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Bryan Demchinsky's avatar

Yeah, always risky using a quote you haven’t picked up at the source, which is why I mentioned Keilor. But it was a good one that suited my needs as an entry point to my little ditty.

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Jill Swenson's avatar

That Flannery O'Connor quote is one that I have seen recently as an epigraph for a novel. And I went back to the original source. I'm not sure she is so much pessimisstic as simplly observant.

Interesting new thread on your research travels.

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Theresa's avatar

This is a wonderful story, Bryan. Katy is incredible! On the theme of loss, I was thinking of the evacuation of thousands of people in Manitoba as I read it, and of the residents in Flin Flon, some of them perhaps relatives of yours.

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Bryan Demchinsky's avatar

Hi, Theresa, yes I’m going to write something on that subject. Tricky, because were in B.C. and on the move over the next few days as we go on a bike ride on Vancouver Island.

Here’s the latest, sent out yesterday: Monitoring the Flin Flon situation. Among people I know, only a nephew and high school friend remain, keeping the fire at bay and shuffling people out. Otherwise whole family has relocated south, near Kamsack, where a niece used to live and had connections to find cabins at the nearby Madge Lake resort. So they’re okay. As for the town, here’s the latest: "Flin Flon braces for devastation as wind expected to drive wildfire into city, mayor says” and "The wildfire situation has reached a desperate level in Flin Flon, Man., where the mayor says he and the few remaining people have been told to leave because the winds are changing and there's nothing else they can do.”

Last night was critical. Waiting to see what today brings,

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Bea Walker's avatar

Lovely piece of writing. And inspiring to me to do some writing of my own.

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Sharon Merrill's avatar

Great story. The health and vitality of you and Katie, and now your cousin, simply amaze this physically slothful old woman. Good on Katie for resolving your problem, our lives are in/on our phones.

Look forward to your travel stories.

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