It’s cold and grey today,
fitting,
it is,
December 6 th.
In 1989 in my Montreal,
the city I love,
14 women were murdered,
for being women,
for being women,
who would become,
engineers.
An act of hate,
gender based violence.
I consider it,
the darkest day,
in my beloved city’s,
history.
It was more than,
30 years ago,
and yet, it feels like,
yesterday.
These women were,
my contemporaries,
snuffed out,
in the prime of their lives.
They were:
Geneviève Bergeron, Hélène Colgan, Nathalie Croteau, Barbara Daigneault, Anne-Marie Edward, Maud Haviernick, Maryse Laganière, Maryse Leclair, Anne-Marie Lemay, Sonia Pelletier, Michèle Richard, Annie St-Arneault, Annie Turcotte and Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz.
I say their names.
It is really difficult,
this year,
the global pandemic,
the death of my mother,
the rising numbers,
Christmas celebrations,
changed,
no large gaterings,
no small gatherings,
and yet,
…
I have so much to be grateful for.
Friends,
great friends,
supportive friends,
who make me laugh,
who make me think,
a wonderful woman,
an amazing faith community,
I am surrounded by love.
I have a job,
that I love,
I am teaching myself,
new things,
I am setting goals,
I am trying my best to,
make a difference,
I am choosing to be happy.
I will deliver and mail,
my gifts,
I will talk to people,
I love,
whichever way I can.
No-one has cancelled,
Christmas,
it will be different,
so that next year,
we can hug, touch, cherish each other,
live, in person.
In the meantime,
stay home,
watch some Netflix,
play some loud music,
read an excellent book,
and choose to be happy,
because it is a choice.
Be well,
stay safe,
wear your masks.
Later girls,
BB
