pipersfancy: As Humboldt gathers Sunday for their own candlelight vigil at 7 pm, communities across Saskatchewan will be holding their own vigils to show support.

#LightUpSaskatchewan is putting a call out to join Humboldt, no matter where you are, to light a candle showing your support after the tragedy that all of Saskatchewan and Canada feels.
    Joy Graham: I came across something that asks people to wear green on Monday in support of them as well. -
    ~Dovey: There is a group of hockey Mom's that are calling for everyone to wear hockey jerseys and show their support through pictures on social media this Thursday. -


pipersfancy: I've recently changed my poetry blog site to:
https://pipersfancy.blogspot.ca/
and would love to see you drop by!
    michaelcahill: Great sight, Christina.

    Hey, folks, she's hiding poetry there. :)) -
    michaelcahill: Great site too, I'm sure your vision is fine as well, just an observation... -
    pipersfancy: lol! Thanks so much for dropping by, Mikey! -


pipersfancy: I'm really pleased! I've been focusing on short form poetry in my writing for a few months, with some success. In November, I had two tanka published in Tanka Journal, and I've just received a note from the editor of Haiku Journal that one of the haiku I submitted has been accepted for the journal!

I hope 2018 is off to a great start for everyone here on FanStory!
    Mustang Patty: Thank you for sharing your news with us. I'm so happy for you. May your New Year be full of letters and notes like these! -
    rama devi: Miss your presence here, dear! Great news! Blessings! -


pipersfancy: I have just received notification that the two poems I submitted to Tanka Journal have been accepted for publication. I'm really pleased!
    michaelcahill: Could some of your more wealthy fans purchase them? And where would they go to do such a thing? :)) -
    pipersfancy: Hi Mikey! It's my understanding that they will be in the April volume of the journal, so I'll let you know once it gets a little closer to publication (then I'll know more as well!) -


pipersfancy: I'll be attending an event hosted by the International Expressive Arts Therapy Assoc. on Friday, entitled Indigenous Roots. I'm a great fan of the keynote speaker, Tomson Highway. He is a novelist, playwright, children's author, and classically-trained musician. He was born into the Cree community of Brochet in far northwest Manitoba (in what is now called. "Nunavut") and describes himself as, "the proud son of legendary caribou hunter and world championship dogsled racer, Joe Highway, and artist-in-her-own-right (as bead-worker and quilt-maker extraordinaire), Pelagie Highway."

As you can tell - I'm really looking forward to hearing this man speak! And, for anyone interested in hearing a brilliant, and clearly Aboriginal voice, I'd highly recommend looking up some of Tomson's work!


pipersfancy: Oh...my...God...

My 18-year old, first-year university son has hopped on a bus without looking to see which route number it was... now he's texting me frantically, completely lost somewhere in downtown Winnipeg. (Thank God we live in a relatively small city...)

This is my kid with the anxiety disorder... he is in a panic and afraid to speak to the driver...

It's storming out, he forgot his jacket...

A GREAT START TO THE WEEKEND!
    michaelcahill: Maybe you can call and have the bus driver talk to him. Hopefully he/she is a cool person. -
    pipersfancy: Through multiple texts, he was able to calm himself back down and speak to the driver. My boy has found his way home... crisis averted! -


FanStory wrote to pipersfancy: Welcome finished first in the contest "Antonym Poem"


FanStory wrote to pipersfancy: Jerome and the Giraffe of Goodness finished second in the contest "Share A Story In A Poem"
    Kazzawin: Well done, lovely story : ) -
    pipersfancy: Thank you! I'm so surprised - for something I simply wrote to amuse my son! -


pipersfancy: I guess, somewhere along my spiritual journey, my soul decided it needed to understand what chronic, physical pain was like. It's taken almost 3 years, but it seems the doctors have finally reached a consensus for diagnosis: fibromyalgia.
    DR DIP: fibromyalgia? What is that in laymen's terms Piper ? -
    pipersfancy: Fibro=affecting soft fibrous muscle tissue
    my=referring to nerves
    algia=referring to pain

    This definition is taken from the website of the Fibromyalgia Support Group of Winnipeg, to which I've been referred:

    Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic, at times disabling medical condition, characterized by widespread body pain, specific tender pressure points, fatigue and sleep disorders. It is often accompanied by many other problems such as extreme general stiffness, irritable bowel, irritable bladder, headaches and cognitive impairments.

    It often takes a long time to diagnose because it mimics the symptoms of several other autoimmune disorder including inflammatory rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and multiple sclerosis (MS), so the process is one of ruling out these other disorders.
    -
    damommy: There are many on here who suffer with that. Some of us with lupus, too. 8-) -
    Dawn: (Dawn raises hand; not without pain.)

    One of the most difficult aspects of it, I find, is the invisibility of it, and the fact that the word is tossed around by some with no real understanding of just how bad it can get. Add in other disorders or diseases (like osteoarthritis, which I have, or lupus, I imagine) and life can seem pretty wretched. Some days are worse than others, of course, but it's not just the body's muscles affected, it affects the nerves as well. Imagine a pinched nerve in your shoulder, then throw in your elbows, spine, jaw, leg, neck... getting the idea?

    I feel you my friend! -
    pipersfancy: Frankly, I'm scared to death. I've been suffering with increasing pain and stiffness for about 4 years now, and this year have struggled with memory and other cognitive issues. I physically struggle with my work, the demands of flying north on tiny planes, into different communities each week has become too much for me to handle. So, I'll only be about half-time this school year. The fear comes from continuing to support a household and 2 university students at home. I've cut back financially as much as I'm able to. If I cut back any more with my work, I'll lose the house. At least both my kids are now working part-time jobs, so that will help with university expenses. -
    Barb Hensongispsaca: I did a couple of poems about it. I finally got a diagnosis and put a name to it. It is not fun and is very harsh on the body. Stress amplifies the pain. I get lidocain shots and IV infusion to help to be able to move. We learn to cope, not that I have yet, and that is all that is offered to us. -


pipersfancy: Thoughts and prayers for all who may live or have family/friends in southern Texas... that includes my dear friend Lisa who has lived/worked in Houston for the past 20 years. I haven't been able to contact her today, and I'm hopeful that she has already left the area.

Hurricane Harvey looks to be a terrible storm, and he's bearing down on the area. I pray anyone under evacuation orders took heed and is already in a safe place. Please stay safe everyone!
    Irish Rain: I think Jan (Jannypan) lives there. Take care Jan!!!! -


FanStory wrote to pipersfancy: Late Summer's Symphony finished second in the contest "5-7-5 grass"


FanStory wrote to pipersfancy: Celestial Games finished second in the contest "5-7-5 moon"


pipersfancy: For some odd reason, 51 was a much easier birthday than last year's 50! lol!
    rama devi: Happy birthday, dear. I am 51 too! -
    pipersfancy: Thanks, rd! How'd you celebrate your birthday this year? Mine was spent unpacking from last weeks camping trip - but the companionship of friends and family round the campfire last week was more than enough birthday celebration for me! -
    Mustang Patty: awww, you guys are just babies! I'm hitting 59 this year, and I'm so close to 60 it scares me.

    ~p~ -
    damommy: Don't be scared. 74 next month here. Yayyy! -
    pipersfancy: Scared... Nah! I think last year's birthday felt a bit unsettling because society looks at 50 as some sort of milestone year. It didn't feel much like a milestone year to me, and I wasn't comfortable with the extra attention on that day. Glad that one's in the rear view mirror. One of the couples I camped with last week are in their early 70's/late 60's (well, he's 68 and she's 72.) These friends are so vibrant and full of life! I really do believe age is just a number. -
    pipersfancy: BTW, Patty - by your profile picture, you don't look a day over 35! -
    mrsmajor: All of you are just babies, on September 1, this year I'll be 83 years old...
    Happy Birthday! -
    pipersfancy: Awww - thanks, mrsmajor! My mom would have turned 84 this past June (I miss her lots!) -
    mrsmajor: She's right there with you, always in your heart...that's for sure! -


FanStory wrote to pipersfancy: Passing Through my Existential Life finished third in the contest "3 Words In A Poem"


pipersfancy: The tent has been aired out and the sleeping bags rolled... almost ready to head out on our annual camping trip to Blue Lake! My kids (lol! They're 18 and 21!) and I have been camping here for years with a group of friends. Last year, I was not well enough to go, so I'm REALLY looking forward to this year's trip!


FanStory wrote to pipersfancy: Congratulations! Walking through the Valley won the contest "Antonym Poetry Contest"
    Hitcher: Congratulations friend : ) Nice !! -
    rama devi: Yay! I thought this one should win. Best one I read. So glad for you!
    Congrats and kudos. -
    pipersfancy: Thank you all for your kind words! This was such an unexpected and lovely surprise to wake up to this morning! -
    rspoet: Congratulations on a great win! -


FanStory wrote to pipersfancy: Navigation by Stars finished first in the contest "betrayal"


pipersfancy: Hello! I've come back for the summer and I'm happy to see so many familiar people here!
    rosehill (Wendy): Welcome back! Me too. I was gone for a little over a year, but couldn't stay away. Hope to read lots of fun stuff from you. -


pipersfancy: Celebrating my youngest son's 16th birthday today (where DOES the time go???) and I left the group of 6 boys playing a video game for 10 minutes to go pick up Subway sandwiches... Came back to find they had switched activities, and were in the midst of a frantic 'dance off' with Just Dance on the Wii... I have never witnessed such a sight... a bunch of gangly teens... arms and legs flailing... thinking they are OH SO COOL! (I loved it!)
    mrsmajor: I know you did...Its such a joy when we can see our children have the ordinary teenage fun isn't it... -
    I am Cat: My son, now 26, used to engage in DDR (Dance Dance Revolution) if you haven't seen that done... youtube it... it's quite entertaining. He was quite good at it... I've never seen feet move so quickly! (so how come he couldn't clean his room that fast???) Happy Birthday to your son! <3 -
    pipersfancy: You're right, Mrs. Major - it is those ordinary moments of life that become the most treasured memories!

    I remember DDR! I was never that coordinated, and likely resembles an octopus attempting the robot dance... but kuddos to your son Cat! ('course... with all that feline prowess... he'd almost have to be a sensation, now... wouldn't he!) I'm going to check it out on YouTube! -
    Tatarka2: YAAAY!!! Such a happy occasion! I'm so glad for him, and for you. These are the moments to celebrate in life, aren't they? -
    Dawn: Where are you? -


pipersfancy: I'm touched by the idea that when we do things that are useful and helpful - collecting these shards of spirituality - that we may be helping to bring about a healing.
Leonard Nimoy



pipersfancy: I'm beyond excited and happy... I've just learned I am one of ten winners of the RhymeZone 2014-15 Poetry Contest! There were over 3500 entries! Wow... I'm reeling!
    Julia.: Congratulations! :) -
    michaelcahill: Awesome! I'm not surprised. You're one of the best. :) -
    pipersfancy: Thank you, everyone! Your support of me here has given me the confidence to begin sharing my writing off FS... something I never did prior to joining 2 years ago. Much appreciation! -
    flamingstar: I saw that and wondered if it was you! Congrats! Huge achievement! -
    madhatter1977: Brilliant my friend! Hugs and hope all is well. Email or message - be good to hear from you xx -
    Dorothy Farrell: Congratulation Christina - your poetry is wonderful - you are one of the best. Dorothyx -