Mother’s Day for Moonie A poem dedicated to our sons Daniel and David and to their mom whom they called Moonie Today the world sells roses and bright paper, but our hands are learning a different kind of holding. Anne is not in the kitchen, not in the park, yet she is everywhere you..
What you don’t see: The invisible realities of living with and caring for a person with a brain tumour Believe it or not, we’re approaching May, which is Brain Tumour Awareness Month, and the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada is launching a national campaign called “What You Don’t See.” Brain tumours impact every part of life in ways..
Kindred connections: The timeless bond of cousins for Anne and me Cousins hold a truly unique place in our hearts – often the first friends we have in life, they bridge family ties and share in our joys and burdens with a special understanding born of shared history. In times of hardship, like the..
Ramblings on January 25 to celebrate Robbie Burns’ Birthday Every year, on January 25th, the Scottish people, including the Scottish diaspora, celebrate Burns’ Night. This is the night where Scots highlight the life and works of Robert Burns, a poet and lyricist, and arguably one of Scotland’s most notable figures. https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/robert-burns In my..
Family caregivers: A cry for help The Canadian government is being petitioned to provide support for family caregivers, for the reasons and according to the terms and conditions outlined below. Being a family caregiver can be a 24/7 job. The task is daunting, sometimes undoable. In addition to providing benefits and compensation, governments..
Christmas for Anne in Slovakia As you know, many Canadians – and people the world over – celebrate Christmas today, on what we call “Christmas Eve.” https://flamingosschool.com/when-do-people-celebrate-christmas-in-various-countries-around-the-world/ For my wife Anne’s family December 25 was a mere afterthought, a day to recover from the previous day’s festivities. December 24 was THE day. Anne’s..
Reflections on Christmas Sunday and Christmas Carol Season: A Loss of Innocence From an early age I have been obsessed with the Biblical narrative of the Fall from grace, with its vivid imagery of innocence lost in Eden. From the time that I turned 12 or so, the story has resonated deeply as..
Thanksgiving 2025 There are so many people whom we want to thank: Those of you who have transmitted messages of encouragement, support, empathy, and love; those who have sent thoughts and prayers; those who have paid us a visit; those who have provided photos of birds and flowers; those who have passed on books, poems,..
Teasing Anne Do you ever think about, or indulge in, teasing? There’s “good” teasing and “bad” teasing, I think, and all sorts of shades between. Bad teasing involves making fun of someone in a cruel or unkind way, often targeting their insecurities or weaknesses, and accompanies, or is a prelude to, bullying…
I love you all the time and I’ll love you forever La version française de ce court texte suit immédiatement la version anglaise. Just before she underwent emergency brain surgery to remove the accessible part of the cancer that had metastasized throughout her brain, Anne said these words to me and to our sons…