The other day I was doing some work in the kitchen, fixing up the caulking behind the sink. As I often do when I’m doing stuff in that room, I put the radio on to CBC Radio 2. It being a Saturday afternoon, opera poured out into the room. I don’t even know when Saturday Afternoon at the Opera began, but it’s been a fixture on the CBC for, it seems, forever. Inevitably, my thoughts turned to Dad. Inevitably because he list...

A baby to fill your hearts with joy Whether it may be a girl or boy    A baby for you to cuddle and love Little one sent to you from above    Bottles and diapers and so much more With little eyes you know you'll adore    Laughter and crying and sleepy at night Morning smiles that will make it alright   A life you hold in the palm of your hand That helps make your own life so grand    The days you may want to scream Just b...

Marie was fiddling with her wedding band, a nervous expression on her face when Elena saw them from the entrance of the coffee shop. Her mother gave her a little wave to catch her attention. Wouter turned around a big smile on his face, always happy to see his daughter. He stood up as Elena got closer and gave her a big bear hug, “That’s my girl, the big boss manager,” he grinned and slapped her on the back. Elena sat dow...

When I was only six and my younger brother was two, our father passed away. Since then, my mother and we were dependent upon each other. Our days were difficult. My mother had to work very hard to keep our family together. The income was just enough to cover basic expenses. Until one day, my mother ushered a man into our home. She asked us to call him - FATHER. No, he was just our stepfather. I was nine that year. My step...

It was a beautiful Saturday in June when I received a call from dispatch. It seems a bus driver had three youngsters on her coach that were a little too young to be on their own. The female driver had called her dispatcher who in turn dispatched me. I was to intercept the bus and wait for the parents to arrive. I caught the bus on a regular layover and had the kids exit the coach. It seems they wanted to exchange their Po...

As a parent, you warn your kids about the dangers of the world.  Hopefully, they grow up safe and sound, after heeding your good advice. I had managed to do just that, I raised three boys to their mid-twenties and they are good men.  I proudly passed on my sense of humor and sarcastic outlook on life to them. I was not aware that I had passed on one other thing. The idea that if you are upset with or mad about something,...

Dear Dad,I should have done this so much sooner but I am a procrastinator as you well know. Sharing my thoughts with you now is the very least I can offer. Soon you won't remember my words and perhaps not even my face. Fate is cruel, stealing your memories but leaving your body healthy and intact.From the time I was little I always felt safe with you. We had so much fun and not always Mom-approved fun, but I knew you woul...

A new baby is always so much funA little bundle of joy to loveThere's nothing better than a little oneThis is a gift sent from up aboveTake photos every dayAnd a video diary tooThey change in so many waysThis will be nice to look throughA video diary of all milestonesIt's an incredible giftIn a flash, they'll be grownThey'll thank you with a kissSave a few of their thingsFor a time capsuleAll their baby blingAny things th...

I remember when I was a child, the fear and pounding of my heart when I had grades lower than a C. How ashamed I felt when you gave me that look of disappointment, and told me that I was better than this, because my brothers never had anything lower than a B. They compared me to my two brothers who were always two and four grades ahead of me. So I strived to do better, because you wanted me to. I could care less about my...

As they walked to Bruce's car Amber tripped over the curb and her feet a few times as her total focus was on the tiny ring on the third finger of her left hand. The small stone caught the light coming from the moon and the parking lot lights and it caused it to sparkle.Each time she looked at it, she gripped Bruce's hand tighter and her smile grew wider. He opened the passenger door for her and she allowed him a glimpse o...

Do you think you know what's best for me? Do you think I really care? It's only for my happiness, you say? How is that remotely fair? You never give him a chance. You continue to say I can do better. I deserve so much more, But does it really matter? It's my heart you know! I choose what I want. No one else can decide my happiness. Otherwise, misery would taunt. I am not a damn puppet! I don't want to live that life. That...

My mom works to be busy, and hurts herself. She sleeps on the floor until she can move again. Then she works again, until she hurts again. For no reason and no pay. She talks on the phone and laughs aloud. Her friends drop by with no warning. Her dogs leap around her feet. The sun is warm on her red face. My dad sleeps all day and watches TV all night. He never works, and doesn't know how to, if he dared. He waits for the...

"Welcome to parents participation training.” The debonair young man holding the microphone had a big, toothy grin. "Many of you will be first-time parent participants in this area's various summer youth league competitions. Your appearance here demonstrates how, as concerned parents, you have realized the importance of displaying appropriate conduct while your child is participating as an athlete. "To start today's sessio...

Parental Mistakes My Mother was called Miriam, but mostly just “Mim,” I didn't know my real Dad, knew nothing, about him. Ma had a fancy, upon a mad whim, I was the result of their passion and sin. I dont blame either for their brief little fling, for without it, I'd never have known life, and what it can bring. It was great good luck, that Ma's hubby Peter, driver of trucks, saw me when I was born, and knew what she'd do...

It was so beautiful when she first saw it. The trees that surrounded it, and the many forms of life that took up its space. It was all she asked for and it was all hers. All hers. Something that she had worked for her whole life. She had been awaiting the finishing touches on the log cabin that she was having built there and then she would call it home. She was looking forward to it. It would just be her and her husband,...