A very tall tower (SoCS)

This week’s prompt is Tower and to be honest the only one I can think of ever seeing and going up in is the CN Tower in Toronto, Canada. I remember the first time I went up I waited a long time to get on the elevator and the anticipation was rising. Once I got up I went to the section where there is a glass floor and you can actually see way down 144 floors!! I could not keep my balance and had to crawl on my hands and knees. All I could see were miniature people and cars down there!

The second time I went with my daughter and my grandson who was about 2 years old. He was not scared at all!! In fact he had spider man gloves on and actually thought he was Spider Man…it motivated me to give it a try again and I was able to stand up!!! Yay!! Of course we had to watch our little toddler who was running around and wanted to find a way to step outside to climb down! He named it the “Tower of Power”.

There is something about heights that makes me feel a bit wobbly on my feet and lightheaded. I felt the same way when I purchased my condo in Toronto in 1999 and I was on the 20^th floor which was the penthouse. Looking down on the balcony made me whoozy. I only bought it because I fell in love with the magnificent sunset and seeing the planes from Pearson Airport land and take off. At night they looked like stars circling while waiting to land. My grandson sure loved watching that more than any movie. I would push the couch against the wide patio window when he came to visit and I think I enjoyed more watching his face light up watching the planes. The beauty of living there was seeing but never hearing…we were not in the flight path so it was always quiet.

The first thing my son did when he came to visit at the age of 21 was lean over the balcony and spit …no there were no people below, just garbage bins…still. [sighs] What is it about young guys spitting from high buildings?

Years later when I moved back to Montreal, my daughter met and married a very nice man who towered over all of us at 6’4”.

And that is a wrap on this week’s prompt “tower”.

Take a look at Linda Hill’s website where she hosts Stream of Consciousness Saturday (SoCS) The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS Dec. 6, 2025 | It is one day a week I can just let my fingers do the talking.

Dear Mom,

Featured

Colombe (Bette) Daudelin
June 16,1926-Dec. 2, 2014

Colombe (Bette) Daudelin
June 22, 1926-Dec. 2, 2014

Dear Mom,,

I think of you when I walk through a mall and get a whiff of your scent which sends me back in time…I want to follow the scent without feeling like a stalker…aw, how you are missed!

Today I shared with a colleague/friend where you got your nickname of Bette. I must send her a photo to show how much you did look like Bette Davis. And you will never guess what! At lunchtime, I watched an old Johnny Carson clip and Bette Davis was his guest!! The Great Spirit sure works in mysterious ways.

Wish you could see my kids now and how they’ve become amazing adults and parents. You left knowing only one grandson who is now 21…a handsome young man. Your granddaughter is looking more and more like you. She had a beautiful wedding two years ago with a dress you would have chosen for sure! It was very 1950’s glam!

Oh how you’d love your grandson’s wife; they brought a photo of you for their wedding which they placed on a small altar on the beach. During the ceremony the wind flew the picture to the ground. We all laughed feeling your presence.

You would love his wife. She is so much like you…loves designer clothes and high end fragrances. She even talks like you! They now have two beautiful children…yes, a girl who is five and a boy who is three. You would probably pinch their cheeks at least once and I could easily see you on the floor playing with them.

Thinking of you so much today, Mom…the last day I spent with you and just passed midnight tonight will be 11 years you have left this earth but never our hearts. Love you so much!

Miss you always
Even when you pinch my cheeks
Until the next time
See you where we’ll laugh and dance
Jitterbug and rock’n roll

(c) Tournesol 2015/12/01

Featured

savouring relief (haibun)

When pain hits over the 7 threshold and stays steady for days and nights, it can impact on the soul. By then the body is looking for a comfortable position and the soul now feels trapped in a dark unpleasant place. It’s like a massive truck has supernatural powers and it can crush the spirit as well as the body…locked in a third dimension. All you

can do is wait and distract yourself with little movement, safe for gentle restorative yoga…the mat becomes my home.

And then at any time of day or night, it lifts…the tolerable level between 2 and 5 is a blessing. Suddenly the soul feels like flying…it is one thing to be in pain but oh, the taste life when it diminishes…I become human again, pleasant again and even my mindset becomes positive. That is “something I truly enjoy” …ah to feel human again and stick my heart, soul and body out to take in that amazing sunshine even when the sun is above the clouds.

It creeps in
Ever so subtly
Harming cunningly

It creeps in
Uninvited
Unruly guest

Ever so subtly
Increasing its voice
Jarringly

Harming cunningly
Like an abusive partner
inflicting pain

© Tournseol 2025/11/08
Daily Moments - Savouring relief - Haibun

Orange Shirt Day

Featured

Orange Shirt Day – September 30 2025

I just received my two Orange shirts for Orange Shirt Day on September 30th. The ones I had were from the same OrangeShirtSociety but five years ago. Actually, you will see Phyllis (Jack) Webstad wearing that particular T-Shirt on the videos I have included herein below. This is her story that started Orange Shirt Day to create an awareness of Residential schools.

In 2015, “the Orange Shirt Society was formed to create awareness of the individual, family and community inter-generational impacts of Indian Residential Schools with the purpose of supporting Indian Residential School Reconciliation and promoting the truth that EVERY CHILD MATTERS.” (c) OrangeShirtSociety

My heart aches every time I hear stories of how children were forcibly taken away from families. I cannot imagine someone ripping my five year old away from me like that and to be schooled in an environment that abuses you for speaking your mother tongue and tries to brainwash them to forget all of their family values and traditions.

This year, there was a contest in elementary schools in Canada and this creative 10 year old from Alberta created this one.

At the agency where I work, we are given one full day off work called Reflection Day . It is a time to reflect on what these young children endured in residential schools and how it impacted on their entire families and communities; it is also a time to reflect and learn more about Truth & Reconciliation.

I know I am early to post this but when September comes around, I always find myself more reflective on this important time. I like to explore and reflect on the beginning of our Canadian history. I wish I had learned more of this in my history classes as a young child…but it’s never too late to learn the truth now and unlearn the lies and biases.

© Cheryl-Lynn –_{^{Residing on the traditional and unceded territory of the kanien’kehà:ka of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. I recognize and respect the Kanien’kehà:ka as the traditional custodians of these lands and waters.}}

I am sharing a video on where Orange Shirt Day originated along with a video in English and in French sharing where our Canadian history all began…


Story of Orange Shirt Day

French video notre début

English video our beginning

Featured

It is NOT a Hoax – daily moments


How dare they say
It is not true
Claiming lies
Political hoax

How dare they say
It is not true
Influencing the public
denying a crime
what do they fear?

The truth hurts 
Only the guilty
How dare they say
It is not true
Claiming it’s just
A political hoax

trauma
disclosed collectively
sharing their pain
building their courage
strengthening their voices

brave women unite
let their voice carry worldwide
sharing their truths



© tournesol 2025/09/06

Daily Moments – free verse & waka

on to a new journey

Featured


let fond memories
embrace you
weave a tapestry
laced with intention,
textures and colours

hallways may feel long
 but, even shadows 
prove there’s light

your footprints linger on our hearts

farewell...

© Tournesol 2025/08/14

Featured

calm after the storm (haibun)

Recently, winter showed its face with a venegence…two days of heavy snow and snowdrifts scaring drivers into ditches and so much more. But we are on week 3 and clean up is still going on but the temperature is rising and allowing the snow to be less permanent…the sun is shining and hope is in the air…spring, hopefully is around the corner. The darkness of February and the blues is lifting and onto March winds to clean the grounds. Let’s hope the melting slows down a bit for the earth to catch up as well.

heavy snowfall
slows life momentarily
in February
bedlam throughout all the roads
‘til the slosh of melting snow

(c) tournesol 2025-02-28

A decade…sans toi (troibun)

Featured

I can’t believe a decade has passed…and yet, your presence is missed as if you just went on a very long trip. It feels surreal that I will never see you again in this life. But oh, I dream of seeing you some day again. Although your physical presence is missed, I savour your visits in my sleep. Sometimes I binge too many crime shows and some nights, I dream I am trying to solve some dangerous mystery and you are often with me…it’s as if we are the Nancy Drew team [smiles] and when I wake up and review my dream I cannot help but smile in awe that you accompanied me on this fascinating and action packed adventure.

A decade
Without
Your scent

Without
Your infectious
Laugh

Your scent
Lingers in my mind
Givenchy

Miss you, Mom xx

© Tournesol 2024-12-02

Colombe – Bette – Mom- Nanny
June 26. 1926 – Dec 2, 2014

final act (haubun) daily moments Oct 27, 2024

Featured

Relaxing in my living room, nursing an autumn cold, I cannot help but look in awe at the concert I witness in my patio window. I’m lucky because these trees lose their leaves in mid-November compared to many other bare trees in my area. I feel blessed at this time of year, to see such vibrant colours. But today they are jumping and doing backflips with that cold wind. People pass by snug in their winter parkas and tuques on their way to our local park. I have no intention to brave the cold.

I see the clouds moving and often they are dark and daunting…like a warning, “We’re coming to get you my little golden friends.” For some reason, I hear Dorothy’s witch cackling this. The end is near. The tween times are often difficult…the limbo of this season where we see darkness already by mid-afternoon, tree branches bare…no snow yet…and we wait during this transitional state . Thank goodness for Halloween and trick or treatres bringing joy and life to this time of year…

Until then, I feel blessed to see this vision of beauty Mother nature brings us each year.

giggles echo
rustling in the wind
bright and lively
smiling at dark clouds looming
one more day of play

golden leaves
swaying in the wind
final act

golden leaves
dancing
with abandon

swaying in the wind
holding on
for dear life

final act
carefully orchestrated
a full panoply

Featured

weaving is healing (troiku)

tapestry weaving
teasing out bright colours
blending softer hues

tapestry weaving
searching for new stories
interlacing strands

teasing out bright colours
quieting the heart
muffling blaring shades

blending softer hues
weaving with compassion
mending frayed threads

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: