The other day we were at an afternoon Christmas party at the neighbor’s house on the next block. There were lots of introductions back and forth as for the most part, the guests didn’t know each other, and at one point we were introduced as the “new people on Namqua [Road]”. Which prompted the question, “At what point are we not “new’ anymore?” We’ve been here 2 1/2 years now and this is our third Christmas back in Canada, in this town, in this house.

They do have a point, however. It still feels new to me. As one who has lived in 4 countries, 10 cities/towns and 15 different houses (E&EO), Home has been, it seems, wherever I am and not particularly deep-felt. So it may take awhile yet. Continue reading →

It’s November 5th and today is a mighty big day for me. It’s the day of my coming out, to borrow an expression from another context, the day I finally tell the truth. This time the real truth. As if anyone really cares, but it has always been huge for me, this lifelong age denier so here goes.

Today I am 60.

Some years ago, Maristella, Kelly, my mother and I were sitting around after dinner at the cottage, and someone posed the question, “How old are you? Not the birth certificate age, but how old do you really feel?” There was no hesitation in the responses along with explanations of the “why’ behind them. The ranges were from 15 to 29. As it turned out, my mother’s “real” age was younger than mine, which prompted much laughter among us as she pointed out “You’re younger than me!”

I’ve been spending time recently sorting through piles and piles of old photos in  shoe boxes, envelopes and acetate paged albums, scanning to digitize them, cropping and cataloguing. Hundreds and hundreds of them. I came upon a bunch of old pictures of me. Fading images from (way) back in the day. Around the time of my “real age”.

I decided it was time for new images to embrace my inner 60 and share here a proof page. To quote the Olivia Dukakis’ character in Tales of the City,

“This is what 60 looks like”…

If you would like to see what joy looks like, take a look at this photo, taken at the moment it was announced that Team Ontario had won FIRST PLACE (yes I’m shouting) in the Engineering competition at the Solar Decathlon.
That’s Mike, 3rd from the right.

The Solar Decathlon, officially 10 days in California, but really years in the making, is over and Team Ontario placed 6th overall.

We just got back from a 10-day road trip to Portland where we met up with Mike after the Solar Decathlon was over for a little R&R before he headed back to Ottawa to rejoin his life there. More on the road trip to come no doubt, but meanwhile, a few more images of the event, including the house itself and off-site activities. One can’t go to California without hitting the beach, no?

Well done, Oh Son o Mine.

The “Echo” House

Actual interior

2nd Place Affordability Competition

When in California…Mike 2nd from left