BARB'S GENEALOGY TIDBITS- CORTLAND THE TRAIN CONDUCTOR

 My paternal grandfather Cortland Alton worked for the railroad as a conductor.

Cortland Alton.

Cortland in uniform.

Family pictures show him by trains. 

He met my paternal grandmother Leonie Violet Parkin in Lindsay where he was stationed.

There is so much railroad history about trains in this part of Canada. It would be a good area to research.

I found this ad for the Grand Trunk Railway in the Watchman(1888), 11 Jun 1896, pg. 6.

This railroad predates CN.

I wish I had more pictures of Cortland in uniform. He and my grandmother lived in Toronto for a while then moved to Belleville Ontario. 

They both died there in the 1940s and are buried in the cemetery there.

There is more to this story that I will write at at future date.

#cortlandalton#railroadinLindsayontario#grandtrunkrailroadinlindsay#travellingbytrain#canada'shistoryoftrains#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

HAWAIIAN MEMORIES

 Adolph and I honeymooned in Hawaii- May 1971.

Finding some handwritten notes in my scrapbook of the trip, decided to transcribe them. So many fun memories came back.

We stayed in an economy hotel where we could make our own food and still eat out if necessary.

What amused me was the cost of items!

We could eat very cheaply.

We only stayed on Oahu. But there were some many things to do and places to see for free.

These pictures are from a travel album I bought at a flea market many years ago. Waikiki around 1910. Colourized by the My Heritage program. 

Hawaii still calls to me. Adolph and I had always wanted to return but we never did. 

So I watch shows like Magum P.I. based in Hawaii to get that feel for that beautiful destination.

It might be fun to go one day with family. But without Adolph it would not be the same.

#memoriesofHawaii#rememberingourhoneymoon#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro#rmemberingthegoodtimes#memoriesareagoodthing

THE IDES OF MARCH-BEWARE

 Well I am not Ceasar.

But I could not help myself.

The old adage beware the Ides of March comes to mind today with the cold weather and wind.

March is that in between month- not winter and not quite Spring.

Cold weather clothes.

Warm weather clothes.

Is it time to put away the boots, mitts and hats??

I usually delay. As soon I put things away, then I have to take them out again.

I do have rubber boots for rainy days but without socks they are not very warm.

So the middle of March brings hope for new beginnings. Planning for Easter. Thinking about spring planting or not! Finishing some winter projects!!

Mostly like everyone else, looking forward to being outdoors.

Sitting in the sun. Walking. Being around outdoor life.

So should we beware the IDES of March or embrace them? It is your call!!

#bewaretheidesofMarch#march#springplanning#puttingawaywinterclothesandboots#warmweatherclothes#whatdoyouhopeforSpring#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

COVID AND SOCIAL ISOLATION

 As many people are getting their vaccines, there seems to be a common theme.

What do you want to do?

"I want to hug my family! I want to hug my grandchildren!"

Many people have followed the rules and stayed home.

But at a cost!!

Social isolation has always been a problem with elderly, depression in some individuals, new mothers- well you get the picture!!

COVID has shown how much damage it can do.

Sure ZOOM meetings helped keep us connected! But personal meetings and seeing people mean so much more.

I joined groups to be able to be out and about with them!

So as spring emerges and vaccines roll out perhaps people will come out of their shells and connect once again!!

covidandsocialisolation#mentalhealthtollofcovid#beingoutandabout#connectingwithpeople#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

MOVING FORWARD NOT MOVING ON-GRIEF'S PERSONAL JOURNEY

 I watched a TED Talk a few years ago. The speaker was addressing grief and all its concepts in a delightful talk.

The part I remembered the most was the people we lost do not go away. 

We have been told in grief to move on. Let go. 

She was good in saying we do not move on. But we do move forward.

I have found myself moving forward. Baby steps. 

I have decided my soulmate will always be with me. 

Yes life goes on. The old adage, let go to grow.

At my age, I am not sure how much soul searching I really need to do. Since life can be a circle, perhaps looking at my circle and revisiting what has been important to me.

So not needing to let go and grow, but just to move forward. Getting up and putting my feet on the ground and moving. 

He would have wanted it for me.

#movingforwardnotmovingon#grieftakesitsownjourney#dowehavetoletgotogrow#lifedoesgoon#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

SPRING BRINGS HOPE OF NEW BEGINNINGS

 It was not a terrible winter. Well it is not over yet. But even if some snow or cold comes we are nearing the end of it.

Especially this year after the Covid crisis.

Vaccines are bringing us hope and coinciding with Spring and warmer weather.

I put my outdoor chairs outside yesterday. Sat in one for a short time. Earlier than I usually do.

But somehow just the thought of sitting outside. Facing the sun. Coming through the crisis brings some hope.

I want to find joy again. I am not joyful which is not like who I am.

So I feel if I embrace Spring and try to find those small quiet moments of joy I will.

So the chairs. Perhaps I can have someone come by and we can sit outside distanced on the chairs.

So Spring.

So hope.

So new beginnings. Or maybe just one. And take one at a time.

#springandnewbeginnings#newbeginnings#tryingtofindjoyintheday#joymakeslifeworthwhile#makesmallactivitiesjoyful#embracingSpring#puttingoutdoorchairsoutside#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

DAY OF OBSERVANCE- REMEMBERING THE LAST YEAR

 What name to give the anniversary of the declaration of a global pandemic!

Everyone knows what they were doing.

School to be closed for an extra two weeks that morphed into 3 months.

Stay home.

Limit contacts.

Businesses to be closed.

Panic buying.

Extra supplies for Adolph and me.

Lots of toilet paper that I also shared with my family.

Then use masks but not cloth. Then cloth ones were okay. So making a bunch.

And two more batches for us and family. I was not interested in joining community groups and making for others that could spend the time making some for themselves. Nor did I want to donate my stash of supplies.

I made donations to causes I support- like the local hospital. Food Bank. And some homeless people on the street.

So following the rules. No easter dinner together. Birthdays away from family.

HOPE prevails now. There is the vaccine rollout. Still necessary to do Public Health protocols.

I think I will be wearing a mask shopping and being in crowds of people for a long time. Washing hands is always a good thing anyway.

The year was long and not so long. So much with it. 

For me the biggest concern was keeping the virus away from Adolph. Luckily he did not get it thanks to all of us in this family. But hard for the family as they really wanted to see their Granpa!!

So not a celebration. Just a quiet reflection. Writing this brings up so much of the last year. Mostly dealing with a death through COVID that denied us the real way to honour our loved one. No funeral. Limited contacts with families that may have offered condolences or not. COVID also made it easier for people to do nothing. Not even a phone call! Which I will remember! Many of his family members are out of my life permanently now.

COVID reminded us of what was important. Some people rose to the occasion. Some just whined about their own self-centerness.  

So what memories does COVID conjure for you??

#covidafteroneyearofpandemicdeclaration#covidandallitstragedies#theyearhasbeenahardone#tryingtomuddlethroughtheyear#hopeprevailswiththevaccine#wearamask#makingmasks#followingtherules#stayinghomesucks#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro