January 21, 2007
 

      In spite of the weather, there were 8 dedicated souls at our meeting Thursday night.  We just couldn’t stay apart any longer. 

      Bob brought a poster listing the employees of Jacoby Bros. Ltd. who volunteered for military service in WWII.  He also had Trade of Commerce Certificates that had given Jacoby Bros. the right to use trademarks on gold and silver jewellery.  

      I had several different things to read.  First I read the letters from John Ireland, and we are hoping he and his wife will be relocating to the Lower Mainland at the end of January.  We definitely want him to come back to our group, never mind his family members who live here.

      Regarding the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival contest for Haiku, I read several that I had written.  This was a new experience for me, writing Haiku.  The original form consisted of 17 syllables, 3 lines of 5-7-5, illustrating some contrast, with reference to a season.  But the contest only stipulated entries had to be 17 syllables or less, preferably in 3 lines, referring to cherry blossoms.  I did submit the one entry I was allowed.

      My daughter-in-law, Chantal, is taking courses in Human Resources as part of her career plan, and she sent me a 1943 Hiring Guide for Women, which I read.  Very sexist  

      Lynette read a paper she had written for the course she is taking.  It was on Individual Psychophysical Unity, about how body, mind and soul are really one entity and not separate as church or science would have us believe. 

      Margaret read from her Peabody collection, a story called “The Day of Judgement.  This is a further adventure of the Rev. Peabody who was trying to recover from his episode with the terrorist parrot.  He needed a hernia operation and was fearful of having it done.  His housekeeper reassured him but he came home missing a very important male appendage.  They had amputated his big toe, and he still needed the hernia operation.  Hilarious the way Margaret tells the story. 

      Nathaniel’s daughter, Tara, joined us on Thursday and even though she had a cold, she did give us an amazing performance of her slam poetry “How Well Do You Know Death?”.  Haunting picture of a young person struggling with issues of self-acceptance and the temptations constantly beckoning.  This was a very powerful piece that had us riveted in our seats listening intently.  We hope Tara will share more of her work with us in the future, and that she finds a way to share it with the world, because it is way too good to sit on a shelf. 

      Ellie read to us of Caldor receiving a message to beware of Malone, a Darkling who bears gifts.  She wrote a very tense and suspenseful scene full of apprehension. 

      Nathaniel said he had been losing interest in writing, but thought perhaps it might be because he had been so busy with so many other things.  We think he probably needs some sunshine since we’ve only had one day of it since November.  Anyhow, he is now reading to us the chapters that tell of Rose’s story.  It is winter at Fort Douglas, and the prairie is covered with snow.  Food is scarce, the mice are eating the seed stocks.  Declan and Rose go hunting.  A winter storm comes up, they travel closer to the river.  He shoots what he thought was a buffalo, but turns out to be an Indian woman wearing a buffalo hide.  Rose insists they take her back to the Fort to see if they can help her.  Declan gives in reluctantly, but makes Rose carry her on her horse.  There is tension in this scene because Declan suspects Rose cheated on him with Alexander.--- Now Nathaniel, you can’t quit writing this when you get to the section about a woman.  That’s the part I’ve been waiting for.  How does she deal with life in such a cold and hostile environment?  

      Susan didn’t get a chance to read.  She had brought another segment of her brother’s book.  We asked if she was writing and she said she was re-writing her novel in first person, and didn’t think we wanted to hear it.  But we all said, yes, we do want to hear it.  Told Susan she can read first next week. 

      Carolann hopes to make a meeting when she gets over a terrible cold she’s had for a couple of weeks.  And Gemma always has to wait for the snow to melt to get out of her driveway.  Her road never gets plowed.  And I think Michael is still without transportation. 

      Next meeting will be here at my place Thursday, January 25^th at 7:00 p.m.  Keep your fingers crossed the roads stay bare and free of black ice.  Hope the Muse gives you lots to write.  See you Thursday. 

Lisa