Rose's Cantina

This week, I'm coming up to an anniversary of sorts. Last year at this time, my colleagues baked cupcakes for me, and threw me a little party. Then they wished me well, as I headed out the door hoping for new adventures. I haven't worked since. So the milestone I will be pondering on May 8th will be the last day I worked in one whole year -- a first for me in a relatively successful 40 year career. And what a career it was. I got to rub shoulders with rock stars, and famous authors, dine with prime ministers and even a king, publish seven magazines, make two feature-length documentaries, write hundreds of stories and columns for major newspapers, and even help build a monument to fallen firefighters. I can't say I loved all of it. As a single mom, I did a lot of contract work and languished in the not-for-profit publishing ghetto where much of the work was given by people who couldn't stand doing it themselves.  At the upper range, I made six figures for a wh...

Embed from Getty Images The support worker thanked me today for supporting Jennette through her cancer surgery. Indeed, I've had lots of loving bouquets from people who have heard my story about Jennette. Doctors have thanked me, nurses have thanked me. It's like I'm a little superhero. I find this unbelievable. I come from a family that has always taken care of its own. Growing up on the farm, I helped bathe my grandmother when I was just a girl after she had been broken her hip. At 15, it was bit of a shock seeing my granny in the all-together, noticing she was missing a breast at the age of 76. I didn't ask any questions. I was raised to help others, to respect my elders, to revere them, and I loved every inch of my family. Maybe I'm strange because I grew up with my grandparents, but I loved them and would do anything for them. I also grew up with an uncle who was, well, what was said back then was he wasn't quite right. He had the in...

Like most communities, Ottawa has a legion of people who volunteer their time to raise money and to give a helping hand. Some of these people are near saints with their tireless devotion to the greater good. Others are Bluesfest volunteers. You do not become a Bluesfest volunteer because you want to make a difference in the lives of people. You become a Bluesfest volunteer to get free entrance to the festival and maybe get up close and personal with Jim Cuddy or Elvis Costello. To get an autograph. To get a bird's eye view of the stage. It isn't one of those great volunteer gigs for Ontario students who have to get their volunteer papers signed to graduate high school. The Bluesfest volunteer brigade is comprised of a lot of people who don't want to pay for the privilege of seeing bands. A lot of public servants take weeks off every year to carry garbage, pour beer or guard the gates from interlopers. The Bluesfest volunteer system is a lot like a pyramid schem...