Merry Christmas

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I started the day with a pretty clear idea of what my Christmas Eve would look like and what this week’s blog would be about. Then the cosmos tossed me a curve-ball and for a little while I thought this might be the Wednesday I miss a posting. Life sometimes wants to upset your stride […]

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Robbie Strikes Again

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There has been a flurry of conversations, emails and phone calls about the planned Robbie Burns Supper at the famous Terminal City Club here in Vancouver. It’s the start of a new tradition for the St. Andrew’s & Caledonian Society. I thought the lead up to this January 25th would be easy. With no Burns […]

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First Readers

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Each time I’ve started to write this week’s blog I’ve floundered. My mind settles on the unimportance of it all, the “Why should I bother?” A few days ago I got word that a woman I admire and cherish is in the hospital in critical condition. One day she was fine, the next in a […]

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A Black and Cold Friday

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For those who follow my twitter feed, @TriciaBarkerMEP, you will know I was in Seattle this past weekend helping a client complete the Seattle Half Marathon. We finished the race in fine form and had fun tweeting pics about our mascot @runspirrelrun1. It was a joyful time with the added benefit of being in the […]

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Santa Shuffle

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My twitter feed asked a question that gave me the answer to what I would blog about this week… Why do I run the Salvation Army’s Santa Shuffle every year? On December 4th, 2008 I went to visit Dad. He was not well and the dementia was looming large. We somehow managed to chat about […]

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Politics

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I love politics. I love human nature. I love when someone exceeds my perception of who they are. Last Friday I was in a meeting to learn how to be a scrutineer for the NPA Political Party. I was there to support their candidates in the Vancouver municipal election. I like to expose myself to […]

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Rain or Shine

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A barometer on someone’s character can easily be measured by asking them about the weather. This seems to work if it’s a perfect, sunny day or in the midst of a long rainy spell. You can test the theory on people around you, or better still, test it out on yourself. I think this idea […]

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The List

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Edward is a very good friend but Edward is starting to really bug me. Almost every time we chat he asks if I have written “the list” yet. You see, Eddie knows that one day I will die (note to Eddie… we all die). He has been asking me for years to put a note […]

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Hope and Fear

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I was in the presence of the Dalai Lama and sitting with Lama Tara when I opened the email with the shocking personal news. I cried. Lama Tara comforted me and said, “We live lives of fearless hope and hopeless fear. You have felt both”. With a new reality dominating my synapses I switched gears […]

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True Happiness

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Every step I take, every thought I think, every word I speak, every moment of my life… My religion dictates how these should be done. More often than not I fall short of the lofty expectations and vows. I live my life in the shadow of the Buddha’s teachings. And tomorrow I will get to […]

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