Peter – I Remember Mama

Although it was 21 years ago, almost to the minute, I remember it like it was yesterday. While checking my home phone messages from my workplace, I found out that my mother had passed away. I was stunned. Eventually I stood up and went to my supervisor’s desk. I told him that my mother had passed. He was rather dismissive about it, he didn’t particularly like me. In a daze, I returned to my desk and tried to work. Shortly thereafter, the manager came to my desk and gently told me to go home. He was very sympathetic and kind, and was a glimmer of compassion in an otherwise horrible day.

Roxanne Tellier – Cogito, ergo sum I think

“So this is Christmas, and what have you done? Another year over. A new one just begun.”  (John Lennon/Yoko Ono)

Peter – Get Carded Every Day

Last week a friend of mine made a statement about their partner, stressing that they were not recognizing a special occasion, but simply wanted to publicly express their gratitude that the person was always “there” for them.

I gave it some careful thought and posted that I liked the fact that the person was taking the time and making the effort to acknowledge the importance of their partner in their life. My friend, for their part, was pleased with my conclusion.

Pat Blythe – Farewell to 2020…….the flora and fauna of Christmas…..and music

This is my final column of 2020, a year we’d all much rather forget but will be permanently etched in our psyches forever. So on that note, I’ve decided to end on a more upbeat, festive but somewhat educational note.

Peter – Bring on the Jolly

As Andy Williams famously sang, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year…”. To many people, Christmas certainly is that. However, even the most devoted “Christmasophile” can find the constant assault on their senses and wallet to be somewhat debilitating. Like so much of modern life, Christmas has been transformed into a commercial crusade, seemingly endless competition for the almighty buck…your almighty buck.

Pat Blythe – GingerPennies…..Christmas…..and music

 

It’s been quite a week and it’s only Tuesday. Posted my GingerPennies sellathon on FB which has now turned into a marathon bakeathon! I was not expecting the response or the orders I received. I thank you one and all.

Pat Blythe – Christmas lockdown…..other stuff and music

This whole COVID thing is getting long, tiring, confusing and extremely exasperating for most of us. People start to rebel like children in a sandbox who don’t play fair. They confront each other in anger like the bully in the schoolyard. In many instances we seem to live in a rather thoughtless society whose three favourite people seem to be me, myself and I. It doesn’t seem to matter what part of this mudball we inhabit, everyone is infected…..not by the virus, but by fear, bad attitude, frustration, annoyance, (add your own descriptive here). Information, misinformation, ignorance, conspiracy theories, protests and riots, the numbers are over/under inflated/aren’t real….the list goes on. It doesn’t really matter what you believe, it’s affecting all of us. COVID fatigue is real and should have been considered by minds much greater than mine, long before now.

Peter’s Engaging Column ….

As I settled back into bed, my senses took stock of my surroundings. I heard Betty stirring peacefully in her sleep beside me. My eyes flicked over the dim shape of CoCo, who was also resting quietly, unafraid and unworried. I then looked up at the ceiling and sighed contentedly, finally at peace. As I drifted off to sleep myself, I couldn’t help but think back a year, to when my life had been different, very different indeed.

Pat Blythe – Chris Reed…..way, way too soon

I’ve been finding it difficult to focus on my column this week. Last Friday we received news that a much loved friend and musician had passed away. Chris Reed didn’t even achieve the revered status of joining “The 50 Club”. We’ve all been blindsided….totally stunned and still trying to absorb the news. I had to read his brother’s official FB announcement three times before it sunk in who he was really writing about. I thought for sure I was mistaken….but no, and then I burst into tears.

Peter, Betty, and CoCo Ono

I want to thank everyone who responded to my most recent column. It is all too easy to lose focus when dealing with a long standing medical condition, to get lazy, to ignore the very real danger you face because you don’t want to appear weak or needy. I will continue to write about health issues from time to time, both physical and mental, so “stay tuned “.

This week’s offering will be a bit more easygoing, and I hope that you enjoy this week’s melange of letters, numbers, punctuation marks and images.