I got up this morning at 7am, washed, packed, dressed and checked out by 7:45 and went down for breakfast. I was being picked up at 8:30 but my ride came early. Fortunately, I’d had a chance to finish my breakfast.
First stop was Ridna Shkola and the young children. These are Ukrainian language Saturday students. Taras had asked me to tell them why I didn’t speak Ukrainian. It all has to do with the prejudice directed at my father when he was a boy. He was beaten every day at school for speaking Ukrainian. And his and his siblings’ names were all anglicized. He didn’t want that for my sister and I so we never took Ukrainian. I told those kids that they were very lucky to live in Canada now; a Canada that was more tolerant. I think it was the sheer exhaustion of the week, but I began to weep. I hate it when that happens. The poor kids. A teacher brought me a tissue and I took a deep breath. Then I did a storytelling session with Enough and we talked about the Holodomor.
From there, Taras drove me to St. John’s Cathedral and I did a session with the Ukrainian language high school students. I enjoyed talking to these students. Mostly I have been presenting to younger students this week so it was a good change for me.
When I was finished, Taras helped me out with my luggage and Marty Chan met me outside.
I hadn’t met Marty in person but we play wordscraper on facebook quite regularly. We had lunch at a Japanese restaurant and we had a great visit. I was enthralled with Marty’s journey to becoming a writer and playwright and broadcast journalist. There were many parallels in our early lives. He dropped me off at the airport and right now I am on the second flight. It is 9:50pm and I will be in my own bed in about three hours.
It was an amazing Book Week. I met such great kids and so many fabulous educators. I love Alberta hospitality. If I were to move out of Ontario, Alberta would be where I would want to live. I love the friendliness and the wide open spaces. I love the vast sky and the fact that people can pronounce my last name without hesitation.
An addendum. It is Monday November 24. I had my appointment with the orthopedic surgeon and the MRI showed that I do have a torn meniscus. A “serious” tear, he says, but fixable. My surgery is scheduled for just before Christmas.
