Happy Mother’s Day
She was always there
Through thick and through thin.
A mother’s life, really,
Requires thick skin
In the tool chest of moms,
Words of wisdom galore.
Advice often sage,
But sometimes, pure lore.
“Try it, you’ll like it”
Were words so wise
As they encouraged me to try
Some things I despised.
“Eat your crusts,
You’ll grow strong and tall”
The jury is still out,
Still wearing size small. Continue reading
Maraschinos and nuts,
Dark raisins and booze,
An array of textures
Of crunches and chews.
“What’s not to like?”
Some fans would say.
A once-per-year treat
On this special day.
You were always there,
Dear cake of fruit,
Fixture of holiday tables,
Festive dessert to boot.
Too often mocked,
Perhaps over-the-top,
Referred to as brick,
A log and doorstop. Continue reading
(re-post from 2013, in case you missed it)
Back in 1995, one of our local newspapers, The Ottawa Sun, held a contest in which they asked readers to send in their best “Holiday Horror Stories”. Despite the title, they were just looking for lighthearted stories recounting when holiday festivities didn’t go as planned. I knew exactly which story to tell, and that was the holiday of 1992 when Murphy’s Law was alive and well at my apartment! I decided to put my true story to prose to give it a little more of a comedic lilt. Sure enough, I made it to the winner’s circle and the Sun published a few excerpts from the poem. My prize was a pair of tickets to a fabulously swanky New Year’s Eve bash. Unfortunately, Murphy wasn’t finished with me yet, as I came down with an ear infection and couldn’t go.
I still get a chuckle when I read this one, and I hope you enjoy it too!
A Christmas Story (written in December 1995)
T’was the morning of Christmas in 1992,
When I woke in the morning with a lousy flu,
“What rotten timing, oh please go away”,
I thought to myself as I started the day.
Got out of bed, in my feverish haze,
And checked my list for the plans of the day.
A cake to make, a shower to take,
A shirt to press, and gifts to dress.
With things to do, all due by two,
I downed my Dimetapp and vitamin C, too.
Put on my housecoat since the morning chill
Had frosted the window and adjoining sill. Continue reading
Despite the fact that my mother tongue is French, it has been weighing on me that to this point I have not posted a complete blog post in French. Today, we change that! For #ThrowbackThursday, I went back into the archives and dug up a poem I wrote in my senior year of high school (1983) for a poetry competition. I didn’t win anything, but my poem still made it to the compilation booklet “La danse des mots”… despite the look on my teacher’s face when I handed it in! Enjoy!
L’évasion liquide
Je suis envahi de confort
Par l’étrange liquide euphorisant
Ca ne me fait pas de tort
Je suis certain. Même, c’est très plaisant.
Qu’est-ce que j’aperçois tout à coup?
L’image à la télé est floue.
Je perds l’image de la réalité
Dans un monde embelli mais embrouillé.
Très très loin semblent les douleurs
Une sensation chaude vient au coeur.
Ironiquement je suis confus!
Serait-ce quelque chose que j’ai bu?
Très souvent je me demande “pourquoi”?
Je me dis c’est mon p’tit monde à moi.
Est-ce vraiment le meilleur qui soit?
Monde de lois… ou monde à moi… Quel choix!
En regardant mon verre limpide,
Je descends de mon nuage doré.
Je termine l’évasion liquide
En retrouvant la réalité.
Sincere thanks! Merci bien!
André
or.. What runners think of when they are writing
T’was a Sunday morning
Ideal for a run
All stretched and hydrated
I was ready for fun
My run gear was laid
On the bedside with care
Hoping the weather, as planned,
Was 25, mostly fair.
I drove to the park
My favourite starting line
Where the paths run flat
Backed by views sublime
The first few K’s
Were a bit of a mess
My contacts felt itchy
My shins felt stressed
I wondered right then
Should I have stayed in bed?
I was so comfy there
As dreams filled my head Continue reading
Back in 1995, one of our local newspapers, The Ottawa Sun, held a contest in which they asked readers to send in their best “Holiday Horror Stories”. Despite the title, they were just looking for lighthearted stories recounting when holiday festivities didn’t go as planned. I knew exactly which story to tell, and that was the holiday of 1992 when Murphy’s Law was alive and well at my apartment! I decided to put my true story to prose to give it a little more of a comedic lilt. Sure enough, I made it to the winner’s circle and the Sun published a few excerps from the poem. My prize was tickets to a fabulously swanky New Year’s Eve bash. Unfortunately, Murphy wasn’t finished with me yet, and I came down with an ear infection and couldn’t go.
I still get a chuckle when I read this one, and I hope you enjoy it too!
A Christmas Story (written in December 1995)
T’was the morning of Christmas in 1992,
When I woke in the morning with a lousy flu,
“What rotten timing, oh please go away”,
I thought to myself as I started the day. Continue reading
Here is a piece of writing history for #throwbackthursday !
Back in the mid 1980’s, I was a huge fan of the “:20 Minute Workout” and had quite a crush on one of its instructors, Bess Motta. Keep in mind that I wrote this little poem when I was just a young pup of 20. This was my playful tribute to Bess! I hope you enjoy it!
Title: Aerobic Queen (written Feb 26, 1986)
He sat right down
And watched TV
His eyes popped out, what did he see?
A pretty girl
Who’d stretch and pull,
His jaw hit floor, began to drool.
It was a love,
At first sight said,
His interest new, was now phys ed.
Four more, three more,
Two more, one…
Aerobicize was now great fun! Continue reading
Filed under 50+, Humour, pop culture, Running, TV
It's the Journey 