Fête nationale française le 14 juillet 2026 : Vive la Révolution ! Retour sur la prise de notre Bastille en 2023… et aujourd’hui Bastille Day, July 14, 2026: Vive la Révolution! Looking back on the storming of our Bastille in 2023…and today The English version of this very short sketch immediately follows the French. ..
A worthy goal: Brendan Gallagher and family fundraising for brain cancer research A mini controversy has been brewing in Montreal concerning – what else? – hockey, more specifically the recent elimination of Les Canadiens. A fan favourite, the 14-year veteran Brendan Gallagher, was a “healthy scratch” (which sounds like an oxymoron from the..
Celebration in Honour of the Life of Anne Schlenker McBryde (May 16, 2026) “I love you all the time/ And I’ll love you forever.” On April 30 of last year, when Anne and I celebrated our 46th anniversary of conjugal life by feasting on Ottawa’s finest Chinese food, Anne was herself: healthy, feisty, full of..
Ne me quitte pas/ If You Go Away As a Christmas present in 2002, our daughter-in-law Marie-Eve bought us tickets for a concert in honour of the magnificent French singer-song writer Jacques Brel, held in Quebec City. Anne and I were particularly moved by the cover version of “Ne me quitte pas.” It stayed with..
Obituary for Anne Schlenker (McBryde) 1958-2026 “I love you all the time and I’ll love you forever.” Anne’s last words to her family before her emergency brain surgery, May 12, 2025. It is with profound sadness that we wish to announce the death of Anne Schlenker (McBryde). Anne passed away in the early morning hours..
Anne chooses a song for her celebration of life AND IT’S WINTER/ ET C’EST L’HIVER F. Hamelin – Marie-Claire Séguin A beautiful, poetic song for an interminable winter https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhKIlLhWHxg When Anne and I were first together in 1979-1980, she loved this hauntingly beautiful poetic song, which she would sing continuously..
Echoes of Yesterday: A Poignant Reunion with an Old Friend* We sat in the silver hush of late morning, old friend’s hands circling ours with steady warmth. His words were gentle—knitting silence to sorrow, eyes meeting Anne’s with the hush of knowing. We spoke of small kindnesses, old laughter, winter’s return. He held hope..
A Little Help from our Friends In the fall of 1979, as the new school year was about to begin, I found myself in exile, shunted to a crowded, windowless office space in a remote corner of our tiny college, Champlain St. Lawrence CEGEP in Quebec City. As a young, part-time English instructor, I didn’t..
Lights out in 1979 “This level of exhaustion deserves its own genre of music.” Looking back on my 46-year relationship with my wife Anne, I can’t help but express certain profound regrets and proffer belated apologies. I’m so sorry that my nocturnal proclivities cost Anne so much sleep back in 1979… a situation..
Plumbing the depths during palliative care: the Irish Plumber to the rescue in our adapted home Yesterday our toilet blocked. This was not surprising given that we are actually using two different amenities during this palliative homecare period: our regular toilet and a commode, a sort of porta potty throne, which Anne uses in..