National Adult Literacy Database

September 27, 2004

Joy Dombroskie was born and raised in Kitchener, Ontario, but later moved to her husband's hometown of Barry's Bay, Ontario. There she and her husband built their own home. Joy used to be a volunteer driver for Home Support services and she still enjoys socializing with elderly people. She learned to use a computer during classes with Literacy Plus (the Renfrew County Community Upgrading Program). She likes the way a computer makes it easy to edit her writing by moving words around until the paragraph is just the way she wants it. Joy says, "You're never too old to learn," and she is looking forward to her next learning challenge.

Crystal Memories

by Joy Dombroskie

The little flower-shaped crystal that hangs in my bedroom window catching the sun, throwing rainbow-coloured prisms over the walls, triggers winderful memories. A beautiful day spent with my son. Travis and I met on a warm sunny afternoon in a small old-fashioned village not far from where he was born. We walked near the river, browsed in the shops, had a light lunch and talked a lot. I enjoyed the time spent one-to-one with my son. The afternoon was very enjoyable but all too soon it was gone. I cherish the crystal he bought me that afternoon and the memories it reminds me of.

[This story was taken with permission, from The RCCUP Reader, March 2004, published by the Renfrew County Community Upgrading Program, or RCCUP.]