We were layered up and walking with our Tim Hortons coffee. You left your lid open so it would cool, and I went straight in for the mouth burn. You didn’t say much, and I was cool with that. I didn’t like your voice. For an English teacher, the voice was all wrong––growly and sandpaper rough. Like you were a smoker or a blues singer from way back. But your profile didn’t mention either of those things. Said you were into long walks and dogs and Raymond Carver.
Now that I’d seen you, I didn’t believe much of what you wrote. You look like your photo, I’ll give you that, but the smoky eyes and pouty lips seemed lined with a bit of crazy in real life.
I was looking at you when the kid threw the ball, the ball hit your hand, the coffee dumped all over your front. You didn’t scream or yell, gotta say I was expecting it, but you didn’t. You cut the date short.
Maybe you didn’t like my voice either, who knows but my morning got a whole lot better as I walked home, sipping my coffee, the sun coming through the trees, warming my face. Got me thinking, it might be time to try that other dating site.

Word of the Year-2025
For my 2025 word of the year, I chose COURAGE. I know, it’s not the most original pick—but hear me out. Something about courage stuck with me this time, especially after watching a documentary on The Tragically Hip. For those unfamiliar, they’re kind of a Canadian thing. A band that