I just discovered that I can type my blogs in the color of my choice....probably sounds lame to people who understand computers better than I do but every little new thing I find to do on the computer is a thrill to me!
I've been happily busy preparing my flower gardens, planting, watering, and spreading mulch. This is one of life's simple pleasures that I'll enjoy for as long as I can dig in the dirt. Being retired means that we can putter around in our yards or planters whenever we feel the urge to create beauty in the world....wearing ratty looking clothes and ruining what's left of our fingernails. We know what true beauty is. After fiddling around in the garden for hours, I snuggle into the lawn chair with my feet up, a gin and tonic in my hand, and a smile on my face. Life is good!
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Saturday, May 13, 2006
One More Day in the Life
I've been awfully sore since I returned from Florida this spring....the reason being I've had to do all the heavy labor that my husband used to do. He passed away last summer after spending 12 months battling cancer (and "battling" is an understatement). I often wonder if he'd be proud of what I've been able to accomplish since he passed away or if he'd be resentful of my successes without him.
There have been times I've had to decide if what I need in the basement or upstairs is worth another trip. I've carted boxloads of things all over the house, and into and out of the car. I've dug so many weeds out of the vegetable garden and flower gardens that I considered it might actually be better to cultivate them. Not much was done around here last year because we home cared my husband throughout his illness so I'm learning that nature takes over in more ways than one if left to follow its own course.
But hard work usually brings contentment at the end and then its time to reap the rewards. This summer I'll be able to sit out in the yard and watch the flowers grow and the vegetables ripen. I'll never forget that it was Dennis' hard labor that originally created my little oasis but I'll also have a better appreciation of my own abilities to carry on.
There have been times I've had to decide if what I need in the basement or upstairs is worth another trip. I've carted boxloads of things all over the house, and into and out of the car. I've dug so many weeds out of the vegetable garden and flower gardens that I considered it might actually be better to cultivate them. Not much was done around here last year because we home cared my husband throughout his illness so I'm learning that nature takes over in more ways than one if left to follow its own course.
But hard work usually brings contentment at the end and then its time to reap the rewards. This summer I'll be able to sit out in the yard and watch the flowers grow and the vegetables ripen. I'll never forget that it was Dennis' hard labor that originally created my little oasis but I'll also have a better appreciation of my own abilities to carry on.
Monday, May 08, 2006
Touring a Funeral Home
My sister-in-law e-mailed me today to say that she and her husband toured a funeral home which had just opened. Now, there's nothing wrong with doing that if you might be needing such services in the near future but for two healthy, busy people to find a funeral home open house interesting....well, I just think they need a new hobby!
My husband passed away last summer and I was forced to meet with a funeral home representative to make arrangements. For those who might not know, things are done differently now. The representative was wonderful to deal with...very dignified, capable, and kind. We (my three daughters and I) chose a package that covered all the details we preferred not to dwell on but had to be considered. This "package" made the process easier for all of us.
During the funeral, the room was filled with loving and caring family and friends who were there to support us in our time of loss and to show their respect for my husband. Again, this funeral was a little different. Two of our grandsons stood before us and spoke about what their grandfather had meant in their lives...including many very funny stories. My granddaughter played her Grampa's guitar and sang, along with two more granddaughters, two more grandsons and the girlfriend of one of them. Their chosen song was "I Hope You Had the Time of Your Life". We all laughed, cried, and hoped he had, too.
My husband passed away last summer and I was forced to meet with a funeral home representative to make arrangements. For those who might not know, things are done differently now. The representative was wonderful to deal with...very dignified, capable, and kind. We (my three daughters and I) chose a package that covered all the details we preferred not to dwell on but had to be considered. This "package" made the process easier for all of us.
During the funeral, the room was filled with loving and caring family and friends who were there to support us in our time of loss and to show their respect for my husband. Again, this funeral was a little different. Two of our grandsons stood before us and spoke about what their grandfather had meant in their lives...including many very funny stories. My granddaughter played her Grampa's guitar and sang, along with two more granddaughters, two more grandsons and the girlfriend of one of them. Their chosen song was "I Hope You Had the Time of Your Life". We all laughed, cried, and hoped he had, too.
Saturday, May 06, 2006
NATIVE UPRISING IN CALEDONIA
I've lived in Canada all my life--within 15 miles of Caledonia, Ontario. And all of my life there have been rumblings among the natives about how their ancestors were cheated out of their land over a hundred years ago.
My great grandfather owned a business less than a hundred years ago and, when he fell on hard times, he was forced to sell out. Does that give me a right to build tire fires outside the business now and demand it be given back to me?
Most of us have strong sympathy for the native culture because we "white" people almost destroyed it--but that was a century or two ago. Its time the natives who are complaining start building their own lives instead of depending on government handouts. When we see them in fatigues and face scarves and calling themselves "warriors", we know they're really a gentle people who have lost the integrity of their ancestors. When we see natives from other provinces and even other countries joining the barricade, we wonder how many natives have employment they can walk away from so easily. We also wonder why the police didn't step in the first day and put a stop to it--arresting the lawless demonstrators who chose to defile our air with the toxic fumes of burning tires and close a main highway through the town.
These natives are arrogant to think they are more important in the scheme of things than their white/black/brown neighbor. They show a great deal of disrespect for others when they care so little about the inconvenience and financial hardships caused by their actions.
Do I think we'll see a resolution to the Caledonia standoff in the near future? No--because the Canadian government is weak and unable to make a conclusive decision in this mess.
My great grandfather owned a business less than a hundred years ago and, when he fell on hard times, he was forced to sell out. Does that give me a right to build tire fires outside the business now and demand it be given back to me?
Most of us have strong sympathy for the native culture because we "white" people almost destroyed it--but that was a century or two ago. Its time the natives who are complaining start building their own lives instead of depending on government handouts. When we see them in fatigues and face scarves and calling themselves "warriors", we know they're really a gentle people who have lost the integrity of their ancestors. When we see natives from other provinces and even other countries joining the barricade, we wonder how many natives have employment they can walk away from so easily. We also wonder why the police didn't step in the first day and put a stop to it--arresting the lawless demonstrators who chose to defile our air with the toxic fumes of burning tires and close a main highway through the town.
These natives are arrogant to think they are more important in the scheme of things than their white/black/brown neighbor. They show a great deal of disrespect for others when they care so little about the inconvenience and financial hardships caused by their actions.
Do I think we'll see a resolution to the Caledonia standoff in the near future? No--because the Canadian government is weak and unable to make a conclusive decision in this mess.
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