A lapse in ideas

There were moments during the pandemic when there was much temptation to get one of those flags pairing our Prime Minister’s name with a favourite profane word. Like many, I had developed an internal anger about the state of things that grew to be a consuming emotion that, at times, clouded the abil

In the season of Advent

Sunday, Nov. 27 was the first Sunday in the season of Advent 2022. The word “Advent” comes from the Latin “adventus,” which means coming or arrival.

Today is not how the story ends

I was thinking the other day about the first time I saw someone who was living unsheltered in Listowel. Living in Waterloo and attending university, my life connected with many who were navigating diverse paths and I was grateful for the richness and growth it gave me.

Your health can’t wait

There’s a knock-knock joke often used in my home that you may be familiar with. I believe it originated on the series The Office. For time’s sake, you can check it out for yourself but the tag line I often hear repeated by my boys is this – “We wait for no one!”

What if it’s true?

You know how every Christmas movie you’ve ever watched ends wrapped up in a tidy red bow? The lost puppy finds his way home. The broken marriage is restored. The perfect gift is always given. Messy families are reunited. The world sings. I sometimes cry.

Oh that? It’s nothing, just my ears bleeding

I didn’t see it firsthand, but a couple people did send me photos asking if it was real or not last week. For those who also didn’t get the chance to see an electronic Main Street East business sign in Listowel bearing a meme with a cheerful Santa offering the words, ‘Calm the f*** down, it’s only N

A bright side worth looking at

Running around my basement with a long stream of loud gibberish emitting from my vocal chords feeling a joy I hadn’t felt since watching Crosby pot that goal in Vancouver. That was the result of seeing Alphonso Davies soar through the air and smash a wonderful cross into the back of the net.

Dementia – it’s all about nutrition and exercise

I must be like a broken record. But, I am learning the hard way. I am not following my own guidelines for both nutrition and exercise. I keep asking myself why, but the answer comes back to procrastination. I am so full of good intentions that I am wondering how she (my wife) puts up with me.

You missed the point, sirs

As one of the Original People here on Turtle Island (in so-called Canada), I take great offense to some recent comments made by two supposed “leaders” of the Perth County community.

Dignity

Friends, A few months back, a community member came into It Takes A Village for support with food security. Many community members do, but this particular person left a mark on the soul of the volunteer who served him that day and exemplified the importance of organizations continuously evolving an