So my idea sounded kind of delicious - spend a year diving more deeply into things you already do and already love. So far what has happened? I have already taken on a new challenge by joining the Hospice board. Yes, I was already a Hospice volunteer so technically perhaps this IS diving more deeply. We shall see. Being a board member is more about organizing and overseeing and making things happen, while a care-giving volunteer works directly with clients. So yes they are both needed and valuable but in different ways. I do have some admin skills I will bring to bear on this new(ish) endeavour.  And then there is the Women's Institute or WI. I am the VP in that group but will be needing to do more since there are some people suffering with severe illnesses, their own or a family member. We are all aging, after all. Incredibly, vitally alive and youthful, naturally, but aging nonetheless. Sigh. I do love that group of women, though, and I do love making those darn pies so I ...

This is my Depth Year. On Friday, Jan. 4, my friend Linda Wardroper died. She used medically assisted suicide and was apparently very comfortable and surrounded by family and close friends. I stopped by today to see her and Shannon told me the news. She also gave me a coat and a purse of Linda's because Linda wanted friends to get her things. Shannon appears to be doing quite well - organizing, sorting, taking care of business as it were. Practical woman. She said it is her way to keep moving while she processes. It made sense to me. So far this year I have had some good luck with getting a deal on a new iphone and a free ipad, and I am signed up for the Intensive Dietary Program to lose my extra weight and increase my health. But I have lost one friend and my friend, Sharon Hawke, is not doing so well. She is in a lot of pain and it feels like she may die also. I cannot imagine how Gene will cope if she does die. Will he have to move into some sort of care situation? I woul...

I heard a CBC Tapestry podcast the other day that got me thinking. The interviewee, a David Cain, was talking about going deeper, not longer, meaning rather than always picking up something new, how about using what is already in one's life and see what happens? I have my piano, cello, bodhran, accordion, tin whistles, paints, yoga, clays, kitchen, dog, yard, the groups I belong to - so much already. And yet somehow I am still called by novelty - new things, new people, new hobbies, new skills. I immediately liked the idea of going deeper. Imagine what I could learn if I kept doing what I am already doing? I might get better on my musical instruments. I would learn more about working with clay and maybe even find my own style and practice. I could get stronger in yoga and ease my body. My yard could get even more beautiful and perhaps more productive. Just think of how good my food will get spending more time in the kitchen. So I am going to try this. Nothing totally new this...