When it suddenly became evident that COVID-19 was going to rapidly shift my plans for an explorative and creatively fruitful summer in St. John’s, Newfoundland, I had to make a quick decision. I could plead my case for staying in Memorial University’s student residences (which we were strongly advised to leave unless we could prove … Continue reading Coming “home”
I’ll be honest, I was ready to let FR go. I revisited some old posts recently and felt my face perform an impressive routine of shame-infused cringe-contortions. I braced as each of my former selves lined up for another pathetic attempt to expose a new angle of experience and shielded my eyes from their suddenly … Continue reading To my future and former selves
Oh summer. How I desperately longed for your arrival. Then you arrived and I packed every free minute of your glorious sunshine with plans, commitments, expectations, and pressures. I quite literally did it all. I’m a bit pooped now. Proudly pooped though. Because I did do it all. In ways that felt appropriate. In ways … Continue reading The art of witnessing
There’s a story that circulates the internet about a man who sees a butterfly struggling to emerge from its cocoon. The man cuts the cocoon open with a pair of scissors, hoping to free the butterfly. But when the butterfly emerges, its body isn’t fully formed yet. Its wings are shrivelled and weak. The butterfly … Continue reading The Year of the Butterfly
I have an announcement. I’m in love. I don’t think I’ve ever felt this way. It’s pretty serious. I’m madly in love with January. I know, I know. You’re probably thinking this isn’t going anywhere. But Sepoctnovcember was so loaded and demanding and disorienting that omg it’s been so nice to have a slow burn, … Continue reading I’m in love
“I help people spiritually go deeper,” she said. “Hmm. Clearly there’s a reason we’re sitting beside each other,” I responded. Her name was Mary Ellen. A fellow soprano in my choir, Mary Ellen and I had sat beside each other for weeks, but I’d never found the stillness to ask her how she spent her … Continue reading Heart, gut, repeat.
It was my coach who introduced me to the concept of intimacy. Before that, I didn’t really get it. The title of this post is the definition she offered me: “into me see.” As in being able to truly see into someone and have them see into you in return. I’ve said previously that “single” … Continue reading Into me see
What’s hidden in what we try to help ourselves remember? Inspired by one of my earliest Frequent Redhead posts, I took a deep dive into my iPhone notes. I was hungry for truth and old grocery lists. Here are the best finds. They range from practical to poetic to completely perplexing – fragments of a person with … Continue reading I took an iPhone notes deep dive
Is there anything more mesmerizing than an Instagram contouring video? They start with a base, glossing over even the most discreet imperfections to create a usable canvas. Next they draw a map. They drag a darker foundation down from the ear, along the lower half of the cheekbone, creating a valley that isn’t there usually. … Continue reading The art of keeping it together
It’s two in the morning at New Sky restaurant on Spadina – my go-to spot for (very) early morning Chinese. I’m in the company of a few of my closest friends and we’re being unapologetically rowdy over fried green beans with pork and General Tao chicken. I look around. I’m surrounded by warm, salty, unbelievably … Continue reading Friendly reminder: “single” isn’t really a thing
