This week’s piece is a mixture of serious and not-so-much. I was working on something for the local newspaper, which for some reason sees fit to print my articles – personal perspectives and something topical from the news. My submission this week is titled, “O, Canada”. It included bits of Canadian history – my mother was Canadian, and a lament about the rapidly deteriorating relationship between the US and Canada. If you haven’t been keeping up, Canada has decided to go ahead with its federal election in April, despite its designation as our “51st state” by Donald Trump, who calls the Canadian Prime Minister, “Governor.” That designation seems to be going over well, almost as successful as the “Gulf of America”.
Continue reading “Renewing my Canadian Roots”Tag: family
The Daigneaults
My late father-in-law grew up in the rich, rolling farming country of far northern New York, just west of Lake Champlain along the Saint Lawrence River. It was a largely French population that had moved south from Quebec, where village names like Chateaugay dotted the map. Alfred was one of ten children, second youngest in a large farming family whose name, Dore, with an accent over the “e”, evolved from “dor-EH” to the anglicized “DOR-ah”, the “e” switched to “a”.
Continue reading “The Daigneaults”House Hunters “Off the Grid”
Yes, I know. It’s been too long since I gave you faithful readers an update on the saga of “House Hunters”, where people looking to buy a house, and which gets more and more bizarre as time goes by. A recent trend has been to “get away from it all.” It’s a new, truly disturbing twist on what is frequently referred to as work-life balance. I wasn’t really sure how some of these folks could get to this point, but they have.
Continue reading “House Hunters “Off the Grid””Politics and Life Choices
I drove my daughter to the bus station this morning. She’s heading into Boston for several professional meetings and to attend a seminar. She is in the final year of completing her doctoral dissertation, and honestly, my heart was bursting with pride as I saw her go. There was a lively conversation on the way up about the progress – the final chapter is going to her advisor next month. Yes, indeed. Her mother and I could not be prouder of her. What a wonderful feeling as parents.
Continue reading “Politics and Life Choices”Selecting Baby Names
My lovely niece and her husband are expecting a baby in the fall, a happy event in the family and another heir to the “royal” line. To that end, I am lending my expertise to the naming process. My assistance really wasn’t asked for or embraced, but I offer it none-the-less. And further, this writing will serve as a general guide that expectant parents may use to wisely select a name. In this case, the baby is a boy, and although there are any number of perfectly acceptable gender-fluid names, I’ll limit my recommendations to those that tend to suggest a male.
Continue reading “Selecting Baby Names”Expanding Her Inheritance
How much really is too much? Can you have enough wealth? Most of us, and our immediate circle of friends, are what we used to call “comfortable”. Our immediate needs are met – we don’t face “food insecurity” or being homeless, at least I don’t think we do. As many of my readers know, I’m still chasing that illusive lottery payoff. My big check from Publishers Clearing House has not arrived, despite them telling me it’s on the way. They even have my address for delivery.
Continue reading “Expanding Her Inheritance”Remembering My Grandfather on St. Patrick’s Day
I never knew my grandfather, as he died about six months before I was born. But stories – family legends really – about him abound, along with a few pictures and a number of his quotes: “My mind is made up, don’t confuse me with facts” is my favorite.
Continue reading “Remembering My Grandfather on St. Patrick’s Day”
I'm Thinking...No! 