Author Archives: dperras56

Hockey Night in Nimes

Posted on January 4, 2016 by dperras56

It’s not true that I take my skates everywhere I go; it just seems that way to my wife Brenda. The big question when we first contemplated the teaching exchange was whether I would find any ice thereabouts. At least … Continue reading →

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No Moore

Posted on December 29, 2015 by dperras56

‘Appropriate’ is a much-used word in our time. For example, when I voice an opinion someone is sure to say, “That’s not appropriate.” The end of the year, however, is the most appropriate time to sing ‘Auld Lang Syne’ to … Continue reading →

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A Villa in Nimes

Posted on December 18, 2015 by dperras56

Marco Polo I am not. However, I had hitchhiked all over Canada, worked in Alberta on a couple of occasions. Done the Eurail pass thing and even played hockey in Scotland. But I had been young, single and carefree. Those … Continue reading →

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French Connection

Posted on December 10, 2015 by dperras56

My friend Chris always chuckles when I finish up every story about my year spent in the south of France with a shake of my head and the exclamation, “God, how I suffered.” Not all of the time, mind you. … Continue reading →

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Memoires

Posted on November 16, 2015 by dperras56

France , of course, has been in the news lately. What this has done has brought back memories of my year in France. It was 1995-96 and it was a teaching exchange. If it was a trip then it was … Continue reading →

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An Unexamined Life

Posted on November 9, 2015 by dperras56

In my last years of teaching some of my younger colleagues liked to call me the “the Old Dog.” I liked to think it was because of whatever wisdom and experience I had gathered over my thirty-one year career, but … Continue reading →

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Knee- Capped

Posted on October 27, 2015 by dperras56

You’ve gotta love those military guys : plain-spoken, politically-incorrect, no bullshit. I’ve been playing hockey with a smattering of members of our armed forces for a few years now. But this is the first time, every Monday afternoon, where I’m … Continue reading →

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My Most Unforgettable Character

Posted on September 24, 2015 by dperras56

Back in the day the Reader’s Digest regularly featured an article written by a luminary figure who recounted their memories of a very prominent, usually an American, icon. Examples of the ‘character’ might be the famous writer Ernest Hemingway, the … Continue reading →

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Canadian Open (Part Deux)

Posted on September 3, 2015 by dperras56

I had never refused a freebie in my life, and I wasn’t about to start now, on my,um, final stretch. Back in the buffet line for a second go-round I found myself elbow-to-elbow with Jason Day, the Aussie golfer and … Continue reading →

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Canadian Open

Posted on August 12, 2015 by dperras56

The summer had been, well, uneventful. Our yard had been ripped up, stonework had been laid down, and our vacation budget was shot to hell. Then a friend of mine, a recently-retired news correspondent, gave me a call. “What are … Continue reading →

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