April 25, 2013 · 5:15 pm

The Long Road Home

Mid-winter, January 1949, and we are on the road.  Business matters had taken Sheldon to Edmonton and we took the opportunity to visit friends.  Now the three of us—Sheldon, our one-year-old son Ralph, and I–are heading home.

This is not the ideal time for travelling.  The roads are kept open but are not in great shape.  Traffic is light; service places scarce.  Travel is slow, as the roads can be icy.  Even so we usually made it easily in one day to our home in McLennan, a little town north and west of Edmonton, and south of Peace River.

We started early this morning in order to finish the trip in daylight.  The words “cold and crisp and even” come to my mind to describe the weather.  Sunny and calm and cold.   Ahead we see a truck about to pull onto our road.  It is large, filled to the brim with debris from a building site.  No tarpaulin covers the load, and bits and pieces fly off as it goes.  Having no safe opportunity to pass, Sheldon drops back a bit and follows.  Suddenly the truck hits some ice and shimmies around.  A sudden gust of windy blows a big plank off the load directly in front of us.     Continue reading →

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April 14, 2013 · 5:45 am

Friday Musing on a Spring Day

My world is hushed.
The sun, low in the western sky, lovingly throws its warm rays over spring’s first offerings.
Buds on old gnarled trees tentatively present small green leaves.
Young eager trees stretch for the skies, small blossoms on every slender branch.
Mature trees draw gasps from passersby,
their beauty signalling nature’s salute to spring with blossom glory.

Stillness spreads over all.
So very quiet.
Does nature know?
This is a sad day, a holy day, a beloved man lies in his grave.
He also waits, waiting to burst the bonds of his tomb,
to feel again the warmth of the air,
see the glory of the flowering plants,
smell the scent of the blossoms.
Resurrection – will it come?

The mountains beyond our valley hold high their snow-capped peaks
shimmering in the dying light.
A breeze brushes my face.
I sense a whisper.  “We wait, and wait – will the resurrection come again?”
The weary world waits and wonders.
Spring comes again.
Will this be the one that ushers in what we wait for – our healing resurrection?
The mountains whisper, “We will see.”

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April 10, 2013 · 7:47 pm

Life is What Happens

“Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.”

John Lennon, Beautiful Boy 

Installment 3

Mother G. and I stand there, almost holding our breath, watching Sheldon as he reads the letter.  The expression on his face quickly changes from seriousness to a delighted grin.

“Just listen to this,” he shouts and reads aloud, “Gerry has written us and said you are worried about the length of time your mononucleosis is keeping you from work.  Sheldon, we hired you for several reasons.  Your education and attitude were two, and the record of your summer work on our seismic crews were two more.  We consider that you are one of our permanent employees, on temporary sick leave.  Continue the recovery and we will welcome you back when you are able.”

“What do you think of that?” Sheldon asks.  Mother G. and I, of course, are crying and laughing at the same time.    Continue reading →

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March 27, 2013 · 6:28 pm

Life is What Happens

“Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.”

John Lennon, Beautiful Boy 

Installment 2

“Mr. Gibson, I have your results.  You have an illness long recognized, but not understood.  Very recently, tests have been developed that enable us to diagnosis and help this disease to run its course safely.  It is called Acute Infectious Mononucleosis.  Usually it is young, healthy men who contract mononucleosis – say, in universities or the military.  You can expect complete recovery, eventually.”

“How long, Dr. Freeman?” asks Sheldon.

“If you follow my instructions, recovery should take two or three months.”

“Will Marjorie get it?”

“Possibly, but not for sure.  Her immune system may be stronger.”     Continue reading →

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March 14, 2013 · 10:59 am

Life is What Happens

“Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.”
John Lennon, Beautiful Boy

July 10th, 1945 – Davidson, Saskatchewan.   I am busy in our little store-home.  We’re so proud of our funny little house.  We moved in 43 days ago on May 29th, a newlywed couple.  Sheldon leaves early to join the seismic crew at their meeting place.  The crew then drives out to where they are working.  He loves his job as assistant in the instrument truck.  Funny thing, he didn’t eat much breakfast, said he wasn’t hungry.  Oh well, I’ll have a big supper ready when he gets home.

Time surely flies by.  It is mid-morning already.  I hear a truck stop outside, and go to the door to look out.  It’s Gerry, the Party Chief.  He is helping Sheldon out.   Continue reading →

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January 31, 2013 · 2:58 pm

Still on the Path

 Still on the Path

People think of life in many ways
or don’t think at all.
Life.
What is it?
Something everyone knows but cannot describe.
They say it is like this
or like that.
Metaphors
replace what one feels and knows but can’t articulate.
For me life is a long path on which I travel
now
always
until it ends.
Sometimes smooth, sometimes rough, always changing.
Looking back the path shows wonderful views but
the future
disappears around a bend.   Continue reading →

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January 21, 2013 · 11:20 am

Marjorie’s Manifesto

With apologies to Martin Luther

In 1517 a monk named Martin Luther nailed a document to the church door in Wittenberg.  It was a passionate statement of an alternative vision of what the Christian faith and church practices could and should be.  His action shook his contemporary world, and eventually led to a new and different way of viewing and living faith.

My claim to the right to use the term ‘manifesto’ lies in recently experiencing personal events which have shaken me to the core, and which will lead to major changes in the way I see and lead my life.

On January 10th, 2013 I visited my family doctor, accompanied by my daughter, Lorna Shapiro.  The appointment was made because my family had brought to my attention that I had suffered a major memory lapse.  This unusual event was upsetting for all of us.  How could this happen to me, and what did it mean?   Continue reading →

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December 20, 2012 · 9:02 am

Season’s Greetings

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah 

The festive season approaches.  Once again I have the happy opportunity to pay honour to whatever faith has meaning in your lives.  May this season revive memories of past years, and stir hopes for those which lie ahead.

When I was little it seemed like an eternity from one year through the next.  Now – the years fly by.  Though I savour every day that passes, I can scarcely believe the Holy Season is almost here again.

What a glorious opportunity to sing the old carols, hear the ancient stories of our faiths, and give thanks for the multitude of life’s gifts —  indeed, for life itself.  Best wishes to all: family, friends, fellow residents and staff at our Manor, health professionals who ease our way, and the strangers who lend a hand when we need it.

The rough spots in life’s road are partnered with love, goodness and joy.  I pray that we all find the strength to deal with the tough and to recognize and appreciate the good, as we head out into a new year.

Happy Holidays!

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November 2, 2012 · 2:11 pm

Memory’s Mysterious Meanderings

The annual physical is almost finished.  The last test is to determine the mobility of my aged knees.  Hand on ankle, the other holding my foot, up and down he raises and lowers the right leg.  There is only a trace of creaking in the knee.

“Good.  Now for the left knee.”

He reaches gently, takes my foot, and then the left ankle.  He is about to lift my foot when I wince and call out, “Careful.  Watch the hole there.  It’s very sensitive.”

The startled doctor lifts his hand and peers at my left ankle.

“Good Heavens!  What happened here?”    Continue reading →

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October 19, 2012 · 4:06 pm

A Penny for Your Thoughts

Summer has arrived, 1935, and it is hot.  Nothing is stirring.  The birds, the crickets and even the mosquitoes are waiting for the sun to set, but Doris and I are not so smart!  Daddy told us there were too many gophers near the house.  They are raiding our garden, and for animals and people their holes are a hazard.  So here we are, Doris and I, 14 and 13 respectively, and hot and bored.

“We have to snare the gophers,” said Doris.

“Why not drown them out as we did in that other bad spot?” I asked.

“You know, Marjie – our water supply is low.  At least we will each get our penny a tail from Daddy, and that does buy a lot of penny candy.”

Snaring is slow work, especially when gophers are running around squeaking alarms.  However we both set up at a hole, and wait and wish for shade.    Continue reading →

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