for those who wonder who I am
“Fill your belly. .. make merry. Let days be full of joy. Dance and make music day and night.” From the original Old Babylonian version of the Epic of Gilgamesh.
Afterthought: On Freebies – I apologize to my Mother if I arbitrarily portrayed her as a lush, chugging down Beer, Boilermakers, and Mudslides and making merry day and night!
Jeff almost died from an overdose last month, but by sheer luck and/or the Grace of God he did not! This is what he told me when I paused to say hello on my way to a long postponed mammogram; a symptom of severe anxiety drives me to defer essential medical appointments among other things, but this year I am pushing forward and forcing myself do what may seem simple to you. Continue reading “Still Alive!”
I would like to take a moment to thank my Russian friend Val and his family for gifting me Easter cake and a red egg and for confirming that indeed “Christ is Risen”. I am blessed by your kindness and never-wavering support.
I want to say hooray, but after watching CTV News on Sunday, I was surprised to hear a woman praise the prices. Continue reading “Pot Shop’s open in T.O.”
When the 3rd period is too much to take!
“What better way to pass the day than drinking a tall glass of whisky and beer on ice at Buddy K’s.” (Most commonly called a Boilermaker/ Originated in Butte, Montana, in the 1890’s, then-called a “Sean O’Farrell” and drunk by copper miners after shift in the heyday of America’s first major industrial city. No ice cubes back then though!)
That’s what Mom said Saturday evening back in March, as we were winding down after a week of watching over Granddaughter at our humble abode while Big Sis was away solo-backpacking in faraway Thailand. Fortunately all went well with the little one, which is not always the case when living in TCHC where anything can happen to spoil the mood at any given moment.
“Even better when it’s free,” Buddy quipped, in regards to her choice of beverage. Continue reading “A Dog’s Eye View – Freebie!”
“I am in the same shoes as you,” he says “struggling too.”
“Life is hard,” the panhandler responds.
The man with greying hair wants to talk and Streetgirl is empathetic. One should not righteously receive so much from others without taking the time to return the favor in kind.
“I’ve worked in real estate for 26 years and I haven’t sold one property this past year. I may lose it all,” his eyes begin to well as he holds back tears. They reach out and grasp hands for a second, blessing one another as the light changes and he must move on.
“I know you are going to sell a house real soon,” Streets assures him waving goodbye and hopes that is the case.
From my archives – Winter of 2015
Seeking solace and a blessed place to say her prayers, Streetgirl flew her sign yesterday, straddling the curb and strolling up and down the island. Those same paths that her panning peer, so-tagged The Veteran, had ambled thousands of times. It was chilly, but they’d been out in far worse weather and enjoyed it too; a freedom of sorts. If it was Joe he would be wearing a toque, thin shirt under a jacket year-round day and night, and sandals without socks; even though someone had given him a pair of boots two months before his passing. Thrilled to tell the tale, how he’d been snoozing in the sun behind the gas station when a guy came by and offered to take him to Canadian Tire to buy a winter coat and footwear. One of so many kind gestures afforded him by strangers. That night they dumped his dirty smelly old one down the garbage shoot in our building as a ceremonial gesture and he donned the gift until the day he died. Continue reading “Quotes from Streets: Farewell Friend”
I was going to post a happy go lucky egotistical tail about how great my X-mas was. That’s me in the photo heading east on the GO Bus to Big Sister’s. And about our Happy New Year down in Buddy K’s basement where the hosts are the most, the living is easy, and copious meals are served right on time; best bacon loaded weekend breakfast in the World! However, with the passing of Homeless Joe my mood has soured, plus it’s already January 12th and the deadline has passed. Instead I will take this opportunity to tell my faithful friend see u in Heaven!
