As British Prime Minister Winston Churchill so famously commanded during World War II: “Never, never give up!”
So, I shall not. Building on the shocking statistics concerning elder abuse I shared last time let’s see if today’s information strikes an alarm bellRead More
There we were…a group of six friends about to set sail out of New Orleans’ chill into the welcoming balmy Western Caribbean.
With eager anticipation, I sauntered off the hotel elevator to retrieve my jacket for a last walk around NOLA’s French Quarter before boarding our cruise ship. Way down the corridor, I could hear the one-sided pitched volume. It was my Baby Boomer friend in full-blown argument with his late-70’s mother.
His ire started at breakfast. What for him was a proactive question about how to settle our bill became for her like a Spanish Inquisition. Confused, Mom appeared to blow off son’s query.
Stepping courageously into the foray to mediate,Read More
Yesterday’s annual Neighborhood Garage Sale provided lots of opportunities – not just to clear energies in the household but also to reflect.
Between the waves of folks scouting their latest treasures, I had a chance to sort through further possessions salvaged from the 1963 home (in which I grew up) following my parents’ passing. For, the process of getting ready to turn keys in those locks the last time on April 10, 2013 simply proved too daunting to deal with lingering organizing in the moment. Now, I am ready to tackle those next photos, recipes, toys, clothes and such.
Here are threeRead More
A friend and colleague recently sent through a lovely greeting: “May you feel the hope of new beginnings and happiness during this joyful Easter holiday.”
Another wrote: “At this seasonal time of year, I’m flooded with childhood memories of the new outfit for Easter Sunday, always eggs and gifts from the bunny and a special dinner – sometimes at home and sometimes at our Grammie’s house. Although we’ve all had challenges from our childhood, I like to focus on the positives that were present and feel the gratitude that comes with remembering…”
I agree with both sentiments.
Toward that end,Read More
Unbelievably, we’ve reached the last day of March.
For many corporations, it’s already the close of Quarter One. In my business, today marks year-end. Either way, it’s a great time to pause and reflect on the past 90 days.
Though spring has officially sprung on the calendar, it’s not much in evidence via Toronto’s temperatures or post-winter look. The ground is generally barren. Filthy snow piles remain mounded high at local malls since February’s bitter cold.
I suspectRead More
On St. Patrick’s Day it is customary to wear shamrocks and/or green clothing/accessories – the wearing of the green. St. Patrick is said to have used the shamrock, a three-leaved plant, to explain the Holy Trinity to the pagan Irish as early as 1726.
Since, cultures around the world mark March 17th in sundry interesting ways. My home town, Toronto, Canada, is one of many cities worldwide that holds an annual parade (since at least 1863). Then there’s the tiny island of Montserrat. Known as the “Emerald Island of the Caribbean” because of its founding by Irish refugees from Saint Kitts and Nevis, they celebrate a national holiday, also to commemorate a failed slave uprising on March 17, 1768.
Fascinating historical facts…But what’s the tie-in to eldercare? Let me borrow fromRead More
“I’d like to thank the Academy for…”
Is it not true? Tell me how many days it feels like dealing with impossible aging parents every bit resembles some kind of kooky theatrical performance. Perhaps more aptly we should say a horror film!
First presented in 1929, The Academy Awards ceremony (or The Oscars as it was rebranded in 2013) annually honors cinematic achievements in the film industry. The statuette various category winners receive is officially called the Academy Award of Merit.
Tell me you don’t feel like you should receive an arm-load of Awards of Merit of your own for surviving the duo! Here are three more parallelsRead More
How the Western calendar from February 19, 2015 to February 7, 2016 is termed in Chinese astrology apparently depends on who you ask.
Where there does seem general agreement is the personality of people born in the Year of the Sheep: gentle, polite, harmonious, clever, kind-hearted and wise. They cope with business cautiously and in daily life try to be economical. Willing to take good care of others, they are advised to avoid pessimism plus hesitation.
So, how can these qualities translateRead More
Yes, the season of red hearts and chocolates galore has mercifully come and gone.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m the first lady in line to receive all loving expressions from my significant other. It’s just that when burnt-out adult children are expected by society to fawn all over difficult aging parents, I cease to be a fan of February 14th.
Did you struggle while staring for hoursRead More
On February 2nd, Reuters reported this year’s prediction from Pennsylvania’s most famous groundhog – Punxsutawney Phil. Emerging from his burrow at 7:25 a.m., Phil saw his shadow and foretold six more weeks of winter. In contrast, Canada’s rare albino weather foreseer Wiarton Willie indicated an early spring.
Then there’s the movie named after this eagerly-awaited event across North America. In Groundhog Day, weatherman Phil Connors seems doomed to endlessly re-live February 2nd. At first, he struggles to escape a dismal fate. Ultimately, he uses his hopeless situation to learn new skills like piano playing and ice carving.
So, how do marmots and this film connectRead More
