Mixed May Emotions

I've gone from a blog post a day to squeezing May's in at 11:30pm on 31st May! To get it posted in time, it'll be mostly pictures.  When i finished the blog-along with Effy Wild for April, I missed it. I missed reading the blogs of others and missed writing my own, pondering about it and pulling it all together in my mind. I almost wrote a post halfway through just to use reading others' as a reward. But something else came up.

How was your month of May? Mine had some beautiful highs, ending on a heartbreaking note with the discovery of over 200 children's remains from a residental school in Kamloops BC. Effy Wild had a journal jam today and she dedicated the energy raised in the painting to go to healing those directly affected by this sad find, and to all suffering because of residental schools. I did the same, writing in the hair a release and pouring my feelings out. I had forgotten how therapeutic art can be in that way, helping to process hard emotions while also presenting a permenant reminder. This is my Journal Jam painting. I had contemplated the words' Bear Witness' but will probably leave her like this.

Brighter notes included Mother's Day and lots of love from my son and step-children, even some of my grandkids got in on the act. Ollie drew a heart and wrote his name on a gift and Maggie drew a lovely card to accompany another gift delivered late at night in our driveway. I love the sentiment: 'Your hart is bigger than a elaphant'.

Mid-May also brought the NOWW awards (an annual writing contest that I reguarly enter. It originates here but is an international contest. This year I had 'spectacular wins' as someone told me and I was thrilled. In celebration my stepdaughter Crystal sent the beautiful blue journal and keychain below. The journal came the day before I needed a new gratitude journal. Perfect timing!

23rd Annual Writing Contest Award Winners
The Northwestern Ontario Writers’ Workshop
is pleased to announce the winners of the 23rd Annual Writing Contest.

Short Fiction – Judged by Emily St. John Mandel

Sue Blott – “Pretending”
Tina Petrick – “Escape from Slugbrook Academy”
Cindy Matthews – “The Roach Family”

Creative Nonfiction – Judged by Niigan Sinclair

Cindy Matthews – “Lost Innocence”
Robyn Stronge – “What If”
Vera Constantineau – “He and I”

Poetry – Judged by Sheri-D Wilson

Siobhan Farrell “Winter Thoughts”
Morgan Thomas – “Histrionics”
Kevin Bezanson (tie)
Tanis MacDonald (tie)

Haiku – Judged by KJ Munro

Sue Blott – “Relationship”
Sue Blott – “Nature”
Michael Dudley

Bill MacDonald Prize for Prose (Fiction) – Judged by Waub Rice

JF Foulds – “Beyond Tears”
Sue Blott – “Kin”
Dorothea Belanger – “Signs”

Of course May had many more moods and shades of moods and magical moments and sadder moments but this is my May in a nutshell to try to make the midnight deadline.

Celebrate and embrace your many moods!