isobelmtl
Writing under a Montreal sky
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Author: isobel cunningham
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Says the sign over empty freezers. Following the severe storm two days ago, this was the sight that met me when I went for my usual shopping on Saturday morning. A lot, no really, a lot of shelves and freezers were empty because the neighborhood grocery store suffered the same electricity cut we were all…
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Yesterday I entered the United States for the first time in about 10 years. I had various political and safety concerns and never had pressing personal reading for visiting. Crossing the border was not pleasant. I travelled by Trailways Bus and probably the agent had seen his share of gormless, nervous, people who didn’t look…
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Broad and generous when she changes from thick dense greenery to brilliant hues of crimson, of pink of unlikely yellow and brown. when her sunsets make me raise my head from the sink where I wash dishes or chop vegetables. The sound of leaves scudding along the country road or the cry of wild geese…
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When I pass this willow tree on my walk around the water in the park, I always “lay hands”on it. Someone else paid homage yesterday. quite content to wait to be photographed. A little boy was collecting snails nearby. He was pleased to have a look. He informed me, as, after a few moments the…
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Today I took part in a Canada-wide protest against Canada’s abysmal record on fossil fuels. A group of about 60 people met outside the office of Stefan Gilbeault in downtown Montreal. This was part of a Canada-wide protest organized by Canada 350, a national action group. Now that we are the proud exporters of smoke…
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It is raining, thank God! Here in Montreal we have endured many days of smoke-filled skies. I am a guide at the city museum and for the first time in my memory of 12 years of guiding, my outdoor Sunday tour was cancelled due to smoke. Today I will go to a demonstration at the…
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Again, on my way to the library this time. He had his eye on me. The Canada geese are all over the place but he waded solemnly at water’s edge. The sky was clearer than it has been. It was the wind that saved us yesterday. I went to return a book of Hemingway short…
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This green lane leads to the big park that I cross every time I go to catch the Metro. No matter how stressed I am stepping into this green tunnel immediately calms me down. This short path is not paved and the soft ground reminds me of the many miles I walked on my two…
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A kind friend brought me a big bag of earth and so I was able to fill my window-boxes. Just one day later and already a beautiful bumble bee was investigating my newly-planted flowers. Welcome Buzzy one! But it can’t always be petunias, can it? Something tells me I won’t see any blooms until next…