146 years young and she doesn't look a day over 25! Thanks for your freedoms, your voice and your "just because you're "you" specialness!
Monday, 1 July 2013
Friday, 14 June 2013
For Father's Day, Three 'Gifts' My Dad Gave Me
I don't celebrate Father's Day (this is code for my Dad is a deadbeat) but I found this article and thought it was worth posting. My Mom suprised me with a gift "just because" the other day (West Wing disks that were brand new which she drove an hour out of her way for) and I find as I get older, I too enjoy giving the "because it's Tuesday" gift.
I don't come from a gift giving family.
As adults, my sister and I will sometimes exchange presents, but my parents, immigrants from India, have never been big on the ritual of using material objects to show affection, gratitude or appreciation.
Seriously, my Dad will honestly just shake your hand on your birthday. That's no big deal when you're in your 30s, but kinda sucks when you're 10.
So most major and minor holidays pass without exchanging cards or ugly sweaters that we'll have to shove in an over crowded closet.
Despite the lack of STUFF growing up, I didn't turn into a serial killer or some seriously maladjusted hoarder. For the most part, my sanity is intact, and just because my parents are total gift-giving disasters, doesn't mean they didn't buy me stuff.
My Dad has a good track record of unexpected giving (sorry Mom, not you) but not in the ways one would expect. Here are three things my Dad gave me and what (I think) they secretly mean. I call them gifts. Other people might call them, oh... trash.
A Pair of Work Gloves
I got laid off from my first real job after about nine months. I was unemployed and living with my parents. As the weeks of unemployment started to stretch out I busied myself with small DIY projects around the house. I put up blinds, fixed broken drawers and started staining the brand new deck.
After the second day of watching me shred my fingers trying to sand down the deck with my bare hands, my Dad brought home a pair of durable, yellow work gloves for me to wear. It was a surprisingly thoughtful gesture and tacit approval of my hard work thus far.
In all that time, he never uttered a complaint about my employment status. Just tossed the gloves at me and sent me on my way.
Hidden Dad Message: "Keep doing what you're doing, kid."
Swimming Goggles
During my second long bought with unemployment I started running and swimming to fill the time. I'd come home with red, watery eyes that itched and burned from the chlorine. My form was terrible, I could barely make it from one end of the pool to the other and life guards routinely assumed I was drowning. Any reasonable parent would have had their kid pack it in already.
My Dad just picked up (slightly too small) swimming goggles for me to wear in the pool and made at least some portion of my workout bearable.
Hidden Dad Message: Wow, you're pretty terrible at this right now, but keep working and maybe you'll get better. I said maybe. Don't get your hopes up.
"7 ways to prevent hair loss" Article
Not too long ago, my Dad clipped out an article titled "7 Ways to Prevent Hair Loss" from a magazine and left it on the kitchen counter for me to find.
The man is not one for tact.
At some point, he must have overheard me worrying to my Mom that my hair was falling out (it's not) and decided he needed to intervene. I'm baffled by this gift but use it to remember that sometimes, even things we think are mildly insulting are done with an air of good will and love.
It now proudly hangs on my fridge.
Hidden Dad Message: I'm worried about you and how you'll ever find a husband if you lose all your hair.
My theory has always been that the best gifts are things that come unexpectedly, without occasion and simply say, "Hey I was thinking of you." Usually, they cost next to nothing. This Father's Day, I won't be getting my Dad a gift. I'll probably just shake his hand.
I don't come from a gift giving family.
As adults, my sister and I will sometimes exchange presents, but my parents, immigrants from India, have never been big on the ritual of using material objects to show affection, gratitude or appreciation.
Seriously, my Dad will honestly just shake your hand on your birthday. That's no big deal when you're in your 30s, but kinda sucks when you're 10.
So most major and minor holidays pass without exchanging cards or ugly sweaters that we'll have to shove in an over crowded closet.
Despite the lack of STUFF growing up, I didn't turn into a serial killer or some seriously maladjusted hoarder. For the most part, my sanity is intact, and just because my parents are total gift-giving disasters, doesn't mean they didn't buy me stuff.
My Dad has a good track record of unexpected giving (sorry Mom, not you) but not in the ways one would expect. Here are three things my Dad gave me and what (I think) they secretly mean. I call them gifts. Other people might call them, oh... trash.
A Pair of Work Gloves
I got laid off from my first real job after about nine months. I was unemployed and living with my parents. As the weeks of unemployment started to stretch out I busied myself with small DIY projects around the house. I put up blinds, fixed broken drawers and started staining the brand new deck.
After the second day of watching me shred my fingers trying to sand down the deck with my bare hands, my Dad brought home a pair of durable, yellow work gloves for me to wear. It was a surprisingly thoughtful gesture and tacit approval of my hard work thus far.
In all that time, he never uttered a complaint about my employment status. Just tossed the gloves at me and sent me on my way.
Hidden Dad Message: "Keep doing what you're doing, kid."
Swimming Goggles
During my second long bought with unemployment I started running and swimming to fill the time. I'd come home with red, watery eyes that itched and burned from the chlorine. My form was terrible, I could barely make it from one end of the pool to the other and life guards routinely assumed I was drowning. Any reasonable parent would have had their kid pack it in already.
My Dad just picked up (slightly too small) swimming goggles for me to wear in the pool and made at least some portion of my workout bearable.
Hidden Dad Message: Wow, you're pretty terrible at this right now, but keep working and maybe you'll get better. I said maybe. Don't get your hopes up.
"7 ways to prevent hair loss" Article
Not too long ago, my Dad clipped out an article titled "7 Ways to Prevent Hair Loss" from a magazine and left it on the kitchen counter for me to find.
The man is not one for tact.
At some point, he must have overheard me worrying to my Mom that my hair was falling out (it's not) and decided he needed to intervene. I'm baffled by this gift but use it to remember that sometimes, even things we think are mildly insulting are done with an air of good will and love.
It now proudly hangs on my fridge.
Hidden Dad Message: I'm worried about you and how you'll ever find a husband if you lose all your hair.
My theory has always been that the best gifts are things that come unexpectedly, without occasion and simply say, "Hey I was thinking of you." Usually, they cost next to nothing. This Father's Day, I won't be getting my Dad a gift. I'll probably just shake his hand.
Monday, 20 May 2013
It's been awhile...
I haven't been in a posting mood lately, not sure why, just life I guess. We had a tragedy in this area and it's hit me pretty hard. A man selling his truck on Kijiji went out on a test drive with two men and never came back. They found his body in a neighbouring town a few days later, and it's rocked the whole community. The media has since labeled it a "thrill kill" and it just makes me sick. The guy they've got in custody (thanks to an identifying tattoo seen by another man who had similarly taken the two men on a test drive the week before) is staying silent but they are now looking into the "suicide" of his wealthy father and the "disappearance" of his ex girlfriend. A privledged punk kid who had everything that money could buy, takes the life of a man who's daughter is too young to remember him. Just because he could.
I use Kijiji. I send Mom out there to meet people, you can bet that we'll be just a little more cautious, a little more careful, and ALOT more aware.
Sometimes I just can't understand what this world is coming to.
I use Kijiji. I send Mom out there to meet people, you can bet that we'll be just a little more cautious, a little more careful, and ALOT more aware.
Sometimes I just can't understand what this world is coming to.
Wednesday, 1 May 2013
Buddy's Birthday
In honour of my sweet boy's birthday. I miss you everyday, you were the light in a very dark world. You brought me such joy and happiness. I was blessed to know your sweet little soul for 18 years. I couldn't have asked for a better friend.
"Love you forever, like you for always, as long as I'm living my baby you'll be..."
"Love you forever, like you for always, as long as I'm living my baby you'll be..."
Friday, 26 April 2013
Heartache knows no boundaries...
If you think animals don't miss their owners, all you have to do is watch this video to know how far from the truth that really is. The connection between an animal and their "person" will be one of my life's greatest lessons. I've been blessed to know it's power, it's heartache, and it's grace. So glad to know this beautiful pup has a loving family to help him cope. He won't ever forget her, that's just not the way it works.
Monday, 15 April 2013
Boston
May good always triumph the veil of ignorance.
“Wisdom is knowing what to do next; virtue is doing it.”
“Wisdom is knowing what to do next; virtue is doing it.”
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