sassykg • April 13, 2020

I have a very brave niece. Her name is Jackie – or as her family and friends have affectionately dubbed her- Nurse Jackie. Now just to be clear, although our Nurse Jackie shares some of the characteristics of the tv health care worker- hard working, compassionate and caring- she most assuredly has none of the character’s negative, life altering addictions.

Jackie is a young single mother raising two girls aged 17 and 12. A determined young woman, my niece worked full time as she put herself through the countless courses she needed to earn her RN degree.

Like thousands of people around the world, Jackie is a health care worker, currently nursing in one of the southern US states. She specializes in wound care which says to me she is anything but squeamish and she is most definitely steady handed. She is no stranger to dealing with infection.

Balancing life, work and parenting is difficult in the best of times. During this pandemic Jackie is emblematic of the challenges facing front line caregivers. Although not working directly with Covid-19 patients, the hospital she goes to five days a week, handles pandemic patients. Jackie is witness to the realities of the commitment to risking personal safety in attending to acute covid victims.

As the news programs have been highlighting, frontline health workers are in constant need of gloves, masks and protective clothing. Nurse Jackie told me she seconds that requirement . She spoke about a particular part of the protective gear that I had not thought of: HATS !
“Surgical caps, bonnets, nursing hats etc. have long been in use in the medical field. They are often used in surgery to prevent the spread of infection, and like most PPE , these supplies have become scarce. Medical professionals have been resorting to making/ bringing their own”. So after working her weekly shifts , Jackie found online patterns and has been spending her weekends sewing the much needed protection headgear. So much for free time.

Thank you Nurse Jackie and all your cohorts.


And, wherever you are: Support , appreciate and protect our healthcare heroes.

A Burger Joint With A Story

By K Grieve • April 22, 2025
Winnipeg: A Burger Joint With A Story You can’t ever underestimate the influence of where and when you grew up. Childhood memories and experiences help shape our world view and create a blueprint for life. My childhood time in my hometown of Winnipeg Manitoba is certainly no exception! It is filled with positive nostalgia and yes, more than a few regrets. But this story is about fond moments and lasting impressions. Nested in the heart of Canada’s prairies, Winnipeg has recently been called one of our country’s best kept secrets (Winnipeg: A Hidden Gem in the Heart of Canada). At its center lies The Forks, an historic meeting place at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine rivers. This vibrant area is alive with multiple family-friendly features from a children’s museum to funky boutiques and the Winnipeg Goldeyes baseball stadium. A focal feature of the Forks is the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.

Mail Girl : A Broadway Story?

By sassykg • April 8, 2024
I like to say that I started my career on Broadway. In my imagination I played Maria in West Side Story in that 1960s musical hit or Barbara Streisand in Funny Girl. Never mind the fact that I have no singing voice or any substantive acting ability. I unequivocally fantasized reading glowing reviews and waving to adoring fans. I also dreamt of growing a bust that would fit a bra size bigger than double A!! But fantasies are just that: fantasies. They often shape desires and can help us deal with reality – pleasant or otherwise.
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