Road Warrior News

Sisters fight. Brothers fight, too. Siblings fight! There is no way around that. My big sister Mary and I fought often, and vociferously. She was older, beautiful, athletic, and had a job; I was bright and mouthy and

Laugh a Little Opinion/Column Rita Smith's Blogs

Do whatever it takes!

August 27, 2014 Rita Smith

The Smith Family mahogany table hosted innumerable happy celebrations over the decades. C-RRRR-AAAAA-CCKK! I swung the rubber mallet, wedging the slim metal chisel deep into the seam between the two mahogany planks. When the chisel was buried deeply enough, I

Rita Smith's Blogs

How to Avoid an Argument – or, maybe not (Profanity Warning!)

July 9, 2014 Rita Smith

Beautiful Niki Grigoriadis and her husband John were my favourite office neighbours, ever. This blog was originally published in 2004 and remains one of my very favourite pieces. Before I posted it, I knocked on John Grigoriadis’ door to let

Rita Smith's Blogs

Co-operate with the Inevitable, the Doug Hedemark Way

January 30, 2014 Rita Smith

“It is astonishing how quickly we can accept almost any situation, if we have to,” Dale Carnegie wrote in Stop Worrying , “and adjust ourselves to it, and forget about it…co-operate with the inevitable.” Surely, this is one of the

Where to store your copy of Dale Carnegie's "Stop Worrying?" Immediately next to your bed on the night table. Then, if you awake in the night you will catch of glimpse of it, and knowing it is there if you need it, you can roll over and go back to sleep. Photo: Rita Smith

Opinion/Column Rita Smith's Blogs

Cancer was hard: surprisingly, worry was harder. This book saved me.

October 1, 2013 Rita Smith

This piece was written in 2005 when I was in treatment for breast cancer; I had not expected to ever repost it, mainly because I remain stubbornly determined to never think about cancer if I can help it. However, the

Laugh a Little Rita Smith's Blogs

Invisible Toast, and other tales of sibling rivalry

July 30, 2013 Rita Smith

It’s no coincidence that Earth’s first born human, Cain, killed his brother Abel on only page three of the Bible. Cain was jealous that Abel had come up with a better gift idea. Actually, anyone who spends time around siblings

Handsome Koda is descended from the American strain of Labrador Retrievers, which differs slightly from the British version. Both strains would rather hunt than eat, given the chance. They are what their DNA makes them! Dale Carnegie noted decades ago that honouring your experience, environment and heredity is a great way to manage stress: "Find yourself and be yourself" he advised . Photo credit: Margot and John Weir

Rita Smith's Blogs

Hunting dogs NEED to hunt; what do YOU need to do?

June 25, 2013 Rita Smith

During one election campaign, I visited a rifle club with my candidate. It was an absolutely gorgeous Ontario fall day, bright blue sky and flame-coloured trees. The rifle club was full of happy target shooters, cheerfully absorbed

The May long weekend is for gardening and barbecuing, not talking about funerals and caskets - or so I thought, before I interviewed a most exceptional man about his business as a Funeral Director.

Rita Smith's Blogs

Everything dies; it’s the living that counts

May 21, 2013 Rita Smith

Why is it that so many of Ontario’s funeral directors hail from family farms? “I’m not sure, exactly,” my interviewee scratched his head. “Maybe because to us death is just part of life. You live on a farm, every day

Author: Rita Smith

Remember only love

Do whatever it takes!

How to Avoid an Argument – or, maybe not (Profanity Warning!)

Co-operate with the Inevitable, the Doug Hedemark Way

Cancer was hard: surprisingly, worry was harder. This book saved me.

Invisible Toast, and other tales of sibling rivalry

Hunting dogs NEED to hunt; what do YOU need to do?

Everything dies; it’s the living that counts