Anyone that knows my Mom, loves her! She is a giver, she loves to make people happy. She is always smiling, she is the definition of cute. She joined a seniors group pre covid and provided the fun. Dressing like an elf at Christmas, her antics are adorable.

Gardening and cooking are her talents among many. A true Matriarch to our family, she is the only surviving parent for both me and my husband, and grandparent for my children. We don’t age in our family and she will never be old.

She was raised in the city in Springfield Mass. Her father was a Steeves and was from Steeves Settlement, they returned here when she was a teen. I never really thought about it much until recently. Most of been a real culture shock to move from the city and move to her father’s childhood home. She grew up during a time when the assassination of JFK was an announcement on the speaker in school. Segregation was real, freedom buses were real! The draft was a real fear in her family, she had brothers. Her own parents grew up during war times, and saving things, food stamps, rations were things that they had been through.

We don’t have to go that far back to see how far we have come. There are real skill sets that these generations had that wouldn’t hurt for us to learn. For self sufficiency to teach the next generation. It seems we are more materialistic now then ever. Back to basics at home, not so much stuff would be a real asset for everyone. Maybe the drive to have is because the previous generations did not have. Live simple, be happy should be the goal.

School is about to begin! I like the organized flow of the school day. I am a creature of habit, schedules and routine. I like picking out things to wear, packing things up, and heading out the door.

I know it’s not quite that simple with kids. Someone is always missing something. Usually out the door is when they remember to tell you something they need that day. I had one daughter that was meticulous about putting her hair in a pony tail, couldn’t have a bump on the hair going into the pony. I would finally get her out of the washroom and her sibling would point out a bump. My son couldn’t stand seams at the toe of his socks. If there were seams, they had to go on a certain way. My other daughter had me iron her hair( with an iron) every morning to erase her gorgeous curls.

I hated making lunches. They always came back, they never ate them past elementary school. One thing I was thankful for, they didn’t lose things. Not a hat, mitten, coat and believe me that happens. I wasn’t one to run to the school for something they forgot either. I had friends that made daily trips to bring something to their child.

It was a whirlwind when they got home. Starving, stories, things for me to see, starting homework so the rest of the night was theirs. I have a bin for each of them and all their school day treasures live there. I miss those days, the hub bub. Especially the younger years, when their teachers were the best and you were the hero in every story they wrote. It wasn’t all good, but that is what makes them who they are. It sure slips by pretty fast.

Nothing to fear, but fear itself. Being afraid seems like it could be a choice, some people rationalize everything. I like ghost stories, and playing with the idea that stuff could be real. Adds a little depth to reality. Beyond mysteries the unknown can spark just as much fear.

Your mind can go to some pretty dark places when faced with age or illness, or life in generasl. It’s fine, it’s nothing, is easy to advise people, but a little harder to arrive there. After I had kids, I had a lot of irrational fears. Transport trucks on the highway used to terrify me. I remember my mom was terified of train trestles. Of course Mom had a reason, she was on one when the train came and had to stand on a platform as it went by.

Some fears just are. I used to be afraid of our basement stairs. I would rationalize when I started up, but would be running full tilt to the top at about half way. I know there is no Boogeyman, but I just couldn’t contain that feeling. Geneology takes me to a lot of graveyards for research. Sometimes it is beyond eerie! Reading the stones, ages of death, so many died of Influenza and Consumption. I encountered someone in the graveyard once, and to this day I am not sure if she was real. I still have goosebumps when I recall that memory. It was broad daylight, my friends were playing beyond the graveyard and I was going to meet them. A young woman was on the path and when our eyes met she beckoned with her hand for me to come over. I started up the path towards her, she was wearing a pale blue dress, she had flowers.. then she disapeared.

Premonitions, ghosts, angels, I believe in it. Maybe because I believe, I see? Some things can’t be explained.

Procrastination is not my friend. Most of the time I am on point, some things get moved to the back burner, some of these things are not by choice. I can keep my house cleaned, feed my family and run the show. I have only learned to delegate in more recent years.

I have implemented myself into the fine web, that is overflowing. Less is more, but sometimes it is too much. One appointment change can alter a well oiled machine. An appliance break down, a house project, car maintenance all contribute to set backs.

When the kids were young and all in school, their arrival home was referred to as the hurricane. Transitions are hard, and heading back to work has me a little edgy. It’s like a timer and everything needs to be done before. That is me though and I have been trying to hit the snooze button on my brain. I keep telling myself, no it does not all have to be done. It’s not a times up! Things can still be done after work starts.

I keep having full blown hot flashes , sleepless nights and heart palpitations. I hate not being prepared. When I attended school, I used to dream the night before the school year started about all these people I would meet. A huge meet and greet all night. Stranger after stranger, I guess that’s how I prepared myself for the big day. You can get out of practice when you are away from people.

One day at a time, seems to be my current motto. It’s a good motto, racing ahead does nothing. Enjoy the moment, you don’t have to look ahead. Whatever will be, will be.

I always forget about road rage. The good old divided highway, two lanes one way, two lanes the other way, green forest in between. When you move across the provinces this is not the case everywhere.

In Ontario, on average near the city there are twelve lanes. Six for each direction. there are three for express travelling distance. Then another three called collector lanes for getting on and off the highway. If you need to get off at the next exit, you need to plan.

In New Brunswick, we have the fast lane and slow lane. You are suppose to drive in the slow lane, going into the fast lane to pass. Our speed limit is 110km/hr, there 100km/hr with loss of points, hefty fines and cameras taking offenders pictures. Their highway moves half a million people per day.

It is the Indy 500 there! If you have on your cruise control and go to pass, you better accelerate. They will be in your backseat and flashing their lights, horn blaring. If the construction sign says lane closed, people not just stay in the lane till the last second, I seen someone go onto the shoulder to pass the guy waiting till the last second to cut in front of them. Cutting someone off is standard, they get on the highway and if you can’t let them in, they come in anyways. I watched two cars at accerlerated speeds chase each other to continually cut each other off. Cars get into the spot behind the car in front of them where there is no draft and sling shot past just like the races! I prefer to watch the races in my livingroom. There is alway the car, the one that is a pretty colour and a really loud engine, that sneaks in and out from between cars to get two spots further then they just were.

When there is a car on the shoulder you are to get over into the left lane when passing, they are very serious about that there. I watched a OPP officer step onto the highway pointing at cars and thumbing them to get over. Pretty scary to step into the lane and command with your finger! People know the rules they just don’t follow them. I watched a poor ambulance going through the city and eighty percent get out of the way. Sure hope the other twenty percent wasn’t related to the poor soul they were trying to get to , to save!

Traffic can be bumper to bumper for miles, be sure to fill up your tank, and pee before you leave. I had forgotten about all that. I get irratated when the light takes too long to change. When you need to get over here, people let you and you wave to them like you are related. They don’t make eye contact there, lucky if you get a signal light, your wave is the middle finger! When I lived there, I took the subway, and now I remember why!

Social media is packed with mask and vaccine statements. People are so fired up with their feelings. So much division! Maybe we could just all get along!

I think that one of the issues is the loss of control over the term of this Pandemic. We are a free nation, and then there are people telling us we have to. We have choice, but there are restrictions in place for if you have or haven’t. It changes constantly, some people are not good with change. Opposing opinions are rampant right now. They differ across the world, from province to province, country to country. Experts weigh in on everything making it confusing. Media is sensationalizing everything.

Everyone is sharing their thoughts, tunnel vision. I’m not much of a debater in a public forum. I think what I think. I do what works for me. My job is to be responsible for me! My nature has always made me see both sides of the coin. I am not a specialist, or expert, I am not educating anyone. Face to face conversations I state my opinion. We are entitled to one. Dictating to one another your way or the highway makes nothing but more mess.

Like everyone I want Covid to be over. I want my family intact. I avoid the news, but it still reaches me, everyone talks about it! Keep your fingers out of your eyes , nose and mouth! Be safe friends, be safe!

My favourite seasons are summer and fall I am in my glory right now. I have a pool and I love the beach! Summer brought with it the promise and hope that COVID may finally fade into the background.

I relish in the longer days, and better sleep. It always seems my whole life is on hold until summer. Visiting, day trips, adventure and peace, the music is on, my house is clean. My calendar will seem a little less empty and unscheduled and unfilled, my heart will be full. One with nature my mental health will improve. I guide my days however I want.

The nights get crisper as we head into September. I love throwing all the windows open, hanging out bedding, and long walks in the evening. Usually I would have plants to harvest this time of year. My garden didn’t survive this summer. I produced two cherry tomatoes and one green pepper! Maybe next year.

Winter is okay but the cold gets me, the shorter days, crappy roads to drive on, blah. I hibernate in the winter. It really doesn’t do anything for me. Everything seems forced, I could probably just stay under my blankets until it is over.

I will take what we have right now. Enjoying these moments, breathing in the smells, enjoying the sounds. Peace.

Pictures tell a story, they help us remember, they take us places. I do genealogy and to find a picture is like buried treasure. When I visit family, I love to pour over photos, unlocking the past.

Photos create a mental map to emotions. They make us feel. You can freeze a moment in time. I like the unfiltered moments. Photos without filters, no poses, old school candid shots.

Photographs are like mile markers, identifying places and times in our minds. I have so many albums, and I still print photos. My phone has 7600 pictures on it, sometimes I use them to help me remember what year something happened. I like having access to my photos at my fingertips.

Some of my favourite photos are not the staged ones. There is one of me and my grand daughter but she is a baby and it is just our toes. Another is of my daughter nine months pregnant and she is walking along the ocean edge looking down.

My husband doesn’t have many photos of his childhood. There was a fire and and precious photos were lost. His dear Aunt who has passed away was able to get some to me and I am able to finally see his childhood. Zero baby pictures, such a loss.

I ran around with a camera when I was a kid, and my kids ran around with the video camera when they were kids. Our lives have been well documented. I hope our future generations will cherish these pieces of our past. Going forward I hope they print out photos. Not just pass around a phone, physical prints to leave behind, for the future to enjoy.

Today is our 34th anniversary. We have been together for 35 years. I met my husband when I was thirteen. There was a local arcade that we all hung out at, his initials were the high-score on every game.

My best friend and I had secret names for all of our friends based on Muppet characters. His was Animal. He would tear into the arcade on his ten speed to the back of the store and slide it around sideways with the store owner on his heals just a hollering. He would be the guy walking around with a huge ghetto blaster on his shoulders, that’s probably what happened to his hearing.

He was always full of energy and still is. He could do a backflip from a stationary position. He could put his hands on the back of a park bench and lift his legs straight in the air. He could kick up in the air and hit the top of the door frame. We would all go to the bluffs, everyone would take the long winding path down but he would be down them in four jumps, leaping over our heads. Animal, yup!

This man is exactly what you see. He will tell you exactly what is on his mind, he doesn’t mince words. He makes us all laugh, hard! He gives his whole self to everyone. When he snow blows or cuts the grass, it is not just our yard. He would give you the shirt off his back. When the kids need something, he is on it! He is so social and knows everyone.

Life is not perfect but we have a system, he is always right and I am never wrong. His energy is still high gear, he has traded the back flips for cartwheels and could probably out play the grandkids.

We always joke about renewing our contract around our anniversary, the deal has been sealed once again. So much love to my forever partner!!

We are embarking on a journey right now. One we have done numerous times over the years. So many mile markers have memories attached from over the years.

Some I have no recollection of, a place we stayed to catch some sleep or a newly completed highway. There always seems to be fog in the same spots. Incomplete construction is pretty much a guarantee.

We always have good intentions of driving straight through. We have done it before, but recovery robs some vacation time away. We trade off driving time, he knows what parts terrify me, I know when he is getting tired. The music plays almost the whole time.

We talk about previous trips, the year our son could get out of his car seat, our daughter getting motion sickness. Once my daughter was getting so hungry she grabbed her dads hair to make her point! All the times we made the trip at night so we didn’t have to listen to the three of them fight.

There is always the review of the near miss accidents we have witnessed. Or even the ones we see on the way. Whether it be back home or our arrival, there is nothing sweeter than reuniting with the ones you love!