Aug 11, 2014 | My Stories
Yesterday I phoned my uncle who’s in hospital in Canada. We talked for about five minutes before I could hear exhaustion creeping into his voice. He laughed at my silly jokes and he was genuinely happy that my father’s back pain had subsided even though there...
Jul 30, 2014 | My Stories
Yesterday I took the train back from a meeting in the city. The suburbs that I usually drive through looked different from the higher position of the train. The train weaves behind the suburban scenes yellowed by winter leaves. I mused about how I see this city anew...
Jul 21, 2014 | My Stories
”There is a reason the word belonging has a synonym for want at its center; it is the human condition.” Jodi Picoult Vanishing Acts There are few thoughts about belonging in my head today and, frankly, writing about belonging after 298 innocent adults and...
Jul 19, 2014 | My Stories
Me and my trusty, ever ravenous English Springer Spaniel Kibo set out on a walk in the winter sunshine yesterday. The dry leaves and cool-ish breeze reminded me of a fall day in Ontario. We were looking for Victoria Park on Brisbane’s north side. We were searching for...
Jul 11, 2014 | My Stories
”I’ve learned to welcome that fear — paddle into it — whenever I recognize it. Why? Because that territory is where adventure and discovery live.’’ Ron MacLean, GrubStreet Here in Australia it’s NAIDOC week. It just happens to coincide with...
Jun 28, 2014 | My Stories
”Are not all our lives a movement from order to disorder, which in turn evolves into a new order?’’ Jean Vanier Becoming Human It’s been five years since I was last in Toronto. I get off the streetcar under a mesh of streetcar wires in the downtown area and...
Jun 11, 2014 | My Stories
”Push it. Examine all things intensely and relentlessly.” Annie Dillard The Writing Life In a week I’ll be boarding the plane and heading to Toronto via Sydney and LA. I’ll have about 20 flying hours to think about my journey of belonging in...
May 24, 2014 | My Stories
”Do all you can with what you have in the time you have, in the place you are.’’ Xolani Nkosi Johnson, age 11 (1990-2001) I hit a low point last weekend. I caught myself thinking thisis never going to work. I’m not going to be able to connect with this place...
