by Sue Horner | Jun 2, 2010 | The Red Jacket Diaries blog
There are few things more intimidating in the photo world than a passport picture. Maybe it’s because you know it’s going to stick with you for at least five years, maybe 10. You know the “neutral” expression you’re supposed to have will actually end up making you...
by Sue Horner | May 23, 2010 | The Red Jacket Diaries blog
A dog-walking buddy (someone encountered while we were both walking our dogs) recently lost one of her dogs to cancer. Holly was just two, really still a puppy, so my friend thought there was lots of time for treatment. There wasn’t. Holly died within two weeks...
by Sue Horner | May 3, 2010 | The Red Jacket Diaries blog
Tell me you do this, too — as you flip past the newspaper section containing obituaries, you can’t help but stop and read the ones accompanied by a photo of a young-looking person. Here’s why I do it. Having lost a few friends to cancer, I feel...
by Sue Horner | Dec 10, 2009 | The Red Jacket Diaries blog
Today would have been a travel day, in what seems like a lifetime ago. I’d have my bag packed, a batch of shortbread made, and would be (probably frantically) doing some last-minute work in the morning before heading to the airport for a Thursday-to-Sunday...
by Sue Horner | Nov 17, 2009 | The Red Jacket Diaries blog
I lost another friend last week, this time to inflammatory breast cancer. It’s a particularly nasty form that often comes on suddenly, acting similar to mastitis (also an inflammation, usually related to breastfeeding), and spreads quickly. Her oncologist had...
by Sue Horner | Sep 8, 2009 | The Red Jacket Diaries blog
Through the serendipity of the web, I somehow came across a blog called 37 Days, written by Asheville, North Carolina writer Patti Digh. In it, she asked the question, “What would I be doing today if I only had 37 days to live?” after her stepfather was...
by Sue Horner | Aug 22, 2008 | The Red Jacket Diaries blog
All summer, I kept working away on hot days, even with a pool coolly beckoning. “I’ll finish this project now and swim late in the day,” I told myself. I can’t tell you how many times a glorious sunny day turned dark as rain swept in about 4...
by Sue Horner | Jul 16, 2008 | The Red Jacket Diaries blog
When my elderly neighbour passed away more than a year ago, his daughter took time to mourn. Then she started the task of cleaning up and fixing up, intending to sell the place. It’s a small two-bedroom bungalow, so the likely buyer will be elderly. The...
by Sue Horner | May 20, 2008 | The Red Jacket Diaries blog
Yesterday marked the birthday of Queen Victoria, who reigned when Canada was born. It’s a classic Canadian holiday, dubbed “May two-four” in a nod to both the date (the Monday closest to May 24) and the ceremonial purchasing and consuming of at least...
by Sue Horner | Mar 26, 2008 | The Red Jacket Diaries blog
Easter was early that year; March 26. I was awake but still in bed when the doorbell rang. It must have been something like 7 a.m., so my parents and I knew something was wrong; we arrived at the door at the same time, throwing on robes. There was a police officer...
