Columnists

How do I look in profile?

Posted: June 25, 2020 at 9:44 am   /   Columnists

In 2012, LOML and I were driving in Mississauga on a quiet, residential road. Suddenly, the ominous flashing lights of a police cruiser approached from the rear. LOML was driving and pulled over, wondering aloud “What the heck did we do.” As it turned out, we didn’t do anything wrong. We were the prey. And […]

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Home at work: The next big thing

Posted: June 12, 2020 at 11:08 am   /   Columnists

All the talk during this pandemic has been about working from home. It’s here to stay, so they say. Hold on a minute. There is an alternative arrangement that trend spotters say could outstrip the work from home movement once the COVID-19 workplace restrictions have been lifted. Call it the “home at work” movement. Toronto […]

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Pandemic pen pals

Posted: June 12, 2020 at 11:06 am   /   Columnists

Some mornings when I wake up, even if the sun is shining and the breezes a-blowing, I wonder, “Will it really make any difference if I just stay in bed all day?” I think a lot of people must feel the same way, these days. It often takes about 30 minutes for my mind to […]

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Price check in aisle three

Posted: June 3, 2020 at 12:27 pm   /   Columnists

My current place of observation is tethered to a parttime role facilitating the flow of people and shopping gear—grocery buggies and baskets —at the front entrance of a large local supermarket. Sorta like training to be a traffic light armed with a disinfectant spray bottle. While the setting is known ground for chance meet ups, […]

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A hug, a beer and a bag of chips

Posted: June 3, 2020 at 12:25 pm   /   Columnists

How are you doing, today? As I write this it’s Sunday, May 31st. Today is our eldest son’s birthday. I remember the day he was born in Humber Memorial Hospital in Weston/Toronto. It was a shocking reality for both LOML and I. Pregnancy was one thing, but suddenly we weren’t a young, hip couple anymore. […]

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In praise of Dr. Donald Trump

Posted: May 29, 2020 at 9:59 am   /   Columnists

Good morning Dr. Trump I won’t shake hands Your practice must involve some great demands Your every word just moves us and inspires us And will rid us of this new corona virus You said you had a feel about a drug I’ll take it ’cause you’re giving it a plug Though it makes the […]

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Rosy blue

Posted: May 29, 2020 at 9:56 am   /   Columnists

This morning, aside from the “good morning” pictures from our daughter, I received a message from a two-streets-away neighbour. She said she’d been thinking of me and how I was doing “this morning”. To be honest, on the Queen’s Birthday I woke up a little bit down-in-the-dumps. My neighbour and I are somehow connected during […]

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Springing from captivity: who’s first?

Posted: May 21, 2020 at 9:45 am   /   Columnists

The focus of the coronavirus epidemic is now shifting towards springing people from the captivity they’ve been held in for the past eight weeks or so. That’s a good thing, but the devil lies in the details. We’ve been told all along that coming out of the pandemic lockdown will be a series of gradual […]

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Curators make it last longer

Posted: May 21, 2020 at 9:41 am   /   Columnists

It’s half past May! How the H E double face masks did that happen? As I may have said, once or twice, I’m just about finished with isolation and distancing. I miss my kids, my grandkids and my friends. But I’m not sure I’m ready to risk it all to go back to the old […]

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Safe place

Posted: May 14, 2020 at 9:42 am   /   Columnists

Aspen raced into this world. We induced two weeks early and active labour was quick. I turned to the doctor: “My lord, that must have been under an hour.”“Four minutes and change,” she said. “He made it in time for lunch.” Our doctor was worried about Aspen’s heart rate and breathing. A group of nurses […]

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