Moments ago, as I typed the title of this blog post, I simultaneously noted the twinkle in my eye. That’s not a corny metaphor. It was the start of a migraine. I paused to take mitigating meds. Even so, the migraine’s kaleidoscopic aura currently and persistently makes its way across my left eye. Still, I am here.

You may recall that I live on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. Wild fires raged across our province this summer. Smoke continues to linger alongside the provinci...