Loneliness is a very heavy word – when you hear somebody telling you ” I am so lonely” , right away it stirs up some thoughts that you would like to help this person, that you would like to know why she is lonely, where is her family – is she going through some very important medical problems her or somebody that is dear to her ?

Now, in the world that we are living in, a lot of people are living alone, they eat alone, they go to work , come back to their apartment very much alone – and most of the time, these persons won’t see or talk to somebody they know for days, and sometimes months.  This problem is world-wide and it will only get worse.

I think that people are getting more suspicious – they keep to themselves not wanting to share their happiness or sorrow with somebody – people are losing their jobs so the money is scarce – so they tend to keep to themselves, trying to survive during these difficult periods.  Also we can’t forget that a lot of people divorce for a number of reasons, sometimes not with good reasons. And so in the end, they are often alone not wanting to meet somebody or simply because they have been treated badly and they don’t  want to be with just anybody for the time being.

So in the end, the best way as to not to be lonely, when this cloud comes over our heads, we simply should head out, try to meet somebody that you know for coffee, go to a movie, or simply get out of the house and  see something else other that the inside of your home. Another good thought is to think that you are in good health, and that there are a lot of people around you that are either sick, bedridden or that simply , they cannot go out or do what they would like to do.   So , in the end try to be thankful for what you have , and whenever these black thoughts arrive, you push them away.

Because we are a very small family, only three of us, we decided to be together for the Christmas Holidays.   I have one daughter who lives in Mexico, Playa del Carmen to be exact, and I live on the east coast, in Ontario and my other daughter lives on the west coast.

So ten days before, I arrived in Vancouver, and I missed one big snowstorm by a couple of hours arriving on time at my destination -  my other daughter also arrived on time after changing planes a couple of times.  I can say that we were very lucky on all our arrivals.

We were staying in an hotel because there was no space for the two of us.   A few days before Christmas, it started to snow and snow – I mean not just a few flakes, but it snowed for about 24 hours.  And in this city, because a snowstorm is so rare, there are practically no snowplows, and the street are not cleaned.  For the next few days, after another day of snow, it started to snow again, then the rain arrived.

We were really snowed in – my daughter’s car could not go up the street because of the ice and the snow – and I have to say that during this busy season, the taxis are very rare, and also, the city has not very many taxis. thank God, that we had enough food so that we did not have to go out .

Now that the holiday is practically over, it is raining, and the puddles are like lakes especially at the corner of the streets.

We were complaining a bit , because of all the inconveniences of the snow, rain, no car and no taxis, but we were together that is what counts .   Merry Christmas to all

Daily newspapers in your city!    how many can one read during one day?

I am one of these persons that has the radio or the television opened all day for news – all kinds of news – things that happen all over the world  with CNN and on my radio, everything that is happening in my city, like acccidents, car crashes,roads closing  because of repairs, views of different movie personality. We can’t forget the sports being played in very season of the year and the results.

When I arrived in this city from another location, I was reading 2 newspapers because I wanted to be in contact with my new surroundings, try to know what was happening, the opera and the concerts dates.  All in all , I want to know everything.  And I was reading every line, every paragraph – I touched on everything that was written.

Now I am receiving 3 newspapers which is too much for my taste.   First of all, the news repeat itself, it takes too much of my time, and I end up not reading thoroughly enough now because my time is limited,  I want to do something else and because these newspapers are here in my house, I feel that I have to read them.  I am pulled between reading them like I use to do or simply glancing at the headlines and then I look if the subject interests me, then I stop and read it completely.

Now, I have come to a conclusion, I must eliminate 2 newspapers which will be very difficult, but as time becomes very precious for me, I will have to do it.  And after I have cancelled two of them, I am sure that I will miss reading them – what can you do- when you are a news freak, this obession is there with you all the time – it never goes away!

I have 3 friends that live in the same building as I do.   For awhile, we used to see each other quite a bit, but then one of us went on a trip for 3 months, the other one went away to see her mother  because of sickness.   So after so many months of not seeing each other, this one week-end, I decided that  it was time to be together and catch up on things.

The invitation was made and everybody was happy to come.   The dinner was scheduled for 6 1/2 p.m. but this one person called me advising me that she would be late.  She finally arrived 1/2 hour late, and when she came in, she tells me that she fell asleep on her bed, and that she could have gone on to sleep the whole night.  I can’t say that I liked this explanation but I accepted it and in my headI thought, she must have said “Oh no, I have to go to this dinner!.

I must say that I had set a very nice table, and the food was good. At around 7.30 we sat down – the first course was a salad and then came the lamb shanks with vegetables.  I must add that the conversation was very flat -  I was the one always that was trying to get the dialogue going but nothing seemed to work.

So after the coffee, two of them asked for doggie bags, and the one person who was late left early because she was tired.   So  after the trouble of shopping, cooking,  and trying your best to have a nice visit with your friends, I was very disappointed.  And after they had left, I said to myself that I would not have them again.  But after a few days, I thought about my   decision  and I am relenting – there may be another time!

Everybody wants to escape the winter for a little while when they can – for us, we are called “Snow-Birds” because, whenever possible, we leave at the end of November to come back at the beginning of April. I am one of those but I leave at the begining of January for three months.

I usually drive down, alone with my thougths, or listening to an audio book – I have to mention that I listen to a lot of news, because I am called a “news freak “

Going down this year was particularly difficult due to the bad weather – a lot of snow squalls, and very cold and windy. But I had anticipated that situation, because they were telling us that we would encounter some freezing temperatures. So after 4 days on the road, I finally arrived at my destination.

The weather is beautiful, but a little cooler than it should be but it beats the cold and the snow. The apartment that I have rented is big, clean and airy. It takes me a few days to get organized- to get back to a routine, to walk in the morning, and when I have the time, to go to my exercise club. Sometimes, I am very happy to go at the club, but other times, it gets to be a chore, but to stay healthy,exercising is supposedly the best solution.

Florida has lost some of the appeal that I had before. The weather is nice. We have concerts, opera, ballet, and for some, bridge. We have beautiful stores full with the latest fashions. But for some reason, being happy in Florida is not there anymore. And I did not mention the restaurants, the grocery stores that are all over and opened very late. Finally, we have everything and more but the enjoyment is not there.

But after a while, people change. Our taste is different and there comes a time when change is good. So probably, I have come to that bend in the road.

Have you ever traveled by train?  Have you ever had the satisfaction of going somewhere by train, sometimes in Canada,  in Europe , or simply taking the go-train between cities instead of waiting for the bus or being pushed and shoved on the subway?

Lately, I had to go to another city, which is a 5 1/2 car ride between the cities that I was going to.   At exactly, 6.55 a.m. the train left on time.   I had waited not more than 10 minutes before embarking,  and I was carrying all the newspapers that were out at that time.  You have an assigned seat, either an aisle or a window.  As soon as you are sitting down, you are asked if you want a cup of coffee, and you are given the menu for the breakfast .   You have 3 choices -you are served exactly the way if you were traveling by plane.   Everybody smiles,  eager to serve you and you can repeat anything you like.   Now, this service is for the first-class section, but, if you prefer to travel economy class, the seats are the same, but you are not served any food, but there a person going through the aisle selling sandwiches, coffee, etc.

In Europe, the trains  are very clean , efficient, and practically on time.  I am thinking here in Switzerland, where punctuality is the order of the day.

I also had the privilege of traveling on the Orient Express which is the ultimate experience.  You are served on linen tablecloths, silverware, and crystal glasses.   This is quite the ultimate way to travel – way back, the kings, queens, the maharajahs and the super rich were using  this kind of traveling.

I have only touched a little on that subject, but there are super speed trains in France, Italy.  So if in the future, you are thinking  of going somewhere, think of this method of  traveling.

I have always liked auctions – and I have made a point of whenever I see that there will be one in the near future in my city, even if the auction will be decorative arts,  jewellery , silver or glass, I often make a point of  attending the auction because, I am very curious to see what people like, what they like to buy and how much money they spend , let’s say for a piece of jewellery, or a painting or for antique furniture.

Lately, I went to a preview for decorative arts.   This time, there were beautiful things – like asian art , vases, plates, – exquisite victorian jewellery in brooches, rings, and also an old muff chain  from the early nineties.  In the old days, they used to wear muffs and to hold it, they had a chain around their neck that went through the muff :  and then  you would simply put your two hands in it to keep warm, or if you did not want to use it, the muff was  hanging there for you.

I had seen a beautiful citrine ring and an enhancer to match the ring -  both were surrounded with diamonds.  This really caught my eye, and on the night that this piece was going to be auctioned off, there was  an alert saying that the power was off in that part of the city.   But I had to go and see for myself, and of course, everything was in darkness, the streets leading to the auction house, and even the  traffic lights were not working.

So this  decorative arts auction was cancelled  for tonite -  in another two days, it will go on.   So if time permits, I will be there again trying to find out how much is the bidding for that particular piece.  Maybe I will be the one that will get it.

Today’s is the U.S. Thanksgiving!  what a day this is for the american people .  A lot of them  celebrate more on Thanksgiving than  at Christmas.   For us Canadians, that day is celebrated very little, compared to our neighbors.   They talk about  it many days and weeks before the actual date – but for us, we do give thanks, and we do cook a turkey   this is not the majority), we do send a few thanksgiving cards to celebrate it, but unfortunately, we don’t  make a fuss like they do.

Today is the Macy’s parade and everything was focused on Santa Claus, but this year, being Thanksgiving , everybody that was questioned, or interviewed, were saying, yes the parade is terrific, but after this, I am going home to be with the children , my parents, or my in-laws, or the grand-parents and we are going to have turkey, and snuggle up with the family.

This is a time to be thankful for being in a free country, where there are no restraints for food, gaz, lodging, – all in all, we are in a very open country where we haven’t had war, or terrorism.   We should all stop and think how lucky we are.

Christmas,  comes once a year!  For a lot of people,  it evokes  midnight mass, lights, music, decorations, christmas cake, dear Santa, parades, lighted fireplace with stockings hanging from the chimney,presents, red and green candles , turkey with the stuffing that your mother used to make and you still remember, and we can’t forget chestnuts.   We could go on and on, because, Christmas is a time of the year that is cherished by a lot of people but for others , it can be a time of sorrow,  for children  ,it is sometimes  a bad time, no parents, or no money to enjoy a little present.

In the condo, where I live, this afternoon, a truck with a crane drove up in front of the building, and began putting lights on our big fir tree that must measure at least 50 feet high .  They light up this tree on the December 1st, and the lights are usually green – beautiful to look at, and whenever  people drive on the street, it is a very striking sight.

From my apartment, I can see this beautiful Christmas tree and I often close all the lights in the room, and I sit there contemplating  this tree . It induces you to sometimes meditate, think of things that you should do or should have done.  And then you give thanks for what you have .This is the special time of the day, that everything stops,  there is no noise to disturb you ,and you cherish this special ” stop” in your life. Sometimes, these special moments are difficult to have.

Before leaving for Vancouver, I had seen in the paper, an advertisement or if you like, they were advertising an evening of Ballroom Dancing from a Dance Theatre in the Ukraine.  Because I was in a hurry , I had to finish my bags, etc. I tore the piece of paper and left it on my coffee table.

When I came back , I saw this piece of paper with  this advertisement – so I called one of my friends to come with me and we went to see Ballroom dancing!

What a night! My friend and I never saw such beauty – the music, the clothes, the dancing – everything was perfect.  They are all professional dancers,  never missing a step and the choreography was excellent  – the colours of the dresses were to die for, the dances like the waltz, the quick step, the mamba, the samba, and  for the end, it was more or less a jive session – words cannot explain how terrific everything was. In the middle of the performance, the master of ceremonies came out asking the audience if we liked it, and everybody started clapping for at least a minute.  It was an “up evening” – the feeling we had when it was over was  overwhelming – we did not want it to stop.   My hands were hurting because I had clapped too much during the show.

For me and my friend, we were saying that this is a show that should happen more often – it beats  the serious stuff like, opera, symphony, etc.   Of course, we need to be serious sometimes,  but an uplifting show like this beats anything that you can take for getting rid of the blues.  I repeat – “What a terrific show”