Fruit Salad

As I was about to put a spoonful of delicious fruit salad into my mouth, I heard this soft chanting behind me. I was in our staff kitchen helping the students in the spec. ed. class make fruit salad. Two of the boys who have autism (one of the boys I wrote about here) were finished their duties and sitting on one of the green leather staff sofas. As I turned around, I saw these boys peeking above the back of the sofa smiling mischievously and chanting my name over and over again. The comical part about this teasing was the accent coming out of the mouth of one of the boys. He has a Canadian accent but was chanting in his parent's native tongue! I had to turn away and laugh! It was the cutest thing. The teacher then piped in and told the boys, " we do not tease in our class, so please stop!" Immediately the boys said to me, "I'm sorry 'Kawwwin'!" I'm just thankful they didn't swear at me! I LOVE that these autistic boys have a sense of humour. This "incident" made my whole day! Must have been something in the fruit salad!

We can learn so much about life through students with special needs. I am grateful they are a part of our planet. It is my desire the world will come to value these precious ones more fully. It is a honour for me to work with these children on a daily basis. My life is richer.

here i go again...

Eye of Belfast, July 2008, Northern Ireland

expectations
misplaced expectations
send me in a tailspin
round and round.

steady now
i want to get off.

i am choosing to let go
of these misplaced expectations.
it is only hurting me, not the one
whom these misplaced expectations
are directed towards.

grief.
that is what i feel
and
embarrassment
for thinking
we were kindred spirits
all these years.

change.
change and
expect nothing in return.
send my bitterness, hurt and grief
in a tailspin.
in a tailspin to the abyss.
leave it there.
leave it there forever.

hope.
i hope i can look at
this friendship
in a new light.
i hope we can take a ride together
someday
round and round
and see the world and
our friendship
in a new light.

here i go again...

my grocery shopping buddy

February 2011, Heber Down Conservation Area

I was in shock when I entered her room. Her ashen body lay lifeless on the hospital bed. Frail. Faint. Two months ago this sharp, coherent, English woman was much more cognizant of her surroundings. What happened?

Every week for about 2 years I grocery shopped for Jean Fugol, a senior confined to her home. It may sound strange but I LOVE grocery shopping. So I eagerly anticipated this time each week where I would have a visit with Jean and then shop for her needs. Some weeks she was full of chatter and would share of her days gone by. I quickly learned Jean was a very wise woman and I enjoyed hearing of her life in England before immigrating to Canada.

Advice flowed eagerly and gently from her lips. I am thankful I was taught to revere the elderly at an early age. Those who have gone on before us are rich in knowledge and I welcome their life stories and advice. One thing Jean always said to me was, "enjoy your life now and travel before your body does not allow you anymore." I heeded her advice! She loved to hear of my travel adventures, especially to Paris! Jean also LOVED the way I dressed and told me she was living vicariously through me!

Jean had minor surgery in the summer and never fully recovered. I really don't know why. I think it was a combination of limited care in the hospital and the fact Jean just gave up on life. She told me her family rarely visited her, in fact, I think I visited her more than her family and my visits weren't as frequent as I wanted. This loneliness and rapid decline in her health was sad to watch.

So many elderly in nursing homes and hospitals are left alone by their family members. It is a shame. A shame that they who gave birth to their children, who sacrificed everything for their children, end up alone. A shame. A tragedy really.

Jean died last week. I know she is in a much better place now and I know this English woman is full of vibrant joy once again!

Jean, you'll be happy to know I'm planning another travel adventure soon! Rest in peace my friend. I love you and miss you!

For Jean...

Kensington Market, vintage shops, Toronto, ON, May 2009

:)

High School memories and the explosion of the Challenger Space Shuttle

The "Catwalk," once a meeting place for students, now a "greenhouse."

Did time stand still? It was the same hustle and bustle back on January 28, 1986. Exam time. As I walked through those doors of my old high school and down that familiar hallway on my way to a workshop, students rushed past me with the same focused intent trying to get to their exams on time. A vivid memory came flooding back instantly to my mind. It was in this particular hallway behind the stage doors exactly 25 years ago while I was rushing to get to my grade 13 biology exam- on time- did I learn the news of the Challenger Space Shuttle. I could not believe it had exploded within seconds of take off. Millions of people were watching because it was the first time a civilian-a teacher- was on board. I haven't been in those classrooms for 25 years.

As I sat in my old English classroom for this workshop, I was transported back to my high school days. I LOVED high school so my memories of strolling those hallways and classrooms with my friends were good. It was a strange feeling for me sitting in the same desk where today my legs barely fit under the desk! Few changes have been made to RS McLaughlin C.V.I. since 1986. Still lingering are a few of my teachers who will retire at the end of the school year! The majority of my high school teachers were AMAZING and inspired me to excellence.

I noticed the science classrooms have been renovated and no longer have the desk/workstations with the bunson burner in the middle. I noticed the classroom where I learned how to type on the IBM electric typewriters is now a computer lab! The catwalk is no longer a place to sit but a makeshift greenhouse of sorts! The catwalk was an important part of our social times with friends in high school. How sad the students can no longer sit in the catwalk. The cafeteria has been repainted, however our "table" is still in the same spot! The original chalkboards with oak trim still hang in the classrooms. The classrooms now seem much smaller. An elevator has been installed. The old phone booth is now a storage closet.

The highlight for me was seeing the laminated posters of the school musical productions mounted on the wall of the hallway behind the stage. Every year I highly anticipated being involved in our school musicals. We had a blast. It was because of these productions I now adore the theatre!

I think time did stand still. At least for a moment anyways. I am grateful. My time in high school helped to shape me into the strong, confident, intelligent, loyal, honest woman I am today. Thank you teachers and staff at MCVI!

The infamous phone booth!

The following are the posters from the musical productions I sang and acted in...

war within

***I came across this "work-in-progress" from November 2010 and decided to post it today. I also decided to not edit this piece and leave "as-is." Some thoughts to mull over!***

"Snow Angel" While walking the dog one cold January 2011 evening, I stumbled upon this freshly made snow angel, the design of a young child. I too LOVED making snow angels as a kid! Ahhh, the innocence of youth! I knew I wanted to capture this image, so thankfully I had my cell phone to take this pic.

i got into this power struggle with a student today, which is not a good thing (and which i normally never do). the class had a supply teacher so the students were taking some liberties - of course! thankfully i had the mind to get both myself and this student to step back and take a break. my principal happened to be visiting this classroom so i asked for his help. "how do i get out of this pickle i'm in!" i realized i reacted because i felt personally attacked - also not a good thing. never take anything personal when dealing with students. but somehow being in this environment takes me on a journey back into the memories of my years in junior high school, only with a clearer and wiser perspective. war of words. that is what this student and i were fighting about. this student is very good at manipulating words. semantics. it got me thinking of the war of sorts that goes on inside us, which eventually translates to unrest in our world. i got to thinking of northern ireland, the country of my ancestors, and its troubles. thinking of racism. generations that can stop it but don't. why do we continue raging our war within, which is reflected onto the community around us, when we speak of desiring peace in our world? what happened to the innocence of our youth?

"Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it." (Psalm 34:14)

"A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones." (Proverbs 14:30)

" For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God." (Matthew 5:9)

"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand." (Romans 5:1)

musings on a winter's day...

(Whitby, ON After the storm!)

"Tomorrow is always fresh, with no mistakes in it."
- Anne Shirley

(January 2011, Keeping my feet toasty warm during a snowstorm, Whitby, ON.)

"Lo, sifted through the winds that blow,
Down comes the soft and silent snow,
White petals from the flowers that grow,
In the cold atmosphere."
- George W. Bungay

"The snow-drop,
Who in habit white and plain,
Comes on,
The herald of fair Flora's train."
-Charles Churchill

(Whitby, ON, Winter decorations in the courtyard of the public library.)

Lost in Translation

I KNEW my year of learning high school German when I was in grade 10 was NOT a waste of my educational experience! I KNEW one day my proficiency in languages, or lack thereof quite honestly, would come in handy - even if it is 28 years later! (Oh my goodness. It can't be that long ago. Yikes!)

I agreed to house/dog/cat sit for my German friends over the holidays as they were trekking back to their motherland for Christmas. Prior to their trip, I enjoyed a lovely meal with the family to go over all the details I needed to know while they were away. These friends speak German at home to their children. So, I decided to try to have a conversation with their 4 year old son. It went something like this:

Me: " Mon -TOG, you travel to Deutschland?"
Son is staring blankly at me but grabs my hand and takes me into their kitchen to look at this:


A homemade advent calendar of sorts to track when they left for Germany.

I thought I would give it a go again...

Me: " So you leave Mon - TOG?"
Son: still staring blankly at me.
Me: "You know, Mon - TOG, Frees - TOG, etc.?"

I wish I had seen this calendar behind their door at this point in the conversation:


Me: "Mon - TOG you fly in a plane?"
Son, with a smile on his face indicating to me he understood my German, says in perfect English: "I have a dog!"

Lost in Translation! I better stick to speaking my native tongue!

I experienced a different kind of "lost in translation" adventure before Christmas with one of my grade 8 students. Our school was invited by our local Starbucks to come serenade the customers with Christmas carols. In addition, the customers had an opportunity to donate books to our school library. So we selected a small group of band and choir members to participate.

I drove my choir members to Starbucks on that snowy, wintry morning in my "Seniors" car, a 1999 custom Buick Century! I've always been a little embarrassed with my car but it is reliable and a comfortable ride. This car has an extra seat in the front so I can safely transport 5 people plus me! The students were quiet during our drive over and performed beautifully for the Starbucks crowd. The employees treated us to hot chocolate and treats after our performance, which was a lovely touch. A great time was had by all and we were pleased with all the books the customers donated for our library.



At the end of the week, one of the grade 8 choir members came up to me during morning recess and said,

"Miss W., I told my dad how AWESOME your car was to drive in. I told him you even have a COUCH in the back and front seats. But he said to me your car is really old. But I told him it was awesome anyways because I love the COUCHES!"

COUCH?! I laughed so hard after this student left! How adorable is that? Does this look like a couch to you...



...possibly! The world of teenagers, at times, is like being "lost in translation!"