New Year's at Oma and Opa's
A poem
We rang in the new year at the home of Oma and Opa, who are parents of a family friend. Their Dutch hospitality was affectionate, amazing, genuine. Thank you, Oma and Opa! The kids, my wife and I enjoyed every minute.
New Year's at Oma and Opa's
Silver mirrored sun
over familial hearth
reflects a memory;
firewood stacked
. . .
Smells like recess
A poem
Smells Like Recess
Ball up in sky
like rocket to moon.
Cartwheel exquisite;
polka dot ball.
If I were a spider
on the wall,
I would crawl
into your arms,
jump over the net,
mixed dirt and sweat
stained cap
smells
like recess—
smells like
love.
Bell rings,
time to leave fun;
back to class,
sit up straight.
You have . . .
Posted in: playgroundpoetryschool
An awesome Redblacks Grey Cup parade
My son and I joined thousands for an Ottawa football celebration
A grey, drab, Tuesday morning. Ottawa awoke to a thin sheet of freezing rain coating the streets. By noon, the temperature had risen, the ice had melted and thousands of fans lined Bank Street for a victory parade to cheer on their football heroes and 2016 Grey Cup champions, the Ottawa Redblacks.
We parked on Fourth Avenue between . . .
Growing up Grey Cup
The Canadian Football League is quirky, exciting and intimate
The television’s blue-hued light flickered in the dark. “I hear someone coming,” I whispered to my brother. “Turn off the TV and hide!” The stairs creaked as Dad made his way downstairs to get a drink of water. We hid behind the laundry room door.
“Shh … be quiet or we’ll get in . . .
Ribbon Bear's Excellent Kindergarten Adventure
Ode to a stuffed animal
When my kids were in kindergarten, students took turns bringing home a stuffed animal from class. Parents contributed to a journal, detailing activities their families would participate in with the "stuffy." Below is a poem from that journal.
Ribbon Bear's Excellent Kindergarten Adventure
There is a bear
who . . .
Posted in: kid storiespoetryribbon bear
I'm not sure why I had to defeat my son at chess
His growth as a player took a back seat to my need to win
I learned chess as a youngster. I found the order and strategy compelling. So I was more than happy to teach my sons how to play. There is a rhythm and motion to the game: looking ahead, planning your moves, setting up your opponent for a masterful maneuver—there is something about that.
My boys have progressed to the . . .
Posted in: chesscompetition
The Big Man With a Cold Heart
A story by youngest, as told to Dad
"Hey," I told youngest, aged 6 at the time, "we haven't written a story in a while."
"I know," he replied.
"Do you want to?"
"Not really."
"Aw, come on—it'll be fun. I'll write the first paragraph and you can finish."
"Okay," he mumbled, humouring me.
"Alright, let's do this!" I said, and began the . . .
Posted in: kid stories