Category Archives: the nieces and nephews

Dear Andy

Posted on May 8, 2020 by Mrs. Spit

Last Wednesday Christie called me to tell me that Andy was failing. In another world, a world without COVID, that would have been the point where I dropped what I was doing, went home and grabbed the bag that has … Continue reading →

Posted in The language of families, the nieces and nephews | 6 Comments

Three Views

Posted on January 24, 2020 by Mrs. Spit

On Wednesday my nephew began to exhibit signs of a stroke. Decreased mobility on his right side, inability to remember things. I’ve been thinking about what I looked like that day and trying to reconcile. You see, if you were … Continue reading →

Posted in The language of families, the nieces and nephews | 5 Comments

Mr Rogers

Posted on October 25, 2019 by Mrs. Spit

Dear Ben: I will make this apology to you on Sunday night, when I continue reading the adventures of Bad Kitty. It will happen right after I read to your sister from Anne of Green Gables. I will apologize, and … Continue reading →

Posted in The Cheerful Agnostic, The language of families, the nieces and nephews | 1 Comment

140 KM an Hour with Tears in my Eyes

Posted on October 19, 2019 by Mrs. Spit

I have struggled with how to start this. The lab results they handed to me. The sinking feeling. When I thought my knees might buckle. I could start with the scene in the kitchen – the part where Christie looked … Continue reading →

Posted in The language of families, the nieces and nephews | 6 Comments

You Can Have Me

Posted on September 12, 2019 by Mrs. Spit

In the middle of contract negotiations last February, I got a call. The people in the room were asking me a question. I pointed at my phone, sort of shrugged and walked out into the break out room. . My … Continue reading →

Posted in The language of families, the nieces and nephews | 7 Comments

Return to Sender

Posted on September 17, 2018 by Mrs. Spit

I thought it was the window cat bed. Which I ordered. Because it was $17 on Amazon and maybe it would keep the cat off the chair. Nash likes sitting there because he can watch the birds. I came home … Continue reading →

Posted in The language of families, the nieces and nephews | 5 Comments

A Cup of Kindness, yet.

Posted on August 25, 2018 by Mrs. Spit

I polished the silver salt and pepper shakers until they shone. Carefully washed the kindness cup. Pulled out the good notepaper and a wrote a note. I explained that the salt and pepper shakers belonged to my grandmother, they had seen … Continue reading →

Posted in the nieces and nephews | 4 Comments

Magic

Posted on October 10, 2017 by Mrs. Spit

She sat on the chair in her grad student apartment and she told me about the lecture on Marx and laws she was going to give. I took a picture, although she doesn’t realize it. I was struck by magic … Continue reading →

Posted in Feats of Wonder, Life After Children, the nieces and nephews | 2 Comments

Taller than I

Posted on May 7, 2016 by Mrs. Spit

I took my niece to the 100th anniversary of universal suffrage at the Alberta legislature, and as I stood behind her, with my hands on her shoulders, I joked that I needed to weigh her down. By this time next … Continue reading →

Posted in Gabriel, Gardening, The language of families, the nieces and nephews, Tiny Points of Light | 3 Comments

On the Whole of It

Posted on October 21, 2015 by Mrs. Spit

There were a number of things that irritated me about this election. Mostly it was how “unCanadian” I perceived it to be. Calling it early and campaigning forever and ever*, it seemed nasty and mean spirited and an attempted triumph … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, the nieces and nephews | Leave a comment