Hi Reader, Let’s get right to it, shall we? Tomorrow is a day of mourning. A day of fear for many. And some may say, a day of embarrassment for the American people. My mom is American, moved to Canada with her first husband after having my brother and sister in the States. She had been in Toronto a few years before meeting my dad, and he brought her to the farmland his family shared in the Ottawa Valley. I guess she felt at home among the hippie values sprouting up in this local rural...

Hi Reader, This morning Facebook Memories told me it’s been 16 years since I fell rock climbing in Costa Rica, resulting in a few stitches in my head and a serious concussion that went undiagnosed for years leading to multiple chronic health issues. When my babies were babies, I hurt everyday. There were many days I couldn’t carry them. I had wanted to be a baby-wearer but sharp pains shot through my shoulders whenever I tried. My first was almost three years old, and my second was just a few...

Reader, All the presents have been opened, and most of the wrapping paper put away til next year. The tree is still up but already gives off the aroma of nostalgia. "I can't believe Christmas is over," say my kids as they disappear into their rooms, seeking silence to recharge after all the over-stimulation. I encourage rest and supplements, water and vegetables. We need to get back on track somehow. But evenings are still for movies and days for friends. Packing in as much as we can while...