Goodbye Ford

 I woke up this morning to news that Ontario political parties are already posting ads, leading up to what many presume, will be an early election call. For so many reasons, I'd love to say goodbye to this premier.

 Today I'll just focus on one; special education in Ontario schools...and how it could be better funded. Click on If I Had 3 Billion Dollars, to see the piece I had in the Ottawa Citizen a couple of weeks ago. 

Sex Ed in Alberta

 Last week, Alberta's premier introduced legislation that would , among other important matters, make it more difficult for students to receive sex education. Click  here to read a CBC article which outlines the details. 

Click here to read the Ottawa Citizen article I wrote on that subject in February, not that it made any difference. 

Alberta, the U.S...why does it seem that we are marching backwards, not forwards? 

Grateful #1

 What a historic day! While we don't  have many American decorations, we have put out this meagre offering to mark the occasion. 

What am I grateful for today...besides the fact that I live in Canada? Well today I am grateful for my son Aaron and the opportunity to be a parent.

You see, the U.S. elections always remind me of labour and delivery.

On November 4th, 1980, I was induced, as Aaron was then two weeks overdue. Going into the hospital that day felt like every important day of my life all rolled into one; exams, graduations, our wedding . . . but this was the main  event ! My life was about to be transformed.   

After my doctor finished the procedure he informed us that it would be a number of hours before anything happened, so he was going home. He joked that he was going to start building a bomb shelter in his back yard.  This was because Ronald Reagan was widely expected to win the election that day and we were worried about the possibility of renewed wars. Aaron didn't arrive until the following morning, around the time this paper was being distributed.

Of course we survived the Reagan years. Hopefully we will survive the outcome of this election with a minimum of disruption and violence. I am grateful that President Biden stepped aside for Kamala Harris, and grateful for the hope that her campaign has offered us.

But mostly today, I am grateful for Aaron. Happy Birthday!

Grateful and Grouchy

I've just read over my last post and can't believe it has been over a year since I've posted here.  I have no extraordinary excuses for my absence. Life simply got in the way. How do all the super busy people accomplish all that they do? I have no idea. 

At times I have felt bogged down by the world around us. As a lifelong news addict, everything seems to be heading in the wrong direction: war/peace, climate change, politics, poverty around the world and in our midst. 

As a boomer, I feel  lucky to have spent my childhood in that relatively carefree time of the fifties.  I wish our current time period was like that...not for me, as much as for our children and grandchildren. 

It is the love and support of my family that sustains me. It is a joy to be with them. There is still much to celebrate in our everyday lives.

And so, I'm going to try to write again. It is  a source of satisfaction , even when I write the grouchy stuff. In that spirit, I think this blog can be named Grateful and Grouchy. I will attempt to limit my grouchiness.