As advertised, our young family had a whale of a time at Marineland in Niagara Falls. It was a fantastic day with our little ones, but so expensive! I handed over $20 for a couple of soft drinks and pocketed my $2 change. We meandered through the gift shop. The aroma of popcorn filled my…
Back in the days of Gestetner machines and electric typewriters, I literally cranked out the bulletin for our small-town church. Many announcements, especially those on the weekly calendar, were punctuated by the letters DV. As a new Christian, I had no idea what that meant. The pastor kindly pointed me to James 4. We shouldn’t…
Gretta VanGorkum immigrated to Canada with her family at age seven. She grew up in the Chatham, Ontario area and began her working days at the Bank of Montreal. She soon started dating Bill Heyink, whom she knew through church and youth group. They fell in love, were married and were blessed with a daughter…
Small town events are big excitement for kids. Somewhere around age 12 I remember eagerly anticipating an upcoming parade with my then bestie, Lee. Lee was a fun-loving, kind-hearted friend. So, when she announced that she was personally going to participate in the parade, I was genuinely excited with her. She would be a baton-twirler,…
My father often fell asleep on the sofa with the cat perched on his chest. As the TV droned on, Pa started snoring. Chainsaws couldn’t compete. The cat rose and fell along with Pa’s breathing. He purred contentedly, flattening his ears every time my dad exhaled. It continued until Ma woke him up and sent…
Steel-grey clouds cluttered the sky as I drove, interrupted only by a few scattered patches of bright blue. On the distant horizon shafts of rain plunged straight down from heaven to earth. In the rear-view mirror, far behind me, the sun shone, growing weaker with every mile I travelled. Typical autumn weather in Ontario –…
Norton and I wander down the path through the cornfield. Tall, lush plants wall us in. Tropical conditions this summer have been ideal for corn. It could be a bumper crop. Or it could be a repeat of 1992. Similar weather that year produced an incredible stand. Then relentless autumn rains ruined the entire crop…
A few years ago, Jack and I stayed in a vacation rental home in Florida. It was nice enough, but the ornate chandelier was thick with dust and cobwebs. Even Jack saw it. (This is a man who believes cleaning should involve a high-pressure sprayer and/or a backpack blower. If he notices the dirt, it’s…
“You are being watched.” This ominous warning began each episode of Person of Interest. The science-fiction crime series ran for five seasons. The plot centred around “the Machine,” a sophisticated computer system designed by billionaire genius Harold Finch (Michael Emerson), for the U.S. government after 9-11. Originally intended to predict acts of terrorism, it was…
A city kid, Jack dreamed of being a farmer someday. At the age of 21, against the odds, his dream was about to come true. With significant help from his parents and a rare opportunity, he would soon begin a whole new phase of life. He had prayed for change and at just the right…
“So. Heidi. What gives you joy?” My new friend’s question wasn’t meant to be deep or probing, just a cordial segue into light conversation. Still, I had to think a minute before answering. “My grandkids,” I began. “Motorcycles. Dogs. The outdoors. Writing.” I thought more about it the next day. What brings me joy? It’s…
My daughter Jessica showed up one day with a couple of plant stalks in her hands. “Do you want these, Mom?” she asked, “A woman at church gave them to me.” I examined the pieces – healthy green stems, two inches in diameter and cut about 18 inches long. “What kind of plant are they…
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