The Dahlia Garden
Jean Brandel

In early childhood we have the good fortune of uncensored seeing, but as we age prejudices influence our lives. I was raised in a neighbourhood filled with immigrant and native families that struggled economically just to meet their very basic day-to-day needs. There was no money for luxuries such as skating or dancing lessons not to mention a new toboggan or sleigh so we created our own games, inclusive of the entire neighbourhood children.

My most vivid image of a childhood game is playing hide and seek amongst the dahlias in our neighbour’s backyard. Like those hale and hardy plants holding fast onto the soil, my sense of learned values that I received from my youth hold on for survival. I hope for a better future regardless of intolerance of race, class, religion, status, and power in society, as it exists today and its consequences. I have experienced that understanding people helps wash away intolerance and that the best relationships develop with people not because of their wealth or social standing but because you enjoy being with them and that they treat you like you treat them.