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I remember winter Saturday afternoons, climbing into the haymows in
the barn with my sister. Looking out across our farm, from an opening
high in the air, I felt like the Land Queen. Bits of dust danced and
swirled along the beams of sunlight slanting into the dimness in the
shape of the cracks between the barn boards. We jumped from the high
beams into the haymow until our voices were raspy with dust, and bits
of hay caught in our tangled hair made us look like wild Medusae. It
was easy to ignore the calls to do our chores. Rarely did anyone think
to come searching for us up that long shaky ladder. Occasionally the
scrape of feet on rungs warned us in plenty of time to burrow into
mounds of hay and hope an unexpected sneeze or cough wouldn’t give us
away. Finally our searcher gave up and we were left alone to play until
silver flakes of snow, sifting through the cracks, reminded us that we
were cold. Shivering, we made our way to the house, ready for the warm
kitchen and supper. But not before we thoroughly brushed and picked
each other clean. Not a scrap of hay to be found. Why then did our
Mother always know where we had been?
Those are some of the memories, of growing up on a farm, I carry into
my old age. Although I have spent time living and working in other
places I am still a country girl at heart.
Twenty some years of teaching elementary school while raising two
children and studying for a BA and M.Ed. as well as Ministry Courses,
kept me young but much too busy to pursue my passion for writing. A
bout with ovarian cancer in my mid-fifties reminded me that time was
not eternal for me and if I wanted to write I had better get at it. So
I journalled and wrote poetry, some to help me get through a difficult
time and some for fun.
Finally in 1997 I retired and headed for the computer in earnest, took
writing workshops, joined two writing groups, performed my poetry at
Central Park Labyrinth in Burlington, at area artists’ events and open
mikes, joined Canadian Authors’ Association and Canadian Federation of
Poets and when necessary was disciplined enough to write on a regular
basis. I have always been a voracious reader so it was like magic to
create a book for others to enjoy. In December 2003 I launched my
first adult novel, Death of a Dream and in September of 2004 I launched
a children’s book, Rachel and the Soldiers illustrated by my daughter
with a unique collage of water colour, material, paper and drawing In
2005 I had a poem accepted for the CFP poetry anthology, The Future
Looks Bright. My poem, Spray Paint Lover won the Oakville Inkwell
Writers Pooetry contest in 2006.
Writing is my other world, a chance to explore characters, events and
times that I could never visit in person. Teaching gave me a child’s
view of how things work that I still draw on. I feel privileged to have
two careers and a passion for both, to be blessed with a partner,
children and grandchildren who keep me on my toes, to have colleagues
and friends who keep me grounded and to have health and energy to enjoy
it all.
Jean
has written articles, poetry, stories and feature columns
published in:
She was a winner in the Inkspot.com Book Challenge
and has performed her poetry at several functions celebrating
the work of local artists.
Jean
is a member of the
Canadian Authors Association, the Canadian
Poetry Association and the
Canadian Federation of Poets.
Jean appeared as guest poet
at the 2005 October Oakville Arts Council Poetry Café.
She regularly recites her poetry at the Canadian Federation
of Poets open Mikes in Oakville and Milton.
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