High School Reunion (AKA: This is me; is that you?)

I attended a small-town high school in central Alberta. Next week, former students will gather for a 50+ year reunion of my grad class, plus the year previous and the one after. I am, unfortunately, unable to attend. What fun it would be to see how people have changed, whether I would recognize them, or they would recognize me. From 17 to 70 - from youthful insecurity to old age security. When did that happen??

How intriguing to learn about my classmates' life trajectories - joys, sorrows, accomplishments, life-altering events. Are the brash still clinging to their bravado, or have they been humbled by some experience that has altered their perspective? Are the gentle, kind souls still making the world a better place, or have they taken on hard edges because of a tragedy? 

Ah, I am sorry not to be there. But I would like to revisit a few memories and thank some I had hoped to see at this reunion. So to you,

Margaret - thank you for welcoming me that first scary day on the bus. I've never forgotten.

Hilda - thanks for being such a true friend! The distance is too far...

Judy - thank you for your friendship, singing partnership and all that wonderful popcorn!

Janet - thanks for walks down the 'north' road as we choked on our first cigarettes (ugh!).

Irma - thank you for making me laugh.

Audrey, Karen - thanks for memories on the 'Miles for Millions' long walk (remembering Bodkin).

Julian - so sad that you are gone. Thank you for your kind comfort at my neighbour's funeral.

Gordon - thank you for kindly agreeing to be my grad date and swirling me around the floor.

Brian - thanks for letting me win my first game of crib; I'm still winning! 

And then there's the kids from the 'hood - Irmhild (where are you now??), Eckhart, Janet, Dennis, and Brian - thanks for motorcycle rides, horseback riding, endless games of 'Kick the Can' and wiener roasts on warm summer evenings.

Mr. K - so sorry to hear of his passing last year. He was an icon at the school and so influential in our lives. He would have raised his eyebrows to learn I made a career in medical lab after flunking out of Biology 30 not once, but twice.

Mrs. L - her teaching of grammar, spelling and essay structure have stayed with me. She would have been pleased to know I'm a published writer.

To all of you - you have made my life richer by my knowing you and learning lessons about life through who you were in our time spent together. I hope that collectively we have made a positive impact on the world, each in our own corner of it. 

Until we meet again...

 

Planting Time

So I'm in the thrift store the other day and hear a man ask, "Hi Olga," (of course that wasn't her name, but I can't remember) "How's your garden doing?"

"Oh," says she, "not much going on yet."

To which he replies, "I've got lettuce about this big (holding his fingers an inch apart), ..."

That was enough for me. I didn't hear the rest, although he went on to mention other vegetables I hadn't even thought to seed yet. All I could think of was, "Yikes! I'm late!"

Now, a week later, it's still seasonally chilly and windy, and I still haven't gotten out there. Why is it that I don't get it? Some seeds actually like the chill in the soil and air. Me, not so much. And now I'm going away and it's going to be the same as every other year. May long weekend. Everything - cool loving or warm loving - gets put down. (Except for basil; it needs real heat before I set it out).

It's so sad that what we grow up with, we have a hard time diverting from. On the prairies, you darn well waited for the soil to warm before you planted (although my father seeded spinach in the fall).
Really, how long does it take to get out there and throw a few seeds in the ground?

I tend to overthink placement of vegetables. Will I try carrots again this year? They always have those pesky wire worms in them. I could cover them, to prevent that pesky rust fly, but how long? And don't they need moisture? You can't just put plastic over them until you harvest them...

I am thankful for my perennial crops that I only have to prune, fertilize and wait for: asparagus, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, grapes, kiwi, tayberries.

Every year I conduct one experiment. One year it was those mini squash, one year millet, and this year I'm going to try potatoes in my compost.

Through all the angst of planting, I'm grateful that I usually get a fair crop. I know what's gone into it, that it's been carefully and organically cared for, and that, when they're ready, I can pick the freshest veggies you can get.

Time to get out there!

Restart

For some reason, I'm back at this blog. I'm ashamed for having left it alone for so long. And yet, there is a question that niggles in the back of my mind. Why blog? Who will read? Who will care? 

I'm afraid of posting boring drivel. Last night in a dream, a publisher told me that I needed to 'pick up my game'. I was too sentimental - not 'edgy' enough. So, now, a bit of self-examination. Probably more than a little apprehension setting in. 

Time is often an issue, since I have multiple of passions vying for my attention. My definition of passion: strong enthusiasm for something that seemingly makes time stand still. If you are engaged in a passion, the clock has no effect. Before you know it, lunch has long since passed, it's time to think about making dinner, but you wish someone would lay out a nice meal for you instead (and if you think on it hard enough or ignore it long enough, maybe someone will - but don't hold your breath. Just sayin'). 

On any given day, I can be found in the garden, at my computer, my musical instruments or my easel. Which generates a serendipitous thought: if my definition of passion is true, if engaging in passions renders time inconsequential, perhaps I will be so occupied through eternity, where time is no more. How lovely! Meanwhile, here on earth...in space and time, it's another matter. Every day has only twenty-four hours, each week seven days. Deadlines loom, schedules must be adhered to.

You see my dilemma. Besides travelling, family, volunteering and day-to-day chores, I have all of these passions tugging at me. I've thought of labelling days - as does my husband. He has Mundane Monday (chores), Toy Tuesday (hobbies), Water Wednesday (RC boats), Thrifty Thursday (bargain hunting), Fun Friday (outings, whatever). And then, oh look! - it's the weekend:)

Perhaps this could be my week: Music Monday,  Task Tuesday (chores), Water Color Wednesday, Tending Thursday (garden, family, friends), Fun Friday (as above). Writing can't be done in just one day, so it would have to be integrated into each day - preferably for a minimum of two hours. Of course one also cannot tend garden one day in the week, as it's so weather-dependant. So perhaps one hour a day in the garden. I doubt I could stay at my tasks for a full day, or even get them done in one whole day, especially with special tasks like cleaning the fridge and washing windows thrown into the mix. 

Back to the drawing board. 

A New Reality

My husband is set to retire in a bit over a year. He's approaching it with a casual attitude, although he has his specific date picked out. In the past few years, business had slowed down a bit, and he's OK with that. Says he's 'practicing' for retirement.

Both of us recognize that there is a little glitch that's wormed its way into our financial lives, though. Our cash flow is less than it has been. And so, we need to manage that little glitch so we don't find ourselves with a huge negative balance. Not that we'll need to go live under a bridge anytime soon, but we don't want to start using our retirement savings until he is truly retired. My paltry writing income is inconsequential, so curbing our spending seems to be the best way to do the balancing act.

Last year, we celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary, and spent some cash on a lovely shindig, more cash on a trip to Coeur d'Alene (recreating our honeymoon), and even more cash on a family vacation with our kids and grandkids. It was wonderful!

So now, we are in the 'Year of Austerity', as Don calls it. We're having a bit of fun thinking of ways to cut back, but it's not that bad, although I really don't like to consider every purchase I make. That's just not me. I do like to splurge once in awhile. We've actually done very well these first few month of 2016, in spite of the plummeting looney.

As I was thinking about the 'Year of Austerity', I started to sing a tune from the 60's…This is the dawning of the year of austerity, year of austerity…you know the song (unless you're very young). Maybe one day I'll get some musical friend to help me record it.  Hope you enjoy.

This is the dawning of the year of austerity, year of austerity...

Seems that we’ve been overspending

Time for us to face reality;

As our income nears cessation

No more lofty expectations,

No more sand and sea vacations,

Just non-stop precipitation...Austerity, austerity.

This is the dawning of the year of austerity, year of austerity...

Checking sales and clipping coupons,

Purchasing just our necessities.

Shopping never was frustrating,

Have you seen the price of bacon?

It’s a second look I’m takin’

Surely they must be mistaken... Austerity, austerity.

This is the dawning of the year of austerity, year of austerity...

Cancel satellite and land line,

Keep the thermostat to minimum;

Cook at home and grow our veggies,

Take the challenge, live on less, 

Might as well enjoy the process

If we need to live this way, I guess...Austerity, austerity.

This is the dawning of the year of austerity, year of austerity…


We'll keep plugging away and see how we make out this year. Then perhaps next year we can loosen the purse strings a bit.

Keeping Plants Hydrated in the Midst of Watering Restrictions

In the words of Blues musician W. C. Handy, "You'll never miss the water 'til the well runs dry." Just like the air we breathe, how easy it is to take water for granted. (Those in areas affected by summer wildfires know what it is to live without clean air).

 The last number of summers in and around Vancouver have been dryer than usual.  This year's drought has prompted severe watering restrictions. I have a large garden of trees, shrubs, perennials, a few annuals and a vegetable/berry patch. I am responsible for this little part of creation, and it's my job to keep these plants from wilting, browning up and losing their leaves and flowers prematurely. And what a shame it would be to lose the vegetables that are now just coming into their own - beans, cucumbers, tomatoes, basil and lettuce, not to mention my very first crop of kiwis! While I can still use a spring-loaded hand sprayer to water my plants, I'm anticipating the next stage, and getting ready.

But I'm not usually one to panic. In an effort to comply with these very necessary restrictions, I have begun catching and using what water I can to help my garden out. Should you decide to use some of my methods, please keep in mind that when re-using water, you must be careful about any soaps or chemicals you've used, being sure they're biodegradable, and won't harm your vegetation. As it turns out, soapy water is often used to deter garden diseases and pests.

So here are a few changes I'm making while the restrictions last (and maybe I'll even keep a few forever after):

Hand washing: It takes about 1/2 gallon of water to wash my hands properly. I'm leaving a bit of soapy water in a small container in the sink. I wash my hands, then rinse from the tap. When the container's full, I empty it into a larger pail for watering plants.

Dishes: I'm washing dishes by hand (just like in the 'old days') in a plastic tub. I rinse off the worst food particles and grease before washing them. Besides conserving water, I can use the dishwater for garden plants/trees.

Shower: For some time now, I've been showering every second day.  I've not admitted this in public, because people will probably draw some incorrect assumptions about me. However, I happen to have sensitive skin that dries easily. (When I was a kid, most people bathed once a week, on Saturday night. Just ask Grandma. So glad we're past that!) But back to my point. Showering every 2nd day instead of daily, conserves water and is less drying to the skin. Turning off the water while shampooing and soaping down conserves the water by more than half.  If you have enough room in your shower and you're really diligent, place a bucket in the shower with you. See how much water you catch. Use it in the garden. Bathing uses a great deal more water than showering, but the small kids need their bath, so try bailing out as much of the bathwater as you can for garden use.

Laundry: I've pulled my top load washer away from the wall for access to the outflow hose. By timing the washing cycle and being there when the tub empties, I'm able to catch almost 40 gallons for each of the wash and rinse cycles (on a medium load). My shrubs are thankful! I line up 4 or 5 10 - gallon pails. When one is almost full, I push in the cycle button to stop the water flowing so I can move the hose to the next pail, and so forth. I'm also trying to time laundry for effective watering, rather than doing all loads in one day.

Short of going out and buying a front loading washer, a low-flush toilet or water-conserving shower head, there are a few other methods of saving water.

Sensible water use:

•  Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth, scrubbing your hands, etc.
• Catch the running water while you're waiting for it to come to temperature.
• Any water you use (washing your floor, etc) can be used to water your (or your neighbor's) garden. 
• Flush less (I know, but little kids and avid water drinkers can often use the toilet a few times between flushes). 

Whether or not you find these ideas helpful may depend on whether you grew up in a resourceful household during leaner years. There was a time when we looked carefully at our consumption of all things. Maybe this is the upside of water restrictions. And maybe we'll develop some good habits for the future. After all, not only would we miss the water should the well run dry, we couldn't survive without it!

Please share any other practical ideas you have for water conservation.

When Friends Struggle

I was thinking today about the fine line between being helpful and being overbearing. Sometimes it's hard to know exactly where that line exists. This is especially true when I see members of my  community struggling with mental illness and/or depression.

Usually they feel the stigma that's long been attached to a disability that is not visible to the naked eye. There's no bone to set, no muscle spasms to massage away, no incision to heal. The cause of the illness is often anybody's guess. Anything from a repressed past, to a chemical imbalance, a build-up of long held inner stress, or a combination of all of the above.

When I run into them or call, I feel like it's so trite to ask, "How are you?" or even, "I'm praying for you". Each person is different and reacts differently to how I might support them. Or the same person will react differently from one time to another. Saying that they're in my daily prayers meets with a positive reaction one time, and a 'look' another time. One person still believes that God is walking alongside them somehow, somewhere - while the other has given up on a God who doesn't seem to be anywhere present.

Sometimes just being present, in silence, is the best thing, although it can feel pretty awkward. Any of us who have gone through tough stuff know that having someone available is a gift.  It may be good to admit that I'm at a loss to help, although we want to. Asking what we can do may be the right thing.  Or just doing something practical could be the best - bring a meal, invite them out for coffee, offer to do some daily chores that are overwhelming. It all boils down to being sensitive to what we notice, who the person is, and what my heart is telling me.

And I guess that maybe sometimes feeling helpless is what life is about. As long as feeling helpless doesn't become justification to leave them all alone.

O Canada!

Yesterday I attended a Remembrance Day Service at the local Cenotaph. I hadn't been for a few years, and was surprised by the attendance numbers. Perhaps people came out in a show of patriotism after the shooting at Ottawa's cenotaph and in Quebec a few weeks ago. With global terrorism incidents so regular in our news, it strikes me over and over again how blessed I am to be a Canadian citizen.

Ours is a country that truly strives for respect of all races, colors, faiths and nationalities. I'm proud of that.  Ours is also a country that steps in to work for peace. I'm proud of that too. I'm grateful for our military troops, for our law enforcement and first responders.

I feel so blessed to have been born in this country.  How different life is in parts of the world where children grow up with strong biases against certain groups, where violence is the norm, or where poverty keeps children or sometimes just girls from getting a decent education, health care or proper nutrition. I could have been born in a country where children are taught to bear arms - and use them - at an early age.

Growing up, I somehow supposed that people the world over lived more or less like I did. What a naive assumption that was! How much I have learned - and in the learning come to see that, being blessed as I am, I am responsible to be a part of their solution in whatever way i can.

And indeed, I am so grateful for this country. My country.

When we sang "O Canada" at the service yesterday, I had to stop singing for the lump that formed in my throat. God, keep our land glorious and free...