Who would you be without your story?
~Byron Katie
Hello Dear Ones!
Something has been on my mind and in my heart of late that I wanted, and needed, to get down in print.
The past several days I have been contemplating two issues:
1. Who am I without my stories?
2. Who I am without my stories. Continue Reading →
Hi Folks:
Okay, I’ll admit it. I didn’t know Canada actually had a National Flag Day. A national holiday (Canada Day, July 1), naturally. A national flag, certainly. But no, I was unaware we had a National Flag Day. Turns out that not only is today our National Flag Day, but it’s also the 50th Anniversary of our flag. I remember the day the ‘new’ flag was first raised in our small town in southern Manitoba, and I was peripherally aware that there was some controversy over it… even then I wasn’t much attuned to news or politics.
Personally, I like our flag. Flags are interesting symbols; I remember a radio commentator once mentioning that in countries ruled by dictatorships one generally sees both large images of whoever is in power and large flags. There the flag represents control. In many countries, those lost in war are carried to their final resting places in flag-draped coffins. There flags represent sorrow, and loss. Burning a flag can be a symbol of freedom, defiance, or both. Canadians are not generally very overt flag wavers (except on Canada Day), but we are, I believe, as a body quietly proud of who we are and proud of the flag that serves as a symbol for our country to the rest of the world.
Happy National Flag Day, Canada! Here’s to the next 50 years, and more.
Hugs,
M&M
Hi Folks:
It’s been a while since we’ve done a post that attempts to jam several somewhat-related ideas into one piece so it must be time for another one! The title for this post was inspired by a rather erudite nine-year-old girl (Julia Wolfe), so we’ll start with her.
Continue Reading →
Hi Folks:
In the James Bay neighbourhood of Victoria, just behind the Legislative buildings, is a roughly six-acre site that is partly parking lot and partly occupied by a combination of heritage houses and unused/underutilized mid-century modern steel office buildings. On the southwest corner is the Michigan Street Community Garden, an icon in the community since 1999.
The landscape of this area, bordered by Menzies, Superior, Government and Michigan Streets will soon be changing dramatically with the beginning of the Capital Park Victoria project. Two of the heritage houses will remain on their existing sites, three others will be moved to new locations on site and the building containing the Queen’s Printer will remain. The rest will be replaced by a mix of business and residential units, courtyards and pedestrian walkways. The developers are seeking LEED Gold or better in all new construction, and hopefully the builders will do their best to reuse/recycle as much of the existing material as possible. Continue Reading →