A POSTCARD FROM STONEHENGE

In the Salisbury Plains in Southern England lies the rock formation of Stonehenge. On my first trip ever outside Canada in 1967, I had the joy of visiting this historic site. There was no fence surrounding it. People could touch it. Not now!

As you can see from the postcard I bought- no fence! A friend of mine visited England in 1980 and sent me a Stonehenge postcard.
September 25, 1980- Denise wrote " Dear Barbara and Adolph, Over here for 2 weeks-going to Stonehenge today- travelled down from Scotland yesterday and off to London tomorrow for a couple of day then home. Cheers! Denise"
Since I love history, I have books on my shelf about the mystery and the theories surrounding Stonehenge. Druids are the popular notion. So any visit to Great Britain is worth a visit to this site.
If you want a postcard featured here, email me at abdm@rogers.com and I will send you my address so you can send me a postcard.

DO YOU FEEL GOOD IN YOUR OWN SKIN?

I have been doing some soul searching lately. Reviewing times in my life and feeling good about the situations I have survived along with the support and love I have given to many people. Do I feel good in my own skin? Well I do. I do not have the amount of money I wanted for my old age but I know I will survive. There are still lots of items on my Bucket List to keep me hopeful that I will do them. It bothers me though that so much is put in how much a person earns for a living and the size of house they have. Many people are maximized to their eyeballs in debt but they look good- with the leased Mercedes and huge home with little furniture! In my lifetime I have had the advantage to know and be around some very wealthy people- not the professionals like doctors, lawyers and engineers who think they are but the very wealthy. My first exposure was at age 17 on a trip to England. My sister was seeing a friend she knew from university. She wanted to see if their romance could be rekindled. Well, a family townhouse in downtown London full of 200-300 year old antiques, a driver for the Rolls and a Country Cottage in Salisbury near Stonehenge was a clear indicator of wealth. Later I discovered his father was one of the wealthiest people in England. Yes, there was a property in Scotland and Spain that was visited many times during the year. The living room at the "cottage" was three times the size of our rambling family bungalow in Richmond Hill and real servants- not a weekly cleaning lady paid under the table. Were they happier as individuals- not really but hospitable to put up with the country bumpkins from Canada. Fast forward to my husband's years in the Construction Industry and my exposure to many wealthy people again taught me to feel good about who I am. Holding my own at dinners and business affairs, knowing I could discuss any subject gave me an adult confidence to be me. There was no need to compete as I had the education and the grace to enjoy whatever events came my way. Then life happens and health issues arise and some of those wealthy people got sick like anyone else. Making it through their 50s became a challenge!  I can give a list of people I have known that did not make it to their 60th birthday! Worried about old age, they did not even finish middle age! However, we do live in a society where money seems to talk and consume some people! If you are not highly paid then what? You can not be happy with your life! You must be seen as jealous of anyone who makes more? I think not. The things that might keep me awake at night are the unfinished projects, finding the time and yes energy to do them! Sure I am looking for ways to augment my income, why not? But those projects will not make me wealthy but perhaps provide a vacation or two- remember my bucket list! I do feel good in my own skin even if it is a little wrinkled in some places! Do you feel good with who you are? Do you ever want to leave social events where money, money, money is the discussion? I know I do!

HERE'S TO THE QUEEN'S DIAMOND JUBILEE

60 years to be a reigning Queen is quite a feat! What a joy to be in London for the Flotilla tomorrow! Apparently the last one was on the Thames over 350 years ago! The Brits do know how to throw a party!
Here's to Queen Elizabeth the second! Do you have any English roots? Our family on both my mother's and father's side have a few! There is so much written about the Queen that there is nothing more I could say! May be you can?

A POSTCARD FROM LONDON ENGLAND

I had the fortune in my youth to visit London three times. But others I have known have been there too.

It is an amazing city especially with the recent Royal Wedding. The shopping,the people and now with the Summer Olympics only a year away what time to reflect on such a wonderful International city.
Family friends visited in the 60"s- " Dear May & Ellie-Arrived. Ok weather, really nice so far. We've done a lot of walking and Garry is already pooped. We leave in a day or so to the south coast and Wales by car- for which Garry is grateful. The family were really shocked at the size of the kids but they are fine. They meet the rest of them tomorrow probably a whing ding. See you soon. Amy, Jack & kids" July 18, 1963.

My first trip ever outside Canada was to England in 1967. I wrote a card to my boyfriend Adolph.
"Hi Love, Thought I'ld send you a card since my letters are so dull. I miss you. Bye now. Love, Barb"

My friend Denise went to England in 1980- "Dear Barbara & Adolph- Over here for 2 weeks- going to Stonehenge today-travelled down from Scotland yesterday and off to London tomorrow for a couple of days then home. Cheers! Denise"

My daughter Sonya and husband Andrew went on an European trip in 2007. Their first stop was London. " Hi Mom & Dad! We're in our 2nd day here in London and loving it! Spent a full day sightseeing today- Big Ben, Buckingham, Picadilly Circus, Tower of London & St. Paul's Cathedral. Had a nice dinner in a ritzy part of town tonight. One more full day here, then off to Italia! Love you very much Sonya & Andrew XOXO"
Well London and England has been a special location for many in my life. Have you been to London? Isn't it a fabulous place. Like they say London swings! Do you love London?
If you want your postcard featured here, email me at abdm@rogers.com, I will send you my address so you can send me your postcard.

WHAT''S IN A NAME

We all have one- a name. Some of us like our names, some wonder what were the folks thinking. My husband's name is Adolph- Adolfo in Italian and can be spelled Adolf. Yes, I know what you are thinking- like Hitler! Adolph was born in post-war Italy- so what were they thinking! No matter where we go and we introduce ourselves- at least one and often two people will comment about his name! My name Barbara was after the popular Canadian Skater who won Gold at the Olympics in 1948- Barbara Ann Scott. Except my name is Barbara May! I thought I gave my girls interesting names- Natasha and Sonya. With the influx of many people from Russia in Canada, Natasha is quite a popular name now. Sonya actually is a Native Canadian name, thought it was Eastern European when I named her. There is a small town north of Port Parry, Ontario called Sonya. Some parents resort to cute, made up names that are fine when you are two, but not so fine if you become the President of a Company. Nicknames can be anything. Barbara has Babs, Bub, Barb, and Barbie. I was Barbie all through High School because my mother embroidered Barbie on the back of my gym suit. Not Barbie since- unless I run into someone from school!! In my world now, I am Barbara at work but Barb to my friends and family. I like to use my full name as it can be a power move on someone's part to give part of your name so I do not want to diminish myself. We all have names of endearment for each other- sweetheart, cutie, honey, puckie and the list goes on. We can have the opposite names too that can be offensive- well you know what they are and the letters they use. Names run in families and some cultures insist on naming their children after dead relatives. The first born son after the father. Give your daughter your great-grandmother's name that does not fit in our modern world. Etc. You can name your child whatever you want! But new parents can be pressured to satisfy a family member with the naming rules! In genealogy, it is often a way to search in older times as names stayed in the family in chronological order. My grandfather had two last names as his first names because he was the youngest of many children- his parents ran out of names! Names were after famous people as well- think of the number of Williams and Elizabeths in England centuries ago! In Italy how many Tonys and Marias- well way too many. I think we know at least 100 Tonys and yes must give them nicknames! Does a name make an impact- the celebrities seem to think it does! Look at the old stars and the names they chose- did not like the one their family gave them! Are you your name? Or are you the whole person? Do you ever judge someone by their name because there is someone you do not like with that name? Do you like your name, if not what would you call yourself? Well as the Bard of Avon- William Shakespere once said- " A Rose is a rose........