Wrestling with Giants

Hello Amelia,  Jennifer and Stephan,  and anyone else who reads this,  

I thank you for your very apologetic letter. 

I thank you for the prompt phone call yesterday. 

I am grateful for the always polite people I get at your call centre. 

I spoke to one of them yesterday.

He spoke to the Burlington store manager.

She was busy with other customers, three he said.

He said she would call me right after she finished with those three customers. 

24 hours have passed,  I have once again, not received a call. 

Our days for a full refund have almost expired as I have tried

and tried, and called and called and waited for promises

to be fulfilled,  and waited for promises to be fulfilled, 

and received new promises, and more new promises

So please make note of the full costs we incurred to purchase an item we 

REALLY wanted,  which we bought because 

we believed IKEA kept its promises

was good at meeting customer needs,  guaranteed delivery,

guaranteed product replacement for damages,  

Please make note that if this is not resolved within the 45 day return time line,  which I think may be tomorrow,  

Check our file to confirm...it is a thick file,  there have been a lot of calls.

Please make me an offer, you are willing to act on. 

Do not tell me to call the call centre again,  

I did that ...and I did that...and I did that...

I look forward to hearing from you...not 

with another apology,  I got the previous ones, 

all of them,

I look forward to hearing from you with a solution to my broken, newly delivered furniture

Thankyou! 

gloria

gkn Jan. 23,2016

Invitation

Snow bank house,sticky note reminders,  construction sites,

 giggles,  cabbage patch baby reclaimed from storage 

box of another childhood, notebook jottings, 

duplo, pens, cars, computers, trains, encouragement, 

peek a boo,  strollers stuck in snow, 

books and 

voices,  long on earth,  supportive, 

newly arrived, through sign, 

symbol, words recognized,  or not, 

eyes brimming with delight at being 

dancing in beat,  heart pumping, 

pounding, gathering, 

life filed, ears open to joyful

awareness of life's surround sound beauty

cherish full filment

gkn Jan 21,2016

The Multi Cultural Calendar

I took it down late, the new year had come, 

no phone call during the holidays, or shopping 

trip visit,  just you and me,  except maybe 

that day in Ottawa, you're such a traveller now, 

the change in airflow, 

the touch of your hand on 

my heart reminding me,  

you continue,  as my companion 

in snowfall or rain,  in sunshine or shadows, 

when I am present 

there you are with me, 

the calendar a gift from you to me,  a tradition,  I 

knew what the package held,  received with anticipation, 

the art,  the stories,  the holidays shared, 

a gift of you to me, heritage, culture divergent as we 

were, you saw me, see me, 

and yet the wall is bare. 

gkn 2016 

On Being 2016

The invitation to be present calls, 

continues to call,

 as I lay in bed healing, growing  

My body aches, 

my soul, my spirit are at peace,  

I notice the difference.

I am able to stay in bed,  to care for me.

I am blessed, 

memories of celebration, of chaos, of laughter, 

of song, of games, of listening and sharing stories, 

of eye contact smiles, of hugs, of kisses, 

of tears embraced 

surround  me

2016 has arrived, another year, another slate waiting to be filled, 

I get to chose thebeliefs I embrace or challenge, 

the words I write,  or speak,  the activities I engage in,  the love

I receive and give,  the trust I share...

Sending New Years blessings to each one of you! 

May 2016 be for you a great year of growth filled blessing. 

With ongoing gratitude for all of who you are in my life and all you teach me

and others! 

gkn Jan 2016