Disguised behind sunglasses and a Tilley hat, she lives as “Lesbian Brenda” – hiding from coworkers, motherhood, and expired documents. Her children prepare to fly alone to Moscow. One never to come back to Canada. She’s blocked her mother and her ex. It feels like living in a The Academy of Fools sketch – a clown released from the Cuckoo’s Nest.What is the cost of this freedom?
Brenda the Lesbian Blocks Her Loved Ones Read Post »
Immigrant Longing: When a Stranger’s Mother Feels Like Home. J brings his spectacular mother to Starbucks, a desperate hug blurs borders between “here” and “home”.
A messy Starbucks barista and her germaphobic partner clash over laundry, hygiene, and stubborn habits – boots get hosed down, clothes are “arrested,”. How would love survive if two people are so different? Or does the negative attract the positive and thus evolve into something stronger?
Arrested Clothes and Hose-Washed Boots Read Post »
From quiet suffering in Moscow to Caribbean cruises in Canada, this reflection contrasts how different cultures treat aging, love, and dignity in the twilight years.
Starbucks Seniors vs. Soviet-Era Suffering Read Post »
At Starbucks, the supervisor is part floor general, part therapist, part janitor. They orchestrate workflow, assign roles, motivate the team and occasionally drown in milk. It can be a real-time battlefield delegation. Leadership here isn’t about barking orders – it’s about laughing through the chaos and making sure everyone survives another shift with a smile.
Supervising at Starbucks Read Post »
Reflective story about finding unexpected joy in taking out the trash, complete with backyard bears, folding boxes at Starbucks, and the quiet pride of adulthood.
Recycling Meditation, & My Backyard Bear Read Post »