In A Pickle
Care aides wear many hats while helping those with Alzheimer's disease
“Get away from me or I’ll scream”, she bellowed. I felt like a lowlife. The problem started minutes earlier when Rose announced she was going...
Visiting Alberta's 'Buckets of Blood Hotel'
“Did you see the curtains move?” I asked. Crystal snickered and rolled her eyes. “Oh Mom, you're hilarious!” she replied....
Avian rescue is for the birds
A sickening thud echoed throughout the room. It was sound I recognize well, when a bird hits a window. It was Aug. 3, in mid-afternoon. Reluctantly, I walked...
Hard decisions made in the face of an oncoming wildfire
I was terrified, feeling like a sitting duck when the authorities shut down the highways. On Aug. 18, we stayed glued to CBC radio, listening for updates and...
It's woman v. worms in battle for the tomato plant
The puny monster hissed a warning, lunged at me and spat green goo. That would teach me for nudging it with plastic tongs. It had been playing dead on the...
Time for women to embrace their inner Amazon
I served up a humiliating kick in the pants to a perverted middle-aged man. It amazed me that my Kung Fu fighting skills awoke after a 15-year hiatus. The creep...
Whenever a baby is born, so is a grandmother
With great anticipation, we drove to Alberta to meet our new grandsons. Both our daughters from previous marriages gave birth nine days apart. Being an...
In sickness and health, seniors are best at marital commitment
I heard the elderly man’s heart break from across the room. Every day, Ben faithfully came to visit his wife, Shirley, in the nursing home. Shirley had...
Mischievous mutt's ghostly encounter
Nala braced herself, refusing to enter the shower house at a campground near Tumbler Ridge. She had the same response to the downtown core. “I’m not...
Some draw a line when it comes to tattoos
“Does it come off?” my mother asked in a panic. She licked her forefinger and vigorously scrubbed my tattoo with it. As a child, I remembered her...
Making peace with the past
The frail elderly woman trembled with excitement and asked, “Are you here to see me?” Her hands quivered as she reached out. Sarah gently took her...
Holding a second vigil for Austyn Godfrey
A gut-wrenching email from Austyn Godfrey’s mother Michelle spurred me to hold a second vigil on the first anniversary of Austyn’s death. Michelle...
December 25 a common birthday for deities
Ten deities share Dec. 25 as their birth date. The list of gods is as follows; Apollo - Greek god of the sun. He was said to be a healer, producer of...
Warding off influenza 'reaper' with homeopathic remedies
My life force was ripped from my body and caught it up in an invisible tornado, which made my head spin and legs turn into spaghetti. Collapsing onto the bed, I...
Ogopogo not alone when it comes to mythical lake monsters in Canada
The beast appeared through the fog, its eyes glowed yellow as the sun. Fire blasted from its mouth, which heated the sea. Smoke billowed out of his nostrils,...
Children need support
I hung my head in shame as they sneered and snickered while I shuffled past them, headed down the hallway to the dummy classroom. It felt like the death march...
Trucker steps in to save stabbing victim
Justin McDonald watched in horror as a man pummelled a petite woman only one-third his size alongside West Kelowna highway. The truck driver had a...
The harsh impact of homelessness
“This is all I have left to my name. Please don’t move it. I’ll be back soon to pick it up. Bless you and thanks so much” the homeless...
A Good Samaritan steps forward
A squirming body lying face down in the ditch caught my eye. I was travelling down a busy road in the countryside. While I turned around, I quickly prayed for...
Beware of ticks when walking in the woods
“Ouch, something bit me!” Tig’ger howled. “Mom, Dad, it’s behind my shoulder and I can’t pull it out with my teeth. Help...