NUDGINGS: a journey into the unknown

Spotted on the back of a work-out top at the gym were the words ‘What’s your story?’  You all know those ice-breaker activities… At the startup meeting for the fall there was a a new member, as well as someone returning after an absence, and so we did one of those get-to know-you exercises or ice-breakers. Every one was given the same list of questions as suggestions for what they might want to speak about. The interesting thing was that although some of us had actually known each other for over 40 years, we still learned new things about each other that hadn’t come up in conversation before. But we all commented on how unusual this was. What we hear from these exercises is not someone’s story but rather a brief highlight of some biographical facts, getting to know each other on a superficial level. How many times does the average person have someone else ask them “What is your story?” and then have that person sit, wait, and listen to whatever is said? I have and it i...

T his is the house I lived in 62 years ago. That's my bedroom window on the upper right. I often had  a practice of letting our cat, Pinky, out of my bedroom window in the early mornings. And... well often the screen landed on the front lawn to be collected and replaced at a later time that day. My dad, getting tired of this routine and probably worried about the possible damage to the screen, made a 'cat-door' in the lower corner of the screen. The small door was secured with wing nuts and so I was able to easily let Pinky both in and out. Good solution. Everyone was happy. Story over, or so one would think! Fast forward 62 years and a visit to my hometown this summer. On taking a drive by our 'old' house I was surprised to see the cat-door still in place. I thought about going up to the door and, without admitting that I had once lived there, inquiring just what the purpose was of that small square in the lower right of that upper window. ...

With a national election coming up on October 19th , it is inevitable that some part of the controversy would spark a blog.  However it wasn’t what one of the candidates said, but rather what they printed on their sign that caught my eye.  The first few times I saw this sign, I read it as saying  ‘Delivering Change Better’. Now while I didn't subscribe to that concept for this particular party, I could see it as being positive in the sense that it did admit the party saw the need for change. However it was only on closer contact that I noticed the two words in smaller, lighter print ‘FOR’ and ‘THE’. Add those two words into the slogan and it completely changes the meaning. ‘Delivering Change for the Better’ . No longer does it speak of the need for change from the present situation, but rather it is speaking of the present reality as seen by the Conservative party - that the change they are making and have made over the past 8 years has been made for the better....

National Thanksgiving is celebrated as a statutory holiday in most of Canada on the second Monday in October.  “While some researchers state that "there is no compelling narrative of the origins of the Canadian Thanksgiving day", the first Canadian Thanksgiving is often traced back to 1578 and the explorer Martin Frobisher. Frobisher, who had been trying to find a northern passage to the Pacific Ocean, held his Thanksgiving celebration not for harvest but in thanks for surviving the long journey from England through the perils of storms and icebergs.” Wikipedia Being thankful means more to me then just saying ‘Thanks’. I must be mindful at all times of what others are doing that make my life as comfortable as it is, of my dependence on others for my existence. I must be thankful for those things in my life over which I had no control but brought me to where I am today. I must honour those who through their personal interactions with me , have he...