Category: Tammy’s Take

Let’s Rewind the Tape – A Perspective on 2020

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”

Losing Grandparents Doesn’t Become Simpler with Age

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.

My Gigi Karatchuk died on December 2, 1984 at 67 years old, and Baba died also at 67 years old on October 12, 1982. My older sister is the one wearing the striped shirt, and I’m the one sucking my thumb. Photo, 1980

“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”

What Do You Write about During a Pandemic – You Just Write

I Googled “ideas for blog posts during a pandemic” tonight, trying to come up with a story. There are few topics to write about when people are either arguing or making fun of hoarding toilet paper,

Some believe COVID-19 is a death sentence, and others are saying the symptoms are mild. While some people are panicking, and others are relatively calm. I’m in that camp.

I’m confident with self-isolation, quarantines, social distancing, and proper steps to keep each other safe, we can control COVID-19.

I understand some people are more vulnerable than others. People are worried about their families, the elderly, people with weakened immune systems and with underlying conditions.

Arborg Co-op, March 2020 / Photo: Tammy W. Karatchuk

Yes, be ready. Have a plan. Buy one can of Lysol. I was out, so I bought another – out of need. The toilet paper was low. Again, out of need. I wonder if the people hoarding toilet paper understand their actions. Then when it dawned on people that, hey, we can’t eat toilet paper, they moved onto food, leaving the shelves bare.

This isn’t an Apocalypse.

When the World Health Organization (WHO) announced COVID-19 as a pandemic, they said “the word ‘pandemic’ shouldn’t instill fear and panic.”

But it has and here we are. Each COVID-19 case is scary. But we don’t know the story behind the case. Travel? Close contact?

A fun fact about toilet paper. Pre-1960s, when some households didn’t have running water, toilet paper was a luxury. When duty called, people would use Eaton’s catalogues, newspaper, the funny pages. Whatever was available.

Today, we’re about immediate gratification. A “me-me-me” mentality.

When I was young, my paternal Gigi mentioned a man who took the last piece of butterscotch marshmallow square, my favourite at the time. He told me, it was selfish to take the last of anything.

That’s stuck with me. However, if it’s something I can’t do without, such as feminine hygiene products or almond milk, I have zero choice.

For now, keep your distance, wait this out, and keep in touch with your loved ones.

The Art of Keeping a Diary – Your Future-Self Won’t Know What LOL Meant

I’ve kept a journal since the middle of July 1986.

It was a five-year diary. One of my best friends in elementary school was moving to Winnipeg, and the diary was a goodbye gift.

The diary had small spaces, and I wrote little context. Sometimes just, “Had a good weekend,” and “Saw a movie.”

In a diary, you never ponder, “Will I know who *Carey K was in 2020?” Or why you left a party upset? How about what LOL and OMG. There is a chance we could forget.

After reading some of my older diaries, I wrote in a current diary, “… and I just thought OMG (future Tammy: Oh my, God) why would you do that?”

My first three diaries. The far blue one is from the summer of 1986. While my other two have more context, it’s “Having fun in South Dakota, we went into this cool cave.”

Here are some tips for your journal. I wish I thought of these when I first started.

  • Did you see a movie? Write a quick movie synopsis, Did you like the movie? Why or why not? Did you go with anyone? Who? First and last names, please. You. Will. (Possibly) Forget. Or not.
  • Write in pen. Never pencil. This seems like a simple “why would anyone write in pencil.” When I was in grade eight, I wrote in pencil. The words are faint and blurry.
  • If you had an awesome night, describe everything. When you’re 25, you might write a short rundown. But your 40-year-old self is reading back, you’ll wonder wear you went, the reason, and maybe what you were wearing.
  • Went to a bar? What was the name? Restaurant? Same question. What if those restaurants and bars aren’t around in five, 10, or 15 years? Even better, where was the bar, restaurant, establishment. Street names, town, and so forth change as well.
  • Don’t pressure yourself into writing everyday. I recommend writing at least every second or third day. Because writing about what happened over the course of four months is difficult. Trust me on this one.
  • Write about the highs and lows in your life. I didn’t write about my high school graduation for two months – and it wasn’t in detail. I barely wrote about grade 12, period. Not a word about moving to Winnipeg the first time. Nothing the day before my wedding day. I wrote about my adolescent brain tumours – though I lost one section about the second tumour.
  • If you’re going on a trip or a close series of trips, I recommend buying a special diary to write about your experiences.
My post-high school diaries in 2019

  • It’s not creepy to staple obituaries in your diary. Or to keep stickers from voting. Or stickers from open houses. You control your diary.
  • Buy different styles of diaries. Coil, binded, magnetic closure. It’s supposed to be an enjoyable process. And you want to write in something that’s nice.
  • Invest in comfortable pens. Or a diary specific pen. Make sure it’s comfortable for those night when you vent in your diary for an hour.
  • A journal is a creative outlet. If you can’t express your feelings through words – draw or sketch.
  • You don’t have to buy expensive diaries. They’re sold at Dollarama  and Dollar Tree, and they’re just as pretty.
  • Keep track of your dreams too. In fact, if you have vivid dreams, start a separate dream journal.
  • Note down what # means. It went from the number sign to a hashtag, and it could change again. Think about your future self.
  • Remember, diaries are meant for pouring out your feelings. However, when you have two or three diaries with the same theme, it’s time to switch gears. Write about your feelings, but write a solution to the issue.

Hopefully, these tips help you journal or modify your diary style. Remember, your diary keeps your secrets. Highs, lows, crushes, disasters, regrets, fears, accomplishments, and so forth.

It’s your best friend.

And some days, a diary can feel like your only friend.