WEARING ORANGE IN SOLIDARITY TODAY

 #everychildmatters

There is not much I can say or pontificate or render feelings.

Today is not about me. It is about remembering the lost souls of the 215.

Yes other residential schools should be investigated too.

But be aware there are mass graves at Mental Institutions, orphanages and other facilities that existed throughout our history.

It is always important to have a record of who died and is buried.

Honouring all people so families know where they were laid to rest.

We all must be careful of how we relate to people who have experienced trauma. 

Those survivors of the residential school system must be treated with dignity around this news.

For me, wearing orange. Put my teddy bear outside my door on the porch. I am ready to listen to the stories and not have my opinion.

The story does not belong to me. 

#everychildmatters#wearingorangeinsolidarity#listeningtothestories#beingrespectfulofthetraumastories#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

KAMLOOPS SITUATION BREAKS THE HEART

 Hearing about 215 souls discovered at a previous residential school in Kamloops is initially shocking.

Then it tugs at the heart and soul.

For those that survived the school there are no words that could rely how Canadians feel about it. One does not want to give a trite response.

I feel sad.

But I feel ashamed that anyone needed to experience what the students experienced.

I want to say something profound. There are no words.

I want to send some message of condolence to the people who survived.

I want to send hope to families of those sweet souls that maybe they will know finally what happened and where their little ones remains are resting.

Not my children or families but children and families of us all. One lost child is everyone's lost child.

So reaching out with love, support and the question- what can I do? How can I help?

Acknowledging it is Canada's legacy and history to make sure it never happens again.

Will reaching out to those in the First Nations Communities be a start?

Hopefully there will be a proper marker with names if possible. A place to visit and remember those children. A permanent reminder for all to see and remember.

#kamloopsresidentialschool#remembering215lostsouls#childrenwhodiedatresidentialschools#aproperburialplaceforthosechilldren#reachingouttothefirstnationscommunities#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

BARB'S GENEALOGYY TIDBITS-NEXT WEEK IS GENEALOGY WEEK FOR ME

 As May ends, June will begin with a bang of genealogy events.

Several branches where I have a membership have meetings in the evening via ZOOM of course.

Ontario Ancestors  ( Ontario Genealogical Society) Annual Conference is being held June 5 and 6th.

June 4th is Ancestry Day with discussions about what they have to offer. I chose to buy a subscription to FIND MY PAST so could consider if Ancestry would help my research.

I signed up for the Conference the beginning of April. Anyone interested can still sign up for the Virtual Conference.

I have only attended one live Conference when it was in Toronto in 2016. It was so amazing to be with others so interested in Family History.

Last year due to COVID it was Virtual. I would not have attended in person so the virtual conference was so conducive to my needs.

ZOOM has allowed for so many people to continue to function and have meetings in the genealogy world. 

So anticipating that I will learn something new as well as find online sites for further research. 

However as most of you who know me, know that my main focus has been writing up those family stories with photos for family. The stories have too many personal details so are not posted to online sites.

Some can be rewritten in shorter versions with the basic facts connected to them. I have been informed that people like reading my Genealogy Tidbits.

Organizing my desktop with the many meetings is my goal over the weekend so next week can be clear sailing.

Hopefully there will be lots of fodder for further genealogy posts to my readers.

#genealogytidbits#barb'sgenealogytidbits#genealogyconferenceonline#attendinggenealogymeetingsonline#virtualisokaybutIlookforwardtoinpersonmeetingsagain#findmypast#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

MAY COMING TO AN END WITH HEAT THEN SNOW FLURRIES

 We live in Canada.

Our weather can change at any time.

During the beginning of the week it was hot and humid. Today cooler with rain then some snow flurries.

Crazy weather.

At least it gives us something to talk about besides COVID!!

#maycomingtoanend#crazyweather#hotandhumid#snowflurries#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

SPRING AND ITS COLOURFUL GLORY

 I have photographed so many flowering trees and flowers over the years.

Here are some from 2016.

So reviewing my photo files, I tried to find some different ones.

I see these flowers annually so did not photograph again.

Flowers attract butterflies.

2019

2020

2021- What would Canada be like without dandelions? No spraying so they grow prolifically everywhere now! 

What does your area look like? What colour lights up your world?

#springandcolour#tulips#springtrees#pinktreesinthespring#wildflowersinthespring#gardensfullofcolour#lovingthespringcolours#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro#lovingtheoutdoors

WALKING IS HELPING TO SLIM THE BODY

 Not a great believer in radical diets, I turn to exercise.

Especially walking.

So I am finding my clothes are fitting better with the increase in my daily walks.

One long one and two short ones.

I feel it in my legs too.

So when some day trips are planned with walking I will be ready.

#walking#walkingslimsthebody#exerciseisgoodforthesoul#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

SILENCE LETS THE SOUNDS OF LIFE COME ALIVE

 No radio.

No TV.

The morning chirping of flocks of birds. What are they saying?

Listening for a plane to go over. Since COVID the red eyes and late afternoon planes have been minimal. I miss the planes. I like watching planes go over. There is a story for each passenger. Are they returning home or coming for a visit?

Less Orange Ambulance going over. For a few weeks the transfer of COVID patients and other traumas were plentiful. Orange is quiet too.

The train to the east in the early morning.

The traffic on Yonge Street.

My thoughts can be quiet. Trying to be positive with the changes coming.

COVID diminishing if we are careful, the world will open up again. 

The street traffic and foot traffic has changed over the last year with the properties beside me closing off to trespassers. So less noise morning, noon and night.

Silence and no talking helps with the mood. 

What about you? Do you like the quiet of the morning?

Do you try to be silent with your thoughts?

Do you miss the hustle and bustle sometimes of people?

What do you think?

#silenceletsthethoughtsquietthesoul#orangeambulance#covidwillgoawayeventually#listeiningtothechirpingofthebirds#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro