50 ways

Remember when Paul Simon sang about “50 ways to leave your lover,” but only named five and none of them were actually solid ways to leave your lover? Slip out the back, Jack. Make a new plan, Stan. (If you don’t know this song, your parents have failed you). You’re singing it right now, aren’t you?

Olympics

I’m not an athlete and I have never been an athlete – and newsflash: I am never going to be an athlete. Shocking, I know, but best I be honest about my non-athletic aspirations as I congratulate our Olympic and Paralympic athletes for what I consider to be super-human feats.

Sacred space

Sometimes you just need someone to listen, to witness whatever cloud is hovering over your head and help you clear it out. Not solve or fix, or repair. Just listen. Bear witness. Then allow you to return the favour. The strongest friendships are rooted in trust.

Mugged

I woke up early on Saturday, though admittedly not as early as the Carpenter. He needs to greet the sun. I need to slowly slip into the day. But I love that he leaves me freshly brewed coffee.

Haircut

I always wanted an Old English Sheepdog because Paul McCartney had one named Martha. It doesn’t get any cooler than being Paul McCartney’s dog, I surmised, except to have a dog just like it.

One down

My first vaccination is complete. In ways I didn’t anticipate, the moment brought forward a full range of emotions and all of them centred on gratitude. Grateful to be alive. Grateful to be healthy. Grateful to have access to the vaccine. Grateful I didn’t pass out (not a big fan of needles, guys).

Rats

It had been happening for days. I would let the dog and cats out into the backyard and they’d head straight for the bench located at the back of the garage. Noses down, they’d pace about. The dog would bark at nothing. The cats would jump on the bench, tails swinging back and forth like a metronome