Freelance Reporter and Photographer
"Sept 16, 1991, MonDear DiaryThe nerologist, Mr. Young, told me that I have a brain tumor. It's the size of a nickle. They're sending me for more tests this week ... I'm kind of still in shock. I never expected this. I expected epilepsy or, may be nothing. Jenn took it hard. I did to,... Continue Reading →
Saying goodbye My parents built their dream house. A smaller home in the woods. Surrounded by trails and bulrushes - and black bears. Which means they sold their house and acreage on Highway 68. The acreage even had its own business name, "Karatchuk Acres." On September 30th, mom and dad went to their former home.... Continue Reading →
In 2010, I had my last real doughnut. It was an éclair from the Arborg Bakery when my friends and I were in town for a college project. I told them, “Before we leave, we have to stop at the bakery!” While my friends cooed in doughnut heaven, I drove back to Red River College,... Continue Reading →
"If you could, would you go back to high school?" Adults are often asked this around graduation season. As social media fills with photos of newly minted graduates, some of you become nostalgic about your own high school experiences. A time when Hypercolor shirts, Fat Emma & Pie Face Chocolate bars, leggings, bell bottoms, paisley... Continue Reading →
Meet the keto diet. However, in the epilepsy community, it's known as the ketogenic diet and it can be traced back to the 1920s and 1930s. But, hey, someone said they lost 120 lbs on keto. So, toot, toot! All aboard the temporary weight loss train! The ketogenic diet is not a diet. It's a... Continue Reading →
My Gigi Karatchuk died on December 2, 1984 when he was 67 years old, and Baba died at the same age on October 12, 1982. Pictured are my older sister (brown overalls) and me (sucking thumb) with my paternal grandparents, 1980 "Grandparents are only with us part-time." That was the gist of a late-80s MTS... Continue Reading →
My maternal Baba and Gigi were staunch Jehovah's Witnesses. Every Sunday, they used to attend services - referred to as meetings - at the Kingdom Hall. However, my grandparents developed health and mobility issues, making it difficult to drive into Arborg for meetings. The Kingdom Hall solved the problem. My grandparents were provided with a... Continue Reading →
