When Glen and I moved to Vancouver in 2012, we downsized from a two-story house with a finished basement to a 900 sq ft condo. By purchasing our new home two blocks from English Bay in the West End, we satisfied the most important principle of real estate: location, location, location. But did we meet […]
MARVELOUS MUSIC
Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything.” – Plato (c. 428 BC – c. 348 BC) How did Plato manage to encapsulate music so eloquently long before it evolved into the many pleasing genres of today? In a brief history of classical music, […]
JANUARY: GET ORGANIZED MONTH
Discovering early in the New Year that January is Get Organized Month in the U.S., where I’m currently residing, could serve as the impetus for me to do just that. And I intended to. But procrastination prevailed until month’s end, even about writing this post on the value of organization. Many friends and my siblings might […]
’TIS THE SEASON
Many people feel sad at this time of year and it’s not related to the festive season. Rather, they’re experiencing seasonal affective disorder (SAD). SAD is associated with fewer hours of daylight and can be exacerbated by spending too little time outdoors. While some people react to the first signs of seasonal change around the […]
SALUTARY SOJOURNS
Although it’s been a few months since Glen and I went on a sojourn, we can easily recall the pleasure of our last one to Parksville and Victoria. Sojourns bring happiness in the planning and anticipation before departure, enjoyment at the destination, and in the memories to discuss once they’re over. Studies increasingly show that […]
LIVING OBITUARIES
Recently I had occasion to write a tribute on behalf of the McPhails to a longtime family friend, Nancy Power. Since Nancy attended the memorials of our Dad and Mom, true and loving friend that she’d been since 1958, the McPhail children were happy to send a few recollections to a celebration of her life. […]
MUSEUMS AS MEDICINE
Today is International Museum Day (IMD). Every year since 1977, the International Council of Museums has organized IMD to raise awareness that “museums are an important means of cultural exchange, enrichment of cultures and development of mutual understanding, cooperation and peace among peoples.” In 2018 over 40,000 museums in 158 countries participated. In recent years […]
THE HAPPINESS PURSUIT
Happiness is a butterfly which, when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you.” Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-64) Just as a butterfly has never landed on me, happiness continues to elude me, even when I sit quietly. Instead I follow measures recommended for feeling happy […]
WHAT’S IN OUR GENES?
Genetic-testing kits have become hot-selling items as gifts in recent years. For a reasonable cost, individuals can learn about their ancestry. A brother requested posts about controversial subjects. This might be one! Although I’ve neither given nor received a kit, I looked into the process and formed an opinion. As a boomer growing up in […]
SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF SUNSET YEARS
Two years ago I went public with Sunsetyears.ca, after pursuing our son’s recommendation to combine my interests in writing and photography into a blog. Glen conceived the name to reflect the proposed content. I tackled the technology. It took me a few months to prepare the launch. I bought a domain name from Rebel.ca, subscribed […]