The Pits and Pieces

  The other day I met someone, in person, for the first time after knowing her online for about three years. We’d initially met in an online group of writing during the early COVID years, and then, once the course ended, a few of the women branched out and we formed our own small circle, chatting online once a month about all the various topics women talk about. S (who lives in Calgary) was here in Oakville visiting family and friends, and we got together for a meal at a restaurant. I asked the waitress to take our picture and told her we were seeing each other in person for the first time, after meeting online. “And is she as good-looking as you thought she was?” the waitress asked. I thought it was an odd question (we were obviously both good-looking women), but I played along. “Even better,” I said. A few moments later, it struck me: the waitress thought we were a romantic duo on a date! S and I laughed and laughed and then talked some more. When one says, ‘we met online’, people

  I’ve been off this first week in August, another small taste of time off as I inch my way to retirement on the horizon. I’m ready for it. I know it. I feel it more with each stretch of days off, that knowledge that I have many interests to fill my days, and yet love leisurely mornings so much. I try to schedule activities/sports/appointments for later in the day so that my mornings can be slow. I prefer writing in the mornings to any other time of day. Although my morning pages, which should be three, are sometimes limited to one page only. But that’s okay. And my blog posts, which were, at one time, once a week, have dwindled to once every two weeks. But that’s okay too, because I seem to be falling into rhythms that match the season. Yesterday I went to the Tennis event held annually at York U when the pros (they alternate the men and women every year between Toronto and Montreal) come to dazzle us with their skill and power and prowess. I love watching tennis on television, but