REMEMBERING A MARRIAGE-SOME THOUGHTS

 Marriage is as varied as the people married.

How you met!

The dating. Becoming a girlfriend or boyfriend.

Deciding to get engaged.

How long was the engagement!

The intimacy.

The wedding.

The honeymoon.

The years before children.

10 years as a couple. 

The years with children.

The empty nest.

The grandchildren.

The happy family times.

The challenges. The hardships. 

For better or worse. In sickness and health. Until death do us part!!

How does one sum up a marriage that was so much a part of life.

#marriage#alifewelllived#rememberingallthetimes#tilldeathdouspart#beingacouple#beingparents#beinggrandparents#emptynesters#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

MAKNG GRIEF YOUR FRIEND-SAY WHAT??

 Losing someone you love brings grief whether you like it or not.

Grief sneaks up on you in so many ways.

So instead of running from it, embrace it.

Yes it is okay to grieve and for as long as you want.

Maybe even the rest of your life.

So giving it a place in your life but not letting it take over your life grief teaches us so much about love.

Certain times in the year can let us place our grief front and center. Or not.

It can be public or more private.

So keeping it close lets you live. Missing the loved one never goes away and that's okay.

Happy, sad, mad, glad all at the same time is doable.

Maybe doing the things your loved ones would want you to do. 

Loves me. Loves me not!

Live life to the fullest and what can be measured for a life well lived.

#griefcanbeyourfriend#grieffindsawayinyourlife#griefcanbehonoured#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

WHO DO YOU NEED TO TOAST TODAY IN A CELEBRATION?

 We all have someone we needs to toast.

For a birthday.

A wedding.

A work promotion

Just because.

Making family fun can include a simple toast to someone.

And orange crush does work.

#toastforaspecialoccasion#toastjustbecause#youcantoastwithanydrink#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

SUMMER FLOWER IMAGES IN MY GARDEN-LOVE THOSE CONE FLOWERS

 Many flowers are indigenous to my area. I love the cone flowers that find their way back every year.

Do you know the name of the white flowerrs?

#flowersinmygarden#coneflowers#whiteflowersareabeautry#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

IS BEING ORDINARY GOOD ENOUGH FOR A LIFE WELL LIVED? I SAY WELL IT IS!

 Social Media has made it seem everyone has such an amazing life. 

Going places.

Doing things.

Lots of friends- well facebook can seem that way. I actually limit how many friends I have. Actually not accepted everyone that wants to be my Friend.

Having a life with a family, a job, a home. 

A Saturday night barbecue.

A birthday cake surrounded by loved ones.

Perhaps not the most expensive car or clothes or jewels, but good enough.

What is ordinary anyway? Some might think your life is not ordinary!!

That spouse may be the envy of others.

There may be parts of your life that are razzle dazzle. And others ordinary.

A good ordinary life well lived surrounded by people you love can be very full.

And after all not so ordinary!!

#anordinarylife#livinganordinarylifetothefullest#alovingfamilyisnotordinary#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

BARB'S GENEALOGY TIDBITS-THE 1931 CANADIAN CENSUS-SOME THOUGHTS

 I have been perusing the 1931 Census for several family groups.

Helping a daughter with her in-law families too.

Ancestry has it indexed but there are errors found in two of my family members.

Cortland Alton became Garland Alton. Did AI do it?

Leonie Alton became Leonis Alton.

So beware of potential mistakes.

Library and Archives Canada does not have it indexed yet. But the raw data of pages of the Census are there.

Family Search will have the census eventually.

So happy hunting for those family members.

#1931canadiancensus#1931#ancestryhasitindexedwitherrors#libraryandarchivescanada#familysearch#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

POEMS BY BARBARA

 THE UNFRIENDLY VISITOR

Grief came knocking 

       at my door today

I wanted it to go away.

But tears in my eyes

     Couldn't hid the lies.

That I am not okay

          Not today.

I am well enough.

June 16, 2023

#poembybarbara#griefvisitedtoday#theunfriendlyvisitor#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambor

JULY IS WHIZZING BY TOO QUICKLY

 It seems we hit May, warmer weather.

June is end of school.

July summer is really here.

What half way through the month already.

July that time to mellow. I like mellow. It is good for the soul.

So need to get out and enjoy. 

Morning walks have been good. Some sorting and reviewing my stuff.

Down memory lane.

Community activities are good and easy to attend. Little driving.

So a Shania Twain concert in Toronto. A day with friends in St. Jacobs. 

Granddaughter Grad.

Music at the theatre.

Lavender to have around me is good too!

But quite lazy with my life.

Oh July. Stick around a bit longer.

#july#mellowsummerdays#somefamilyactivities#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro#lavender

MEMORIES OF VAN GOGH IMMERSIVE-2020 IN TORONTO

 A summer outing in 2020 with friends Mary and Rose.

The Van Gogh Immersive at One Yonge Street on lake Ontario.

One Yonge Street.

Going in.

So much to see and fun.

Remember the Covid rules.

Seeing art as an immersive visual was so neat.

Memories of a fun day with friends.

#vangoghimmersivetoronto2020#vangogh#vangoghartallaroundus#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

THE POWER OF MEANINGFUL FRIENDSHIPS-THOSE THAT LAST A LIFETIME

 In all stages of our lives we find people who become our friends.

Colleagues.

Acquaintances.

Family members.

Some of our childhood friends remain in our lives. But many do not.

We have circles of different friends.

I have our Langstaff ladies. A group of us from Langtsaff Secondary School that try to meet annually. Covid got in the way but we are back.

Some of us keep in touch between lunches.

Two close friends from university. 50 years and more and going strong.

Colleagues that became friends over the years.

People in social groups that can be fun to be around or not.

All shapes and sizes and can be colourful too.

Male and female friends. People with common interests. Groups like the Historical Society. We all love history.

Some friends from my professional life are lasting too.

Being social and engaged is so vital for our mental health. But good engagement. Not conflictual or the feeling of wishing you stayed home.

So friends to contact when needed or just for a time out makes life meaningful.

#friendsinourlives#lifetimefriends#stayingsocialwithfriends#lifelongfriends#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro#langstaffsecondaryschool#acolourfullifewithfriends

DECLUTTERING MEMORIES WITH DISCARDING CARDS AND LETTERS

 Going through old letters and cards brings so many memories.

But it is time to let go of so much of one's life.

I keep in mind my kids do not want my stuff. 

They will not want letters and stuff from High School and University friends.

So to the recycling bin they go.

Letters from family members are finding some new homes I hope

#oldletters#oldcards#lettersfindingnewhomes#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

BUYING LOCAL PRODUCE GOOD FOR US ALL IN ONTARIO

 I loved Farmers Markets in the warmer weather.

Adolph and I attended many of them together.

So not wandering too far from home I go to the local market at Hillcrest Mall in the southwest parking lot every Sunday.

Eating freshly grown local veggies and fruit is so enjoyable during the Summer season.

So I try to eat as much as possible not to waste any of this nutritional food. 

Or sharing with family is okay too.

CANADA DAY 2023 REFLECTIONS

 

Bands.

Beer.

Funnel cake.

Flags.

Red and White Balloons.

Adolph always wanted to do a Canada Day barbecue for the family.

We have had some barbecues when he could no longer cook for us.

Memories of other Canada Day celebrations were posted on my facebook page.

On my walk this morning I thought about the day. The quiet as traffic was diminished. Greeting and surprising people that tried to avoid me with Happy Canada Day!! By Grandpa's park and placed a kiss on Adolph's plaque on the bench. I know it is corny but I do it anywary.

So I made pancakes and bacon with lots of maple syrup for my breakfast. A Canadian tradition.

Ate outside in my quiet place by the front door that is barely visible from the street. 

There will be a barbecue at a daughter's house with grandchildren present. Another great tradition- barbecue steak.

So everyone will celebrate in their own way. Some with crowds and others simply with family at home.

Celebrations are important. To celebrate Canada. Acknowledging all who came before us. Who was on the land. And anticipating the hope of making Canada great by honouring the people, the achievements, the forests, the workers, the farmers, and everyone that cares to study our history and make it right for all who live here.

Happy Canada Day!

#canadaday2023#makingcanadaagreatplace#thankyoualltheworkers#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro