SEPTEMBER 30- A DAY OF REFLECTION

 One day a year for Truth and Reconciliation.

But every day should have us remembering and giving respect to all who have lived on this land.

I am Canadian not a colonist. After 5 to 7 generations in North America I think I can say I was not responsible for our history.

What I am responsible for- is what happens today.

Respect.

Water on the reservations.

A hand up not a hand out.

Equal opportunities for all. 

Education.

Health Care. Medical Services. Mental Health Services.

Dental Care.

Dealing with Sex and Human Trafficing.

Orange that healing colour.

Taking care of myself so I can be there for others.

#dayofreflection#truthandreconciliation#september30#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

DO YOU EVER THINK HOW THE SMALL ACTS OF KINDNESS AFFECT PEOPLE?

 I just had a thought about my sister. Covid isolation was hard for everyone. I made cloth masks before the disposable ones were readily available.

There were free masks in Alberta where my sister was living. She tried to get a free one but they had run out. So when she went home and checked her mail there were two cloth masks from me.

A small act from a sister.

So always do that little thing you thought of doing for someone. It might just be the thing they need in their day.

#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro#smallactsofkindness#justdoitifyouwanttoreachouttosomone#barbaradimambro

DAY OUT AT A RETIREMENT HOME FOR LUNCH

 

Invited to a sampling at Del Manor in Richmond Hill was a fun hour with the Arts Council group.

Made by the Chef the five items were tasty.

The shrimp, lobster with fish eggs was different. The spring roll made fresh was a filler.

There was a harpist playing for the event on the back terrace with us.

They gave people who were interested a tour of the facility. I declined as I had visited several when I worked at the hospital. And I am not ready to be a resident!!

A simple local outing broke up the day.

#delmanorrichmondhill#afoodtasting#goingoutforafreelunch#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE ROBERT REDFORD MOVIE? EVERYONE HAS AN OPINION

 So by now you know I loved Robert Redford. Actor, director, environmentalist, supporter of small film producers with his Sundance Film Festival.

Husband, father, grandfather. He dealt with sorrow in his life.

And handsome.

But mostly a fine human being/

I loved all his films.

The one I loved the most was Out of Africa. The story. The scenery. The relationship between the two main characters.

I always felt I was in Africa sharing a part of the history there.

So what is your favourite film with Robert Redford?

#robertredford#sundancefilmfestival#outofafrica#afinehumanbeing#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

SHARON TEMPLE VISIT WITH THE RICHMOND HILL HISTORICAL SOCIETY

 Fun to spend September 11, 2025 in Sharon Ontario.

The Sharon Museum and Gardens located in the small town of Sharon has Quaker roots to the early 1800s.

The Temple was a meeting place and not a church.

The Exhibit room in the Exhibit Building.

The Temple.

Jacobs ladder to the second floor where the musicians played.

The pillars. Four reflecting

the values- love, faith, hope and charity.

Our guide Madison-curator of the Museum.

Original chairs.

Every member had their own chair.

Music was important as can be seen by this organ.

Supporting the Indigenous roots of the area.

Vera standing by the pillar with the word faith. Her name in Ukraine.

The grounds were lovely with vegetation reflecting the natural flora of the area.

Entrance to the Museum.

Our group.

Goodbye Temple. It was a good day.

#sharontemple#sharonmuseumandgardens#richmondhillhistoricalsocietyvisitstheSharontemple#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

TWO FAVOURITE PEOPLE DIED THIS WEEK-BEV THOMSON AND ROBERT REDFORD

 Bev Thomson was an amazing Canadian broadcaster and journalist. At age 61 died too young. Wonderful on screen and off. Canadians loved her. Bev fought cancer battles and advocated for women.

Robert Redford-actor, environmentalist, supporter of human rights and the little guy in the film industry. Sundance film festival helped so many in that industry.

I have all his films in VHS and DVD. Some favourites- Out of Africa, The Natural, and his earlier films Butch Cassidy and the Sundance kid. Adolph and I saw The Sting at the St Clair theatre in Toronto. Everyone came out of the movie smiling and happy.

Those blue eyes- he was so handsome. Loved his family. Dealt with the loss of a son. Loss of a baby with his first wife. 

So I cried some tears for both of them and their families.

The world is a better place because they both were here. RIP special people.

#bevthomson#robertredford#theymadeadifferenceinthisworld#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

I DON'T CRY AT FUNERALS BUT I MAY CRY AT A WEDDING

 Funerals are the edge. Weddings are a beginning.

Depending on the age and circumstances, a funeral is a celebration of a life or lives sometimes.

Sad. full of grief. Condolences to the family, the spouse, the children.

A wedding is a new beginning. A time to celebrate differently. Two people. Like salt and pepper with light and shadows.

Celebrating the start of the couple together. 

For me always remembering how happy I was on my wedding day. One of the happiest days of my life. I really wanted to be a wife and not a girlfriend anymore.

So when do you cry? At both a funeral and a wedding or just one?

#weddings#funerals#notcryingatafuneral#cryingatawedding#newbeginnings#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

ANYONE ELSE TIRED OF THE CURRENT STATE OF AFFAIRS IN THE WORLD- I JUST WANT PEACE FOR ALL

 With the kids back to school, it is time to think about Fall goals.

I find myself watching news and feeling nauseated at times.

The American political scene and the slide into Fascism hurts my soul. To think that the relationship with Canada is permanently severed. 

Then our own politics and the Conservative leader wanting to end the Foreign Worker Program. Hello who do you think picks our food that Canadians do not want to do that work. 

Health Care needs so many workers too.

The wars. The allies with Russia, China and North Korea are scary. What is it about Slovakia? Remember 1968 when Soviet tanks rolled into Czechoslovakia! Now they are divided into two countries.

Keep your friends close but your enemies closer.

People in Ukraine. People in Gaza. The earthquakes in the world.

So I feel helpless often. But not hopeless.

I really do hope that through this chaos we will come out the other side.

#newsisharmfultooursouls#foreignworkerprogramisvitalforcanadianeconomy#becarefulofwhoisanallytowhom#keepyourfriendsclosebutyourenemiescloser#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

SEPTEMBER-THE TRANSITION MONTH-MORE LIKE A NEW YEAR THAN NEW YEAR'S

 September with the beginning of cooler weather brings the the busyness of the month.

Back to School

Back from the cottage.

Meetings start up after a summer break.

Garden needs major cleanup.

For me, waiting for some good monetary news. Trying to plan some new year trips if I have the finances.

Getting rid of stuff and really looking to where the next place would be.

The transition to accept the days are getting shorter again.

But also Birthdays this month to celebrate.

My weight is down due to some exercise and diet control.

So September bring it on.

I am ready.

#september#newmonthnewyear#waitingforgoodthingstohappen#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro