29,211 Days!

Wednesday, July 29, 2020

The 80-candle birthday cake!

I have been on this Good Earth that many Days! Imagine! I have seen many places, I have lived in over 45 homes, I have met hundreds of people, I have made oodles of friends, I have some really excellent bosom buddies, I have loved and unloved (very few), and all-in-all I believe I have been very fortunate in my life.

I have a great family and great friends. I have a nice home in a beautiful part of the world. My children like me, as do my grandchildren and my great grandchildren. My husband loves me and puts up with me. Our dog seems to be fond of me.

There have been ups and downs, for sure. There have been worries and tears. But there have been hugs and and kisses and fantastic memories too.

Mom & Dad & me in
Chester, England in 1940

It is a time to take stock when one turns a number ending in Zero. I never, ever expected to be around this long. I am really amazed actually. And I'm really smiling as I write this.

I can still raise Cain, be critical, pay attention to worldly goings-on, get angry at stupidity, and be upset at governments.

I can still give advice at the drop of a hat even if it wasn't asked for.

But I can also laugh and chuckle and smile at my own foibles and mistakes. And I have made some mistakes.

In the Here and Now

So, to all the folks I have known over time, I thank you for giving me a glimpse into your life. I thank you for listening to me. Know that you made me laugh and made me care. 

Enough!

Onwards!

Day 70ty--Hundred

Monday, July 20, 2020

We drove to Annapolis Royal on Saturday. Although there was a purpose - taking a memory stick with over 6,800 files on it to a dear friend - it was mainly an outing for me. I really have to force myself to get out these days. It seems as if my life is in the ether with emails and Facebook and TV and the phone. This is not necessarily a good thing but it isn't horrible. I am retired, I don't have to work, I have enough money to meet my expenses which have greatly diminished as I've grown older for which I am very grateful. It's kind of an odd place to be in, I must say. I am doing "memory" things - checking on photos, seeing where old friends are these days, wishing friends Happy Birthday on Facebook, and reading the obits in the daily paper just in case there's someone I know gone.

I keep up with the news - here and abroad. I rage about Trump and how he has done such damage to the US reputation globally. I watch our own federal, provincial and municipal governments as well. Some are doing OK, some not so much.

And I keep in touch with my far-flung family. I have great in-laws. My own family is in Ontario, Manitoba, Maine, British Columbia and the Northwest Territories. This part pains me the most. I can't travel now without causing major disruption on the other end what with quarantining. They can't travel here without the self-isolation business. And so here we are in our solitudes across the country. There are friends in other countries I would like to have seen and hugged. They are only in touch via the internet or by phone.

These are the things that were going through my mind as we went to Annapolis Royal on Saturday. I remarked on a house that had sat empty for a long time - once occupied by a remarkable woman who was extremely well educated - and how it is all spruced up now and looks fantastic; the trees are GREEN; the "ditch" lilies are blooming away; folks' gardens are beautiful; the market is going gangbusters - with limitations; the Historic Gardens are open; there have been concerts at the amphitheatre on the waterfront; King's Theatre is doing neat things; the pool is open; "my" Anne magnolia beside St. Luke's Church is looking very handsome; Queen Anne's Lace is open now; and overall - it is SUMMER. And we saw the Neowise comet on Saturday night. Pretty cool! And we are getting our house painted outside. It will look terrific up here on the hill.

And it's July and time for me to celebrate my 80th birthday. We are going to Founders House for dinner again this year. They had their opening on my birthday 2 years ago and we had a lovely time with Deborah and Philip. There was to have been a big party here this year but that had to be cancelled because of you-know-what. Maybe next year - one never knows.

A bit rambly here today but it's been a while and I am living in my mind a lot these days and thought it might be good to put it on the record.

Onwards!

Canada Day 2020

Friday, July 3, 2020

After much thought and consideration, I asked Bill if we could have another Canada Day party here. We did have some really good backyard celebrations for about 7 years in a row and then they just kind of petered out. Not quite sure why. 

I had to ask because I don't do any of the "heavy lifting" any more that is needed to put it all together. There's a lot of getting all the stuff together and up and down the stairs and putting up the awning, etc., etc. I do the planning and then the directing and getting the To Do list together. And the Invitations! They went out to Deborah and Philip; Bob and Heather; Kathy and Dave; Tracy and Keith; Janice and June; and Maggie. There were a few others who couldn't make it. I wanted it to be small enough for people to feel safe outside and big enough for it to be a party.

It was a potluck gathering. I must say that it's REALLY important to have excellent friends and it's even better if you pick ones who can REALLY cook. Everything was delicious and we were quite international - Moroccan chicken and curried rice; biryani, stir fried beef; potato salad, spinach salad; Waldorf salad; biscuits; peach crumble; strawberry poke cake and snacks. It was a feast!

We were outside. There was a breeze. But we were being careful. People moved around gingerly and watchfully. While it was soooo hot and humid, Bob and Heather brought 2 extra awnings so we were in shade.

After a couple of days of reflection - I find I am still thinking about the afternoon. It was small, it was wonderful to see my friends "in the flesh", we laughed the way we have done for years, we told stories and got caught up on those things we hadn't mentioned on the myriad of phone calls over the past months.  I am so grateful for the memory we created once again.

The bottom line came to me yesterday on a phone call - it was COMFY!

Onwards!