Identity crisis

Our five-year old granddaughter excitedly joined her father to watch the Olympic Games highlights when these were being telecast a few weeks ago, especially because in their home reading is preferred and encouraged over watching television.  One evening I “planted a seed” in her young mind, suggesting that she should consider competing as a Canadian …

Letting go

I am a hoarder – gathering memories, books, ideas, music, friends, relationships – in fact just about anything that I can collect and put “my” ownership stamp on. My books. My music. My work. Ad infinitum…. One man’s treasures are another person’s garbage. Nostalgia and emotional attachment might cause possessions to be retained for some …

Child's play

Our family recently holidayed at Blue Mountain. It was a great trip and the best part was spending quality time bonding with our granddaughters. I got to learn (and promptly forgot) the names of the entire My Little Pony repertoire (Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity etc.), Star Wars heroes and villains, the principal characters from the …

Dosti … friendship

A friend recently drew my attention to an excellent book – “Travels with Epicurus” by Daniel Klein and quoted from it, that “Of all the things that wisdom provides to help one live one’s entire life in happiness, the greatest by far is the possession of friendship.”  We may take possession of friendship but never …