Shelley Carroll
Bio
Ms. Carroll is a 50-something year-old retired public servant and mother of three adult children. She and her partner Hal live in Amherst NS with a sweet, anxiety-ridden rescue dog. Shelley loves reading, running and red wine.
She/Her
Stories (84/0)
Peace, Ease & Catharsis
Amaryllis drove her red Toyota Tercel down the gravel lane towards the Northport beach parking lot. It was a mild Fool’s Spring day in March, the kind of day that offered the promise of brighter days ahead with sunshine and a light cool breeze, enough to start to melt the snow, but still too soon to consider changing over from winter tires to all-seasons. Bluenosers might well welcome the warmer temperatures of a day like this, but they knew better than to make any hard and fast plans about planting gardens or storing snow blowers just yet. Amaryllis was no exception, but seeing the bright blue sky and smelling spring on the air, she had decided that morning to seize the day.
By Shelley Carroll4 months ago in Fiction
Exit Interview. Top Story - January 2024.
They met across their respective computer screens, he from his home office just outside of Ottawa, Ontario, and she from her kitchen table in rural Nova Scotia. The world had certainly changed in 30 years. Once upon a time, this would have occurred face-to-face in a smoky office or as a solo exercise with black ink and a carbon-lined questionnaire on a clipboard.
By Shelley Carroll6 months ago in Fiction
What’s in a Name
Brad Mulcahey was always a fly-under-the-radar type of individual at his place of work, just as in life. He never made a fuss, always did what he was told, performed his tasks as expected, and showed up without fail. He was no stick of dynamite, but he was dependable and steadfast. More than anything, though, he was just kind of… there. He was never at the forefront, always in the background, not unlike a cobweb or white noise.
By Shelley Carroll7 months ago in Fiction
Morning Has Broken
It seems that over the past ten years or so, I’ve become a morning person. Hey, no one is more surprised by this phenomena than I am - with the exception perhaps of my parents, who no doubt remember none too fondly the chore of dragging my sorry arse out of bed on school mornings or for church on Sundays.
By Shelley Carroll9 months ago in Humans
Entering my Autumn Years. Top Story - October 2023.
Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans. ~ John Lennon Well, here it is. After close to 27 full years in the Public Service, I’m on the cusp of retirement. In fact, 74 days from the time of this writing, I will work my last day as a public servant. And then, on the First Day of Winter, 27 years to the day since I worked my very first shift as a correctional officer, I will become a pensioner.
By Shelley Carroll10 months ago in Humans
Dog Sh*t & Dust Bunnies
As I prepare to retire after 27 years in the Public Service, I suppose it’s only natural to take a look back at what has become my career. I know I’ll be replaced and eventually, I’ll just be a memory, a dusty pile of files tucked away in a corner cabinet. The work will carry on. Still, I’m grateful for the things I’ve learned and above all for the people I’ve met (and I’ll speak more on this another time - too many big feelings to process for this piece!).
By Shelley Carroll10 months ago in Humans
Learning to Trust in “The Quiet”. Top Story - June 2023.
“Listen to the silence. It has so much to say.” ~ Rumi I woke up this morning and the only person I had to worry about was myself. Sure, I’d have to take the dog out for his morning constitutional, but going outdoors with Apollo is oftentimes as much a treat for me as it is a relief for him. Other than that though, my priorities were as follows: make myself a coffee, start the slow cooker, and maybe put on a bra. (Maybe I’m wearing one right now, maybe I’m not. That’s the beauty of hiding behind my computer screen. Only I know for sure.).
By Shelley Carrollabout a year ago in Humans
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