Friends, I know we’re all feeling blue right now. But may I share something happy? My copies of The New Quarterly (issue 140) arrived. This issue contains my poem, “Wedding Anniversary,” which won their 2016 Occasional Verse Contest. My thanks to Kim Jernigan and all the jurors of the contest. I’m so so grateful to have had the careful reading of such fine poetry lovers, and I hope this issue of the magazine finds it in the hands of many more poetry lovers.
Ruth Daniell 
Hi Ruth, Loved your poem in the TNQ, and especially since we recently moved to Tsawwassen and have visited the George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary a number of times. And I was in the previous TNQ (short-list last year’s Staebler essay), so fun to find another contributor not so far away. Anyways, all the best with your writing. And again, a lovely poem! Dora Dueck
Dora–thank you so much for taking the time to write a note and say you like the poem. It’s also always nice to meet another writer, and likewise someone else who loves the Reifel sanctuary! I visited your blog and was pleased to learn more about your own writing. I send you best wishes. May 2017 be full of birds and stories for you! Again–thank you for writing. It’s such a pleasure to learn of others reading my work!