What to Read when you can’t Sleep
On February 15, 2021 by Speranza
A well meaning but spectacularly uncool Auntie of mine once bought me The Friendship Book of Francis Gay, for Christmas when I was a teenager. (And by the way, this is the only way anyone ever referred to this book: the title, then the author, all at once – but always together). This little book promised an “inspiring thought” for each day of the year and provided iconic yet unlikely photos such as a benevolent postman peddling down a laneway or a jocular milkman enjoying a quiet joke outside a thatched cottage.
Happy Valentine’s Day
On February 13, 2021 by Speranza
I remember telling both of my sons that while large breasts were a very nice attribute in a girlfriend, the more pressing question should be, as the relationship began to deepen: “Would this person make you soup when you are sick?”
Top Ten List of Small Things Pt. 2
On January 31, 2021 by Speranza
4. Feeding the Birds: Many years ago, I was a well-intentioned novice, hanging out a puck of seedy suet which no bird was ever able to access due to its squirrel value. I also purchased jumbo bags of suspiciously cheap seed which produced the same experience. I now finally have a practice that works. We only buy Safflower and Niger seed which the squirrels have almost zero interest in and the feeders are always well attended. Mr.& Mrs. Cardinal arrive together, politely taking turns and transform the front window into a Victorian Christmas card. There are finches too and many others and I am always touched by their gentle, searching faces. I do feed the squirrels, separately, in the backyard and cannot dislike them as many people do; in fact, we now have three “regulars” that we have named: ‘Sid Vicious’ (arrogant-cool, often knocking at the window, smiling crookedly); ‘Elvis,’ black fur and ears slicked straight back and ‘The Friar,’ the largest of all and could easily pass for a groundhog as he teeters on the ledge, where I’ve left a few peanuts in the shell and apple cores. Yes, I’m aware how geriatric this all sounds but it adds another much needed strata of connection in these dark Covid days.
Top Ten List of Small Things
On January 30, 2021 by Speranza
This is not intended to be yet another gust of Pollyanna-overload – I only seek to catalogue a few of the things that have helped even a little during these endless days of sad news. I think it was Stephen Colbert, (himself one of these helpful things) who commented recently that he was really looking forward to not hearing the words “another grim milestone” every.single.day. I am also acutely aware how lucky we are to be able to plan and discuss coping strategies – because after all, the luxury of time, companionship and good food are all such individual gifts.
And I get that.
The Time Tunnel
On January 23, 2021 by Speranza
I’ve worked in public libraries both in Canada and the Isle of Man for more than half of my life – so needless to say, I have seen some … things. Working with the public in any capacity is often challenging but at the library, I believe the true stress comes with constantly having to alternate between positive and not so positive situations: helping two likeable, intellectual older women choose fiction titles; angry curmudgeons demanding addresses for subsequent angry letters they intend to write; a shy toddler sliding a drawing of a lovely pink dragon across the desk; and then a clearly agitated person demanding assistance in locating his brother who, he informs me is a headhunter now. And the crumpled magazine picture he shows me of his ‘brother’ holding a spear is clearly more of a, shall we say, traditional headhunter, and not the Human Resources type you may be thinking of.
And of course he doesn’t know his name.