Weekly Stories

Maddening, Endearing

Fellow whistles loud and tuneless. It’s a maddening and utterly endearing sound. I love how much he doesn’t care. He plays puppy tug-a-war with one hand and the other works out his weekly schedule on the computer. He’s asked me about something I JUST TOLD HIM five minutes ago. I smile at him, repeat the information as though it were fresh, and tuck my toes next to the fire. Good wife. I have written four short films this week. None of them are masterpieces but all of them are fun with a hit of poignancy. Sums up my career, give…

Orn and Ugh

I need a wee holiday from about fifteen percent of society. Just a week. Before I lose my cool. On top of some pretty unreasonable folks blabbing red faced on social media, we have our own personal Orn and Ugh raising Cain again. Orn is my thorn and Ugh is Fellow’s smug. Doesn’t every family have an Ornery thorn and Ugh-ly Smug? (you are nodding, yes, yes, we do) And if you’re anything like Fellow and me, everyone around you just assumes you’ll handle the nonsense singlehandedly on behalf of the whole because you’re “strong”. Abandonment is a strange compliment….

Tickling Awake

Crows fly east under clouds as thick as a Scottish sweater. I think of Vancouver’s rainy season like a wet blanket: enveloping, comforting, can give you hypothermia. I am driving back from church, still basking in its glow. Just hearing the minister affirm the sanctity of the 2SLGBTQ body every Sunday gives me such hope for humanity. Knowing we are working through the T&R calls to action and finding specific ways to atone and find understanding is healing and vital. Having Mr. and Mr. Singh play for our worship on tabla and sitar was a gift. Nora whispered to me…

Pink Halo

Pink Halos A woman strutted by me today on my way to church. She had striped pants with a vibrant pink, perfectly matching her puffed hair. She was about my age, maybe a bit older, Asian heritage, walking with the authority of a commander, swinging her arms in an excellent hip length jacket. She was so striking, so utterly cool, she made me gasp. Her puffed pink hair was very thin, barely there, like a cloud. I could see the entire shape of her skull through it. But instead of fretting over being quite bald, she wore it like a…

Art: the Antidote to Empathy Fatigue

Loved ones are hanging on for life and hospitals are full of CoVid. Does bone marrow expire? My Uncle needs that transplant. We have several first responders and medical practitioners in the extended family and I don’t think it’s just them with empathy fatigue. I think most of us are exhausted. It’s not that we don’t care, it’s that we can’t care. We’re too tired, too depressed, too angry. Friends keep their texts short with me or don’t reply at all. Once in a while they can muster a visit. I’m the same. I want to say, “Don’t worry, I…

tuft

I wake up at 3am every morning lately and wait. I am not sure what I am waiting for. Reprieve. I sit outside my daughter’s door and listen to the silence. She can sleep tonight at least. Good. I keep vigil. I resist the urge to quietly turn the knob and peek at her sweet peaceful face. Instead I stare at the white panels of her door, firmly shut. She’s painted the other side blue. The colour is on the inside.I do a series of crosswords. I find relief in solving puzzles. If only it were this easy. Koala. Inca….

November 1st Pumpkins

I remember those days of toddler scribbles and asking as kindly as I could…”And…what have we here?” Nora would reply with an exasperated “duh”, “It’s a llama, Mom! Look at the neck!” And I thought those days were over. Except now they are happening at Halloween. Last night I asked for pictures (they’re out with their friend bubbles) and Nora texted me a pic of her wearing her green sweater and our son texted me a blurry headshot of him wearing his sunglasses. For the life of me…I had to timidly ask again, “And…what have we here?” How could I…

Barcelona on my street

Little gramma in pink sweats next door taking pictures of the bright red leaves. We wave and smile at each other, I don’t speak Chinese, but I planted garlic and ate the figs off my tree so I won some points with her there. Millennial gal with a furrowed brow is crossing the street. She’s all dressed in grey but her bright orange socks tell me she hasn’t given up on the day. I am still sitting in my car finishing off George Ezra’s Barcelona and singing along. I don’t care, dog walking man, if you can hear me. Cuz…

Grenade

Bruno Mars croons to me over the radio as I crawl through rush hour traffic to get home to make supper. “I’d catch a grenade for ya…” To which I reply, “Just taking out the garbage would be nice” “Throw my hand on a blade for ya” “How about starting the potatoes?” “I’d jump in front of a train for ya” “Something tells me these are false promises, Bruno.” “Take a bullet right through my brain” “I’d much prefer a foot rub” The SUV dude beside me catches me conversing with my radio martyr and I give him a goofy…

Renzullos

I decided to pop into Renzullo’s food market for the first time a couple of weeks ago, it’s just north of 1st Ave, near our new place. Often there are little old Italian fellows walking up to the door with their tweed caps pulled tightly over their ears. Nonnas gather around the outdoor tables for a cup of coffee and a gossip session, resting their bikes against the brick. This is always a good sign of authenticity and a good price. It’s a sweet little family owned corner store packed with imported goods from Italy, a panino deli, and a…

Lucia Frangione