HALLOWEEN

Halloween brings out the child in all of us. Next to Christmas it is the most fun time. You go door to door and get lots of candies and other good stuff. Today we package all the candies so there is no possibility of any tampering. When I was a little girl, my favourite house gave out homemade candy apples. It seemed so amazing as some houses just gave those horrible wrapped halloween candies- 1- just one. Our costumes were handmade- sometimes just an old shirt and lots of makeup. Now there is such a variety for not only children but adults who love to go to those Halloween parties. I can not remember the last party I attended or even what I wore. I gave a house party years ago and was a cat- wore a leotard and black stockings and drew whiskers on my face. Of course I was thinner with good legs. Are you going to a Halloween party? If so what are you wearing? If you could go to a party, what would you be? What is your favourite Halloween memory?

OBSERVE THE SIGNS

We all have many signs in our lives that we need to pay attention to them all. Health wise- we may have signs things are wrong. Not sleeping well, palpitations too often, change in bodily functions. Our out of control credit card spending- when it is not Christmas! People avoiding us at work- is there something wrong with this picture! Especially when there is restructuring and there may be layoffs! Have you ever been in a position that you notice signs in your life that something is coming? Sometimes superstitious people may say it is a sign! Some cultures and even in Cape Breton believe if a bird poops on your head it is a sign of good fortune! Do you believe in signs that point the way in your life? Or are you too pragmatic? When we drive we must follow the signs, but in daily living what do you think? Halloween is around the corner, are the signs of the season playing with us?

A GRIEF OBSERVED

Is the title of a book by C. S. Lewis. It is a classic book on the journey of grief. Lewis as we know was the author of many books such as the Narnia Chronicles-The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. His marriage and love of his life- his wife Joy died and created a huge gap in his whole being. His book on his journey after her death has been quoted in every modern grief books. He really said it all. His book opens with the following quotation," No one ever told me that grief felt so like fear. I am not afraid, but the sensation is like being afraid. The same fluttering in the stomach, the same restlessness, the yawning. I keep on swallowing. At other times it feels like being mildly drunk, or concussed. There is a sort of invisible blanket between the world and me. I find it hard to take it in." Of course he is describing the somatic reactions of grief from his core. His book has been used often by me and I think I have given away several copies of it to various people in my career. I recommend it as it is an easy read and says it all about grief. When someone you love dies, there is lots of advice and many books written on the subject and grief work needing to be done- I have several on my shelves. What to do, how to think, what not to do etc. But Lewis just talks about his painful journey of losing his beloved wife that stands the test of time. Grief is such a painful process for us all. Have you read Lewis' book in a time of need? If you are grieving, I recommend it? Have you used another resource that has helped with your personal journey?

A WOMAN'S VOTE

Yesterday was the municipal election in Ontario. As a woman going to vote, it was time to remember the Suffragettes who fought for the vote in 1917- less than one hundred years ago in our Nation. Women have come a long way but there are still inequalities in our world. I have always encouraged my daughters to vote to honour those who helped us secure this franchise and to have a say in our government. Here's to men who honour their women and women who honour their men. How do you feel about voting? Do you make an effort to practice your right?

REUNIONS-TIME TO RECONNECT

From time to time we all attend a reunion of some kind.There's the school reunion where we venture to see how everyone else is doing and come away just glad to see people are still around. A funeral is a sad reunion-gathered together because of one common denominator.Weddings are happy occasions that often bring family and friends from all over the country and sometimes the world. A retirement party is a reunion- some retirees come and the current colleagues say good-bye. Family reunions can be one named based like genealogical reunions or a mult-generational gathering of the clan in your own family. I attended a reunion of sorts today- a group of us from High School have done a lunch once or twice a year for several years. It has been two years since the last one. We chat and update- who has a new grandchild, who is retiring, whose child was married and just how is everyone doing- nice to see each other, took a couple of pictures and promised to do it again. Have you had a recent reunion with someone or a group of people? Do you like reunions or do you avoid them like a plague? Are you happy like I am knowing people are going strong? Are there people from the Spring of your Life?

MORE FALL THOUGHTS

The trees start to be a contrast between green and orange, yellow, red. Before long the only green left are the coniferous trees.
Nature connects to our souls.

As the trees continue to be ablaze with colours, many are starting to shed their leaves and the spaces between them are increasing. Before the start of the dull brown, there is almost a need to see as much of the countryside as possible. It is that last hurrah before the snow flies.

BABIES LOVE SOCIAL INTERACTIONS

Spending any time with little babies, one realizes what social interactions mean to them. All the toys and mobiles provided are not as meaningful as talking and smiling with a baby. The baby will respond by copying your facial expressions. There are some that say start flash cards so the child will learn to read early. Emotional and social development are more important. Early child psychologists like Piaget and Erikson considered these aspects as paramount. The baby learns to trust the world by being fed, held, touched, kept comfortable and knows his/her cry will be answered. Smiling and cooing helps keep us engaged. A happy baby is so easy to see. Do you have a baby in your world? Are you a new parent? Always lots of advice, eh! Listen to the cries and how your baby responds to the world. Each baby has similar developmental stages but responds in a unique way. My world includes a new baby boy, now two months old. To observe and participate in his world helps me revisit all the concepts of early childhood. Besides what a joy to have him in my life!