Starbucks Rewards

She stepped out of the cab as I turned in to the Starbucks drive thru. I live in the motor city. Everything is drive thru.

She was wearing a black brimmed hat and matching black ensemble. She looked like a fashionable Manhattan socialite. But this wasn't Manhattan. I think she took a wrong turn at this factory laden Southern Ontario city.

I ordered a decaf. The barista said it would take a full minute to brew. Some would balk but that means the freshest possible coffee. Well worth the wait.

And there she was. I could see her sitting at a table by the window, black brimmed hat and all. She even chatted stylishly. I watched her for the full minute. Wondering what brought her to Starbucks in a cab.

I imagined she was here to escape an abusive and controlling husband. She was left at home with no car. He didn't allow her to dress up. So while he was at work, she put on her best clothes and the black brimmed hat that made her feel beautiful, called a cab and met her very best confidant at Starbucks for an expresso. So she could feel real again.

The barista handed me a certificate for a free beverage, any size, to compensate for my wait. That minute had passed by fast as I imagined the story of the Manhattan Socialite.

Well worth the wait.

For more water cooler creativity click here...Ethos.

Lights, Camera...Dessert!

They were having a gluten party at The Bakery. They call it "Dessert Night". Since it is for gluten eaters only I wasn't going. But I went to the Pre-show. That's when the professional photographer came to clickety click those luscious looking morsels of sugary goodness. He's a regular too.

It was a "real" photo shoot with one of those 12' umbrella lights, a spotlight and a tripod. He never told the cake to "show me more emotion". He didn't have to. Those cakes were quite expressive on their own.

I found it funny to watch customers come in and not even blink about the photographer and lights. Just here to buy cookies and bread...

I got to taste the fillings for the crepes. Just a spoonful. The Baker could see the look on my face and he said 2 things:

I need the rest of that!!

and

All is right with the world now...

I nodded in agreement. In my world, at this moment...all is right.

Soup takes on new meaning for me...

...since I have been reading this blog:

We didn’t know how long they had been waiting but they knew the routine. The women were in I think 6 lines; some had babies on their backs…some old…most in their 20s and 30s. Then the men. There were only a few lines of them. Then there were the children. They were the ones who didn’t have parents. Some were as young as 3. I spent most of my time with them.

World Malaria Day April 25

Malaria kills 1 million people each year. Most who die of this treatable, preventable disease are children. A gift to Compassion's Malaria Intervention Fund will help Compassion-assisted children and their families receive the resources they so desperately need to fight this deadly disease, including:

•mosquito nets to protect children from mosquito bites
•malaria prevention education
•access to malaria medical treatment for those struggling with the disease

A little goes a long way:
•$30 will provide three mosquito bed nets.
•$50 will provide five mosquito bed nets.
•$100 will provide 10 mosquito bed nets.

CLICK HERE TO GIVE.

One of the best Christmas gifts I ever got was a card that said a mosquito net had been purchased in my name...I was so moved. We have so much in North America. So much to be grateful for, so much to share. I'm a day late with this "blog assignment"...but I am glad to post this important information.

We love our Arts.

WE LOVE OUR HOCKEY
WE LOVE OUR BEER
WE LOVE OUR ARTS

That pretty much sums up my Canada.

I heard that commercial slogan on TV, well I half heard it...I'm not sure what it was for because I was out of the room...I think it was for the CBC, the Canadian Broadcasting Company. It was definitely on the CBC, our national network. I grew up watching CBC TV and listening to CBC radio. There is something for all ages and all interests. It connects our country. Podcasts, streaming audio and video are available online.

My favorites...

C'est la vie

Vinyl Cafe

Writers and Company

Randy Bachman's Vinyl Tap

For more posts around the watercooler go to ethos...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FRANCES ELENA!

Easter weekend, 24 years ago tonight, as I sat watching Indiana Jones, my water broke. 23 hours later, Saturday April 21, 1984, I gave birth to Frances Elena. She weighed 9 lbs 15 oz and was 22 inches long.

I wasn't actually sure that my water broke. I must have missed that part of prenatal class.

I didn't go to the hospital till...after we went to the bank, the video store, and grocery shopping in the morning. While getting ready (you gotta take a shower and set your hair in hot rollers before you go to labour and delivery, right?) we got a phone call from family in Scotland. When I said that I thought my water broke last night my also pregnant sister in law said "Well, here in Scotland, we go to the hospital when our water breaks!!"

I was under the mistaken impression that contractions would start if my water broke. They didn't. No pain at all. So I figured I had time to get stuff done. And we hadn't figured out a girl name yet. For a boy it was going to be Charles Stewart. For a girl I wanted Fiona. John said no it was too Scottish. The next name in the book...Frances. That's it!! Frances!!

I felt fine, until we finished the shopping. We were over on the east end of Toronto (we lived on the west end) and I started to feel nauseous. I wanted to lie down NOW. So I climbed into the back seat of our station wagon and said we have to go to the hospital NOW. Problem was, John didn't know how to get to the hospital from that side of the city. So I was giving directions from the backseat.

When we went to emerg, I said I wasn't sure if it was actually my water. It was just a trickle. Well they did the test strip thingy and the nurse said "You are definitely not leaving this hospital till you have a baby!" So, with all the groceries still in the car, I was admitted.

My OB was at the museum when she got the page. I know that because she told me when she arrived. She said she had guests from out of town and she had plans to take them to the opera. She said my labour was not progressing, but they would start a drip and see how I go. Then, at intermission, she would come and do a C section if nothing had changed.

I got the epidural at some point before intermission at the opera. And when Dr OB arrived she was ready to get this baby born. Dr OB, the anesthetist, the assisting OB...all women over 50. Probably closer to 60. They were awesome, experienced, caring, professionals. Amazing women.
John said it was like 3 women chatting at the bus stop, it was so routine for them. When I said I had been born in this same hospital 26 years before, they tried to figure out if they were on rotation that day or if they were on vacation!

It was minutes after we started...AND FRANCES WAS BORN!!

"Who has the big feet??" Dr OB said.

"I do!!" John and I both said in unison.Her feet were so long they went over the outline on the place where they put the footprint on the birth record.

Before a cry, I heard the sucking sound. She was already sucking on a fist as if to say Is it breakfast time yet?? Or better still, bedtime snack...it was 10:07 pm.

John held her first and put her up to my face. I'll never forget those dark eyes.

24 years. In the blink of an eye. A beautiful, dark brown eye.

Happy Birthday my beautiful, dark eyed baby girl. You will always have my love. And for you, this is my wish...

Rascal Flatts-My Wish

[via FoxyTunes / Rascal Flatts]

I hope that the days come easy and the moments pass slow,
And each road leads you where you want to go,
And if you're faced with a choice, and you have to choose,
I hope you choose the one that means the most to you.
And if one door opens to another door closed,
I hope you keep on walkin' till you find the window,
If it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile,

But more than anything, more than anything,
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.

I hope you never look back, but ya never forget,
All the ones who love you, in the place you left,
I hope you always forgive, and you never regret,
And you help somebody every chance you get,
Oh, you find God's grace, in every mistake,
And you always give more than you take.

But more than anything, yeah, and more than anything,
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.

My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.

This is my wish
I hope you know somebody loves you
May all your dreams stay big

WORRY SMALL, DREAM BIG!

Fiddle? Fabulous!...meet Scott...

...Scott Woods!


My angel came through again. This time she treated me to a concert. Tracy, one of the angels where I do rehab so I can walk, took me to a Scott Woods concert. He is a fiddle CHAMPION who travels extensively raising money for charities and churches across the country. The concert was full of surprises and diversity with music ranging from country to waltzes, celtic to classical with a few tricks (he did a somersault while playing!) and jokes that kept us laughing. And one of the biggest surprises??? The backup band....his mom, sister and brother! The family that plays together stays together!

My favorite moment was when Scott, his sister(who is classically trained, plays bass and accordion) and his brother (who also played drums and percussion) ALL played fiddle in harmony while mom accompanied on keyboard. Way to make a mom proud! By the way, mom also does missionary work in Haiti. This is an awesome family.

They have 150 concert dates this year!! Chances are they are coming to a city near YOU! They just came back from Florida. Not so coincidentally the title of this tour is ROAD TRIP. And you can see and hear it in the songs with titles that include: Texas, Arkansas, Scotland, Nova Scotia, and places near and far.

This ministry began many years ago by their father who started singing for charity at the age of 11. They lost dad 4 years ago but remembered him musically with a special tribute, playing one of his favorites: When I Survey The Wondrous Cross.

They live here in Ontario in the small town of Fergus. But their show and their ministry is anything but small. So if you get the chance...GO SEE SCOTT WOODS.
And think about booking him for your church fundraiser!

This post is part of Watercooler Wednesday at Ethos.

International border... wildlife stewards

My friends are minutes from the international US/Canadian border (Detroit / Windsor), just blocks from the NAFTA highway and these are the scenes they witness outside their window...

Why do politicians talk about saving our environment anyway?!

I was so moved by the pictures I invited them to share their story.

I guess what I want to say that no matter how we fought to save our park it fell on deaf ears. Money was the root of the whole fight. The city and school board didn't want to know that the neighbours liked their small little park, filled with hake berry trees, every type of flying bird, coyotes, raccoons, mice , rabbits and of course the family of deer. Every morning when I open the kitchen blinds, this is the scene I have the honour of seeing.


Birds waiting on the lines,trees and fences for their breakfast, and the deer waiting in the park for their corn. The city has allowed developers to encroach on the lands all around this little ecosystem, with no regard for its life. Then they sell it to the school board to save some other land that was used as a trade off. They say that this is endangered land, but we all know that when the time is right they will sell that off too.(you know when the price is right).

I guess we should be happy with the time we've had with all these beautiful creatures, but I'm a little selfish. When we built here there was a promise that this park was always going to be a park, sad for us the promise was not true. The other day , as I brought my neighbours from around the corner over and sat their little children on a chair to watch the momma deer and her babies eat , I started to cry.

I thought out loud and said you know I know that God put these deer here at this time for a reason. He must want people to see how well animals and man can survive together. These deer have taught us to be patient, kind and most of all to know that God is taking care of them. He will not let the city come in a destroy what he has built. When it is time (His time) that is when our deer will be gone and not before.

The Bakery...where everybody knows your name.

I haven't posted about the Bakery much lately but that doesn't mean I haven't been going there regularly. Oh I've been going there regularly alright. And Saturday when I walked in 2 hours later than I usually go and was greeted with a chorus of "where have you been!!" from the The Baker, Mrs Baker and the "regulars", I wondered if possibly there was a slight chance I've been spending too much time at the bakery.

Late on a Saturday afternoon there are not too many real customers. I know that because if a "real" customer comes in The Baker tells us (the regulars) to be quiet. That's how you know you're a regular.

You see late on a Saturday afternoon is THE MOST FUN TIME AT THE BAKERY. In my humble opinion. I've popped in at other times and it's just too busy for my liking. I'm sure The Baker likes those times. But I don't.

I like Saturday afternoon because the sun shines in at just the right angle, casting an extra special glow on the yummy trays behind the glass. The Baker is done making his magic delight-able delectables in the kitchen for the week. Mrs Baker puts on the music that makes us all happy. And over an endless cup of coffee or a tea (for $1.50) we talk about nothing and everything.

So why was I late?? I was all discombobulated from working different shifts this week and couldn't get organized plain and simple. And isn't that what Saturday is for? Well that and going to the Bakery.

So lately The Baker has accused me of having no friends outside the regulars. He doesn't even count himself as a friend because I pay him to be my friend. If you baked gluten free bread for me I'd pay you too. Now I've even brought friends in with me so I don't know WHAT he is talking about...I also brought someone I gave birth to...

Have you ever watched Hell's Kitchen? We were saying that The Chef is not too far off from The Baker. When I walk in and it's too quiet I immediately know The Baker is not there. And he tells us to be quiet when a customer comes in. Whatever.

The Baker challenged me to bring a friend in which I did last week. And it turns out they knew her. She's a regular at a different time(not Saturday). And she just happens to be from Oklahoma City, OK. So The Baker said I don't even have local friends and I had to go that far to import a friend. Again I say...whatever.

So now I'm up for the challenge. Calling all friends! Wanna join me at The Bakery on a Saturday afternoon?
Oh and remember to be quiet when the real customers come in...

It turns out The Baker hangs out at Starbucks on the days The Bakery is closed. I don't know why I find that funny....but I do. I had this vision of an exact replica of The Bakery in his kitchen. Guess not.

A Baker's gotta have a place to be a regular.


Click here to read another post about The Bakery...one of my personal favorites.

My Front Porch

It's Thursday so that means...Creative Chaos at Ragamuffin Soul!!!

I don't need to go far for creative inspiration. I walk out my front door and sit on my front porch. It's not long till someone comes along. Now I make sure I take paper and pen. And this year I'll make sure I have my camera.

My neighbourhood is a porch sittin' kinda place. This is a porch conversation from last summer. This young man inspires me in so many ways...

He knocked on my door and said he would cut my grass for "5 bucks". He even had his own lawn mower. He works fast and does a great job. He pushes that lawn mower about 8 blocks to get to my street. He trims the hedges, puts down mulch, cleans out the garage, washes windows and cleans my car. As soon as he is done he knocks on the door and asks if there is anything else to do. He just turned 15.

We were chatting on his last visit, the day before his 15th birthday, talking about some upcoming projects that he could do around the house. I mentioned my appointments for exercise therapy to restore my knees and walking ability. I said I wanted to be able to travel and be mobile again. He looked me straight in the eyes and said:

"You can do anything if you believe in yourself."

This post is part of the blog event Creative Chaos at Ragamuffin Soul. Click over to see other posts on inspiration and creativity.

The Living Camera

Can you imagine taking a 45 minute flight over Rome and being able to recreate an accurate, almost blueprint-like drawing of what you saw? Watch the "living camera" Stephen as he does just that. Stephen has autism.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBQZ9maHXSk


After reading a post about Jeffrey I've been thinking about people who have autism. Jeffrey's mom has a great blog that I read faithfully and...haven't said it in a while....I love her name...Ginger Carter Miller, Ph.D. Ginger talks about how the process of diagnosis has changed. Jeffrey is an adult now. And he sounds like a fine young man. He's gifted with a memory for facts especially Nascar!

I ran into a friend at the bakery who adopted a child from China then as sometimes happens, she became pregnant. Both children developed autism. She went back to school to become a teacher so she could help them. Amazing.

This is International Autism Awareness Month. And I want to be more aware of the challenges for these children, adults and families are facing. And along with awareness....they have my respect, admiration and prayers.

For more Watercooler Wednesday posts see Ethos.

Sunday Inspiration

This Dr has a way with words...

Every word from Dr Bob makes me think. From his post: The Prayer of Java

The subject of prayer is a fascinating one for me in many ways, not only because of its effect on my life, but because — as a logical-sequential scientist by profession and disposition, I want to understand how it works — and I don’t, and I can’t. But it does. And that cognitive dissonance drives me a little nuts....

...Of course, the skeptic’s challenge contains a presumption — one rarely recognized, in fact: that everything which exists, all that is real, can be measured, tested, analyzed, proven, and recorded. But much which is human — perhaps all which makes us uniquely human — is beyond such simple means of measurement and proof. How much does love weigh? What are the dimensions of courage? What is the deceleration velocity of a failing marriage? What color is hope? What formula predicts despair? Why does a rose smell exquisite, but a rotten egg horrendous? Sure, we can speak of neurotransmitters and aromatic organic compounds, but such things touch on the spirit, and the tools of the physical realm are wholly inadequate as inquisitors.

There's more, lots more here. Well worth the read!!!

I'm going outside now to enjoy the final arrival of spring.

An Artist's Privilege

A few years ago I had a conversation with a local artist. I said it didn't seem right that often it isn't the artist who makes the most money but rather those who buy and resell their work. His answer: Yes but...

I get the privilege of living my life as an artist.
~~ Elio Del Col

I searched around the web and found he is associated with a local winery (we've got some good ones in Essex County). I'll check it out and get back to you!

My friend's daughter has a web site to market her art.

My artwork is a window to the soul of a woman’s love, loss and bliss.

~~Mary Chichkan 2003

I don't mind doing a little blog marketing buzz for local artists!!

Be sure to visit Ethos for more posts on arts and culture for Watercooler Wednesday. Share your post and enter for a chance to win an iPod. Tell Randy I sent you.

Happy Birthday...April Fools Day!

My whole life I thought my mom's birthday was April 1. It was only after she passed away that I saw her birth certificate and found out her birth day was actually April 3. That should tell you something about my mom, Dorothy. She was a kidder alright.

She never talked about the tough times but she liked to think of herself as tough. She worked hard, joked, smoked, cooked amazing food without recipes, wore pants, had her own car in the Fifties, called herself a "butcher-girl". I like to think of her as a cross between Lucy Ricardo and Katherine Hepburn.

We lived in the suburbs but there was nothing suburban about her. She often said the least politically correct thing in an era when that term didn't exist. And it just got worse as she got older. God Bless her.

I would take her to the Dr and if she didn't like what he said she would threaten to kick him in the @##. One day we were sure she had had a mini stroke. I wanted to take her to emerg. She wanted to go for ice cream. I thought I was smarter so I said I would take her for ice cream but planned to actually go to the hospital. When she saw the direction I drove she started screaming out the window "HELP!" and didn't stop until I turned the car around. And picked up ice cream.

Later, while in the hospital and not agreeing with the Dr or the nurses, she snuck out to the phone and called 911 asking for an ambulance...to take her to a different hospital.

I could tell you lots of stories like that. At times, it seemed like public humiliation for me.

I was a rather sensitive child. A book worm, church going kinda girl. I think it must be true that we learn our hardest lessons in our family of origin. Getting along with my mom was a challenge. She was more competent than I was at all the domestic stuff. She was fast too. And she made fun of everything and that included her children. Kind of hard when you're a kid. It's much easier to see her perspective now. Don't take life so seriously!

So that day in June of 1997 Dorothy was in the hospital with respiratory distress. She wanted a cup of tea and some "soda biscuits" as she called crackers. And she kept calling me Irene. My childhood nickname was Sandy. But not today. She called me Irene every 2nd sentence. Irene is her niece, my cousin. So I told my mom "I'm not Irene, I'm Sandy. Irene's coming soon."

I hunted down a cup of tea and crackers, made sure she was comfortable and then prepared to leave. She said "OK Irene". I gave up and said "I love you mom" and gave her a kiss. After she said she loved me too she responded with :

I knew who you were.

Those were the last words she said to me.

She could hardly breath, could barely talk but she had been kidding me. Pulling my leg. Through the night she had a stroke, a heart attack and slipped into a coma. She died 7 days later.

It took me a while to process those words. I was in shock for a long time having just lost my husband 9 months earlier. In fact I don't think I really grieved for my mother until 9/11. The collective grieving we all did seemed to trigger buried grief that I felt for Dorothy.

And I realized those last words I knew who you were, were a validation and affirmation. These were the five words that healed our relationship. I could be myself, be who I really was. And that all her life she was just being who she was; not trying to make my life difficult.

I think she is giving me strength to continue discovering who I am, to dream dreams and live to make them reality.

And April 1st will always be her birthday to me. So Happy Birthday...April Fools Day!