Sure, 2020 wasn’t the best year ever.
We had expectations. We had plans. Then, boom, the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 pandemic. In a second, everyone’s life was derailed.
Continue reading “Let’s Rewind the Tape – A Perspective on 2020”On December 2, 1984, my Gigi Karatchuk died at the age of 67. Baba died two years before him when I was six years old. I always understood death, but trying to process grief and primary school math is complex. Decades later, we lost our maternal grandparents, and those emotions resurfaced.
Losing grandparents is difficult, and it’s unique for each person. There isn’t a time limit because grief shouldn’t end. You will forever feel the loss when there’s an empty chair. You will have your moments and memories. Embrace your loss. And never be afraid to cry.
“Grandparents are only with us part-time.”
That was the gist of a late-80s MTS commercial.
As young grandchildren, we’re fortunate to remember and make memories with our grandparents. When our grandparents are still with us in our teen years, or our 20s, 30s, or 40s – we believe they are invincible.
Continue reading “Losing Grandparents Doesn’t Become Simpler with Age”As a child, I loved cats.
However, the title of “Tammy’s Favourite Cat” was dubious because they all died. Natural causes. Alright, semi-natural.
My history with cats is traumatic – and a tad gory. Feline lovers, you may require tissue.
I grew up on a dairy farm in the hamlet of Geysir outside Arborg, Manitoba. Hamlet sounds so quaint.
Our farm was overloaded with cats. In the evening when all 70 to 80 meowed at once – it was Alfred Hitchcock-like. A main contributor to the feline population was Puffballs, a tabby tomcat who visited every winter. Then he’d ship off, and lo and behold, the following spring would bring baskets of kittens! Most resembling Puffballs. Luckily, we had a large barn.
Like a beehive has its Queen Bee, we had a monarch cat: Lucky. A sleek and sophisticated tabby with her own sleeping area and milk bowl. When Lucky birthed kittens, a hush fell throughout the farm. Lucky’s kittens were coddled – and the first-born was held up by a mandrill … wait, that was The Lion King.
Lucky birthed my first favourite kitten, Rainbow, who was brown with orange dots. We kept Lucky’s kittens in a silicone castle with padded carpet. So, an extra large red plastic crate with straw. One day, I couldn’t find Rainbow. Until I dug into the straw. What kitten dies when they’re barely a month old? The start of the curse.
I moved onto Gizmo, who looked similar to Rainbow.
*Graphic Content Ahead*
Continue reading “My Tragic Childhood Cat Tales, The Legend is True”
A month ago, I watched a snippet on Facebook of Family Feud.
A contestant stood beside Steve Harvey, and his family watched in horror as they lost by two points at the end of the show.
Name an animal that gallops. Horse. Cheetahs. Dogs. He said, “Giraffe.” The arm chair game show watcher could easily say, “What! You could’ve said… another animal!” But that ACGSW isn’t under pressure. The person on television knows clock is ticking. (Technically, a giraffe does gallop)
For example, does anyone remember that early-1990s beep?
It could only be … Supermarket Sweep!
The Canadian version of the Price is Right. Even though, Supermarket Sweep originated from the United States. Minor deal.
My television selections were comprised of five channels, six on a clear day – and two stations were the same. Those who survived Farmer Vision will remember the slider on the back of our televisions. And maybe the what stations were on channels 2 and 6, and channels 5 and 7. Good times.
Continue reading “Next Time You Hear The Beep, It Might Be A Canadian Game Show”
Tammy W. Karatchuk 