“I am trying to write my column today but having trouble because all the news is so dismal,” I emailed my older sister. “The Omicron Covid variant… climate crises… pollution… gas prices… domestic/sexual violence and violence in general… starvation and the coming of winter. What miseries we humans create for ourselves!”
“What can I say that will set the world whirling in just a slightly better trajectory? In front of me lies a paper that says the year 2020 was better than you think. Is that true for 2021 too?”
The Wise One wisely did not answer. But after sleeping on it, I thought about an online column by an epidemiologist I just discovered: Substack Newsletter by Katelyn Jetelina. She advises “Do not take Omicron lightly, but don’t abandon hope either. Our immune systems are incredible.
“None of this changes what you can do right now: Ventilate spaces. Use masks. Test if you have symptoms. Isolate if positive. Get vaccinated. Get boosted.”
Right now? Our chickens are scratching up a storm in their store of autumn leaves. They are laying delicious eggs. We are eating them for breakfast. Focus on here and now. Doing what we can do right now is encouraging.
And we have so much to be grateful for, this year ending. We are busy with projects and friends. We just zoomed together with family members far and wide. We are in a warm house. A friend gave us a mighty hand getting our firewood in. Darkness will come, and then so will Light. Gratitude is good.
Happy holidays, everyone!
HOLIDAY ANXIETY?
From Mental Health Estrie is a workshop via Zoom, free and in English, on Wednesday, December 8, at 7 p.m. “Reopening Anxiety: Navigating Social Gatherings and the Holiday Season” is the topic of Melissa Hindley, M.A., psychotherapist. “Given the ever-changing landscape of our social lives in Covid times, she will also help us to better understand and navigate anxiety related to the reopening of our society. The holiday season is usually a time of togetherness, but determining what that looks like might be a little trickier this year,” wrote Emily McBurney at Mental Health Estrie. To register, visit Mental Health Estrie’s Facebook page, email outreach@mentalhealthestrie.com, or call 819-565-2388.
WINTER BLUES?
Zoom in on Health offers a presentation on mental well-being during the winter season by Jen Bauer, intervener at Mental Health Estrie. She will explore the differences between seasonal affective disordr and the winter blues, and also offer coping strategies to help us thrive during the upcoming months. The workshop is Thursday, December 9, at 12 to 1 p.m., via zoom. To register, contact Cisco at ca@townshippers.org.
SMALL ART, GIFT ART?
This month, the Cookshire-Eaton Art Gallery is offering a massive group show of small format artworks by 24 beloved artists from our region: Among them are Denis Palmer, Yong Sook Kim-Lambert, John Ward, Amélie Lemay-Choquette, and Ginette “Djinn” Bertrand. The exhibit of “gift-sized” works opens on December 11, and continues Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. From December 20 to 24, the exhibit is open every day from noon to 4 p.m. The Gallery is located at the Victoria Hall, 125 Principale W., Cookshire, or visit galeriedartcookshireeaton.com.
CHRISTMAS STORIES?
Write Here Write Now participants, writers all, will be reading stories they’ve written about Christmas, including – shiver shiver – Christmas ghost stories. The readings are on Zoom and in English. The first reading is on Sunday, December 12, at 1 p.m., and the second is on Friday, December 17, at 7:30 p.m. To attend free of charge, email bulla@ubishops.ca. All are welcome.
WRITING AWAKENING?
Quebec residents are invited to write a 600-word non-fiction personal essay in the Indelible Ink competition to become a featured columnist for CBC. The theme of Awakening can be explored in various ways; for example, natural changes in seasons, physical forces, human interest, personal journey, metaphorical meaning.
CBC Montreal and the Quebec Writers’ Federation are partnering in this initiative, formerly known as the CBC Writer-in-Residence program. The deadline is December 22; the five writers selected receive editing, a CBC $250 payment, and a QWF $40 credit. Applicants do not have to be published writers; essays must be previously unpublished. To apply: qwf.org/call-for-applications-2022-cbc-qwf/
LEGAL ENGLISH?
Townshippers’ Association’s Legal Information Clinic provides free, easy and confidential legal information in English. The information is provided by Université de Sherbrooke student volunteers who do not offer legal advice, but do give valuable information and referrals. To reach the Legal Info volunteer, email legalinfo@townshippers.org.
CHURCHES
Anglican. Bishop Bruce Myers continues to offer Home Prayers at 4 p.m., Sundays, on Facebook, and at quebec.anglican.ca (Worship Videos). Info: 819-887-6802, or quebec.anglican.ca.
United. In-person Sunday services are bi-weekly (with vaccine passport, masks). The December 12th services are in person in the basement of Victoria Hall, 125 Principale W., Cookshire, 9:30 a.m., and Sawyerville United, 11 a.m. (donations for Moisson Cookshire invited). The December 19th service is at home.
The Christmas Eve Afternoon Service is Friday, December 24, at 2 p.m. in the basement of Victoria Hall, 125 Principale W., Cookshire. The New Year’s service is at home on January 2nd. Info: 819-452-3685 (leave message); spiresta@hotmail.com; or United Eaton Valley Pastoral Charge (Facebook).
Baptist. In-person Sunday services are with Covid-19 protocols in place (distancing; masks can be removed when sitting down; wear masks when singing, etc.). Persons with flu symptoms are asked not to attend services.
Christmas Eve service is Friday, December 24, at 7 p.m. (bilingual); New Year’s services is Sunday, January 2, at 10:30 a.m. (bilingual). Usual services are in French at 9 a.m., and in English at 11 a.m. The pastor’s message is also available on YouTube: For the link, contact Pastor Michel Houle at 819-239-8818.
Do you have news to share? Call 819-640-1340 or email rawrites@gmail.com by December 13 for publication January 5, and by January 10 for January 19.