice kettle and teapot. A yoga mat. ( I don’t know how to do yoga, but I have ambitious feelings…..) An aquarium in the corner, for company. And a large wine cooler, just in case I get really lonely. I think these dreams are telling me something. I think they are telling me that my family would like some time away from me. Perhaps they need more of their own space, without mum around to confuse things.

I think I daydream way too much. It is a refined procrastination strategy. I have a long list of "have to's". Then I sit and plan, and I escape into "lala" land, and lo and behold, nothing gets done. But one day......

I love Mother's Day. I can escape into "lala" land, and not feel bad.

Cheers to all the other great mom's out there I know. Mostly, my own. How lucky we were!

Damsel in Distress (07/03/01)

I was amongst my people last week. I was in Kenora for a conference and the presenters were all doctors from Toronto. My kind. People from Kenora call us, get this...'Tobans. I have acculturated, or become more accustomed to Manitoban ways reluctantly. But love being amongst 'my people.'

There is a more conservative, reserved feeling here. And, unlike living in amongst millions, you have to be cautious about what you say, because you may be talking to someone's relative. In fact, in all likelihood, you will be talking to someone who is connected to someone in your community. This is not my strong point. I tend to think in urban terms, and don't remember the family tree stuff very well. In fact, the kids will have to be careful who they date. You know, the whole genetic pool thing. Can you believe it?

I went in the ditch again on Monday, and had to be rescued. Adventures on the prairies. Somedays, a subway ride sounds really comforting and simple.

Sweet Sixteen (07/02/11)

Nothing much happens here in Miami, so when the limo pulled up at the school.....well, you can imagine. Word hit the Co-op at the speed of light, and before everything was said and done, the whole town was "playing teleophone".

Sacha was really worried we had bought her a stroller. That would have been funny too. Pushing a stroller up to the school to pick up her, and her friends to take them out for coffee.

We thought we would save her the embarrassment and have the limo take them to Tim Horton's. Life in a small town. We have to do these things for excitement, or we'll end up playing Bingo. Honestly, if I end up there come and rescue me, and burn the Bingo markers/chips, whatever.

It has been a long, cold winter. It starts to get to you after awhile. The washer has frozen, our doors don't open or close properly, and all of our lips are permanently chapped.

Sometimes, I long for damp, mild Ontario winters.

Family Vines (07/01/14)

I had to help Ariana with a class project. She had to do a family tree back about three generations. It was a challenge to remember everyone's name. I often forget my own name.

People in our community identify themselves by who they are related to, and expect us to make the connections. 'Well, you know Jack Simpson don't you? He's my great uncle, on my dad's side...' I just nod and smile. How can I keep all of that straight? I've made it easy for them. All of 'my family' are from 'out east'. I'm the, (get this)-'Torona gal'.

There was a wonderful family supper once at Nan and Grandad's. We were all explaining who we were to Great Nan from England. She looked horribly confused, and asked with that lovely proper British accent, 'Well, then...who am I?' It is reassuring that we all will still be searching for ourselves well into our 90's.

We loved the movie Lilo and Stitch. Micha did a perfect Stitch. 'O-Hannah means family. Family means no one gets left behind.' What a tear jerker.

Good Tidings for 2007 (06/12/25)

In light of the recent events I would like to share this prayer for peace that has been of great help to me and my family. I hope that it may also help some of you.
A little over a year ago on August 28, 2000 this prayer was offered
at the General Assembly of the United Nations
by spiritual leader, Grand Master Seung Heun Lee.
Let us join together in this Prayer of Peace
I offer this prayer of peace, not to any one god, nor to many gods
Not to the Christian god, nor to the Jewish god
Nor the Buddhist god, nor the Islamic god
And not even to the indigenous gods of many nations
But to the divinity within , that we all hold inside
That makes us all brothers and sisters
To make us truly a One Family in the name of humanity.
I offer this prayer of peace to the cosmic Oneness
That is our birthright, and our privilege, and our strength
That should we let it shine and show us the way,
Will guide us to the road of peace
Not the Christian peace, not the Jewish peace,
Not the Islamic peace, nor the Buddhist peace
And not even the indigenous peace of many nations
But the human peace that has a place in the hearts of all people
To allow us to truly fulfill our divine potential
To become the children of one humanity.
I offer this prayer of peace,
To allow us all to realize the truth of our existence
To allow us all to discover the sanctity of our lives,
To allow us all to seek the spirituality of our beings
Please allow us all to experience, with all our hearts and souls
The intimate connection to the divine, that we all possess inside
For our bodies are the temples of worship,
and our souls are the alters upon which we shall stand tall
and live out the true meaning of our existence
I offer this prayer of peace to declare a revolution of the human spirit
I wish to announce that it is now time for all of us
To spiritually awaken, and become enlightened.
For the time for the enlightened few is over,
The age of elitist enlightenment has passed
For how long do you seek to wait for prophets
To come down from mountaintops and tell us what to do
We must all become enlightened, to recognize our divinity
To raise up our consciousness and proclaim our independence
From blind reliance on long ago sages
and find the answers from our own well of spiritual wisdom
We must ourselves become the enlightened ones,
We must ourselves realize our Oneness
I declare that we must all become “earthlings” of the earth
And not of any religion, nation, or race.
But of this earth, for this earth, and by this earth,
To create a lasting peace on earth.
I offer this prayer of peace
For the United Nations in which we stand here today
To lift itself from the quicksand of politickery
And live out its distinctly spiritual goal to eradicate the disease of war
And create an equitable and peaceful world.
Let us hope that the UN finds the strength and the will
To become the spokesman for all privileged nations
Let us wish upon the UN the wisdom to become the beacon
That we can all follow to the promised land of love and peace
I pray to thee, God of all gods,
The divine that lives within us and connects us in One Life
That you grant us the vision to establish a Spiritual UN
That will guide us into the next millennium.
I offer this prayer of peace,
with all my fellow “earthlings” for a lasting peace on earth.

Sugar High (06/11/01)

Wow. I think this was my tenth birthday. Mom's wedding dress. Shawn my sister, looking pretty cute. We got a great haul of junk, living in a huge apartment building. We didn't have to trudge through snow and get frostbite like the kids in Manitoba. We didn't have the door slammed in our face because of the 'cold getting in'. And ummm, we never did find any razor blades. We looked though. An urban myth.

Yeah. Hallowe'en in Manitoba. The kids travelled by snowmobile, and the roads are solid ice. It's my mission. I'm harrassing the Highways guys upstairs so much they're afraid of me. 'It's the freaken lady from Toronto again, she wants us to put salt on the roads. Hide.'

I'm going to send them hate mail. I may just attack their trucks with a bag of salt. I'm going to put salt in the sugar bowl in the cafeteria.

I'm going to call in my army friends.

Enjoy the treats. Eat all the sugar you can. And spread a little salt around.

Fukui Crabs (06/10/09)

Well, I can always tell when hockey season is about to begin. Sandy perks up, he starts looking out the door and drooling, and I start to wither.
In Japan, he drove almost two hours to play with, get this, 'The Fukui Crab' team. Yeah. Like you have to be really desperate to play with a team named after crabs.
They got a deal. A real life Canadian hockey star. I even brought over the cheap Russian hockey sticks MacDonald's gave away in '93 for the team. Yeah, that was a fun time at the airport. A newborn, toddler, and Louisa motoring through like a hamster after a shot of espresso. The sticks were a hit though.
Dedicated hockey wife. Lots of guanxi with the Fukui crabs!

Weary Traveller (06/09/11)

Well, the last of our visitors have left us. It was wonderful. Payback time, for all of the times we crashed and destroyed other peoples' places. The art of sleeping anywhere, anytime. It is really embarassing when I'm caught at work, drooling over the keyboard. Or teaching an English class to polite Japanese students.(Nobody 'ahems!') Driving home on the 240 is pretty bad. All of my healthy life habits thrown out the window with one quick wink.

I think I have narcolepsy. What a fantastic excuse for all of the things I've missed and have had to fudge my way through! University classes, exams, after class activities, and even labouring. Yes, I even fell asleep in between contractions.

The fine art of narcolepsy. Good thing I don't fall asleep after certain activities.....well, not all the time anyways!

Only Fools Rush In (06/06/21)

Wow! They deserve a big round of applause!

My parents are celebrating their 43rd wedding anniversary. They must feel strange. They're in a minority these days, with all the divorces, and, *gasp*, 'people living in sin', everywhere.

What do you get for 43 years? Is it titanium? No, ummm, maybe it's fibreboard. Can't be that's 46. Perhaps, amalgam fillings. Nah, they probably have false teeth. It could be vinyl. Yah, that's it. Everybody, get them vinyl. Vinyl slippers, vinyl tablecloths, vinyl sheets, vinyl towels, etc. Jeesh, can't wait for 45! Probably, ummm....magnets!

And, if you think of it......

Please, drop by, congratulate them, and tell them they are the 'Cat's Meow' as far as parents go!

Best Wishes Mom and Dad! Remember, no bubble bath in the jacuzzi!

Micha Tissue (06/04/30)

One thing that I truly miss about having young kids in the house are the hilarious things they do. Take Micha for example. The neighbour and I were sitting having tea. Micha was about 2, and her daughter was about 3. They were playing so incredibly quiet.... which always meant trouble!

One time they had covered my entire dresser with diaper cream. The white sticky kind. Wonderful. Another time, Micha got an interesting hair cut.
But, this time they had made an interesting discovery. They both walked out towards us,had mischievious grins, and they were holding their hands upwards like they had hand puppets. I said, 'What do you have on your hands?'

And then I saw.

They had 'condom-puppets'. Hilarious. At least they were good for something!

California Dreamin' (06/03/27)

We missed out on a great holiday I think. Joyce, Marcel, and Ariana traipsed about San Diego enjoying the warmer weather and the company. (Robin and Yuriko and kids.) They even got to Hollywood! It's great having family and friends all over the world to visit, and impose upon. We usually offer to reciprocate, but Miami,MB isn't a 'destination hot spot'.

Apparently though, a Winnipeg radio station sponsored a contest to win a trip to 'Miami' a while back. The folks that won boarded a bus and were all set to head to 'Miami'. To their dismay they ended up here. Some thought it was funny, most of them were pretty upset.

It must have been a shocker for all of those war brides from Britain to arrive here on the prairies. It was a shocker for me too. Travelling from Winnipeg down the 'road that never ends',(that's Lucas&'s phrase) was a bit freaky. I finally looked at it from a different perspective when I complained of boring landscape, Yuriko called it 'exotic'.

Yeah, that's what we are. Exotic. And it's 'Ourami' now.

Winter Babies (06/02/13)

Sacha turned 15 last week. Unbelievable. We brought home a chubby bundle of incredibly cute impishness that helped us get through the winter. Louisa would push her around and around in a doll stroller, sometimes, well... often, tipping her out. We would load everyone up for our exciting Saturday evening event in the caboose - 'Hockey Night in Canada!' And then make the return trip back to the house in the cold, cold, quiet, except for the coyotes. Dali jumped up on us, and the stars were really amazing.

I guess it's not winter that is the problem, it's having to do stuff in the winter like, for example, work. Hockey is fun, and so is skiing. So, perhaps winter is not the problem. Work is.

Hats off to all the winter workers in the world!

'I'm with you.'

Fred and The Frozen Cat (06/01/22)

My apologies. Another cat story. It's about a dead one though, and how we ended up connected to this cat. The cat was frozen dead and Fred was trying to detach it from the snow. (Fred was an old-timer in this town, apparently a millionaire, still living with an outhouse!)

Sacha and I came upon Fred in the back lane. He was persistant in engaging us to help get the frozen cat detached from the snow and ice. He gave me his cane to hold while he went to get a shovel. Then I had to help shovel. Then we had to go to the house and get a bag to put the cat in. Then we had to go into the house. And then, we were in this surreal place and Fred's wife appeared. She could barely walk. Fred commented on 'how she used to be able to work but now she was lame and had a bad leg.'

At this point, I had a revelation. Helping out old people with their dead cats can take a whole afternoon. Because, what do you do with a frozen dead cat?

Bangin'Pots and Pans (06/01/14)

I really miss bringing in the New Year in Japan. Everyone cleaned their house really well to scare away the demons I guess, and tossed things out. (I chose not to partake - I really got along well with our demons!) It was an excellent opportunity for us to grab things from the garbage. This was our 'second hand shopping experience.' A little like dumpster diving without the dumpster.

We found great things in the garbage. Usually, we did this during our early evening walks. We would shout at the kids in English to get out of the garbage, and pull things out along with them. Once, there was a good double stroller waiting for the garbage truck, so we put Sacha and Ariana in it and walked away.

I sometimes wonder if those things really were meant for the garbage?

Gambatte kudasai!

Boxing Day Bash (05/12/20)

As a kid, what I really liked about Christmas was that it didn't end there. We had another day of presents, treats, and food on Boxing Day. I really liked the coins covered in tinfoil in the Christmas pudding, the crazy cracker things that we pulled to try and light the house on fire, the yummy trifle, and the wonderful chaos that ensued.

Christmas can become too tidy, too organized, and way too focused on the 'perfect' celebration. I really prefer a Boxing Day Bash. I'm going to throw one this year. Complete with trifle, fire crackers, (we have an extinquisher near by, I think!), and good sherry.

I won't clean up too much before people come, (that won't be hard to do!), and hope that all the coats cover the dirty floor. I'll make a punch without a recipe, and perhaps a Christmas pudding too. Mostly, I'm looking forward to sucking every last bit of juice out of the turkey bones while people eye me warily.

They have no idea, of course, of whom I come from.

The memories are wonderful Nan and Grandad.

Lady Orange Hair (05/12/10)

I can't believe I'm acting like my mother. It is so true. I have trouble remembering things, I've refused to do some cleaning jobs, and I have way too many cats. Yes, I'm the Miami 'cat lady'.

I've been having 'de ja vu' recently, wandering around outside in my pj's trying to track down stray cats. Now I know why the neighbours looked at us with strange looks in Kinmount. We were strange. We had a hundred cats around, a horse, and a couple of chickens in the backyard... almost in the porch. When visitors came from England, my horse joined us for tea. (No wonder nobody visits me now.......!)

My dear friend Jennifer was always so amused at how our family operated. She laughed hysterically at mom's attempts to save all of the stray, and disabled cats. She loved a hilarious moment.

She was a great friend.

Gettin' Out The Zambuck (05/11/21)

Well, for all of you who don't know what Zambuck is......I'm sorry. I don't know either. It was this black goopey stuff that smelled worse than A5-35, and my grandfather swore by it. It's medicinal properties were nothing compared to the emotional strife you suffered just thinking about the stuff.

If we got a cut, or small injury, and didn't run away fast enough, or hide it, out came the Zambuck. In this case, the cure was worse than the injury.

There may be something to that. I mean, what better way to discourage attention.....rub some gross stuff on the cut. I was a slow learner. It took me awhile to catch on. I had plenty of Zambuck treatments. (I can hear all of you laughing!)

Thanks Grandad, 'Take care how you go!'

Crazy Storm Days (05/11/16)

Ok. We already have cabin fever. I broke down yesterday, set up the tv and vcr that Robin and Yuriko discarded, and we are all watching old videos. Pathetic. That didn't take long. So much for arts and crafts. The wind was so cold you couldn't walk comfortably. Yikes! How will I get through another winter!? We are going through wood faster than the hard working beaver. Well, we aren't chewing it, but that could entertain the kids for a time......

I think I might start going up to the 'Friendship Centre'. The place that smells like old people. They seem to know how to get through these laborious winter days. Except, if I'm going to play pool and shuffleboard, I'd want to have a few drinks to go with it. And, crank the music up. (That may be required!) The old folks in this town actually shovel themselves out of the storm, and walk up town to play cards and see other old people. It's amazing. Tough old birds.

Not me. I'm what Sandy so accurately paraphrased as a - 'comfort slut'. I'd really enjoy a warmer climate.

'Roll on spring!'

Skippin' Town (05/11/04)

Moving is fantastic. If you are the ones leaving. For the past few years, eight to be exact, I've been the one staying behind. ( For some reason, Miami is not advertised as 'location, location, location!') We have been left behind while friends and family leave to bigger, brighter, and definitely, more, shall I say 'cultured'locations. We seem to really repel people. Do we smell?? (Except for Sara and Keith. They moved to Alberta, and well, we won't comment on that!) Very excellent hosts though by the way......terrific Trivial Pursuit players too.

It is a real challenge to keep up contact, and also convince yourself that well, living here has it's merits. I mean, culture and opportunity aren't everything. What about less stress, time to focus on personal and creative interests? What about no debt and savings? Wine in the afternoon? Star gazing, and quinzhee building in the middle of a nippy winter night. (By the way, those rumours about what went on in the quinzhee, they aren't true.)

We are what you might call 'escapists'. We still don't have a TV. Maybe we could more accurately be described as: 'Slackers, wanting to take the easy road'!

But, once again, as Robin, Yuriko, Sky, Free, and Summer leave for the bright lights of San Diego, we are forced to think about why we stay here. And I'm afraid to admit this, but I actually am starting to like it here. I can't believe it! (Sara pick your jaw up off the floor!) It is true what a really smart....oh, and amazing hockey player, said to me. (Even if he is a Canadien's fan!)

'It's not where you are, it's who you're with.'

We will miss them so much.

Gettin' Up There (05/10/24)

I've just sent Micha off to get me a drumstick to go with the glass of red wine I just poured. Yum! Miami doesn't offer much in the way of fine foods. It is my birthday though, and by golly, I'm going to go for the gusto. We've got left over Japanese food from Saturday, so we'll make Sukiyaki. I mean Sandy will make sukiyaki, I suck at cooking. I am good at drinking though!

On this occasion, I usually try to think about my life, and all of the events that have been part of my experience. I tried to do that today. Sacha quietly reminded me that my life is half over turning 42 and all, and that actually the last 10 years from about 80-90 are probably not worth too much anyways. So, more than half over. That drastically changes my approach to the upcoming year.

I'm ordering a case of wine, a box of drumsticks, and nice underclothes. In Moose Jaw, I may just blow the nest egg, and I think I'll call in sick more often. Things may just be out of control by Christmas. (Just in time for a visit from our great flatlander friends, the Linklaters'!)

I'm having such a great time....life is good.

All Grown Up (05/10/17)

Well, well. I am amazed at how eighteen years flies by at lightspeed. Unbelievable. All of you 'older' parents and 'elderly' grandparents out there know what I mean. 'Why, it seems like just yesterday.....' yadda, yadda.

At about 2:15 pm, I looked at the clock and felt a weird sense of sadness, happiness, and a little bit of 'whew'! Being a Mom has been so good for me. My kids have taught me so much about what life is really about. I still don't actually know what that is, but I'm pretty sure that it falls somewhere between hysterical laughter and fiery arguments. It is such a wonderful ride.

My birthday congrats go out to an amazing, capable, young woman. We are so proud of you, Weeza.

'Take care of yourself, and each other always.'

Frosty Frosty (05/10/07)

I have this gut wrenching feeling like winter wonlt ever leave us this year. It has arrived, and it wonlt go away. It has broken branches already, killed the last of the flowers, ruined plans for the last grass cutting, and expedited this horrible winter apathy.

I didnlt get the fall bulbs put in the ground, and the Mock Orange plant is still outside in the pot. The apples are all still on the ground under the tree. Unfinished business. Then again, what better excuse for a diminished sense of accomplishment than the weather? Out of my control. Should have, would have, could have.

Curling up in front of the fire, with a good book sounds cozy. Good thing welve got lots of wood.

Louisa's Leftovers (05/09/13)

I can't seem to get the smell of chicken blood off my hands. No, I haven't been chicken killing.

We all know that teenagers cause so much 'angst', and cost so much money. But some have an uncanny ability to cause outright grating annoyances. Like leaving the freezer door open and everything 'sort of thawing'. I'm cleaning it all up right now. A little going away present for us. How nice.

Unfortunately, everything (including Sandy's hockey bag...oops!) will have a lingering smell of rotten chicken to remind us of our unbreakable link with our annoyances. I mean children.

Families have a limitless supply of potential scenarios for incredibly funny scenes that are the result of small 'oversights'; on the parts of our children.

I think of Sandy going to play hockey and someone saying,'Christ, what is that godawful smell?!'; Perhaps he has a moment of quiet reflection on the complexity of how interwoven our lives are with our children. Ummm, maybe not.

The list will run through his head......the late fees at the video store preventing him from renting a movie, the gas card missing from the dash, his missing sweatshirt, and coffee mug,the phone card charges. The list goes on.

We sure love ya Weeza.

Catching Up (05/08/29)

I ran into an old friend on Saturday. I managed to cover her with candy apple bits and an impulsive kiss. When I first moved out to Manitoba and wanted to live in 'Harrowsmith' countryside, she was the one who rescued me. It was an ice cold, desolate, wasteland. Literally. She would plow through two feet of snow to get me and take me to people......to civilization.

She was a life saver. She also taught me the 'essence' of prairie life.

Be neighbourly. You will have to call for help one day.

Be organized. It's a long way back to town for milk.

Be frugal. We always have something better to spend our money on!

Be creative. Winters are long and incredibly boring.

And love with all you've got, because nobody knows when your time is up.

Thanks Sharon.

Leaving Home

Well, here goes again. Lost the other stuff in cyberspace somewhere.
Sandy has left with the kids to go to his parents for a pottery firing. As they left, I accidentally let the toad I caught jump in the car. It went under the seat. Micha was screaming, Justin was looking frantic, Sacha and Lucas has mischievious grins, and Ariana and Sandy were giggling.
I had wisely chosen to stay home and get this project going.
Louisa is lifeguarding, and trying to save every penny for next Saturday when she moves into U.of Manitoba. It's perhaps a bit late to start saving now.




I'm having a hard time dealing with this moving out stuff. On the one hand, I won't miss digging through piles of clothes to find the phone every morning. On the other hand, I will really miss the "life" she brings to an otherwise dull, and mundane existence here in Miami.
Of course I will miss you Weeza.