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Dear Readers


My dearest Readers,

Let me apologize for my lack of comment response of late (and blog commenting too), I have been lax. No excuses, but between end of the school year, the upcoming Iowa trip, the 23 year old moving back home, my dad’s recent difficulties, my brother’s latest “episodes” and beating the excess exposition to death in the short story that has the best chance of being published in print I have had yet – I am a bit busy.

Add to that the fact that now everyone but Rob (knock very hard on any nearby wood for me please) has been down with a virus in the last week and a half.

And I am not asking for sympathy. We all have busy lives, but I am the blogger who is falling down on the job. You, my readers, have been fantastic. I truly appreciate the support and of the last few days especially.

Just to update everyone:

I am nearly done with my revision. Like most writers, I am having difficulty cutting the excess, but I feel confident I will have a revised draft to send back to the magazine on Friday and then fingers crossed, okay?

My father is a tad better after the last two days of fright. He is, however, having to use his O2 most of the time and this is not a good sign despite what my mom and sister think.

My brother is even crazier (is that kind or politically correct? It is accurate though) than I thought. I managed to get in touch with my ex-sister in law and have a much better picture of what is going on. I don’t envy her. You would think that being an ex would make you less responsible but that is only when children aren’t involved which is a lesson to us all really – be careful whom you breed with. But, she tells me he is okay physically and that she will try to talk him into going into the hospital.

I am not overjoyed to be heading back to Iowa. Aside from the sogginess there, we will be leaving behind my favorite time of year here in Alberta. It’s not exactly summer but unspring is definitely behind us, and I wouldn’t call it “white nights” but there is something wonderful about sunset at 10:30 at night and then spying the moon at noon. By the time we return the days will already be getting shorter again. Okay not by much but I will notice.

I will blog over the upcoming holiday. I simply cannot not write. So I hope to be updating more on my dad.

I also have a few things to say in light of Rob and my one year wedding anniversary coming up and there will of course be flood related topics because – let’s face it – how can one visit a disaster area and not have a few things to say.

Finally, I just want to say again how much I appreciate you guys. Even you nameless anonymous readers (who it probably wouldn’t kill to post a comment here and there).

Happy Hump Day all! Don’t forget about the Hump Day Hmm. Check it out. Give it a try.

Annie

How Far Would You Go? That’s the Hump Day Hmmm.


Hump Day Hmm topic: this is “How far would you go for your kids/family/loved one/self?” I vary the who it is because really, that’s up to you, as is the interpretation of the question. Maybe it’s 500 miles through a hot and crowded zoo. Maybe it’s a move to another country. Maybe it’s setting aside something you do. Maybe it’s a life change, such as getting sober. – Julie Pippert

How far would I go? I feel sometimes that I have already lived this particular topic to death via my blogging for all the world (that cares) to know.

I endured IVF for the sake of motherhood and my late husband.

I put my life, and my child’s, on hold to tend to a terminally ill husband.

While living through the nightmare of care-giving and widowhood, I started and finished a masters degree to ensure a secure financial future for myself and my daughter.

I took a chance on a seemingly affable and intelligent Canadian I met on a message board for widowed people. Became friends. Became more. Opened my heart and soul and believed in happily ever after again then emigrated to a foreign country, leaving behind the shell of a life for which I had worked and struggled and bled.

How far would I go? How far do I need to go to get where I am meant to be? Or to accomplish the things for myself, but more often others, that is required of this current tenure on Earth?

That’s how far.

I am not convinced that life is about us. It was Thomas Jefferson who wrote about “the pursuit of happiness” and after centuries of responsibility the human race jumped on that idea squarely with both feet. But the great religions speak only of our duties and obligations and even Buddha declined to lump enlightenment in the same category as “getting happy”.

But we are not Borg either. There is room for the individual. Perhaps part of the process of enlightenment is finding the balance in between.

How far would I go? I haven’t reached my limit as yet, so I don’t know.

What about you? What is your answer to this Wednesday’s hmmm, hmm?

Write it, prose or verse. Words or images. Here or on your own space but don’t forget to link back if you chose the latter.

Number One Son


In every family there is a child whose designation is that of number one son. Girl or boy. Oldest, middle or youngest. Someone comes to earn this title over years of demonstrating grace under pressure, reliability, common sense and a sense of duty to those tied to him or her by the accident we know as “family”.

I have written a bit before about my father. He has a progressively terminal lung disease that has been stable for the last year but he is nearly eighty-one and his health is failing despite the relatively hopeful prognosis on the lung front from his pulmonary doctor in the spring.

He is a lucky man. He has nearly died at least three times in the last two and a half years. There is really no medical rationale for the fact that he has survived this long. And in my opinion, making the “old” half of old age is an accomplishment for which not all of us will be allowed bragging rights.

I knew it was coming and it still stabbed me a good one. Read Full Article