A Week In The Life of Sarah Thomson

By Sarah Thomson

Sunday
Woke up a little on edge. Not sure if it was because today was my nomination as the Provincial Liberal candidate for Trinity-Spadina or the fact that my cell phone wasn’t working. I posted a Facebook complaint and within a few hours my phone was up and running – thank you Rogers! And it was perfect timing because an hour later I had a call from the Premier thanking me again for being a Liberal candidate. We spoke about the number of volunteers that have already signed up to help and he asked me to tell them how much he appreciates all that they do.

My nomination was one of those life moments that I’ll always remember – surrounded by family and friends and volunteers cheering me on. Ministers Eric Hoskins and Glen Murray were kind and encouraging, and as I look back on the day, with the ministers, the team, and all the volunteers, I know that I have joined a strong and caring family.

Monday
Canvassed in Trinity-Spadina for Liberal Federal candidate Christine Innes. She gave us a pep talk before heading out and her strength and integrity shone through her words. We need women like Christine in politics.

Tuesday
Woke early to my six-year-old tapping my forehead wanting to crawl into our bed for a cuddle – he missed me last night at bed-time. I spent the afternoon at Queen’s Park for the reading of the 2011 budget. I sat up in the gallery while the budget was being read. Shouts and angry words from opposition seemed vulgar as I sat in that solemn old building. It causes a sense of awe that makes people want to whisper when they enter the doors. The speaker of the house had to remind the opposition of the proper decorum in the legislature, and they settled down but for one member, who had to be escorted out because of her lack of respect. It is sad that someone in her position doesn’t seem to care about the example her behaviour sets.

Wednesday
Today my six-year-old kissed an older girl who did not want to be kissed. He doesn’t understand yet how to hold back his feelings. When she rebuked him he ran out into the middle of the road to get her attention. Luckily there weren’t any cars, but I have to find a way to teach him the importance of physical boundaries, safety, and not to get swept up in creating a show. I wonder if our crazy dancing in the living room and playing steam-roller (children roll slowly over you while you’re try to sleep in bed) is not helping.  There has to be a way to teach him boundaries without giving up these special moments.

Thursday
I met some terrific people canvassing tonight. The Trinity-Spadina riding is filled with artists, entrepreneurs, and professionals. One artist told me that she had voted for me in the municipal election because I had come closest to representing her concerns and values. I explained that my platform came from listening to people and their ideas for Toronto. When I told her that I was running as the Provincial candidate she volunteered to help me. She has no idea how much she inspired me.

Friday
Spent most of the day getting quotes on the final renovations we need to make to our house before we put it on the market. Tonight the boys wanted to set up a tent in the dining room. So we did, moving the dining room table into the front hall. The tent filled up most of the room. We couldn’t extend it to its full height because of the chandelier, but it worked at half-height quite well. The boys whispered themselves to sleep and Greg and I crawled in later to share the morning wake-up with them on the dining room floor.

Saturday
Woke up with a stiff neck. Why does the floor seem to be harder in my 40s than it ever did when I was in my 20s? I spent the day canvassing again for Christine Innes. I had a great team of volunteers and the day was beautiful. I forgot that you can actually tell the sort of people who live in the house by looking at their front step. A brightly-coloured door usually means a smile behind it. Music inside usually results in a good discussion to come, and an immaculate porch and swept walkway is often the sign of a friendly Italian or Portugese family inside.

Today a woman said she was going to vote for Federal Liberal candidate Christine Innes because she had an honest smile, and I realize that the small things like the colour of a person’s front door say a lot more than one would think. I think I will paint my door bright red.

Image by Matthew Plexman.