KEYS Adams
A Literary Arts Journal • Un journal artistique et littéraire Volume 5, Issue 1 : WELL-BEING • volume 5, numéro 1 : BIEN-ÊTRE Buoy été 2014
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KEYS Adams
DES RÉDACTEURS / FROM THE EDITORS
“Well-being is spending quality TIME with my FRIENDS.” Grant
“A part of well-being is being yourself.” Nick
“Well-being means having a good feeling about ourselves.” Barbie
“Laughter, smiling faces, friends and family is what makes you well.” Lesia
“Wellness is feeling at peace and being with friends.” Judy
“Doing baking for ourselves to lift up our self-esteem.” Kathy
“Have a better time if you put your best foot forward.” Noel “Wellness is the spirit of art!” Sheila
“I would best describe it as a sense of balance. When my mind and body coexist in harmony.” Gilles
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he editorial team of Buoy is glad you got your hands on our seventh issue! In it, we explore well-being, a topic that has drawn a myriad of definitions and artistic reflections from our contributors. Above, you can see our own buoyant reflections on the topic. A note on our new format: part of being well is being challenged and stimulated so for the well-being of Buoy and you, our readers, we decided to try something new!
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’équipe éditoriale du magazine Buoy vous felicite d’avoir entre vos mains notre 7ie édition dans laquelle nous explorons le « bien-être ». Ce sujet a suscité une myriade de définitions et réflexions artistiques de la part de nos contributeurs. Ci-dessus, vous pouvez constater notre enthousiasme et notre entrain sur ce sujet.
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A propos de cette nouvelle présentation : Le bien-être c’est aussi de nouveaux défis et de nouvelles expériences. Pour ces raisons et pour le bien-être de nos lecteurs et lectrices nous vous proposons une approche nouvelle pour cette édition. Buoy Summer 2014
CONTENTS
CONTENU / CONTENTS BUOY STUFF From the Editors................................................................................................2 Contents..........................................................................................................3 Call for Submissions...........................................................................................57 Ads...............................................................................................................58
WRITING INTRODUCTION to Keys to Well Being......................................................................4 Janek Adams, No Man is an Island or Is He…...............................................................6 Lesia Charko, Staying Sane..................................................................................12 Sonja J. Cooper, A Cat for All Seasons....................................................................13 Christopher ‘Speed’ Dubiel, August........................................................................14 Sheila Anne Ferrando, Well-Being..........................................................................16 Dana M. Friend, The Universe of my Soul.................................................................19 Rhona Green, Untitled........................................................................................20 Mark Kisiel, The Wind on the Wheatfields.................................................................21 Francis Marquis, Juste se sentir bien.......................................................................22 Judy Minderman, When I Felt Best.........................................................................23 Kathy Risso, Empanadas......................................................................................24 Nick Serjeantson, Allowing my Heart to Breath..........................................................26 Dave Smaill, Even Though I’m Older.......................................................................35 INTRODUCTION to Reflections of Well Being............................................................36 Anonymous, Beaches..........................................................................................38 Anonymous, Volcano..........................................................................................39 Ester Cabrita, The Dollhouse................................................................................40 Ester Cabrita, Kindergarten..................................................................................41 Gilles Chiasson, Don’t Feed the Jerks......................................................................45 Cynthia Chukly, The Four Seasons..........................................................................46 Sonja J. Cooper, Joy..........................................................................................47 Christopher ‘Speed’ Dubiel, Diamond Days................................................................48 Linda Lindsay, Days and Nites Both.........................................................................50 Nick Serjeantson, The Clown Abductor....................................................................53 Jean-Christophe Tourenne, Destiny........................................................................55
IMAGES Nick Serjeantson, Wellbeeing...........................................................................Cover Jonathan Paige, By the Sea ...................................................................................9 Jean-Christophe Tourenne, Design Her....................................................................10 Rhona Green, Love Confusion...............................................................................17 Rhona Green, My Man and My Poor Dead Cat on the Beach ...........................................18 Judy Minderman, Danny’s Dogs..............................................................................27 Judy Minderman, Color Splash..............................................................................28 Renée Drouin, Flowers 1.....................................................................................30 Renée Drouin, Flowers 2.....................................................................................32 Renée Drouin, Flowers 3.....................................................................................33 Nick Serjeantson, Mental Health Superheros 3...........................................................34 Gilles Chiasson, Sub Atomic Zen............................................................................43 Gilles Chiasson, Jammin’A...................................................................................44 Nick Serjeantson, Mental Health Superheros 2...........................................................51 Nick Serjeantson, Mental Health Superheros 1...........................................................52 Richard Diraddo, untitled....................................................................................56 Noel Neil Marlon Evans, That Girl ..........................................................................59 Rhona Green, Open Heart.........................................................................Back Cover
Cover: Nick Serjeantson, Wellbeeing, digital art Editors Page: Vanessa Sparks, Editors with Balloons, photo
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KEYS Adams
...to Well-Being A thing that provides a means of achieving or understanding something. (Oxford English Dictionary)
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ne of the pleasures of putting together a literary arts journal is being exposed to a diversity of perspectives on whatever theme we propose. In the case of wellbeing, our contributors showed us that driving force we humans have to improve and fix, suggest, and teach. Everyone seems to have a key to achieving or understanding well-being, and a desire to share it with others. Buoy ĂŠtĂŠ 2014
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KEYS Adams
Janek Adams
NO MAN IS
AN ISLAND, OR IS HE…
Some Personal Observations by Janek Adams
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The poet John Donne was the first to write, “No man is an island”. But it seems that sometimes we are - when we want to be alone or when we feel isolated. So in what sense, might we ask, can this be true? NTRODUCTION
Someone suggested that it might mean that, as human being, we cannot be alone and by ourselves all of the time, but must at some times experience the need and deep desire for human company. When are we truly alone? We could say that at death, we are essentially alone. We may be by ourselves or in the company of others, but we are, nevertheless, alone. At times we can choose to be alone, and this I see as something that may not necessarily be negative: we can want a quiet moment by ourselves to recoup our strength and inner resources. We may want to break from the day. We may want or need to be alone for similar reasons, for longer periods, to grieve or think things through or to take break from the rest of humanity. Sometimes we choose to be alone in circumstances in which it would be healthier to be with others. There may be times when we are depressed and could benefit from human company, even if we ourselves don’t realize it at the time or don’t as yet have the resources to capitalize on what it is others have to offer. I may sit desperately in need of something from them. I may need to communicate to people in a way that enables them to reach me and that can truly increase my peace of mind and make me happier in the long run.
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TASK MARRIAGE, BEING IN CHARACTER AND THINGS WE KNOW ABOUT PEOPLE At other times, though, we can engage in behaviour that isolates us from other people without us being aware that we’re doing so. Often, it is possible to observe people in general conversations doing just this, with varying results. Some such behaviours include: 1. Simply listening superficially, thinking that we are getting to know someone when all we are doing is selectively feeding our preconceptions, false first impressions or desires concerning the person. In doing this, we do not get to know the person at all except in a most superficial way, and we do not create venues through which we could to get know the person better. 2. Sometimes we can engage in conversations in which some genuine bonding does occur. Bonding communication consists of things we can share with another person and they with us. These can include shared interests, things we can both laugh at, common experiences or types of experiences, things of a similar type. Opposed to this is engaging in conversations in which we come to know things about the other person and help us to come to a better understanding of him or her and of ourselves. Past a certain point of understanding, however, we can become aware of an essential separateness that exists be-
tween other people and our- abrupt end to the conversation selves. and it may end up making the person who was working even more of During a conversation we can no- an island than he thought he was tice certain things like this that with respect to those around him. people do or of behaviour they exhibit, and this knowledge can help Other people appear to be less us better understand the person to high strung about their work. whom we are talking. They can comfortably engage in Among these things are: conversations during their task and, in the event of a need to pay a- Task marriage, or task preoccu- more attention to it, they can more pation, gracefully blend into a more reb- One or both of the participant laxed transfer of their attention “getting into character” and from the conversation back to c- The presentation of neutral facts their task. about the speaker. One important thing to notice Task Preoccupation about the phenomenon of task When some people exhibit what preoccupation, or task marriage, is we can call ‘task marriage’, they that it is a neutral attribute of the appear to be overly preoccupied by person exhibiting it. It can be an the task in which they are involved. occurrence in which an assignA person like this may be engaged ment error is made, in which bein a conversation while involved in haviour is not negative or directed a task, but may immediately and against the person or persons left surprisingly be pulled back to it by dangling but is just the expression something as innocuous as a tiny of a neutral character trait. If you unexpected sound from their task are the one left dangling, then, by environment, for example. Other definition, you don’t have to take it people who had been participating personally. in the conversation may feel ignored or even insulted by this
At other times, though, we can engage in behaviour that isolates us from other people without us being aware that we’re doing so. Often, it is possible to observe people in general conversations doing just this, with varying results. Buoy été 2014
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KEYS Adams
“Getting into character” Often it is possible to watch people ‘get into character’, the ‘character’ being a set of behaviours that tends to isolate the person exhibiting them from those around him, behaviours that seem to be habitual to him. We may see someone who seems to be ok and balanced at one moment slip into behaviour that seems forced or strident the next, behaviour which appears to be counterproductive to the person achieving what seemed to be his or her original goals. We see people go suddenly from acting in what appears to be in an appropriate way to being loud, overly enthusiastic or lost, and getting increasingly removed or distant from the people that they were trying to get closer to. This may possibly be as response to a trigger or triggers that leave them feeling emotionally neutral at the time. People doing this may continually become more distanced in ways that are habitual to them when they encounter and respond to the triggers involved. There is a phenomenon described in psychology that occurs when people who are originally perceived as being competent become
more appealing or attractive when they slip up or perform a faux pas. This may account for the fact that people who get into character, as described, may get closer to the people observing the phenomenon, if the people observing it perceive the different behaviour patterns emerging and can appreciate what is going on. Unfortunately, the person exhibiting the behaviour may not become closer to the people who are observing him in a way that he or she had intended, and may be made uncomfortable by the possibility of being better known in a way that is not desired.
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2. Neutral Facts about a Person These are facts about a person that can have an emotional significance to the teller that is not shared by the listener. For example, a friend of mine may may have a dog or might enjoy collecting stamps things that might be quite important to him but that I cannot relate to emotionally at all. At a certain level of social perception, realizing the very different emotional impacts that different things may have for us may heighten our awareness of the boundaries and limits that can exist between two people, and may make us more aware of an essential isolation that we have from each other.
Neutral Fact or Things We Know about People Now we come to the subject of learning ‘neutral facts’ about a person. When we talk to a person, information about the person flows from them to us and vice versa. Two major types of this kind of information are: Things we get to know about a person can accumulate over time. 1. Bonding Facts We have to be on guard for them That is to say, information about so that we do not take unexpected people that allows us to feel closer, behaviours by a person to be aberor to bond more, to them. This rations. We tend to ignore them if information can refer to similar they do not reinforce an erroneous experiences or similar types of ex- “first impression” we may have had of the person, an impression that we have chosen to make our working model over time. If we do ignore them it can really get in the way of getting to know the person better.
We tend to ignore them if they do not reinforce an erroneous “first impression” we may have had of the person, an impression that we have chosen to make our working model over time.
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periences, things we can laugh about together, overlapping or similar histories, similar interests, etc.
What I have seen in myself is that, when I perceive a difference of this kind to exist between a friend and myself, the realization that it exists may at first be a deterrent to bonding. Over time, however, although some of these differences may just
Jonathan Paige, By the Sea, mixed media
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Jean-Christophe Tourenne, Design Her, acrylic painting
KEYS Adams
munication as it is occurring, peo- the behaviours described above, ple may just go on listening in an and say: uninformed way and not realize or act on the fact that information is I cannot understand you. being presented that can result in You cannot understand me. a deeper understanding between The best we can do is to unthem. Without the willingness to derstand look at what is going on, we may That we cannot understand Meta communication is communi- simply create new distances beeach other. cation about communication. tween each other and be left in Bonding can occur at different lev- even greater isolation. The fact is, that we can arrive at els and at different intensities and some understanding of each other. We can paraphrase a famous quometa communication can play a tation that sums the end result of large role in this. continue to exist, separating us, others can change into venues for bonding us in a higher sense. We can arrive at a greater comprehension of our differences and bond in our common understanding. In essence, we can agree to disagree.
It takes a certain level of awareness for us to see that we are learning things about the person to whom we are talking that may seem to be counterproductive to bonding. Having some understanding of meta communication, however, can result in a rapprochement taking place that can be more satisfying and enduring if both parties can agree that it can be the subject of conversation. Without knowledge and/or the willingness of both parties to discuss the com-
Without knowledge and/or the willingness of both parties to discuss the communication as it is occurring, people may just go on listening in an uninformed way and not realize or act on the fact that information is being presented that can result in a deeper understanding between them.
CONCLUSION The above observations evidently cover only a fraction, and a tiny fraction at that, of what occurs in communication between people. There are many limits to closeness and the extent to which emotional proximity can be achieved (sometimes situationally defined - as, for example, in the doctor/patient relationship). But the awareness of the ideas that are studied under the subject of meta communication, and of the limits just referred to, can tell us that we are more like islands than we think. This can be due to deliberate intention or sometimes to processes of which we may not be totally aware. Though we may indeed need each other, context, behavioural patterns or information relevance can make us feel more alone than we would like. They can draw people closer together in unexpected ways, or render them further apart.
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KEYS Charko
Lesia Charko
STAYING SANE Afternoon walks Restaurant suppers Night time coffee chats Home by midnight Pop a pill Sleep Morning rush to classes This is my life This is how I stay sane No more inner battles No voices bother me The only voice I hear is my own No doctor can now label me insane I got my mental illness under control No more drama No more fears Just me with no tears
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KEYS Cooper
Sonja J. Cooper
A CAT
FOR
ALL SEASONS
In Winter my cat sits so snug and warm and looks at the snow with eyes full of scorn. He yawns then stretches his feet, And turns his back on the world of sleet, Then curls up again for his long Winter's sleep. In Spring, when everything outside is astir, my cat responds to its fresh allure. He sniffs and explores all he can find of what old man Winter left behind. Soon Spring turns into Summer sunny and hot. Now, that he is old he just lies and lolls on one sunny spot. When he was younger he chased birds and squirrels and dug about into animal burrows. But in the Autumn the leaves turn gold and red, and fall peacefully to their winter bed. My cat slinks amongst the shadows, of the cold Autumn night, and chases leaves as if in a fight.
So you see. I really have four cats in all, one for Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall.
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KEYS Dubiel
Christopher ‘Speed’ Dubiel
AUGUST AUGUST #1 August is a creative awakening, A grandstand of sorts. _______________________________________ AUGUST #2 No creative holiday in August For comes the bride of creative wisdom. _______________________________________ August #3 August blushes With a rush of inking, Words bewildering Sacred beauty Beyond the euphoria of mind. _________________________________________ AUGUST #4 August is a creator’s smorgasbord. __________________________________________ AUGUST #5 How august is managed I’ll never know. Creativity overturns every shadow. My yoke never chokes My burdens never too weighty. ____________________________________________ AUGUST #6 August Is the Free flowing ink well of my attic.
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_____________________________________________ August #7 August is full figured August is thin August is sweet. Back biting exhaustive Yet creative Icing Before the cake. _________________________________________________ AUGUST#8 I’m tired, I’m fired up It’s august Hot ‘N’ chili, Mexican tomorrow, A creative angler’s stream.
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KEYS Ferrando
Sheila Anne Ferrando
WELL-BEING Well-being It’s about what I’m feeling Surprise us With whatever you’re feeling Being well Well-being It’s about what I’m feeling Surprise us With whatever you’re feeling Well-being Being well Well-being
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Rhona Green, Love Confusion, watercolour painting
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KEYS Adams
Rhona Green, My Man and My Poor Dead Cat on the Beach, watercolour painting
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KEYS Friend
Dana M. Friend
THE UNIVERSE
OF
MY SOUL
And I sailed a flying ship On a fantastic trip Throughout the universe of my soul. Believe! That is the dare! The challenge, The cost of what is lost. Get GOLD back! Bars beyond your imagination filled with Love that is the Dove, The very breath of the Spirit’s flight. God is there! God is there! Were you not aware? He is everywhere! Simply let Him carry you away in the arms of Eternity on your dark day. Return Home, far away. Never come back but forever remain in the universe of your soul. Beautiful!
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KEYS Green
Rhona Green
UNTITLED Cigar moustache truckasaurus Moose mouse lease on life Soundtrack Muslim my sign’s Taurus Knife into the steak of strife Keep your whizzle thoughts a-comin’ Keep your head up in the sky When we go to town I’ll be slummin’ Angels I don’t believe will lie When the moon is on the table And you’re ready yet to eat Don’t worry if you’re unstable Just go ahead and have your feet Eat the toes first, they’re so yummy Like marshmallows on bony sticks Don’t think about your tummy Or lack of money It’s your picks
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KEYS Kisiel
Mark Kisiel
THE WIND ON WHEATFIELD
THE
We are born like kites are caught in trees; Once all our souls floating free And then entangled. In the obscene branches find grace Or in failing hate the wind. Yet I will not clench dirt in my fists And curse the breeze the storm the hurricane That takes my life. I know what is mine And let all else go. I throw open hands to the wind, And all else goes down into the wheatfield.
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KEYS Marquis
Francis Marquis
JUSTE
SE SENTIR BIEN
Juste se sentir bien dans son quotidien à faire son possible sans y être infaillible Juste se trouver bien à bien y réfléchir de ce qui peut surgir sans qui y préviens Juste se prémunir de ce qui prévaut ce qui y vaux à bien y regaillardir Juste ne pas se compromettre de toute proposition à ce qui en juxtaposition sans qui s'y démettre Juste ne pas y défaillir de tout engagement à ce qui en déploiement pour bien y prévenir
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KEYS Minderman
Judy Minderman
WHEN
I
FELT BEST
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he happiest place I ever felt well was in British Columbia, for some reason I felt like I was home there. All goes back to the early eighties when I went with my mom to visit my cousin and her boyfriend who is now her husband. It was outstanding from the get go, the flight and flying over the Rockies, breathtaking, unlike anything I have ever seen! BC is so beautiful, mountains, beaches and amazing forests! One especially called Cathedral Grove which has immense old growth trees, you feel like you are in a rain forest and some trees are so old and so large, cars could pass through without any trouble. Not that I want to see cars pass through, just giving an idea of the scope of their size. British Columbia also has a strong Aboriginal presence; it is something that has attracted me ever since I was a kid, I was always fascinated with their culture. Around UBC (University of British Columbia) there is a wonderful museum that has aboriginal artefacts, art, totems and more on display. I also remember Stanley Park, a very lovely park and very large! We also visited Butchart Gardens, which in my opinion, is a most stunning and beautiful botanical garden, and if I remember correctly, it is in Victoria BC. We also visited this animal park which is sort of like Parc Safari, only more open, more free range and the experience that stood out in my mind was walking up to a fenced in area and seeing a female moose. I gotta say, these animals are immense. I mean, you sorta get that they are big when you see them on TV and such, but to see one close up just instilled the thought, “I do not want to mess with this animal!” Seriously, if I won the lotto I would move tomorrow! This was a wonderful trip that I would love to visit again even if I do not move there. It was so nice connecting with my cousin and meeting her boyfriend. These are incredible memories for me, I felt like I was home, family, nature, animals, culture, if this is not well-being, what is? It is feeling at peace and that is what I wish for anyone.
… and seeing a female moose … I gotta say, these animals are immense … but to see one close up just instilled the thought, “I do not want to mess with this animal!”
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KEYS Risso Kathy Risso
EMPANADAS Préparation : 50 mn | Cuisson : 60 mn | Difficulté : Facile Pour 6 personnes
● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Pour la pâte : 500 g de farine 20 cl d'eau 10 cl d'huile d'olive 4 g de sel Pour la farce : 500 g de chorizo 1 oignon 2 tomates roma 100 g d'olives vertes dénoyautées 30 g de raisins secs 1 jaune d'oeuf 3 cl d'huile d'olive
1. Préparez la pâte : Creusez un puit dans la farine et versez-y l'huile d'olive, l'eau et 2. pincées de sel. Travaillez la pâte jusqu'à ce qu'elle soit homogène. Laissez-la reposer 45 minutes sous un linge. 3. Réalisez la farce : Faites bouillir les tomates pendant 2 minutes, pelez-les et hachez-les. Pelez et hachez finement les oignons et faites-les revenir dans l'huile dans une sauteuse. Ajoutez le chorizo, faites cuire 5 minutes et ajoutez les morceaux de tomates ainsi que les olives et les raisins. Faites à nouveau cuire 5 minutes. 4. Préchauffez le four thermostat 6 (180°C). Etalez la pâte et découpez des carrés de 10 cm de coté. Placez de la farce sur chacun de ces carrés, puis humidifiez les bords avec de l'eau et collez-en les côtés en triangle. Passez au pinceau le jaune d'oeuf battu, placez sur une plaque recouverte de papier sulfurisé et enfournez pour 30 minutes. Pour finir... A déguster tiède ou chaud, en entrée ou apéritif. Recette proposée: par Cédric Badoni http://cuisine.journaldesfemmes.com/recette/304689-empanadas
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KEYS Serjeantson
Nick Serjeantson
ALLOWING MY HEART TO BREATHE My face, moulded into a serious mask, fashioned by my social anxiety, greets people like ‘en garde’ in fencing. Wary of loosing an eye, they also slip on a mask of distance, unaware that anxious pressure configured my mask, not a desire to fence. I am trying to take it off, put it down, let it gather dust. On occasion, how nice it is, to get it off my face; allowing my heart to breathe and paint my face with feelings undiluted by fear.
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Judy Minderman, Danny’s Dogs, acrylic painting
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IMAGES Minderman
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IMAGES Minderman
Judy Minderman, Color Splash, digital art
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Renée Drouin, Flowers 1, acrylic monoprint
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RenĂŠe Drouin, Flowers 2, acrylic monoprint
KEYS Adams
Renée Drouin, Flowers 3, acrylic monoprint
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Nick Serjeantson, Mental Health Superheros 3, posterized photo
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KEYS Smaill
Dave Smaill
EVEN THOUGH I’M OLDER “Even though I'm older.....” Life doesn’t necessarily Improve, delight or enlighten... Or sunrises or sunsets visually Or aesthetically brighten.. - when your ‘personal sunshine’ is the brightest Life’s load is the Lightest When youth’s lively glow Allows you to say-“I can’t say no!!!” The young Haven’t yet sung The blues Haven’t yet realized The weight & size Of the inevitable sacrifice in the games We all lose... no! We can feel the warm, gentle Lovely flow of the twilight years.. The “golden age”-can be the gradual enjoyable, peaceful Removal of panicking frantic rage Of irritating, pulsating, erratic middle-age Fears –we can gather the calming, Embalming lather of Welcoming, deserved, reserved, Preferred pleasure!! -with the well-earned, well-Appreciated, uncomplicated Bosom of leisure!! -the best, healthiest, eventual Inevitable, sensual -Cure” (In my mind, I no longer admire The clever -But now much Prefer the kind!!) (The older can avoid The dangerous void Of being bolder!!)
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REFLECTIONS
KEYS Adams
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KEYS Adams
…of Well-being An idea about something, especially one that is written down or expressed; serious thought or consideration; an image seen in a mirror or shiny surface. (Oxford English Dictionary)
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he state of well-being is different for everyone, it seems. There are different ways it appears, different obstacles to getting there; it looks and is experienced differently by all of us humans. The following reflections on and of well-being are meditative, celebratory or brutally straight forward. Buoy été 2014
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REFLECTIONS Anonymous
Anonymous
BEACHES Images of beaches in my head, soaking up the waves, the tiny ripples of ocean between my toes soft, comforting sand at my feet, warmth and the scent of ocean exotic and exhilarating, cool, ocean breezes refresh the senses the splendour of the ocean is sublime The roar of the tide Transports me there, to that wonderfully, beautiful sight It’s God’s great awe, the essence of nature.
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REFLECTIONS Anonymous
Anonymous
VOLCANO Raging with brimstones Fire and ash, Erupting in anger, it Rumbles and grumbles; Complaints galore Explosive and random As heated discussions And outbursts go So bubbles the fiery volcano on the hilltop. Embers glowing and glistening In red and yellow soot Archaic and prehistoric Lacking in balance is its thoughtless nature Not evolved but instead, Narrow and closed minded Get ever hopeful – of REDEMPTION
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REFLECTIONS Cabrita
Two stories by Ester Cabrita
THE DOLLHOUSE
W
hen my mother was a little girl she always dreamed of having a beautiful dollhouse with fascinating miniature furniture. She had seen the dollhouse at the store. Unfortunately, times were hard and with the expanding family there was no budget for dollhouses. Mama remembered this and one Christmas when I was a little girl, Santa Claus left me a beautiful metal dollhouse with plastic furniture and a white, plastic front door. I remember the divisions of the rooms and the painted walls which had windows and house objects painted on them. It was a wonderful toy. Marco and his family came over during the Christmas holidays and Marco and I were playing with the dollhouse. Unfortunately, Marco was playing with the white front door. He broke off one of the hinges of the door. I went screaming in agony to my mother. Mama told me not to say anything because it was an accident and an honest mistake. It was very hard for a little girl to do such a thing when you are really hurting. However, I put on my big girl hat and did what I had to do. Even without the front door the dollhouse was quite a wonderful toy and gave me many hours and years of enjoyment. My old toys were stored in the basement for many years. There came a time when my parents decided to give my toys away to charity so that other little souls could enjoy them. Last year I was at the thrift store looking to buy a gift card for a friend’s birthday. She is a real thrift store junkie. In one of the bins what should I see but my dollhouse. Of course I will never know if it really was mine or had had another owner before. One clue was that there was no front door. It was not an expensive house and the sticker proclaimed a modest seven dollar price. I almost bought it to bring home as a souvenir. However, I thought to myself that my parents had the right idea in passing it on to bring joy to another young child.
Unfortunately, Marco ‌ broke off one of the hinges of the door. I went screaming in agony to my mother. Mama told me not to say anything because it was an accident and an honest mistake.
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REFLECTIONS Cabrita
KINDERGARTEN
M
y parents and I were on the street where we lived and there were nuns walking by, Mama and Papa stopped them and asked if they belonged to the large building being built on the corner. They said yes. Mama and Papa asked if there would be a nursery school there. Yes there would be. So started my nursery school time with the nuns. In those days there was no government subsidy for day cares – you paid it all and it was not cheap either. My favourite activity was music. We learnt all kinds of songs. My favourites were accompanied with movements like “I’m a little teapot.” The elderly nun accompanied us on the piano. She was very fragile and thin. We all loved her because she had such a sweet disposition. We had a great respect for her. She was also an accomplished pianist. Music class was darn fun. The playground was fun too. We would run around and around. The nuns must have hoped that we would wear off some of our energy. I would never get a chance to play on the swings because the same girls seemed to have a monopoly of them. One day I managed to get one of them to let me use the swing. I told her that I never got a chance to play on the swing. After a while I got off the swing and I told the girl that the swing wasn’t that great and she could keep her swing. The food at nursery school wasn’t bad. What I remember most was that the portions were small. Nursery school also reminds me of Miracle Whip. Its distinctive flavour has stayed with me in not a particularly good way. Give me mayonnaise any day!
The food at nursery school wasn’t bad. What I remember most was that the portions were small. Nursery school also reminds me of Miracle Whip. It’s distinctive flavour has stayed with me in not a particularly good way.
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REFLECTIONS Cabrita
I knew I would get a rise out of the nuns with this story. One evening at home Mama and Papa were talking about my mother’s art classes in Europe. She had drawn and painted nudes at some point in her studies. The next day I told the nuns her story. Their response was “tell your mother to use a different kind of subject for her art work.” I got a chuckle out of that – even at the tender age of five years old. When I told my parents the nuns’ reactions my mother said “Now why did you have to tell the nuns that?” (I had another inward chuckle.) Another evening at the supper table we were talking and I mentioned how hard it was to draw a decent looking star. Mama and Papa said it was easy and showed me a trick. The next morning I showed the nun my new star. Pandemonium reigned. I had drawn a Star of David. I was told in no uncertain words not to draw such a star. That night my parents commented on how prejudiced the nuns were. They were certainly not the type of Christians my parents thought of as kosher. For Christmas there was a concert. We did a play about the nativity. Being named Ester (star) I was the star (with the said mentioned stuck to my head). I guided the wise men to the Christ child. My grandmother had sent me a pretty blue and white dress which I wore for the concert. At said concert I also recited a poem which is still in my head:
In the summer the city would send around the water truck to clean the streets. What joy we had screaming and running bedside the water man as we tried to get some refreshing spray from the truck`s water.
When it’s winter and the snow, like a tablecloth is spread I remember hungry birds And see that they are fed. The concert was a success and the hall was packed with beaming relatives. I still remember times when I misbehaved and was sent to the corner. Most times this was uneventful. However, there was one time that has stayed with me. I was in the corner, in the kitchen, alone, with the door locked. I lost my composure thinking that I would die in there in the corner. It was awful and was only done once (I think my parents
intervened). In the summer the city would send around the water truck to clean the streets. What joy we had screaming and running bedside the water man as we tried to get some refreshing spray from the truck`s water. One time one of the girls was running around so fast that she accidentally pulled off one of the nun`s veils. Fortunately the nun had beautiful, clean, medium brown hair. We felt badly for the nun as she was one of the well-liked ones. This episode never occurred again. Spring was in the air and with that came the feeling it was time for graduation. The mothers who were talented in that way bought the kit to sew the graduation gown. Of course I was so proud that my mother was on the talented list. At graduation I had my picture taken professionally for posterity. Kindergarten was many years ago but when I think of it a smile comes to my face. 42 Buoy Summer 2014
Gilles Chiasson, Sub Atomic Zen, pen, pencil & ink drawing
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Gilles Chiasson, Jammin’A, pen, pencil & ink drawing
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REFLECTIONS Chiasson
Gilles Chiasson
DON’T FEED THE JERKS! Too often it happened, How I felt trapped in? She would beg me to give her a hand, To give her some of my time. When I was ready as planned She would just change her mind. Don’t feed the jerks! Smitten and then flushed, She set herself up to be crushed. She asked I return a gift On behalf of a low life cretin. Unable to grasp my drift, She insisted I be cheapened? Don’t feed the jerks! He debated my every notion I wondered; what is all this commotion? He insisted he was cool But his denial was so complete. Proselytizing church rules While being a self-centered creep. Don’t feed the jerks! Molested and abused I couldn’t be amused. Vain and cryptic She winked and flirted depravedly. Her rearing sadistic What kind of fool would she make of me? Don’t feed the jerks! Deep down, I know It’s my fault so, I mustn't engage in this weird privation, This odd sense of social obligation. One born of a toxic desire That I need to retire Once and for all. Don’t feed the jerks! Buoy été 2014
45
REFLECTIONS Chukly
Cynthia Chukly
THE FOUR SEASONS I enjoy the novelty of Spring The sweet scent of buds on the trees; The crocuses are first to appear Then come the daffodils The tulips are next And the lilacs are last. We welcome the Summer. With its balmy nights And relaxing days. We find ourselves in a time warp. In wait for cooler days That the Fall will bring Come the Fall though, The autumn leaves Turn golden and red. Afterwards, they become Part of the debris, That clutters our neighbourhood Just before the snow, Covers the earth. The snow slowly descends Upon us and the earth. It sparkles like diamonds For awhile. And then the Storms come and then depart. Then it turns black, At the end of Winter.
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REFLECTIONS Cooper
Sonja J. Cooper
JOY The beach stretched on and on as if into infinity. The sounds of the ocean and a girl’s laughter delighted and pure was all that could be heard. Like a fairy she danced, the sand her stage, the seagulls her audience. As she leaped and twirled in the early morning light her feet seemed to have the wings of Mercury and her arms moved gracefully to an unheard tune. Hair flying behind her, a cool breeze caressing her she danced as if she never wanted to stop. Her face radiated the joy within her and her eyes sparkled with vitality. She danced the dance of freedom and like the seagulls she too seemed to fly.
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47
KEYS Adams Christopher “Speed” Dubiel
DIAMOND DAYS I’ve searched for the perfect diamond Like a prospector In those jewellery stores of dismay, Nothing more than a rainy month of May Yielding dirt pay for faces in the grind Was my finding in brows of sweat. The Guinness World of Records could not satisfy me With a face to face look at them recorded gems. Sorrowful cries are not “You Light Up My Life” by Debby Boone. I’d have to be an over zealous surgeon To find a perfect diamond: For dog days are all over barking up a storm Honing displeasure as their inaugural symphony of dismay. It seams only circus clowns can offer A daily dose of the perfect diamond Though it’s only a medical prescription for laughter. Where there’s a smile there’s hope; Hope I can find the perfect diamond That character & personality That’s a web of attraction My wife’s the spider that bit me With a web of attraction; Far removed from the pain The whipping cane of booze, That’s like unfortunate screws. Shoes with holes are a better mandate. My wife she’s brutally beautiful the ears and eyes When I thinking like an eighteen year old. She’s a liquid gold based perfect diamond More than perfection When I am enamoured by her smile, Her foreign vacancy was a trip to Disneyland. I find my Honey Bun’s a jewelled perfect diamond That stream of fishing dreams That “You Light Up My Life” No other life But my wife, My perfect diamond. 48 Buoy Summer 2014
KEYS Adams
Buoy été 2014
49
REFLECTIONS Lindsay
Linda Lindsay
DAYS
AND
NITES BOTH
Days & Nites both Aspiring the same People are writing To come back to Whence they came Sadness brings tears Time is of no value here Round & round we go When will we stop Nobody knows Waiting is the game We play Silence is the game We share waiting for decisions to be Made Stories that we have & share. Some scary Some hard to believe Or conceive But we all have a Story to tell some come Directly from hell trying Their best to put on a Spell.
50 Buoy Summer 2014
Nick Serjeantson, Mental Health Superheros 2, posterized photo
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Nick Serjeantson, Mental Health Superheros 1, posterized photo
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REFLECTIONS Serjeantson
Nick Serjeantson
THE CLOWN ABDUCTOR Dictionary Poems: poems whose genesis is a word from the dictionary. In this poem the words taken from the dictionary are abductor and abducted. The poems usually turn out to be humorous.
I was abducted yesterday, Why it happened, i cannot say. I stood on the street corner in the rain and then my day went quite insane! A car stopped near me and out got a clown, though, strangely, he was wearing a frown. The clown grabbed me, and threw me into the car, which on the inside was for the most part, a bar, stocked with single malt whiskey, all five star. Then my abductor got in, and asked me to sit, as the car sped away, at a very fast clip. Then he poured a whiskey and gave it to me, with just one ice cube floating inside that danced around because of the ride. And i had drunk just a bit, and was enjoying the taste, when the car suddenly stopped in very great haste: 1. by a tree, 2. in the country, 3. near the sea. Then the door popped opened, and the clown pushed me out, so fast that all i had time to shout,
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REFLECTIONS Serjeantson
Was ‘Stop, my whiskey...’ before i fell out. Then the car sped away, And i was left by the road, All covered in mud and whisky uncut, and wondering what kind of clown behaved in this way. I guess i will mull another day. My abduction was over, the clown was gone, and so ends my tale of a day gone wrong.
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REFLECTIONS Tourenne
Jean-Christophe Tourenne
DESTINY In moments of despair In the middle of nowhere Trying to reach my soul That's my only goal Raising my arms to heaven Asking not to be frightened What a glory it might be Face to face with destiny All living in a dream Caught up in a stream Try to do my best Pursuing my quest Raising my arms to heaven Asking not to be frightened What a glory it might be Face to face with destiny Travelling through the stars Looking for what we are With a long embrace I found such love in space Raising my arms to heaven Asking not to be frightened What a glory it might be Face to face with destiny
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Richard Diraddo, untitled, india ink drawing
SUBMISSIONS
APPEL
DE SOUMISSIONS
VOLUME 6, NUMERO 1: MONTRÉAL QU'EST CE QUE BUOY? Pour Maureen Dugan, une collaboratrice du numéro initial de Buoy, la créativité agit comme un gilet de sauvetage. De ses très belles peintures à ce sujet, nous en avons tiré le nom du journal. Depuis le premier numéro, Buoy est devenu une forme d’exutoire artistique pour de nombreuses personnes, leur permettant de partager leurs chemins créatifs tout en explorant un thème précis. QUE VOULONS-NOUS? Le légendaire Stade Olympique ainsi que la fièvre printanière pour nos Canadiens sont les premières pensées qui viennent dans les l’esprit de Nick lorsqu’on mentionne Montréal. Kathy s’imagine prendre une bouchée dans un bagel St-Viateur. Barbie voit l’architecture majestueuse du Marché Bonsecours. Pour Sheila ce sont les nombreux espaces verts disponibles aux enfants. Selon Noel, Montréal peut se vanter d’avoir le meilleur gâteau au fromage. Lesia aime se ballader dans le Vieux-Port. Et Judy affirme que la Ville Souterraine est ce qui fait de Montréal. Une ville unique c’est ça Montréal, pour nous! Pour toi, c’est quoi Montréal? Envoie nous tes photographies, tes poèmes, tes peintures, tes caricatures, tes paroles de chansons, tes mémoires, tes nouvelles, tes dessins ou tout autre création artistique qui pour toi identifie Montréal! POUR SOUMETTRE: Pour contribuer : Contactez Vanessa Sparks par téléphone au 514-488-9119 ou par courriel à forwardhouse.education@gmail.com. Veuillez soumettre du contenu éléctronique dans la langue de votre choix et vos coordonnées. Visitez www.buoymagazine.ca pour plus d’information. DATE LIMITE: 1 novembre, 2014
A CALL
FOR
SUBMISSIONS
VOLUME 6, ISSUE 1: MONTRÉAL WHAT’S BUOY? For Maureen Dugan, a contributor to the inaugural issue of Buoy, creativity is a life jacket, and because of her beautiful paintings of that subject, we decided to adopt Buoy as the name for our journal. Since that first issue, Buoy has become a creative outlet for many people, allowing them to share their creative pursuits while exploring a specific theme. WHAT DO WE WANT? When thinking of Montréal, Nick thinks of the iconic image of the Big O and Habs Fever. Kathy thinks of taking a bite out of a fresh St-Viateur bagel. Barbie thinks of the majestic architecture of the Bonsecours Market. Sheila thinks of all the green spaces available for kids and Noel thinks Montréal has the best cheesecake. Lesia likes wandering around the Old Port, and Judy think the Underground City is what makes Montréal unique. This is what Montréal is to us. What is Montréal to you? Submit your photography, prose, poetry, painting, memoirs, essays, cartoons, song lyrics any other creative work that shares your Montréal. TO SUBMIT: Contact Vanessa Sparks by telephone at 514-488-9119 or email at forwardhouse.education@gmail.com. Please submit electronically, if possible, in the language of your choice. Please include your contact information. Visit www.buoymagazine.ca for more details. DEADLINE: November 1, 2014
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BUOY BUSINESS
PREVIOUS EDITIONS EXIST
OF
BUOY
You can find all previous copies of Buoy on the Internet at the Issuu website (go to the Issuu website and type in ‘Buoy’). For more information about Buoy e-mail us at forwardhouse.education@gmail.com, call 514.488.9119, or go to our website www.buoymagazine.ca.
THANK-YOUS The Buoy Editorial team wishes to thank Forward House for its unflagging support with special thanks to Paul Aubin and Chris McFadden. Also, a big thank you to all the great Forward House workers who encourage their clients to submit work and who have volunteered their time and talents in support of Buoy and encouraged us. A huge thank you for the support we have received from the mental health community, especially the Montreal Walks For Mental Health Board. Our thanks also to the team at Rubiks who always make our printing process go sooo smoothly. Kudos to all our contributors, you guys do wonderful stuff and make putting together an arts journal a real pleasure; we love getting your work, keep it coming. And special thanks to our readers who continue to ‘read’ us, your guys rock. Nearly lastly a huge thank you to Nick Serjeantson, for his wonderful layout work, and to Vanessa Sparks, for encouraging and managing this project. Finally, thank you to Francis Cropas to whom Buoy owes its existence; he woke up one day and said “we should make a magazine!”
WHO’S WHO The Buoy Editorial Team consists of Grant Pytel, Barbie Marshall, Sheila Anne Ferrando, Kathy Risso, Lesia Charko, Judy Minderman, Gilles Chiasson, Noel Neil Marlon Evans, and Nick Serjeantson. The Editorial Advisor of Buoy is Vanessa Sparks. Graphic design by Nick Serjeantson using PagePlus with much input from the editorial team. Fonts used in this edition of Buoy were Constantia and Trebuchet MS for content, and Zurich Xblk BT for headings and such.
58 Buoy Summer 2014
KEYS Adams
Noel Neil Marlon Evans, That Girl, acrylic painting
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59
KEYS Adams
Rhona Green, Open Heart, watercolour painting
In Association with Forward House / Maison les Étapes
PRESENTS/ PRESENTE
WELL-BEING / BIEN-ÊTRE STARRING / EN VEDETTE Janek Adams - Ester Cabrita - Lesia Charko - Gilles Chiasson - Cynthia Jean Chukly Sonja J Cooper - Richard Diraddo - Renée Drouin - Christopher “Speed” Dubiel Noel Neil Marlon Evans - Sheila Anne Ferrando - Dana M. Friend - Rhona Green Mark Kisiel - Linda Lindsay - Francis Marquis - Judy Minderman - Jonathan Paige Kathy Risso - Nick Serjeantson - Dave Smaill - Jean-Christophe Tourenne
60 Buoy Summer 2014