MAKING IT THROUGH THE DAY

Some days with tough times are hard to endure. By putting one foot in front of the other, we try to make it through the day. Are you dealing with a crisis, a problem, a tough time? Just keep going and make it through the day.

NANA SAYS GRADE ONE IS LOTS OF FUN

My granddaughter starts Grade One today. Everyone has been concerned that after Kindergarten is so much tougher with homework and a long day. We all went to Grade One at some point in our lives. I remember my Grade One teacher- Mrs. Morehouse at Pelmo Park Public School in North York. She seemed so old at the time. However, she was so gentle and sweet. I don't remember her yelling or centering out any children. I learnt to read and really enjoyed school. The teachers in the younger grades must have the patience for the range of differences in ability and academic knowledge. Some children are reading well and others are just getting started. To blend all those children together and help the class emerge is a huge responsibility. Here's to all the Mrs. Morehouses out there! Do you remember your Grade One teacher? Did you like school?

WHAT WOULD YOUR MEMOIR SAY!

If you had to write a memoir what would you say about yourself! What would be the highlights of your life! The good, the bad and the ugly! How would you describe yourself? Caring! Loving! Cheap! Thrifty! Always there for your family and friends! A loner! A social butterfly! Most people exaggerate the good qualities and see themselves as more positive than reality. Now if you asked someone else to write a biography about you, do you think it would match your own opinion of yourself! I have been with the most negative people that will state how knowledgeable and positive they are! In my head, I usually say- Right! Our worst critics usually help us identify our flaws whether we want to or not? Be careful! Some people may want to drag you down. Ask the nice people! They get dumped on a lot! If you are crabby, no one wants to say anything because they do not want the wrath!  I hope my memoir matches what I think of myself- nice, my personal history, my life in Social Work, love my family, patient, poor manners tick me off, cheap people including family tick me off, ready to learn something new, think I am slimmer than I am until I see the pictures with my tummy rolls, get bored when I am not challenged enough, surprised about how deep I feel about certain situations, definitely do not like to cry publically and well all around good person! Now I should get Adolph to read this and perhaps he will set me straight! Then I could write his biography. So what would your memoir say! What would be your social, family and work history? Regardless of your age what do you want to be said about you! Identifying those qualities, now go about living them! Be the person you want to be! Hum, now I sound like an ad and a little preachy- perhaps I need to add preachy to my memoir!

A POSTCARD FROM JERUSALEM ISRAEL

Adolph and I were lucky to travel to Israel in 1991. We were attending a business associate's son's Bar Mitzvah.

Years later a work mate that returned to Israel sent me a card.
" Hi Barb! July 2,/94. It was a great socprice to received your card. ISRAEL is nice to my, but very different coulture and people. I am living in Jerusalem and every weekend come home to see my family at the Kibbutze. I miss work and the very good talk-and Jocks with you. But I am slowly get use to the new realtity-calld Israel. I have part time job teaching and couching kids to swim. I am trying to get a school job fro next year in special E.D. It is very hot here but I am adjusting my self to it. Don't forget to my love to errybody. How know me in muki bum, as well as the peopl that you serve. With love-Niv. P.S.- If you in Israel.You have to see me."  I have to leave the wording exactly as he wrote it. Niv returned to Israel after being in Canada several years. I had asked him one time what he liked about Canada. He said the Pies! Even the vegetable ones! I tried to think what would be a vegetable- pumpkin!

Jerusalem is an amazing city for its history and religious significance. Adolph and I had a tour of Old Jersusalem conducted by a Rabbi. He was very well versed on the Stations of the Cross! The Mount of Olives, the Dome of the Rock, and the Western Wall were wonderful to see.

The Kirdon Valley, the Old Jewish Quarter and the Church of Gethsemane( the church of all nations) all have such historical significance to modern religions. We stayed at Laromme Jerusalem Hotel overlooking Old Jerusalem. The Bar Mitzvah was at the King David Hotel. I would love to return to Israel one day to see other parts of the country. Our trip there was too short.
Have you been to Israel? Isn't it an integral part of history?

HAPPILY EVER AFTER ONLY OCCURS IN FAIRY TALES

It would be nice if there was a happy ever after for most things in life. Unfortunately, there may be glitches in many areas of our lives. How to care for our elderly folks? Which house to go to for Christmas dinner? Being passed over for a promotion at work. Even the man/woman of our dreams may not be happy ever after. Life has a way of presenting itself. Sometimes exciting, sometimes boring and sometimes a struggle. Sometimes it is necessary to say goodbye to people in our lives due to death. Sometimes to people who make our lives toxic. In families unresolved conflicts can be the end of relationships. When family members live far away, it makes it very easy to put distance to the relationships and to part ways. When the person like a parent that keeps us connected is still around, there must be a relationship but after death-well it is easy to sever the tie! There is no need to keep the bond! Then there are some people in our lives that are eternal and understand us! Sometimes we reconnect with people from other times in our lives and are glad they have returned to us. In my life, when I have been patient with a situation for long enough there does come a time to stand my ground and say arriverderci! Are you facing a crossroad to let go of a relationship? Is it family? A friend? Have you reconnected with someone? Tell me your thoughts.

THE LABOUR DAY WEEKEND

Is the last official long weekend of the summer. When the children were younger, I used to use it as a mark to clean the house and do the windows- I took the word labour literally! Now I spread out the Fall cleaning to one area at a time over several months! It is a time to organize for the Fall. However, planning some fun events is okay too. Before the pace becomes hectic again it is a great weekend to enjoy! At the Canadian National Exhibition there is always the Labour Day Parade with the various unions marching to demonstrate the Labour movement in this country. It does seem somewhat passe! The labour laws and the protection of working people is so ingrained in our culture now.The origninal battles for rights brought us to where we are today! If you want, you can hire a lawyer! Are you planning any laborious activities? Will you be enjoying the good weather?

SEPTEMBER AND THE END TO SUMMER

Welcome September! The relaxed days of summer months are now just a memory. Even though we still have 3 weeks of summer left, the urge to reve up and get back to those projects put aside for summer activities has begun. Stores have been busy the last few weeks with the back to school shopping. Committees and staff meetings at work are scheduled with urgency. The student placements from the colleges and universities are arriving. No wonder everyone is feeling so tired! There is such a pressure to do things- well September is here, must get going! So take a deep breath and remember there is only 24 hours in the day and tomorrow will be another day! Don't pull out all the winter woolies yet! Keep the summer colours a little longer! Relish the days outside when the weather keeps warm for a while longer! Hope for the Indian summer! Buy some plants like the Fall mums adding new colour to your garden! For parents everywhere that have been trying to keep the little ones from being bored and active, the start of school is not necessarily a bad thing! Starting High School for the first time! The first year away at university or college brings challenges! The first time not going back to school but in an exciting new job! Yes welcome September, you can do some early Christmas shopping if you want or plan for your special projects as gifts. One of my relatives knit a beautiful sweater already for a family member with her leisure time over the summer as a Christmas gift! Do you welcome September? Or are you trying to catch those late season rays to keep your tan?