Dear People of Simcoe County

Writing my memoir continues to take most of my time these days,  how fun to remember all
the people and all the love that has seem me through.   Thanks for the extra support you have been sending, the songs are great inspiration!
Today I also wrote a letter to the enterprise bulletin,  which I shared on facebook and I share it here with you my loving, supportive community!

Dear People of Simcoe County, 

I have come to love this land and its people, over the past eight years that I have lived here.  It was closeness of the water,  the beauty of the land and the options for biking and hiking that brought me to this area. 

This week I am feeling anxious, I have a daughter who lives in the United States,  I have a daughter who has black skin,  I have a daughter who  has a beautiful son with her female partner,  I have friends who…the list is long.  I am worried about a Trump presidency.  I am sad when I hear about grandsons coming home from school sick because they are worried about their and their friends’ safety. 

This week I read that Kellie Leitch, my federal member of parliament, who is running for the leadership of the Conservative Party,  said she hailed Trumps election win as an exciting message that needs to be delivered to Canada as well.

I am asking you, my conservative friends, I am asking you my liberal friends, I am asking you my friends of no particular political leaning or interest to not be complacent. 

Lets us speak and act in ways that promote open heartedness, loving kindness and gratitude for the many privileges that are afforded to us in this great country.  Let us give thanks for the immigrants, including our ancestors who came to give us more opportunity.  Let us acknowledge our role in the suffering of indigenous peoples.   Let us truly live a life that recognizes there is enough for all, and let our actions speak this truth too.   Let us give thanks for the diversity that strengthens our world in so many more ways than food!  

May we breathe, may we notice, may we defeat fear acts of love!

gloria kropf nafziger

What I forgot

what I forgot in writing my memoir

my story is longer at sixty one than it was a twenty one
there are some details that need to be shared in order
to make sense of the details
memory is not certain or specific or perhaps
even accurate
what is believed to be accurate for one
may not be accurate for another
truth telling is scary
changing the story is hard work
details, always, don't matter sometimes
life is dynamic, changing
an imperfect reflection
all people carry with them fear
and sorrow, love
and anger, pain
and joy
even a story of love carries
unpleasantries
there are many ways to tell a story
support comes in different ways,
loneliness is part of connection
disappointment often goes with dreams
sometimes it doesn't
dreams surround us, if we just
take the time to remember
anger expressed has more healing power
then anger repressed
sorrow surrounds joy
new life comes out of death
stories, all stories,
are worth listening too
sixty one is old and young
all at the same time
community is built by taking risks
and letting another see in
that a ticking clock is sometimes very loud,
sometimes quiet.  sometimes fast, and sometimes
slow,  and none of it perhaps has anything to do with time
and everything to do with being
that I love writing, I love blocks of time to write in
I am free when my pen and my fingers are moving

gkn Nov. 2016