Thoughts from Chickadee Lane

Elizabeth and Orysia Why am I the last to know about me?” - the poignant question voiced by Orysia, a dear friend and kindred spirit, who is now living wth dementia.  I don’t know if this is the best place to start the story, yet it seems to be a good place to start.  Orysia is the first child born to immigrant Ukrainian parents who settled in Northern Ontario. An adopted Islander, (PEI) Orysia is a woman of many talents. Internationally known Akbash and Havanese dog breeder. Shetland sheep farmer. Scientist. Writer of both long and short fiction. Author of an award-winning book on livestock protection dogs. Writer in residence at the University of Tasmania. Traveller. Sister. Aunt. Cousin. And fun loving generous friend.    Once upon a time, we worked and played together. We played endless pranks on colleagues and friends, watched the sunrise over the Grand Canyon and enjoyed many beach walks while sharing our lives.    Orysia was a rock as my first m...

In these days of difficult news I feel called to write about something that brings us life. Or at least a breath of fresh air. Recently I have been in the presence of two astonishing creatures - Chandler and Echo, who manifest a serenity that resists all chaos, fear and anger's noise. At a recent Legion Convention I sat near Chandler, a six year old Service Dog trained for PTSD and Dave, a veteran living with PTSD. Amid the noisy chaos at the Convention Centre, I watched in awe as Chandler snuggled up to Dave. They are always touching. (See picture) Dave explained that when Chandler senses Dave’s anxiety, Chandler pushes up against Dave, letting Dave know that he is there. When Dave feels the PTSD anxiety he reaches out and touches Chandler. While Dave prefers to stay in the security of his home, Chandler gets Dave outside among people… just the place he needs to be. Then there is Echo - a seven year old black Labrador retriever Seeing Eye dog I met at a recent workshop. Led by h...

Rainbow photo from our back yard. It is with humility that I offer today’s thoughts from Chickadee Lane - a critique of the use of the word ‘guys’ to address all people - a bee in my bonnet, a thorn in my side. Some might say that I am the last one to critique how we use language. For with my Island accent I drive on ‘slippy’ roads and often drop the ‘g’ as "I am goin’ to town.” I who have confused every church music director by mixing up hymn numbers. I who can never quite understand when to use ‘I’ and when to use ‘me’. To the point that in my early ministry a women of the congregation, frustrated with my mixing up ‘I’ and ‘me,’ presented me with an English grammar book, “The Use of I”! And to you who read this blog, you already know I am not an expert in grammar and have never figured out when to use a semicolon.   Still… I am not a ‘guy’! My protest is about the use of the word ‘guys’ to address all genders. I am old enough to recall when male exclusive language was used for a...

These past few weeks I have been walking through the valley of death.   My oldest brother, Robert, who lived in PEI, had been unwell for the past few years and hospitalized off and on for the past few months. On March 17, I received word that he would be receiving ‘comfort care’ only. On March 18, a crazy weather day of hail, wind, rain, sun and rainbows, word came that my brother’s soul took flight. It’s strange this thing we call death. We know we are all going to take that trip. For as someone said, it is the “high cost of living.” Still. In recent years my brother and I were not particularly close. Time, distance and different interests, took us into different circles. Still when death happened, I became that 7 year old little sister and tears and memories flowed. Memoirs of playing ball with big brother. Building forts in the woods and hay loft. Walking home from the one room school house. Picking potatoes on cool September days.   Memories of driving in his first car. Wa...

Today I begin with one of my favourite pictures, that of my mother and grandmother heading off to market.  Meanwhile thoughts of many amazing women who have been and continue to be my guides come to mind. There are the school teachers, Sunday School teachers, piano teachers, professors, Women’s Institute friends, Canadian Girls in Training (CGIT - I never did figure out what we were in training for) clergy and 4 - H leaders.   Other women are known through literature or social media where an abundance of poets, authors, scientists, theologians, musicians - courageous women of all walks of life expand my heart and mind. As I read their work on paper or screen, listen to their music, and witness their passion for equality, I am inspired by the many ways they live a vision of love and justice for all Creation. For instance, this morning I attended the annual Kennebecasis Valley International Women’s Day celebration. The theme this year - Inspire Inclusion 2024.   While we be...