My Ancestors

My grandfather’s ancestors come from the Sauve line, French Catholics who moved from France and settled in Quebec. A branch broke away and moved to Black River, Michigan. My mother was born and raised in Cheboygan, Michigan.

My grandmother was adopted by a Cheboygan family in 1926 from House of Providence adoption agency, Detroit. Her birth name was Mary Frances Keeley. Her mother came from Ireland, County Clare. Her adopted name was Mary Jean Jarvis. She was the mother of ten children.

My father was adopted in Elkhart, Indiana. I believe we have some vikings in our past.

Up to Now.

I’ve had many life experiences, transitions and transformations. I’ve learned about being a mother, a spouse, a creative partner, a wilderness partner, a grandmother (though I am only 10 years in), a teacher in schools, a teacher in communities, a writer searching for the pathway through (insert any life event). In January of 2020, I completed my MFA in Creative Writing and in the process of learning more about the craft and art of creative writing, I focused on Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation process.

I’ve suffered along the way; childhood trauma was a glowing ember I was terrified to notice, observe or question. Such pain. It has impacted every aspect of my life. A therapist I met 20 years ago introduced me to practical ways of navigating trauma and the uncertainties of life: a non-secular meditation practice, curiousity directed at somatic experiences and patterns of thinking, experiments in noticing, observing and questioning.

Outward Bound’s Women of Courage program also helped me to save my life. I canoed Desolation Sound, near Vancouver Island, in 2016 and first talked about forming women’s writing circles (renamed Warrior’s Writing Circles) with another writer who paddled the same journey.

Through my whole life I’ve been writing. Eight books have been published with my name on them/in them. I still have questions I want to explore.

The Present Moment.

“All of writing is a huge lake. There are great rivers that feed the lake, like Tolstoy or Dostoyevsky. And then there are mere trickles, like Jean Rhys. All that matters is feeding the lake. I don't matter. The lake matters. You must keep feeding the lake.” Jean Rhys

I am committed to facilitating learning experiences to help each other and our planet. During Coronavirus Lockdown and the months following I took a course from Laraine Herring on grief, studied writing practices from as many authors as I could find through books, podcasts, and Zoom sessions. I’ve facilitated dozens of sessions with writers, one-on-one, small group and large groups. I’m ready to learn with those who join the circle.

I am committed to a practice of Truth and Reconciliation for Indigenous peoples in Canada. We are all treaty people. I’ve asked, “When is Architecture an Act of Reconciliation?” through an essay for D.Talks architecture and writing workshop: WriteOn. Jared Tailfeathers at the Calgary Public Library guided me through the amazing Indigenous Place making work at New Central Library. The Banff Centre’s Truth and Reconciliation through Right Relations program was an important part of my learning.

I am committed to living an ethical life: creating ethical spaces for all people, experimenting as a means to learn, accepting failure as part of the living process, uncovering the creative process to share with others, acknowledging judgement, questioning my beliefs and opinions, and acting through the lens of love.

I acknowledge the love and sacrifice of my children and all the people who have supported me in my journey to this point. I did my best to show gratitude and to not cause harm. It is the human condition to learn through doing. Compassion, I’ve found, creates deep connection with the self and others.