When we were young, my brother and I took drama lessons for several years in downtown Hamilton. The studio was located in an old, rickety building whose original construction predated Confederation. It had gone through at least a couple of renovations since then, but that all happened long before I came along. To me, the building with its glacier-slow elevator and funny smells seemed, to borrow a phrase, “as old as the hills and twice as dusty.”
Tag: essay
Stepping up and speaking out
Today is World Mental Health Day, so I thought I’d share something I wrote for Let’s Talk, a day in January when Canadians are publically encouraged to break down the stigma and talk about mental health. I wasn’t ready to share it then, but I am now.
While I haven’t received an official diagnosis of social anxiety, two years ago, I participated in a study for people displaying symptoms, and that has helped me a lot. This is just another bend in that road.
*deep breath*
Cracking the recipe
I am baking on a Tuesday evening. This is unusual for me. Normally my Tuesday evenings are tied up with choir practice or volunteer work, but in the summer, these things are on hiatus. And even though we have central air, baking isn’t something I do much of in the summer. But this evening is different as it’ll only come once. It is the 100th anniversary of my paternal grandmother’s birthday, and so I’m marking the occasion by attempting her signature cookie recipe once more. This time, I hope to get it right.
A day in the life
UPDATE: Anthology of Prompts Volume 1 by the Writing Prompts Group is now available for download here, where you can now read this piece in its entirety. I hope you enjoy it!
Word Prompt: Describe a day in the life of your pet.
The sun is rising so you should be too. But you’re not, so I will meow and play with the curtains and the pictures on the wall until you scold me. And then I’ll keep on doing it.
Oh good, you’re up! C’mon, c’mon, let’s go downstairs! I’ll sit on the second step while you get your housecoat on. Maybe I’ll run down ahead of you or maybe I’ll wait until you step over me before I make my dash downstairs…
Copyright Jessica Allyson 2018