I never thought it would be possible to love an inanimate object as dearly as I do, but the sad… Read more Jam Gen Fun: My Roomba Obsession
Pink and Bothered: Middle-Aged Barbie
Women “of a certain age” all recall the joyful hours of playing with Barbie as little girls. Don’t deny it!… Read more Pink and Bothered: Middle-Aged Barbie
Jam Gen Family: Living with Mr. Fix It
When the “spinny thing” in my dishwasher suddenly came untethered after I thoughtlessly overloaded the appliance, I knew who to… Read more Jam Gen Family: Living with Mr. Fix It
Jam Gen Family: Then One Foggy New Year’s Eve
My younger sister Sue and I grew up in St. John’s, Newfoundland, on the east coast of Canada. The most… Read more Jam Gen Family: Then One Foggy New Year’s Eve
Jam Gen Pets: Catmail
“Oof,” I hear myself exhale as I startle awake to an abrupt expulsion of air from my lungs. Our cat… Read more Jam Gen Pets: Catmail
Jam Gen Memoir: The Beginning of the War
In 1939, my father was living in a small village in Upper Silesia, a part of Germany that was ceded… Read more Jam Gen Memoir: The Beginning of the War
Jam Gen Thanksgiving: It Takes a Village
In 2013 I returned to my career after almost ten years of being home with my children. Six weeks later,… Read more Jam Gen Thanksgiving: It Takes a Village
Jam Gen Well-Being: Labour Day Blues
There it is again, as regular as clockwork. As much as I try to “reason” my way out of it,… Read more Jam Gen Well-Being: Labour Day Blues
Jam Gen Family: Happily Ever After?
Leafing through an old photo album while visiting my Oma in Germany, I stumbled across the picture of my father’s parents… Read more Jam Gen Family: Happily Ever After?
Jam Gen Health: The 4 AM Blues
What IS it about 4 AM? I am fortunate to sleep through most nights. But on some occasions, usually in… Read more Jam Gen Health: The 4 AM Blues
Jam Gen Memoir: My Father’s Journey to Canada (January 1957)
In 1956, my father was living and working in Braunschweig, West Germany. Through his employer, he received an opportunity to… Read more Jam Gen Memoir: My Father’s Journey to Canada (January 1957)
Jam Gen Health: The Small Pleasures of Life
Recently it hit me that some of the greatest pleasures in life are the simple ones, the ones we so… Read more Jam Gen Health: The Small Pleasures of Life
Jam Gen Nostalgia: A Trip to the Kiwanis Music Festival
In February 2019, in those halcyon days before anyone had heard of COVID-19, I signed up to volunteer as a… Read more Jam Gen Nostalgia: A Trip to the Kiwanis Music Festival
Jam Gen Fun: An Archeological Guide to Laundry
I stand before my washing machine, contemplating the dirty laundry for the latest load. How many loads have I done… Read more Jam Gen Fun: An Archeological Guide to Laundry
Jam Gen Memoir: Christmas and New Year’s 1960-61
My father arrived in Canada in January 1957. He had been offered a two-year contract, working for a company in… Read more Jam Gen Memoir: Christmas and New Year’s 1960-61
Jam Gen Holiday Fun: The Marvellous Mrs. Claus
‘Twas the month before Christmas, when all through the Pole Not a creature was stirring – except one tired old… Read more Jam Gen Holiday Fun: The Marvellous Mrs. Claus
Jam Gen Health: Writing Our Way Through the Pandemic
In January 2019, I finally did something I had wanted to do for years – I signed up for a… Read more Jam Gen Health: Writing Our Way Through the Pandemic
Jam Gen Insight: Charlie Watts and Me
Being first and foremost a lover of classical music, I can’t say I ever really paid much attention to The… Read more Jam Gen Insight: Charlie Watts and Me
Jam Gen Health: Are We There Yet?
When I was a kid, my family made several road trips from my hometown of St. John’s, Newfoundland to Quebec… Read more Jam Gen Health: Are We There Yet?
Jam Gen Parenting: My Activist Son
If you look up the definition of “activist” in the dictionary, you’ll find something to the effect of “a person… Read more Jam Gen Parenting: My Activist Son
Jam Gen Parenting: Boys’ Weekend
I am the product of a matriarchy – my mother, her sisters, my sister. My father and my late husband… Read more Jam Gen Parenting: Boys’ Weekend
Jam Gen Parenting: Empty Nest Heartache
My heart hurts. The day I have so long anticipated has finally arrived – and it doesn’t feel so good… Read more Jam Gen Parenting: Empty Nest Heartache
Jam Gen Memoir: In My Father’s Words
After my parents moved from St. John’s, Newfoundland to Toronto in July 2009, my father was quite lonely. I only… Read more Jam Gen Memoir: In My Father’s Words
Jam Gen Technology: Musings About My Computer
Like ‘em or hate ‘em, computers have long since become a reality of our everyday existence. Like so many parents,… Read more Jam Gen Technology: Musings About My Computer
Jam Gen Parody: If Viruses Were a Corporate Entity
Viruses are funny things – funny strange, not funny ha-ha. They have elements of life (such as DNA/RNA and protein),… Read more Jam Gen Parody: If Viruses Were a Corporate Entity
Jam Gen Love: The Smoking Account
My mother quit smoking on October 16, 1977. I know this date precisely because it was such a momentous event… Read more Jam Gen Love: The Smoking Account
Jam Gen Pets: The Life of Riley
(As dictated to Marina) My name isn’t actually Riley, but it might as well be. After all, I live the… Read more Jam Gen Pets: The Life of Riley
Jam Gen Health: Vaccination Day
I didn’t even try to park in the parking lot of the long-term care home where my mother resides –… Read more Jam Gen Health: Vaccination Day
Jam Gen Travel: Why I Miss It
I knew it was going to be a bad week. Then Facebook made it worse. Every winter for the past… Read more Jam Gen Travel: Why I Miss It
Jam Gen Health: The Winter of Our Discontent
So 2020 has departed none too soon and here we are in the first quarter of 2021. Doesn’t feel much… Read more Jam Gen Health: The Winter of Our Discontent
Jam Gen Love: Living Apart Together
Confession time: I’m not a trendy person. I don’t stand in line for hours, let alone days, to get the… Read more Jam Gen Love: Living Apart Together
Jam Gen Calendar: A Guided Tour Around the Sun
Even in the good years, getting through a trip around the sun can feel like a Herculean effort. Each lunar… Read more Jam Gen Calendar: A Guided Tour Around the Sun
Jam Gen Health: A Visit with My Mother
I look at my mother sitting across from me in her wheelchair, a wheeled hospital-style overbed table situated between us.… Read more Jam Gen Health: A Visit with My Mother
Jam Gen Parenting: A Very Canadian Story
In December 2008, my husband, sons (then aged five and two) and I travelled to my childhood home in St.… Read more Jam Gen Parenting: A Very Canadian Story
Jam Gen Family: Memories of Christmases Past
Lights. Camera. Action! My sister and I knew the drill by now: come home from the Christmas Eve service, take… Read more Jam Gen Family: Memories of Christmases Past
Jam Gen’s 2020 Gift Guide for the Holidays
No doubt about it – 2020 has been a crappy year. Hope I haven’t offended anyone with that blunt assessment.… Read more Jam Gen’s 2020 Gift Guide for the Holidays
Jam Gen Ethics: The Ambiguity of Lying
I knew Santa’s days were numbered when Son #1, then age eight, told me that there was a “real” Santa… Read more Jam Gen Ethics: The Ambiguity of Lying
Jam Gen Ageing: What’s That You Say?
“You remember what we talked about the other night? My friend … walking … grass … told his dad? And… Read more Jam Gen Ageing: What’s That You Say?
Jam Gen Parenting: Halloween Was Rarely a Treat
I realize the fact that I don’t like Halloween will be heresy to those who are fervent fans of this… Read more Jam Gen Parenting: Halloween Was Rarely a Treat
Jam Gen Health: More COVID Realizations
So you’ve seen the kids (or grandkids) off to school after the longest summer break in recent memory. Finally!! How’s… Read more Jam Gen Health: More COVID Realizations
Jam Gen Parenting: The Gift of Gratitude
For what we are about to receive, may the Lord make us truly thankful. Amen. My sons half recite, half… Read more Jam Gen Parenting: The Gift of Gratitude
Jam Gen Parenting: Back to School
Hear that noise? No? Me neither. It’s 9:30 in the morning on the first day of school. That sound? Dead… Read more Jam Gen Parenting: Back to School
Jam Gen Health: Stress Assessment
For those of you who have spent any time in corporate life, at some point you have likely been subjected… Read more Jam Gen Health: Stress Assessment
Jam Gen Parenting: Another Surprise
“Mom, Justin and I are dating.” With that simple statement, I am plunged into a brave new world. A not… Read more Jam Gen Parenting: Another Surprise
Jam Gen Health: Is COVID Numbness Setting In?
As we navigate the summer of our discontent, many of us are anxiously watching the numbers – the COVID case… Read more Jam Gen Health: Is COVID Numbness Setting In?
Jam Gen Love: The Firsts … and The Lasts
For anyone who uses Facebook, you will be familiar with the feature called “Your Memories on this Day.” Unbidden, this… Read more Jam Gen Love: The Firsts … and The Lasts
Jam Gen Parenting: Surprised by the Unsurprising
When the expected finally happened, it was totally unexpected … and I was totally unprepared. Son #1 arrived home from… Read more Jam Gen Parenting: Surprised by the Unsurprising
Jam Gen Drive: Confessions of a White-Knuckle Driver
I have never understood the allure that some people find for driving. I’ll admit it is freeing to own one’s… Read more Jam Gen Drive: Confessions of a White-Knuckle Driver
Jam Gen Love: What Would My Father Think?
My father passed away in May 2017 at age 86. Until the last year of his life when he became… Read more Jam Gen Love: What Would My Father Think?
Jam Gen Outdoors: Gardening Generation Gap
I am watching from afar as my sister and many friends plant their gardens in 2020. The ongoing pandemic and… Read more Jam Gen Outdoors: Gardening Generation Gap
Jam Gen Health: A Call with My Mother
It’s been over ten weeks since I last saw my mother in person. The call informing me that I could… Read more Jam Gen Health: A Call with My Mother
Jam Gen Health: My Electronic Boss
I wondered if I should, but did it anyway. I brought it on myself. Be careful what you wish for… Read more Jam Gen Health: My Electronic Boss
Jam Gen At Home: The Truth About Self-Isolation
As the economy slowly, cautiously (we hope!) opens up and people emerge from their self-isolation cocoons, it’s interesting to see… Read more Jam Gen At Home: The Truth About Self-Isolation
Jam Gen Travel: The Family Cottage
Cottage. Cabin. Camp. Whatever you call it, it means the same thing – an escape from daily life and a… Read more Jam Gen Travel: The Family Cottage
Jam Gen Love: Memories of My Mother
I’m not exactly sure when the roles reversed, but sometime during the past fifteen years my mother and I changed… Read more Jam Gen Love: Memories of My Mother
Jam Gen Health: Do You Know YOUR Self-Isolation Facts?
We are now several weeks into the ”new normal” of physical distancing/self-isolating. By now you have likely matched all the… Read more Jam Gen Health: Do You Know YOUR Self-Isolation Facts?
Jam Gen Health: My Home Spa
It’s Sunday morning, usually the day I head to my local nail salon to enjoy a pedicure. I am, by… Read more Jam Gen Health: My Home Spa
Jam Gen Parenting: The Other Women In My Life
No, it’s not what you think. My husband was nothing but faithful and loyal to me during our marriage. Unless,… Read more Jam Gen Parenting: The Other Women In My Life
Jam Gen Food: The Four Seasons of Chocolate
Mmm, chocolate. Dark, rich, flavourful. A taste of the exotic, the beans grown in tropical countries (think Ivory Coast, Ghana… Read more Jam Gen Food: The Four Seasons of Chocolate
Jam Gen Health: Pandemic Pandemonium Panic
As a parent who is self-employed and works primarily from home, in some ways my life hasn’t changed that much… Read more Jam Gen Health: Pandemic Pandemonium Panic
Jam Gen Parenting: 21st Century Parenting Fail
There it is, staring at me from the screen of my phone in all its glowing gory glory. My parental… Read more Jam Gen Parenting: 21st Century Parenting Fail
Jam Gen Travel: Packing Essentials
For those of you who have travelled by air, you will be familiar with the glossy magazines the airlines place… Read more Jam Gen Travel: Packing Essentials
Jam Gen Parenting: The Movie Stages of Parenthood
In the world of marketing, there is a concept called the Product Life Cycle. Each stage has its own particular… Read more Jam Gen Parenting: The Movie Stages of Parenthood
Jam Gen Parenting: Taming Hair and Legos
A low-key Saturday afternoon at home. I’m upstairs getting ready to take Son #2 to get a haircut. Son #1… Read more Jam Gen Parenting: Taming Hair and Legos
Jam Gen Health: Why I Like Having a Cold
When my children were younger, they were frequently ill with colds. One son got it down to a fine science… Read more Jam Gen Health: Why I Like Having a Cold
Jam Gen Holidays: Five Things I Learned from Handel’s “Messiah”
Even if you aren’t a classical music aficionado, you all know at least a piece of Handel’s “Messiah”. Ever heard… Read more Jam Gen Holidays: Five Things I Learned from Handel’s “Messiah”
Jam Gen Jargon: The Business Terminology Edition
In order to have an informed dialogue about a particular subject or line of thought, it is important that everyone… Read more Jam Gen Jargon: The Business Terminology Edition
I Am A CFO: The Job Description
No, I am not an accountant – at least not in the formal sense. Although, come to think of it,… Read more I Am A CFO: The Job Description