Those of you who follow my forays around the world know that I was in Montreal over the summer. Well actually, I’m still here.

(I’m telling you, being a writer is the most awesome occupation on earth!)

Mini-me is enrolled in a bilingual garderie – (fancy French word for ‘day care’). I write and drink tea most of the day.

So yesterday I decide to go shoe shopping for Mini-me.

The Metro stop where I got off is the precise location where a gunman opened fire yesterday. There’s an underground passageway from the Atwater Metro that leads you directly past the Dawson College door.

Thank God I missed the gunfire. I was a couple of blocks away when it happened. But I have to admit, I was quite shaken seeing all those kids hysterically running down the street.

I walked (briskly) to Mini-me’s garderie, and brought her home. We stayed home last night (she missed kung fu). And I just cuddled her.

One of the teens who was hit by gunfire died yesterday. Two others are in seriously critical condition. Still others are in critical condition.

So today take a few extra minutes to hug your Mini-me’s (spouse, parents, friend, whomever) extra tight. Tell them how much they mean to you.

The people in our lives deserve such precious moments.

Alexis Dawes