Just by serendipity I happened to notice that I have been here for 3 years TODAY!
Happy anniversary to me ! I'm sorry it took so long for you to find me here. At an average of 20 posts a year it's not an onerous task for you to keep up. I hope you'll be back soon.
The intent of the blog was to log some of the triumphs and many of the frustrations on the road to old age. I didn't think I'd done that but already as I read back I can see a few things that have changed in my life.
When? he asked. When does middle age end and old age begin?
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Friday, March 9, 2012
International Women's Day
Was yesterday and I wanted to say something of significance but I didn't although thoughts raced through my head all week long.
There is an undercurrent out there just as dangerous to women as an undertow to a swimmer. Challenges to abortion legislation, the ugly diatribe against insurance provided birth control, the notion that femnism is passe and that feminism is against something rather than for something are swirling about us. If young women look to their elders; to the grandmothers and grey haired women of their communities they will find that the past is not so distant and the freedoms they see as their birthright not so firmly entrenched. Most of the rights and freedoms today's western women take for granted came about little more than a generation ago. It was George Santayana that said "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." Let's hope that this is not the case.
There is an undercurrent out there just as dangerous to women as an undertow to a swimmer. Challenges to abortion legislation, the ugly diatribe against insurance provided birth control, the notion that femnism is passe and that feminism is against something rather than for something are swirling about us. If young women look to their elders; to the grandmothers and grey haired women of their communities they will find that the past is not so distant and the freedoms they see as their birthright not so firmly entrenched. Most of the rights and freedoms today's western women take for granted came about little more than a generation ago. It was George Santayana that said "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." Let's hope that this is not the case.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Waiting room
I stopped into a walk-in clinic (shudder) earlier this week. I am very fortunate to have personal physician; a thoughtful, thorough and kind man but my problem was not one he was equipt to tackle and so he referred me to the facility that shares a waiting room with the walk-in clinic. Health care isn't what this post is about. This post is about change.
As I signed in for my scheduled appointment I noticed there were fourteen people in the room. Of those fourteen people seven were connected to or interacting with smart phones of various types. I assume listening to music, surfing the net, playing games or texting. One person had a tablet, one a mini laptop, another an e-reader, and one a book. An LCD monitor high on the wall displayed a loop of advertising disguised as information.
Just one tired looking, yellowed paperback book read by a young woman sitting feet up, wedged sideways in the scruffy chair. Not a single magazine.
As I signed in for my scheduled appointment I noticed there were fourteen people in the room. Of those fourteen people seven were connected to or interacting with smart phones of various types. I assume listening to music, surfing the net, playing games or texting. One person had a tablet, one a mini laptop, another an e-reader, and one a book. An LCD monitor high on the wall displayed a loop of advertising disguised as information.
Just one tired looking, yellowed paperback book read by a young woman sitting feet up, wedged sideways in the scruffy chair. Not a single magazine.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Speaking of Childish Delight
I spent some time with my favourite 15 month old yesterday. Last week we had been reading books together and I really hadn't paid too much attention to his choice of books but yesterday. his mom was there and she mentioned that Baby Sign was his favourite book and so he and I played "sign"as we went through the little book twice, and then again- repeat .
I was bored by that time and was hoping to have more adult conversation as this was not a one on one with the lad but had been intended as a visit with Mom interspersed with periods of boy-time. He had other ideas and after we once again very cutely signed our way through drink, hot, finish, apple, bannana I tried to move onto other toys. The little man had other thoughts and continued to sign more to me. How could I not ! We worked our way through the book again several times.
Baby sign is not only incredibly cute it is very useful ! Allowing a non verbal child to convey his needs, desires and wants is a brilliant idea! I can imagine the frustration that could have been avoided for my own sons had I been aware if this system when they were small. Now if only I'd of had the presence of mind to sign finish back at him when he was insisting on more !
Here is a link I located if you are interested in knowing a little more about baby sign language.
http://www.babysignlanguage.com/chart/
I was bored by that time and was hoping to have more adult conversation as this was not a one on one with the lad but had been intended as a visit with Mom interspersed with periods of boy-time. He had other ideas and after we once again very cutely signed our way through drink, hot, finish, apple, bannana I tried to move onto other toys. The little man had other thoughts and continued to sign more to me. How could I not ! We worked our way through the book again several times.
Baby sign is not only incredibly cute it is very useful ! Allowing a non verbal child to convey his needs, desires and wants is a brilliant idea! I can imagine the frustration that could have been avoided for my own sons had I been aware if this system when they were small. Now if only I'd of had the presence of mind to sign finish back at him when he was insisting on more !
Here is a link I located if you are interested in knowing a little more about baby sign language.
http://www.babysignlanguage.com/chart/
Friday, December 23, 2011
Childish Delight
Christmas, ah Christmas!
Recently I was asked what it is that I like best about Christmas. Perhaps the question came up because I was singing as I baked shortbread cookies. I had to think about it and I realized it is the anticipation of Christmas that I love best . The endless possibilities, the optimism, the good will.
It is inevitable that there will be disappointments at Christmas.If not for me and mine then certainly for someone we know, or someone will be introduced to through the media.
Until then, I will sing under my breathe and look forward to the sharing of good will, food and yes- even gifts, with my family. I will relish the coming together and the pause in this part of the world as we celebrate together.
Merry Christmas to you.
Recently I was asked what it is that I like best about Christmas. Perhaps the question came up because I was singing as I baked shortbread cookies. I had to think about it and I realized it is the anticipation of Christmas that I love best . The endless possibilities, the optimism, the good will.
It is inevitable that there will be disappointments at Christmas.If not for me and mine then certainly for someone we know, or someone will be introduced to through the media.
Until then, I will sing under my breathe and look forward to the sharing of good will, food and yes- even gifts, with my family. I will relish the coming together and the pause in this part of the world as we celebrate together.
Merry Christmas to you.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Ahh Facebook!
I really enjoy popping in on Backwoods Mom every now and then. She is living the life I imagined myself living back when I was in my 20's. I didn't have the stamina or the strength to keep it up and left the backwoods after 3 seasons for somewhere with running water and central heating. It was an interesting bit of serendipity to see her topic this week was also Facebook!
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