Dr. Gino Strada
Friday on the news, I heard about the death of Dr. Gino Strada, Italian surgeon and founder of the medical NGO Emergency. He was 73. He'd worked in war zones…
Padstow May Day
Now imagine a still night, the last of April, the first of May. Starlight above the chimney pots. Moon on the harbour. Moonlight shadows of houses on opposite slate walls.…
Pelé
In the late 1980s in Costa Rica, my Spanish language teacher was trying to convey 'juego', or game. She gave what she thought was a huge clue. She tapped…
John Prine
When I hear the name John Prine, I think of Rwanda in the aftermath of the 1994 genocide. Yesterday, John Prine died from Covid-19. Yesterday was also the 26th anniversary…
Plantar Fasciitis
Nearly a year ago, I bruised my heel. So I thought. When it didn't stop hurting, I went to my doctor. Plantar Fasciitis, he said. What's that, I said. The…
Portugal Day
On this day in 1965 Newfoundland Premier Joseph R. Smallwood proclaimed June 17th Portugal Day in the province. It was at the Confederation Building when the Portuguese Fisheries Organization presented…
Boogie-Woogie Piano
Today, the 88th day of the year, is Piano Day. So CBC Radio q told me. One or another piano has kept me company almost all my life. And one…
Willow Grove Settlement
On the road to St. Martins in southern New Brunswick you see a sign in a clearing on a corner. Willow Grove Black Settlement Burial Ground, it says. Behind it…
Ma Bell
Our landline was not working. So my husband calls BellAliant. Customer service representatives are all busy, would you like a call back? Thank you very much, he thought, and pressed…
Dinner Talk
Swiss Chalet in Saint John, two 20-something women with a toddler each and one infant. Four full meals. One child picks at his food, the other has eaten all he…