- Joined
- Dec 18, 2006
- Messages
- 3,348
- Reaction score
- 854
- Age
- 64
- Location
- Ontario, Canader
- Website
- www.chumpletwrites.blogspot.com
Hi, Gang,
I know you haven't seen me for quite a while. I've been a member since I started writing over ten years ago (whuuuut?) and my participation dropped off in the last couple of years because of:
Frustration
Life
500+ queries that went nowhere
Kids
Pets
Jobs
You name it.
I wrote at least three novels since I last commented in Background Check. I got close a few times, but no cigar was awarded.
Last fall, I lost my sister, Cathy Elliott. It was sudden and unexpected. She was two years older than me, and a playwright, composer and stage performer. She created art for stage productions, and worked tirelessly for Indigenous children by teaching them art and music for a non-profit organization here in Ontario.
The last time I saw her was just after our birthdays in June of 2017. I drove the five hours to Ottawa to see her perform in the Opening Night at the National Arts Centre of the poignant musical, Children of God. This was especially important to her, as our grandfather had escaped from a Residential School in the early 20th Century. This play depicted the emotional and physical abuse our Native children suffered as the government tried to "beat the Native out of them."
We had a great visit, I cried through her performance, and drove home the next morning, feeling so proud of her. She was finally making it, after decades of doing Summer Stock, working as an extra, and making do with small jobs.
On October 16th, her long-time partner Leslie managed to get hold of me on my cellphone. I had turned it off (as I do) for the night, and had seen several messages about an emergency.
Cathy had gone out into a (get this) "dark and stormy night" to give Leslie a raincoat since Leslie had gone out to walk the dog. Cathy didn't know that Leslie had seen the weather and decided at the last moment to jump into her car with the dog to run a couple of errands in the nearby town of Alliston.
When Leslie got back, there were police cars stationed at either end of her country road. To make a long story short (yes, this is already a long story), Cathy had encountered two cars coming from opposite directions. Blinded by headlights, one of the drivers hit my sister. She died instantly.
There are several news articles in Canada about the incident.
Fast forward to early last December: Friends and family arranged the most beautiful musical tribute to my sister, and apparently I got lots of laughs during my eulogy. Several hundred people packed the theatre in Toronto. Her songs were showcased, with love and passion.
I haven't really been able to write or paint since. Maybe it's the winter. Maybe it's work. Maybe I just don't feel inspired. I'm hoping to get back into writing, to get an agent, to sell books or art.
I've missed you all. We've gone through a lot of stuff together. We have lost members, gained some, and through it all I still keep in touch with many members through social media in other places.
I love you all. Keep creating.
p.s. If my signature has books, they are currently out of print. I'll fix that ASAP
I know you haven't seen me for quite a while. I've been a member since I started writing over ten years ago (whuuuut?) and my participation dropped off in the last couple of years because of:
Frustration
Life
500+ queries that went nowhere
Kids
Pets
Jobs
You name it.
I wrote at least three novels since I last commented in Background Check. I got close a few times, but no cigar was awarded.
Last fall, I lost my sister, Cathy Elliott. It was sudden and unexpected. She was two years older than me, and a playwright, composer and stage performer. She created art for stage productions, and worked tirelessly for Indigenous children by teaching them art and music for a non-profit organization here in Ontario.
The last time I saw her was just after our birthdays in June of 2017. I drove the five hours to Ottawa to see her perform in the Opening Night at the National Arts Centre of the poignant musical, Children of God. This was especially important to her, as our grandfather had escaped from a Residential School in the early 20th Century. This play depicted the emotional and physical abuse our Native children suffered as the government tried to "beat the Native out of them."
We had a great visit, I cried through her performance, and drove home the next morning, feeling so proud of her. She was finally making it, after decades of doing Summer Stock, working as an extra, and making do with small jobs.
On October 16th, her long-time partner Leslie managed to get hold of me on my cellphone. I had turned it off (as I do) for the night, and had seen several messages about an emergency.
Cathy had gone out into a (get this) "dark and stormy night" to give Leslie a raincoat since Leslie had gone out to walk the dog. Cathy didn't know that Leslie had seen the weather and decided at the last moment to jump into her car with the dog to run a couple of errands in the nearby town of Alliston.
When Leslie got back, there were police cars stationed at either end of her country road. To make a long story short (yes, this is already a long story), Cathy had encountered two cars coming from opposite directions. Blinded by headlights, one of the drivers hit my sister. She died instantly.
There are several news articles in Canada about the incident.
Fast forward to early last December: Friends and family arranged the most beautiful musical tribute to my sister, and apparently I got lots of laughs during my eulogy. Several hundred people packed the theatre in Toronto. Her songs were showcased, with love and passion.
I haven't really been able to write or paint since. Maybe it's the winter. Maybe it's work. Maybe I just don't feel inspired. I'm hoping to get back into writing, to get an agent, to sell books or art.
I've missed you all. We've gone through a lot of stuff together. We have lost members, gained some, and through it all I still keep in touch with many members through social media in other places.
I love you all. Keep creating.
p.s. If my signature has books, they are currently out of print. I'll fix that ASAP