People look East the time is near…

So yesterday was the first Sunday in Advent. The wreath was prepared and the candles were trimmed and ready for lighting. The brass followers were polished.

The service itself was very nice with the music and the Advent wreath in the darkness of the chapel with the first candle lit.

Then I was with some friends for lunch - what are your Christmas plans? All the rest in the group had family to spend time with.

I talked with my sister and brother in law on the west coast yesterday. We will not meet up at Christmas but parcels are being prepared.

I will be spending time with my church family. There is always lots of Altar Guild activities. I have already made a list. Candles and flowers need particular attention.

Going back in my past I was always in Lachute for Christmas and I missed St. John’s. Now I look fondly at those times past in my life. Then I remember my mom coming to Ottawa to spend time with me.

When looking through my old diary from 1974 when I first came to Ottawa there was some question of maybe being in Toronto for Christmas. That did not happen and Kathi and I were with my mom and dad in Lachute. Little did we know that was to be his last Christmas before he died the next May.

*****

Enjoy the people and times and places that one has - you never know what is around the corner.

Taking a trip in several different ways

My sister came from Vancouver…yeah!! She took a plane trip…on several planes in fact.

We took several short trips while she was in Ottawa
- to see Abracadabra
- to the Experimental Farm to check out the gardens and the animals
- to a cheese store
- to dinner with some of my former work colleagues

Then we took a driving trip over in the Toronto direction to see a mutual friend and her husband. This was a very pretty drive. We stopped at Port Perry for lunch and then we arrived.

These friends have a lovely old house which they have been fixing up for the past 10 years. We met all the resident animals
- one horse
- one horse on trial
- one donkey
- one dog
- one cat

We also took a trip back in time as we met up with long time riding friends from Lachute. Do you remember this horse or this person? My sister always seems to be better at this than I am.

We shared some nice meals together.
There was much talk about parents - still alive or not - and horse companions.

Then I took a trip home driving through the countryside until I got the 401 Highway, There were lots of country driving before seeing more signs of civilization.

I quite easily got onto the highway and was on my way home to Ottawa.

My sister’s trip ended by going into Toronto and the airport and flying home.

Kathi on Red Serge

Kathi on Red Serge - her current horse. This was taken in the fall of 2007.

Kathi and pony

Kathi on Pepperfoot - probably the first pony she rode. This was taken in the summer of 1964 when she first started riding at Wal Ken Farms.

Red Serge: Kathi's horse

Health care

I have now worn glasses for so long that they are a part of me. I will never be saying - where are my glasses?

I remember going to the Shriners’ Circus in Montreal and not being able to see all the 3 rings. I also had trouble in school seeing what was going on.

I got contact lens over 20 years ago and I wore them consistently for a long time. Unfortunately now I have to wear reading glasses as well. I find this to be somewhat of a nuisance so I gave up the lens except when I am riding. With a riding helmet and all the dust the contact lens are more comfortable.

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Recently my left eye needed some extra attention. I went to my own ophthalmologist and he sent to a retinal specialist. I got a message that I was to be at the Riverside Hospital before 10:30 a.m. It was about 9:30 a.m. and I was in downtown Ottawa. It was a snowy day.

I got to the hospital in plenty of time. When I went into the parking lot I was getting concerned because there were cars driving around looking for a space to park. I joined the queue. In time I gave up and went and parked on a side street.

My adventures at the Eye Care Centre - Riverside Campus took almost 3 hours. When I eventually saw the specialist he found a small tear and used a laser to repair the tear. This medical technology is quite amazing.

When I was all done I was very satisfied with my treatment. It had been less than 48 hours since the problem had started. I was glad to find my car again and be on my way home.

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One of my earliest health care adventures I do not remember except that my parents told me about it. I was very little. My dad was left in charge of me. He was changing my diaper and I got curious and swallowed a safety pin. Fortunately it was closed. I was rushed to the doctor. My dad was in a panic. An X-ray was taken and the pin was clearly seen. It time it passed. I do not know how long it took my dad to recover from this adventure.

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I do not remember trips to the doctor when I was growing up. I think I must have been healthy. In those days you did not get all the vaccinations for the childhood diseases. I had 2 kinds of measles, chickenpox and mumps.

When I had the chickenpox I was kept out of school for 3 weeks but I had no holiday. My mom had arranged with my teacher to have my schoolwork sent home. I passed the chickenpox on to Kathi who was then attending kindergarten. Then all her class had chickenpox as well.

*****

Now my trips to my GP involve a lot of tests and followup for the test results. The results have always been satisfactory and those minor health issues I have are being taken care of. She apologized one time for sending me all over the city to different clinics and hospitals.

Like my mom

It seems that I looked very much like my mom. When we were out together, people would remark on that fact. There are old pictures somewhere in my basement that show a very strong resemblance.

I know I am continuing some of my mom's traits and so is my sister. My sister is a great cook. I took her the contents of my mom's recipe box.

The last time I visited my sister, she put me to work cleaning silver. She said my mom had cleaned silver for her too. I have distant memories of my grandmother - my mom's mom - cleaning silver in Lachute.

I started to read the Kathy Reichs series. My mom liked them because of the Montreal connection - she went to university and lived in Montreal during the war.

Summers and gardens past

My mom' s garden in the distant past. My sister is watering the tulips - so it must be spring. The old hospital is next door so it must be about 1956 or 1957 judging from the age of Kathi.


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As I was closing the garage door the other day and seeing signs of fall coming - in the air, in the trees, the squirrels are certainly busy tucking away their winter supplies - I was reminded of summers past.

My mom liked to sit out on her patio and when I was visiting, I was out with her as well. We would have lunch, drink some of her homemade lemonade, look at the garden and what was growing - tomatoes possibly or less possibly strawberries, reading a book, doing a crossword puzzle from the daily newspaper.

It was a quiet place to be and now that place and time is gone from my life and I miss it.

Panda: longtime companion of Vicki and Kathi

I am sad to report the death of Panda – age 92 (teddy bear years) at the Gloucester Bears Retirement Residence. Panda had been in declining health for some years – well loved but stuffing showing and shaky paws. He retired to the Residence in March 2008 after too many renovations and confusion and noise at his owner's residence in Ottawa.

Panda came to life at the Toronto CNE in the early 1950's. He was won at the fair by Kathi's godparents. He lived for some years in Montreal on Mansfield Street. He then moved to Stuart Street in Lachute Quebec. After a short stay there – there were no children to play with – he was given to Vicki and Kathi. He enjoyed many happy years at Princess Street Lachute. About 15 years ago, he moved to Ottawa to live with Vicki. There he was a source of inspiration – teddy bear style – lots of hugs and cuddles – to various younger teddy bears and stuffed bunnies. He particularly enjoyed the company of Ruthie Rabbit – a long time friend.

He will be sadly missed by Vicki and Kathi and Ruthie Rabbit and various teddy bears and other assorted stuffed animals. RIP old friend.