Every Christmas, I seem to collect a set of gadgets that I enjoy receiving, but rarely ever use. I…
Life-wise
When innocence and elegance meet
For my travel column this month, I’ll take you across a cultural divide. Early one Sunday in…
Another visit to the pond
I can think of only one or two advantages in growing older. First, I have memories that span…
Christmas uncensored
As I sat reminiscing about Christmases past, an incident involving an old friend began to form in…
Outstretched hands
Recently I received a letter from Partners International, appealing for funds for an orphanage in…
Canadian, eh?
A recent email written in Scottish dialect got me thinking about languages and how I have made them…
Dreaming of a ‘right’ Christmas
I sat in my big green chair with eyes closed. Pictures of past Christmas celebrations floated by on…
Schooling versus learning
Northrop Frye said, “We must reject that most dismal and fatuous notion that education is the…
Continuing adventures of a humidifier
About eight years ago, I told the story of purchasing a humidifier from the local Home Hardware.…
Searching for a defining moment
I looked up from where I sat behind a table while waiting for people to buy my book, When Cobras…
You grieve more when you lose people twice
How do you grieve for someone you really didn’t know, but should have? Just last week I heard…
Step by step through a life of adventure
The arrival of each new year causes me to reminisce. I define my life in blocks of time, each…
Doctors and children
Almost two weeks ago, distress hung over me like a Scottish fog over Fergus. The next day would…
Changing medium
We recently watched a series of television shows that stand in sharp contrast to the usual…
My special heroes
In last week’s column you saw me seated in my big green chair dreaming about past…