IT IS THE YEAR 2026 AND WHY IS ANYONE STILL DOUBTING PROPER PUBLIC HEALTH PROTOCOLS REGARDING COVID

 I think what America is doing to Dr. Fauci is despicable. 

I was in Health Care and lived through SARS at the hospital where I worked.

I get Flu shots every year and have for probably 20 years.

I masked when a patient was under protocols long before COVID,

Covid came along. It was real. It was not a hoax.

Vaccines saved lives. Wearing masks saved lives.

Public Health protocols saved lives.

We had family in Italy during Covid whose protocols were stricter than here in Canada. The number of people that died from Covid was huge.

The anti maskers and anti vaxxers were not right.

Trained medical people who studied Infection control were right.

If there are 20 people for example and 19 get vaccinated they create a herd immunity  for the one that did not. But that one is the one we hear from who now says we were right not to get vaccinated.

Babies, children, youth, adults and seniors need regular vaccinations. Period.

If someone chooses not to be vaccinated, it is on that person if they get sick. 

I know 5 people that died from Covid who refused to get vaccinated.

I know of several people who are suffering from long Covid.

So focusing on Dr. Fauci takes away from the Epstein files and whatever else needs to be hidden in the United States.

I am tired of untrained Medical people in  the community who believe in some misinformation.

Science evolves. New vaccines, New treatments for cancer. Medicine does no harm. But lives are saved every day by trained medical personnel.

All the nonsense on Social Media claiming we were right does not gel with me.

It is on anyone that does not want conventional medicine to deal with the consequences. Don't go to a doctor. Don't get antibiotics for an infection. If bit by a bat, don't get a rabies shot. If you break a bone, don't get treatment. If bleeding out, don't get a blood transfusion. If having a heart attack, talk to others who don't believe in heart medicine.

Come the Fall I will get whatever vaccines are needed to keep me healthy.

Just saying!

#covidprotocolsworked#vaccineswork#Ibelieveinmedicallytrainedpeople#scienceeveolves#longcovidexists#vaccines work#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

WIDOW SERIES- I CAN DO IT ALL EVEN IF I DON'T WANT TO

 

Sometimes story ideas do come to me on my walks.

WIDOW SERIES

I CAN DO IT ALL EVEN IF I DON’T WANT TO

Veronica sat down at the computer to write a journal entry.

It is always funny the thoughts that enter your head while walking. I read recently from a widow’s perspective how everyone thought how well she was doing.

She was managing everything herself.

Rally she thought. I used to have my husband doing his share of our partnership. So now I get to do everything.

Pump my own gas.

Take out the trash.

Arrange and engage with the plumber or electrician or carpenter or what needs to be done.

Talk to the mechanic at the garage for the regular car maintenance.

The garden. The lawn. Yup all mine.

And. Snow in the winter. All mine to shove, salt and figure out.

We shared the garden. We worked on it together. Often having a coffee or tea and joking around. Alone really sucks. It is just work. Boring work now.

And the couple functions. Well, I really don’t get invited much. If I were a guy, I know I would get invited. The other women would want to set me up. A guy needs a woman to take care of him. A widow, well, she can cook, clean and grocery shop. No need for a man. But a guy needs that feminine touch. Or does he. He could do the same things as it really is not women’s work.

No one figures the lonely concept. The lack of company. Someone to talk with about everything and mothering. To argue. To laugh. To debate. To talk softly or romantically. To share those sweet sexual innuendos that occur between a couple. The body language that only the two of us would understand.

So, sitting alone and away from couples suits me best. I have no desire to want someone else’s old husband. I also notice how bitchy old men can be.

And old men honestly think younger women really want them.

The disparaging remarks made about older women even by younger ones not just men.

It is almost the older widow deserves to have to everything herself. She was taken care of.

Even if she had a full-time job outside the home and a second job of duties in the home and parenting childcare activities.

Always a stupid patriarchal assumption most women are taken care of or need to be.

Or an assumption if you have family, it is okay to be husbandless.

One friend had said that. No sorry for the loss of our husband. You have your grandchildren. As if a grandchild replaces a spouse. Another friend told me of someone she knew was relieved when her spouse died because she could travel again. She felt hard done by because she couldn’t travel while he was dying. Imagine anyone thinking my main concern when my spouse was dying was being unable to travel.  A little selfish in my opinion.

Loving and being with someone at the end of their life. Also read that the last person before your loved one died was you.

So being there, the last person he saw and heard and loved meant something to him. Not alone. But loved until the end. He got to share his last breath with me.

So, the photos that bring the memories.

The amazing vegetable garden that is now overgrown oregano and other vegetation. Not noxious weeds but bushes and perennials and plants. The bees and birds love the jungle it has become. It is something missed. I didn’t replace doing it but have pots of plants on the back porch with some tomato, parsley, beans and rosemary plants.

So back to the loneliness. Someone who knew me like no one else could. Heard me. Cared about me. Loved me like no on else.

History together of decades shared. No need to explain myself or history. It was understood that he knew me.

My likes. My dislikes. Didn’t care about my flaws. And I was used to his flaws. After years of marriage, they don’t matter anymore.

Just glad to be together. To have each other.

July 30, 2026

Veronica was happy with her entry. It helped her through the hard day she was having.

Journaling had become her refuge. Now she could chcck the local movie listings and buy a ticket.

For her it was a safe to be with other people without having to engage with anyone.

Oh the joys of widowhood.

Copyright

August 2, 2026

Barbara Di Mambro

#widowseries#widowseriesIcandoitallmyselfevenifIdon'twantto#widowthoughts#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

AUGUST-ENJOYING THE LAST MONTH OF SUMMER

 August is here.

I always feel there is so much to get done before September arrives. To enjoy the lazy hazy days of summer.

With the smoke and family issues it has been an interesting last few months.

So to stop and just enjoy summer.

I bought 40 bags for yard waste bags. I will attack the yard the end of August. I have just let the backyard be a jungle.

I am trying to read and sit outside at my little corner on the porch. It is surprising how many of my neighbours drive around all day.

Trying to curb my scrolling on the internet. It is a waste of time.

So to do a few more day trips or events. Take lots of photos

And enjoy family when I can.

How about you! What are you planning for August!

#august#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

UNION STATION AND AREA-TORONTO ONTARIO CANADA

  Hopping on the VIVA bus from Richmond Hill and going to Finch to take the subway to Union Station is an easy jaunt for me.

Met a friend in the city to go to Harbourfront and walk around.

Walking up the stairs from the subway and the CN Tower came into view.

Front Street art.

Summer patio along front in front of Union Station.

Bikes in a row along York Street.

Cement block on Front Street. Nice art but also works as barrier.

Flags on the Royal York Hotel.

Union Station with a nice view of the CN Tower.

A fun day to be downtown and take some photos.

#torontoontariocanada#unionstation#finch#union#travelbyviva#travelbysubway#beinginthecity#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

MILKWEEDS AND BUTTERFLIES-YAY I SAW A MONARCH FLUTTERING AROUND MY FRONT GARDEN

 I have Milkweeds in my front garden for the Monarch butterflies.

So while outside yesterday I saw a butterfly fluttering around the front.

I need to keep my camera handy so I can be ready with photo ops.

Some of the milkweeds look a little chewed so it must mean the butterflies have visited.

Love those butterfly photos.

#monarchbutterfly#milkweedplants#monarchonamilkweedplant#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

OH THOSE TORONTO PARKS-LOVE PARK 96 QUEENS QUAY WEST TORONTO

Love Park on York Street going back to Union. 

The sculpture in the parkette

Rocks in the water.

Polar bear

Red fox

Beaver

Garbage can painted.

A view of the pond with a tree in the middle.

Love Park.

Mary and I sat for awhile then I wondered if I could make a wish. Took out a quarter and made a wish anyway.

It would be a great place to eat lunch every day if a person worked in the area.

#loveparkqueensquay#torontoontariocanada#toronto#lovepark#morestreetatlovepark#madeawishatlovepark#sculpturesinthewater#queensquaytoronto#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

STREET ART IN TORONTO

 On my day jaunt to Harbourfront with a friend I discovered several street art items of interest.

Inside the complex at Harbourfront.

Garbage bins painted interesting colours.

Energy bird sculpture. Back.

Front

Olmec. World cup inspired. Honours Ancient Mesoamerican culture. Origin-the first ball game.

Another garbage can painted.

Look across the street on Front near Union Station.

Need to check out what the meaning of this street art means. I did not want to cross Front Street.

Oops Energy Bird again.

#streetartintoronto#torontoontario#findingstreetarteverywhere#energybird#olmecsculpture#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro