Year: 2002

We have lived in our house for seventeen years. The second summer we were here (we moved at the very end of summer), a tree in the front yard did a strange thing. It blossomed with glorious pink flowers, and … Read more

At the annual gathering of a group in the past week, the talk got around to cars, pick-up trucks, and vans, and how important they are to our worldly way of life. I noticed that, of the seven or eight … Read more

The garbage has always been there, only now, it was very visible. Night after night, television news displayed the mess. It sure wasn't pretty. Toronto, Ontario, Canada, was in the midst of a garbage strike. Trash is hardly ever pretty. … Read more

The recent strike of garbage collectors in the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, resulted in mounds of trash piling up in areas where it should not be found. Trash disposed of on a regular basis makes life bearable. There is … Read more

I never thought of myself as a person "living alone". I just happen to be living by myself for the first time in nearly three decades. But others saw my life differently and responded in wonderful and affirming ways. I … Read more

I stood looking at the Horseshoe Falls at Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, marvelling at the beauty, majesty, and control of the water. Tremendous amounts of water were pouring over the Falls, and yet it was safe for a cruise boat … Read more

For the last two years, I've been the one to do the gardening. My husband had always done it in the past, but, because of work demands, he gave it over to me. Although I'm not nearly as good a … Read more

New Brunswick, Canada, claims the highest tides in the world. Along the Bay of Fundy, the sea surges twice a day to heights of up to 16 metres (45 feet). At a glance, the shore seemed tranquil. Yet, as we … Read more

While on vacation recently, our family rented a cottage right on a lake. Imagine our surprise and pleasure when, one morning, we saw a mother merganser swimming along, trailed by ten little ones, all swimming in a line. We watched … Read more

We have been having a heat wave this summer, and, while I am appreciative of the heat for those who love it, the heat and I are not the best of friends. My usual walking route is completely exposed, which … Read more