BK yammering on national radio

Life is full of surprises. Yesterday at Monique's cottage, I sat on the deck watching my two friends set off for a preliminary exploration in the canoe when I checked my email. Monique does not have the internet - AAAGH! Withdrawal! - and it can be hard to access mail, but when I did, there was a note from a CBC producer in Toronto wanting to talk to me for a segment on, of course, writing memoir. We did a twenty-minute interview, and she asked if I'd be willing to answer more or less the same questions on a bunch of syndicated CBC programs the following afternoon.

Problem: we were supposed to leave the cottage in the afternoon. But it was supposed to rain all day today - and did - so Annie and Monique were happy to leave early enough to get me home in time for my CBC duties. From 3.20 to 6.07, I did short interviews with hosts from Toronto, Victoria, Sudbury, Kelowna, Whitehorse, London, and Regina, hoping to convince Canadians country-wide about the importance of memoir. 

Activated my actress self; I even drank tea with lemon and lots of honey beforehan for my throat, and Sarah the host in Kelowna said, "You have a beautiful voice." Merci! Jean-Marc called immediately after the Toronto segment to tell me it went well. I hope it sells some books, and/or encourages people to take the course. 

It also looks like I'll teach a memoir workshop at my beloved local library in the fall. Madame Memoir, at your service.

The cottage was a treat, with two dear friends in the sun by the water. Annie and Monique are both much more avid swimmers than I - I barely went in, whereas this morning, they even swam in the rain. Unimaginable. We canoed a bit, read and ate a lot, and talked really really a lot. I confess I'm a bit worn out by all the company; as someone who lives alone, I'm just not used to it. But the trip was a treat. What a gorgeous country we live in. How lucky we are. Have I said that before?

From the deck

Breakfast on Monique's floating dock

Perhaps you can't see them, but there are two big beaver dams on this inland lake.

I found this huge wild turkey feather; Annie's holding it for the shot, but I'm keeping it. They're apparently used for smudging ceremonies.

My lovely French hostess

Picked for our table.

I used the Merlin app to find out what birds were around, besides the jays, crows, and robins, and found the red-eyed vireo, Eastern phoebe, common yellowthroat, magnolia warbler, and ovenbird. I've never even heard of some of them. And, obviously, somewhere, a wild turkey shedding feathers. 

Was relieved when the interviews were over this evening and I could go out and prune the roses. Garden coming along well. The world, not so much. I couldn't access the news for three days, but I gather to my sorrow that things are not substantially better anywhere. Still, I'm glad to be back in touch. Hello!