Category Archives: philosophy

A walk in my shoes

31 Saturday Jul 2021

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It’s the last weekend of July. Not being a summer person, I am not sad to see us enter into August then the cool, crisp days of the Canadian autumn.

New discoveries

This is the type of weather perfect for hiking or just taking long walks. Who knows what you will find if you explore a little farther in your community. Last Friday night I discovered an Indian Supermarket in one of the plazas. I entered, mask-on with intentions to satisfy a craving, to purchase prepared Butter Chicken and Korma sauces, but came out with a few extras including cookies and snacks.

Indian cooking sauces and snacks

In the moment

On my way home, I felt joy when I stopped to witness the evening sun’s rays bursting through trees in a nearby park. It was magical. It was bliss.

I was in the moment, stopping to appreciate the evening sun bursting through the green foliage.

Seconds later I encountered a neighbour from the old apartment building who was approaching along the sidewalk. We stood at a distance to chat, share news of our respective families. I had to cut the conversation short to scoot home in time to watch one of my favourite TV shows.

If you are venturing out by foot around your communities this long weekend, here are some projects you can participate in:

Protocols and Gratitude

I continue to work from home. I have almost everything I need within walking distance. That suits me just fine as we are still navigating through this COVID-19 pandemic. My household is taking no chances; we are content with staying close to home, away from crowded places and careless individuals. There is no wanderlust or protests about freedom here.

This pandemic and government restrictions have provided us with the opportunity to evaluate our needs, our values and appreciate the time for reflection.

Now if we could remind people who also are walking on streets with no sidewalks, that you are supposed to walk facing traffic! As my dear old Dad used to say, “Walk facing traffic so you can see what’s going to hit you!”

Thanks for stopping by.

Stay safe. Be kind.

T

Putting your house in order

24 Monday May 2021

Posted by in Health, philosophy, reading

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Thank goodness for extra long weekends. Since I don’t have a cottage to travel to during a pandemic, I invested my time continuing to organize our new home.

  • Yesterday I unpacked three suitcases from the move; two contained the remainder of my seasonal wardrobe. It feels like I am clothes shopping in my closet after cycling through four basic outfits for the past month. Bonus!
  • I spent the sticky, humid half of the long weekend sorting through boxes of books, finding appropriate spots for them in the limited supply of bookcases. You can read about it in this blog post written by the Tabby Cat.
  • The excess boxes with questionable historical value have been tucked away for later inventory. They may have to come with me during the next move to an even smaller rental. Either that or my adult children will have to deal with them after I die.

This may sound morbid but I think it’s important for adults to consider the eventuality of one’s death and make preparations to alleviate the burden on others.

It becomes more of a consideration during a pandemic.

Thanks for dropping by. Stay safe. Be kind.

T

Home Phone

16 Saturday Jan 2021

Posted by in Health, philosophy, writing

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I am sure there are statistics somewhere but I wonder what percentage of Canadian residences have such a thing as a landline or “Home Phone” anymore.

One of my goals for 2021 is to move to a cleaner, safer rental setting. Forget affordable; we will have to cut back on guilty pleasures and luxuries. I just want to have our own laundry facilities instead of dealing with inconsiderate, clueless tenants, lazy custodians and petty crime vandals – especially during a pandemic!

A sense of roots

I am debating whether to transfer our home number to a prospective new rental. I am also comparing costs of getting a bundle with major carriers for phone, Internet and TV.

To me, having a home phone number is like having a sense of roots, something that is permanent although transferable, a number where family and friends know they can reach members of your family if you are not roaming out and about. It’s not like we have the freedom to do that these days during a pandemic lock-down anyway!

One of the Millennial youth scoffed at my reference to “home phone” in conversation one day, when I used the term for communication options during logistical arrangements. “What even is a “home phone” anymore?”, he asked. Says he who had to move around the country for school and special training but still carries the same cell phone number.

This current rental is what was the last “family home” they lived in before jumping off to their various independent lives, sharing accommodations with friends or finding a quiet place to themselves. Some returned for short stays in-between engagements and the next phase in their lives.

I have to learn to let go and trust the Universe to protect and guide them. My job is done with providing a sense of family, home and convoluted roots.

watercolour painting tree of life
Tree of Life watercolour 2020 T. Jamone

It could be something deeper for me in that I have a hard time of letting go of them, of missing our small family gatherings for holidays, special meals and celebrations. The COVID-19 pandemic and regional lock-downs since March 2020 seem to have relieved me of that expectation but blessed me with the company of my youngest Millennial for the duration.

It’s time to move on after ten years, to downsize and remove emotional attachments. I have given up on waiting for the fifteen year-old cat to die; she’s going to have to survive the move. Perhaps a new home layout will provide her with more enrichment between her naps, meals and tongue baths.

Geneva Tabby Cat mellowing out on a Friday night

Thanks for dropping by – and keeping a safe distance.

T