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Lessons From the Chick That Flew Coop
I am thrilled to have my daughter, Princess, guest posting on my blog today. She has written from Koh Samui, Thailand. This letter is a keeper. Dear Mom, Dad (AKA The Consultant) and Buddy, Thank you. Without all of your travel stories, shared experiences and encouragement I would have never been inspired to take this journey. As of April 1, 2014 I have been gone for seven months and I’m terribly homesick – the homesickness kicked in on about month three – but that is beside the point. You convinced me at a young age, that traveling, in some capacity, should be on every young person’s priority list. Hearing…
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How Will You Find Your People?
Who are your people? They might be the family members you grew up with, they might be old school friends or you might find them walking amongst your coworkers. But often, you need to look beyond your obvious circle. With a little extra time and effort, you find them. When you do, you know it. When you are with your people the energy in the room buzzes and time takes on a natural flow. That’s what happens when I’m with my people and we get into our journaling and writing projects. I recently shared a post about My Heart Writer Sisters and the keen connection I feel with them. A fellow…
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Sisters by Choice
I belong to a special little group called The Heart Writers, my honorary sisters. We are connected through journal writing and the belief that writing has power – the transformative power of clarity, direction and connection to self. It’s that same power that brought us together in June of 2011. In our individual homes we are mothers, wives, partners, sisters and friends. In community, we are four very different women who write and share. We’ve created an environment where it is safe to be vulnerable, open and honest. Now we know each other like no other. Where one of us leaves off, another takes up. We all benefit. We met…
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A Thanksgiving Message to Buddy and Princess
It’s looking like our family won’t be together for Thanksgiving this year. Buddy is off to visit a friend in Montreal, Princess is starting her mini-life down under and The Consultant and I are taking advantage of the last fall weather to squeeze in a few more work hours here in Slave Lake. So, I thought it would be nice for us to convene on the pages of my blog in an attempt to “meet” somewhere. So, imagine us all sitting around the Thanksgiving table about to dig into turkey and all the fixings, when I say, “Life is all about gratitude, kids. I’d like to believe I gave you…
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Princess Takes Flight
“I am going to travel the world!” – Princess. In a few short weeks, Princess starts living her dream. She has been talking up this idea of world travel since before graduating high school. The only thing standing in her way, the last four years, has been her post- secondary education. I think she is doing it right. Earn the degree, and the world is her oyster. Throughout the last four years, she’s had another story running in the background. It is one of a competitive lifesaving swimmer. She has trained. Hard. Last June she achieved her goal and she was chosen for Canada’s Commonwealth Team. Uncertainties about travel plans…
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Sometimes It’s Comfortable To Be Uncomfortable
Life can change by stepping outside the door, at the flick of a light switch, with the buzz of a text message. In split seconds, uncomfortable presents its self, accompanied by unknown. Some of us recognize it as fear. But fear not. Discomfort can be one of your very best friends. It is unrealistic to believe that we can get through life feeling nothing but comfy and cozy. During those “life is good” times we hang on tight because we never know when circumstances will change. That’s life. In the empty nest stage, discomfort sneaks up on us. We can see it coming but we don’t know for sure when…
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The Real Awkward Age
We, empty nesters, are at that awkward age. We wander around looking for a jacket to hang up, a notebook to place on the shelf, a pile of folded laundry to set on an unmade bed. Lost souls searching for someone to shop with or come along on a dog walk, we cook too much food and are surprised when the kitchen looks just the way we left it. We worry. What is my child eating and who with? Do they have enough? Money? Food? Furniture? Spices? Are they getting enough sleep? Exercise? Vitamins? We lack concentration and feel our importance diminished. We are bereft of purpose. Buddy has just moved…
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My Son Moved Out Last Summer
My son, Buddy, moved out August 1st. I am halfway to being an empty nester, in the official sense. This is the real thing. He’s not going away to university for a year and coming back. I am not making the temporary move to Fort McMurray and finding him at home when I return. The minute he moved, in fact he wasn’t yet finished, his sister, Princess, moved down to his room. It is further away from our’s and allows for more privacy. When Buddy was away at school I went into his room just to look and feel close to him by standing amongst his things. Now there is…
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I Didn’t Want a Dog!
My husband, The Consultant, and I were only in Fort McMurray about two weeks when the text message from Princess came to my cell phone – “Let’s Skype. We have something to show you.” As I read the message out loud, The Consultant and I nodded at each other. We knew what this meant as our memories flashed back fourteen years to a summer morning at the lake. It was my daughter, Princess’s seventh birthday and The Consultant and I were not yet out of bed when she called us. “Mom. Dad. Come outside. We have something to show you.” I knew she and her brother had a dog out…
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Opposites Still Attract
And they said it would never last. My husband and I just celebrated our 26th wedding anniversary. Whoever said, “opposites attract” wasn’t kidding. My husband, The Consultant and I are the north and south poles. He is hot mustard, I am ketchup, he is Led Zeppelin, I am Bette Midler, he is a Jeep, I am a Honda. He sees the world in black and white and I see every colour of the rainbow. I am creative expression while he is depth and contrast. We are the Canadian Gene Simmons and Shannon Tweed. Upon meeting The Consultant, our acquaintances are surprised by our opposing personalities. “What is a nice girl…
