JUNE WAS A MONTH OF CAKE AND CELEBRATIONS

 Two grandchildren had birthdays.

Memories of my Mom's birthday on the 28th.

My granddaughter looking beautiful for Prom and by the way two proms. One at her boyfriend's High School and then at her High School.

Then graduating from High School on the Honour Roll and an Ontario Scholar. Off to University in the Fall.

So June with smoke ridden skies due to the forest fires, end of school and celebrations, sad to say good-bye but bring on summer.

Maybe it will have some adventures that will be fun to do. However, summer relaxing and reading and just being is okay too.

More photos will be on the agenda of course. 

#june#junecelebrations#birthdaysinjune#photosinjune#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

BARB'S GENEALOGY TIDBITS-PERUSING THE 1931 CANADIAN CENSUS

 Although it is not indexed on Canadian Library Archives, I perused the two parent names.

Ancestry has indexed and made two errors on my paternal line.

The names are spelled correctly on the original page.

For Cortland Alton they have Garland Alton. So checking the original page is always a must. 

I will have to find a way to send a correction to Ancestry but I am not a member.

Also Leonie comes out as Leonis. I can always put the information in my stories of my family members.

One always hopes in modern times mistakes are not made.

Does a real person look at the original page and make the errors or is it AI?

It begs the question of how many errors are made constantly in the indexes?

So using the wild card in searching or sounds like is always a good way to find names.

What I did like about checking the 1931 census was to see both my parents as young people. They were there in 1931.

I will be waiting for Library Canada to index and double check they have done it correctly.

Now to find the FAN club on others will be a good thing. Adding these pieces of information to the histories is good.

#barb'sgenealogytidbits#cortlandalton#leoniealton#1931canadiancensus#findingfamilyinthe1931cenus#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

IN THE MIDST OF TOO MUCH SAD NEWS FIND SOME JOY

 The last couple of days with the bus crash in Manitoba, the helicopter crash in Pettawawa, the implosion of the Titan and other sundry things, it has been a sad time. Of course the continued war in the Ukraine.

So going to watch a grandchild play league soccer was a blessing.

Seeing children having fun.

Parents cheering.

A simple event.

A positive event. 

This Nana just mellowed and took it all in.

#sadtimesneedsomehappyrelief#watchingachildplaysoccer#sadtimesneedrelief#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambor

TAKING THE BULL BY THE HORNS-SURE I CAN GET HURT BUT WORTH THE EFFORT

 Sometimes things  happen over time.

Sitting and waiting for action does not cut it.

So recently concerning a very important issue in my life,

I took the bull by the horns and jostled some people to try to find out what is happening with my property.

It feels good but it also feels scary because I may not get the results that I want.

For me at this stage of my life I want no challenges. I really want the easiest route. I want peace in my life.

I want to enjoy family especially my immediate family.

I want to know where I am going next. 

I have been decluttering and deciding what to keep and what to purge for many years now.

A condo, townhouse, bungalow are the options. I love the house Adolph and I built but it is best to move before it is problematic and I can be in control

So I will get my red cape and let my bull charge me! Bring it on!!

#takethebullbythehorns#scarybutnecessarytotakechargeinmylife#sellingmyproperty#knowingwhentomoveon#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbardimambro#granpalovestocook

NANA SAYS WHAT TO SAY TO A GRANDDAUGHTER WHEN ASKED WOULD YOU WANT TO BE YOUNG AGAIN

 Grandchildren keep me young.

So when my previous granddaughter asked me- nana would you want to be young again or do you like being old?

My answer.

Spoke about how it was nice to be young and with her Grandpa.

But then I said that being old means I get to have you in my life.

I did not think when I was young about grandchildren at all. So having these new people in my life has made life so much more meaningful.

For my grandchildren to have grandparents that love them is God's gift to life.

Memories of youth are great.

But hugging a grandchild today- well being old has its perks.

#youngoroldwhichisbetter#nanasayshuggingagrandchildisgreat#beingoldhasitsperks#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#granpalovestocook#barbaradimambro

HATS OFF TO FATHER'S DAY

 

Fathers come in all shapes and sizes.

One hat does not fit all. 

Some men are fathers. Good, bad and the ugly.

Some men want to be fathers.

Some men are fatherly.

Then there are Single Moms that have to be Dads too.

So hats off to all the Dads out there!

#fathersday#fatherlymen#hatsofftoallmen#lovingthosefathers#father'sday2023#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

KENNY ROGERS SANG-KNOW WHEN TO HOLD THEM AND WHEN TO FOLD THEM

 Know when to hold them.

Know when to fold them.

So I feel good today. I decided to stop providing a function I did for one 

community group. 

If what I provided was not wanted and yet not appreciated then okay I will no longer do it.

It feels good to fold them right now. 

Rather freeing.

#knowwhentofoldthem#knowwhentoholdthem#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

LIFE MOVES ON AND SO DOES FRIENDSHIPS-BUT BEING A WIDOW DOES SUCK

 Widowhood changes many things.

From a couple to a single it makes some friendships different.

Couple friends may not want to include you in their couple activities.

Dances and weddings and parties that want couples may exclude you as well.

Does it feel hurtful? Well a little. But not unexpected.

As a professional Social Worker for decades I was very aware from the people I counselled. 

Not wanting to have another relationship makes it different too. Honestly I do not need a man on my arm. I miss the man I had. So many men that I found boring previously are well still boring. Adolph was smart. We had smart conversations. 

I may have felt a little hurt in the beginning but after 3 years of exclusion it has become the norm.

And guess what perhaps I have moved on as well. If other couples do not want to include me, then so be it. 

New friends, new colleagues, groups with many people to which I can relate.

I have not joined the widows group or single groups where some men think they should pounce.

Even though some people tell me the house is too big and I should move, or maybe a Retirement Home, I listen but smile inside. Imagine suggesting to an independent woman to go to a Retirement Home. Not a Retirement community but a Retirement Home.  I told that friend that I was not interested in talking and being with 85 year olds right now. Maybe when I am 85 myself.

I like being around people of all ages. Keeps me young.

Besides the family and I have our own plans and ideas. 

Competing with Seniors my own age is well rather boring to me. It becomes a pissing contest. If I say I go for a walk with weights for 30 minutes then someone has to tell me how much more they do.

I really do not care. For me to keep my body moving and exercising is good.

Being single lets me watch and listen to other people. There are a lot of crabby old men out there. I do not need nor want one of those. 

I can go places and do my own thing. Not much has changed as Adolph and I were a couple but also independent people too. He respected me and I respected him. Until it came to how much salt to put on our food!! 

Overall being a widow sucks. But it is doable and beats any alternative! I like keeping my memories of being a couple alive. I write. I let my grandchildren know little stories at a time. And I miss Adolph every day and I know I always will.

#beingawidowsucks#beingindependentandcoping#retirementhomesaregoodforolderpeople#exercisingisgoodforthebody#friendshipschangeandmoveon#notacouplesonotinvitedtocouplethings#beingleftoutbecomesthenorm#feelinggoodaboutmeandallIcando#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

LIFE IS A WORLD OF BUTTERFLIES

 This Monarch came to visit!

Milkweed in my garden. So important for the Monarch Butterfly.

The pictures say it all. Love the butterflies.

#butterflies#monarchonmilkweed#monarch#cabbagebutterfly#lovebutterflies#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

THE BIG QUESTION! WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF LIFE?

 Sometimes our minds become clogged with the larger question.

Why are we here?

Here on earth.

Our purpose!

So I think my purpose has been to serve, to be and to live.

I think often of the love Adolph and I had together. Children. Then grandchildren.

Was our legacy just that?

Who knows what these important people will do and be in life?

Being a good person. Having friends. Having a life.

And living it!!

Trying to leave the world a better and good place for my grandchildren and everyone else's grandchildren.

If I care about my own then it can resonate to care about others!

So what do you think your purpose in life has been?

#purposeinlife#findingtruemeaningtolife#grandchildrenandtheirmeaningtome#lovingmygrandchildren#lovingmychildren#lovingmyfamily

REMEMBERING A LOVED ONE BRINGS JOY AND TEARS

 Celebrations always remind us about the people that are no longer here.

Celebrating a milestone birthday of a granddaughter was such an occasion.

Some joy. Some tears. 

But a blessing to have her in our lives.

I always say our lives. Even though Adolph is no longer here physically he will always be in our hearts at every event.

#celebrationswithoutalovedone#rememberingalovedone#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

NEW OPPORTUNITIES ARISE-GOD CLOSES A DOOR AND A WINDOW OPENS

 Life has many challenges.

So when a door closes, a window opens.

A window of opportunity. 

Just keep an eye for those opportunities!

#whengodclosesadoorawindowopens#newopportunities#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

JUNE-THE START OF SUMMER AND END OF SCHOOL BUT THERE ARE CELEBRATIONS

 Two birthdays so cake.

A graduation for a teen granddaughter.

A concert.

Two community meetings.

And yes the jungle of the backyard garden. Gave it a little nudge today.

Purple flowers too. So June is looking good to me.

#june#junefowers#junebirthdays#junecelebrations#aconcertinjune#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro