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Taylor Mali – Inspirations & Taking Risks

Posted on May 31, 2016

I was helping my hip-hop MMA-loving grandson with his homework last week. Something about Zeus and the beginnings of Greek mythology. Ancient history (in English & Latin) was one of my favourite topics in school but, truth be told, this updated version was almost unrecognizable. Nevertheless, we slogged through the eight pages of faint photocopied text to find the answers to the quiz questions. As he began to fill in the blanks, I asked, “How come you’re printing, in pencil?” “Because, Grandma, they didn’t teach us to write cursive.” In the back of my mind, I remembered a discussion we had about this last year, but I didn’t believe it. Unfortunately, it’s true. He’s going into grade nine at the beginning of August, in…

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Categories: Argument

Costco Parking Lot Peril

Posted on May 26, 2016

Who would have thought the parking lot of Costco on a Wednesday morning would be the scene of high drama? Usually, the only angst I’ve seen is at the sample tables, when some unruly lounger eager to taste that sauteed sweet potato pierogi, the sugar-free kale, kiwi and coconut water smoothie or the tomato, bulgur and cheese veggie burger cuts into the line. As I pulled into the driveway, I noticed the flashing lights of two firetrucks and three police vehicles. Awfully heavy response to shoplifting or a car fire, thinks I. The day was the warmest of the season so far. My air conditioning had been blasting, trying to cool down my car. Two other grey panther ladies and I stood chatting in…

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Categories: Argument

Remembering Margo

Posted on May 18, 2016

My best friend’s mother passed away this week. ‘Passed away’ – where did that expression come from? It makes it sound like death was a graceful movement from one room to another, like from the hallway to the parlor. In a way, I suppose it is, if the passing is gentle and gradual rather than sudden and painful. Dear, sweet, gentle Margo. Jess said Margo was like ‘a bird’ at the end. I completely understand what she meant. I sat with my dad for a week while he was in palliative care, under a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order. Again, I can intellectually comprehend why a DNR exists – no extraordinary measures for someone nearing the end of their life on earth. But whenever…

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Categories: Modern life, Remembrances

Agent Pitches & Elizabeth Gilbert on Writing

Posted on May 11, 2016

Last week, I did a pitch to an agent during a writers’ conference. I’d sweated over preparing my first query letter and honed my first page to what I thought was not cringe-inducing. All bright and eager, I sat myself down in front of the cool, pale agent. On the sign-up page, the conference organizers said she was seeking, “relatable themes that will resonate with books clubs and reading groups”. I thought that’s what I had to offer. Her first words to me were, “What do you want to talk about?” I admit, I gaped as my thoughts raced. I’d expected her to tell me to launch into my synopsis. Instead, she fussed in her pile of papers and took out my two pages.…

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Categories: Stuff, What I'm Doing

Blackface…May 2016?

Posted on May 3, 2016

Yikes. I haven’t posted for a week. Do I feel guilty? Sort of. ‘They’ say develop good writing habits and be consistent, so that your readers anticipate your next post, like it’s a gift or nugget of wit and/or wisdom. I retreated to my fall-back get-inspired position – be observant and take photographs, then write. Yesterday, I met a friend for coffee. She’s a published author and a lovely person. In fact, we had talked about going into business together to offer writing courses, but after a flurry of initial planning and curriculum development and searching for a suitable location, we came to the simultaneous realization that we’d rather write than teach others how to do it well. As much as we’d have liked…