Sans Nom Poets

I love to support local talent – whether it is musicians or visual performers, art shows or readings by writers.  It is important that we celebrate the creativity of people in our own community. I attend many concerts, art shows and readings and I am always amazed at the calibre and quality of our home-grown talent.

Tonight I attended a very special book launch.  The book called “Skating in the Exit Light” was released in celebration of the 20^th anniversary of the Sans Nom Poets.  Sans Nom is a group of poets who, over the years, have written together and supported each other as books were published or rejected,  as life-changing events occurred in their personal and professional  lives and who have helped each other make that poem just a little better.

Seventeen authors have contributed to the book.  All are very talented and several have had books published and/or their work published.  Two very special people to me are in that group and read their works that night: Veryl Coghill and Lynda Monahan.

Lynda is an amazing poet. Her words draw you into her world as she writes about the pain of losing her mother and her brother.  She wrote a poem for her sister who has severe health issues.  She read a poem which she wrote for a lifelong friend who passed away last year. She expressed regret that she did not write it for him when he was alive. An important lesson taught through her prose: make sure to tell the people you love how you feel. Don't wait until it is too late.  Lynda spins magic with her words and listening to her, one experiences the emotions she wraps around each of her poems. 

Veryl Coghill’s contribution to the book is a powerful tribute to her mother who passed away two years ago.  The typical complicated mother/daughter relationship that we all share is brought to life in Veryl’s poem.  Again there is the lesson to share your feelings and to tell those you love how much you care before it is too late.  Veryl uses the songs and stories of her childhood and intertwines them with her own words, creating a magical world in which when you read her poem you can hear the music of your own childhood in the background. 

All the poets who read their work that night have amazing stories to tell and are greatly talented. What a wonderful idea it was to have these amazing people with incredible poetic abilities join together for an evening to share their work with the public.  Their poetry is wonderful gift they share with all of us.  We are indeed fortunate to have such talent in our city. 

Enjoying the talents and work of people in our own community . . . it's a good thing!

Fine Friends and Prickly People

Is it possible that every person in your life is here because of a divine purpose? In her book “God’s Guest List”, Debbie Macomber claims this is so. Macomber firmly believes that everyone – even the “prickly people”, as she calls them – are sent to you for a reason. A person may need something from you or you may have something that person needs. Someone may come into your life because there is something he or she can teach you or that you can teach that person. Macomber says that whether someone is a life-long friend, or someone you know for only a short while, there is a purpose for that contact. Life lessons are learned from this variety of people and relationships. She claims that even people you don’t like or people you simply “put up with” are a gift sent to you in order to learn any number of traits: patience, tolerance or understanding.  Perhaps they are sent to us so that we can learn to be strong and gain the confidence to stand up for ourselves, or for others.  Sometimes a “prickly person” goes on to become a valued friend, but even they remain a prickly person, you have been taught a life lesson.  People we don’t particularly care for or who are not necessarily kind to us, have something to teach us. We need to learn to accept those who have a negative influence on us as readily as we accept those who bring happiness and joy into our lives.  We should not dwell on the negative, but simply understand those downers serve a purpose and move on.

Her book caused me to examine my own life and the people who have come in and out of it, and to reflect on the people who have been permanent fixtures in my life.  I think Macomber might be onto something.  Even not-so-nice people in my life have been there at a time when I needed their skill, talent or even guidance and perhaps a lesson in assertiveness. While they may have caused disruption or sadness, there was a reason they were there at that particular time.  The people I love have given me strong support when I needed it most. I have also come to realize that two precious friends, now deceased, were a part of my life when I needed them the most.  If you think back on your life, I think you will come to the same conclusion. 

 

       All of these people – friend and foe – are part of the “guest list” of our lives, and we should appreciate each and every one of them. Suddenly it all makes sense -  knowing that your friends and your “prickly people” have been picked out for you and sent into your life when you needed them the most.   Having fine friends and prickly people in your life . . .it’s a good thing

Daffodil Tradition

 

Do you know what the hottest accessory is for April? It is the Canadian Cancer Society’s Daffodil Pin! It is made up of the Cancer Society’s yellow daffodil symbol re-styled onto a very attractive pin. Everywhere you look, the daffodil pin is proudly displayed on lapels and jackets. They are available in many locations throughout the month of April and are sold by donation.

The Daffodil has become the symbol of cancer research fund-raising in Canada. Each year, local branches of the Cancer Society sell live daffodils.  Three years ago, the first year daffodil pins were sold as well – and they were a hit! In fact, 2013 will mark the beginning of phasing out live daffodils in favour of pins.  They are very lovely and look great on your lapel.  As well as being attractive, these little gems are a visible show of support for cancer research and for people suffering with cancer.  It is a way to say thank you to the many volunteers involved with the Cancer Society and in local hospitals and cancer wards.  It also serves as a reminder that every three minutes someone in Canada is diagnosed with cancer.  Cancer has touched everyone, and many people have a story about fighting back.  The daffodil pin is a visual reminder of that.

How is it that this beautiful little flower became the symbol of solidarity in cancer research? I did a little research and discovered that the Canadian Cancer Society’s Daffodil Days began in Toronto in the 1950’s. A group of volunteers organized a fundraising tea. They decided to decorate the tables with daffodils, thinking that the bright and cheerful flowers instilled hope that cancer could be beaten. These gatherings soon came to be known as Daffodil Teas. Volunteer Jackie Brockie worked at Eaton’s Store and arranged for Lady Eaton to host a Tea at the store. Over seven hundred women attended! Lane Knight, another volunteer, arranged for restaurants to give part of their proceeds to the Society on the opening day of the cancer canvass in 1956. Volunteers were on hand to give patrons a daffodil as a token of appreciation. When recipients tried to pay for the flowers, the Cancer Society realized that the sale of daffodils could generate revenue, and thus the Cancer Society’s April Daffodil Sale was born. The Daffodil Sale was very successful and has been held every April since then. The idea spread to other provinces and to the American Cancer Society. Today, the Canadian Cancer Society is the world’s largest purchaser of daffodils!

Wear your daffodil pin with pride this month, knowing that the tradition goes back to the days of your grandmother and that this is one way to show those suffering from cancer they are not facing the battle alone.