My Daughter's Birthday

This blog was still a draft (from 2015) as I did my Christmas blog yesterday and I began a clean-up. So today I will finished it because in a month time it is my daughter's birthday; and after 9 years in computer never-never land it is time to be published. Also next month we will gather as a small family gathering in Ste Jerome (20 minutes North of Montreal). These small reunions may even bring together the kids with their grand kids,  so we appreciate the opportunity as long as health allows. Also it is nice to tell this story of her birth and show the bond which exist with her mother. And ofcourse myself. (as I told my granddaughter, no one know who the author is or the people' life)

So the draft of this blog written in February 2015 (below) even now company in 2024 are repairing customer dis-satification of Facebook and charging for it..

2015 BLOG wasL

If I was to explain to you that my lifetime career and  employments  were with computers; ( computer room supervisor and later analyst) you may be surprised with this blog. As I  indicates clearly that I know nothing about the new computer technology. Of course for the last 6 or 7 years I have been using my retirement as President of a non-profit organization helping the poor and homeless.

As this blogs states, today is my daughter's birthday and I attempted to send her a gif, (a graphics image), with a small birthday message on her Facebook. First mistake was ofcourse with social media webpages like FaceBook which offers a service but is more involved with advertising and collection of data of it user.

 The next problem was if I found a gif and wanted to share it; it would be send  to my Facebook page but if I attempted to change anything I no longer was able to connect to the gift gif website.

When I was living in Quebec and learning French my daughters spend a lot of hours of effort helping me to speak a good French. Their efforts were necessary because I was raised in the Maritines where there is a lot of Salt Air and of course a lot of swimming in the sea. I was to later discover that my inner ears were damaged by the Salt Air or salt water swimming. 

When I was tested by the federal government, many years later about my difficulty in learning French  it was discovered that I was "Tone Deaf".  Due to this tone deaf, I discovered that  I could not distinguish the sound between certain  the French word. For examper the french word for "farm" and the French word for "woman" sound a bit similar and I could not hear the sound so could not reproduce it. So in the comment on her birthday wish, which I sent to her on Facebook; I said maybe I should sit down with her and learn about Facebook and how to use it.

Always a curve in the road of life

  My first big learning was that although Facebook is free their transmission of ads based on information they collected from our use of Facebook is their principle way of making money. A few ads would not be annoying with a free website, but when I post to Facebook on my tablet or iPhone and a few seconds after posting, I discover my post is gone to be only be replaced by ads, it is extremely annoying. (No wonder I'm not using Facebook that much anymore).

At 73 I believe that I am using a computer, my tablet and the  rather older style "iPhone" as well as anyone. I understand that using a computer to view Facebook does have more advantages then trying a Facebook app on a tablet or an iPhone. I understand that because of the size of the tablet or iPhone certain options will have been omitted. And certainly I did not think that the ads would be any left. I knew that  using a tablet or iPhone instead of a computer meant a difficulty reading on a smaller device.

Since it is my daughter's birthday I'm  doing  this blog to  maybe document her birth, as several family members follow this. Her mother waited with patience as she was a bit later than the announced arrival date. When it started, we drove to the hospital and into proper care without any  Emergency  interruptions. however once she was into a bed and induced labor induced by means of an IV the whole story of my daughter's birth started.

With doctor and nurse helping her and using a heart monitoring machine, we were listening to the baby heart. The doctor said that something was wrong as we became aware thateach effort to induce labor seem to stop the baby's heart. When I realized what was happening as the doctor explained why the heartbeat was stopping; I became extremely sick to my stomach and had to be walked by the nurse to the bathroom of the room. Left there,as the nurse returned to help the delivery, I was attempted to settle my stomach but the sound of my vomiting brought the nurse back. The nurse and Doctor should have been concerned and helping my wife with the delivery,but instead the nurse was spending a lot of the time with me.

Well it happened the doctor decided that they would rush my wife off to the operating room and do a cesarean. As I waited and worried, in the hall outside the operating theatre; I began to feel a bit better and within what seemed  a few minutes the nurse came back with my daughter. There had been no cleanup; as our baby was taken from her mother and brought directly to me. As I look down at the blood covered my daughter; I was lost in my gaze and  reactions, standing speachless

, However, as the nurse wiping some blood from the face and forehead so I could give her a kiss to the forehead; reality appeared. Every father should certainly experience this joy.  I know it isn't the bonding that a mother mother has with her child but it was an incident which I will always remember and which laid the foundation of father and daughter love.

 Both my daughters are wonderful ladies, girls and I am very proud of them. As I always work nights and often that  shift ending to arrive home prior to the midnight feeding. ( both girls), I may have bonded as a father more than most.

The raison this blog is about Facebook is that as I attempted to send a birthday greeting to my daughter  I commented on how when she was five or six she and her sister, both help me with my French. And, now I returning to my previous teacher with a suggestion that I should make a visit to learn about Facebook.  Always appreciating how my daughters, even before their school started where helping me. For that raison I expected that they would follow in their grandmother's step. My wife's mother and sister were both teachers.

Christmas Day Visit 2023

 

Today is Christmas day 2023 and it is 7:30 PM as I am waking up from my day of sleep. I was very happy to have a visit this afternoon  from my oldest granddaughter. Although she was tired and in a hurry to get home from work, she made my Christmas day joyful, and stayed at least two hours. She was a good listener as this years Christmas gift to myself was new dentures and "You look different" was her first comment. I am sure I also sounded different.

We talked about God and about native spiritual ideas which has been a major part of my 80 years. She took time to do my long hair into a Braid, as a Elder would greet a new student. As a baby, I was often her daycare gardien as it was before the present DayCare structure.

My blog writing, usually about my sports; is not hard these days as I usually dictating it on my iPhone and sending it to my computer where my blogs are build. Often, as grandparents we realize our missed opportunities as we should have educated our girls in religion. But it seemed society has also educated them in it"s new moral culture. Today neither of my girls are married but both have grandchildren and live good and honest lives. They have grandkids  to baby sit as their children often request of them. My youngest daughter  seems to be always babysitting her grandkids somewhere at the 4 different homesteads around Montreal. She is a life-line with her free time and all the DayCare strikes.

 

 In my study of the Native Spiritualism, I have always tried to do  my daily "Greeting of the day" and my "Hair is still a Traditional cut".  The Natives that still "Greet the day" are usually following a type of spirital structure of the Native based on "Seven Arrows Beliefs". ( as 7 directions of N,S,E,W,up,down, inward) working toward a triple harmony. (Self, Others, Our small world)  

During our  Christmas day visit discussion, I introduce my granddaughter about another God, the spirituality of the natives and the value of being a good person. In the "Greeting",  I introduced her to the three harmonies of life. To be in harmony with yourself whether it’s to be crying because you did something badly or something really hard like a broken heart..

It is hard to be in harmony with yourself and that is the help that your "life companion" is suppose to give you. I am lucky that my emotions are usually kept in check.. Yes, I can be sad and unhappy but I believe as I have for many years; That my sadness in the absence of happiness should not be something that others bear. So I see life as good and bad times and I wait with patience for these bad time to pass and good times to return.

No-one likes to reveal their feelings and emotions it is like being nude. We are not good at showing off ourselves or who we are. I say this, because in a relationship or marriage, you must allow your partner to share those moments which are not pleasant and sometime they can not help.  But of course you must respect their decision to not help. For they may not know how. It may be something that is in a relationship that needs development. It is what LOVE is all about. "Let Others View our Emotions. (LOVE)

JJT for Marie.

New Year 2020

 Welcome to the year 2020.
 Happy New Year to family and friends.

Early January 1st 2020

I close this blog with the following remark "So here I sit.. my teeth and my computer.. and after my  New Year walk; which like tea leaves in a cup indicate to me to expect a year of surprises.  However, I do see some good coming." which suggest to me 2020 will be quite the year.

For the last two decades It has been a tradition to go for a New Year’s Day walk in Nature and from the adventure to read the future events and maybe even do a video or photos for Facebook.

 This is the first year for this blog which is referenced to my family; by my Facebook photo (above). It is my greeting  for the year 2020; and maybe a laugh of all that can go wrong in 90 minutes. Or a warning of what 2020 might bring.  Be Prepared not Surprised.

Looking at the photo and realizing that I have forgotten my teeth, my first resolution is to have my teeth repaired (2 need removal) and partial  will need to be modified to hide the hole of those two newly removed teeth. (about $1000)

First of all; certainly, the weather is important in understanding the future and 2020 luck. I will say that most walks, in the past have always been with nice weather; like this year. The light clean powder snowfall reminds me of 2004 when in Northern Ontario I walked in the provincial Park.

 It was a Beautiful walk at that time in Northern Ontario, but there were no tracks of rabbits or other small game. In such a remote area one would expect to find in the new snow more than just  the fresh tracks of Wolves.  These  dangerous signs although beautiful, told me that it would be a dangerous year to expect and  that with care I could avoid the many surprises.

 I had gone to Engarville to be there on 31 December (for taxes reason) and take down my apartment which was vacant but with a lot still in storage. In first days of 2004, I returned through northern Quebec (Laurentian) and stayed with Christina in Ville Lemoyne. It was a tough year following the many Ontario incidents but I passed it successful. Maybe because I had expected such dangers in the new year, and did what was necessary to avoid them.

This year, in Longueuil, we did not have a White Christmas with temperature  just above zero and sidewalks and streets  bare; after several days of rain and freezing ice.  Even the New Year weather had been announced as three days of rain, What a way to start year 2020.

 But as the temperatures remained  below zero the snow has been falling now for 2 days . Of course, in greeting a nice virgin snow at 6am, I see it as a good luck sign for the welcome in 2020, I am thinking, as I walk the uncleared street; of a wonderful year of good health and plenty of luck. Everything is so beautiful.

New Year Eve Wishes

 First, last night, as the snow was falling and I  prepared for bed and finished my computer play I received several "Happy New Year" wishes from family members and friends as far away as British Columbia, on my Iphone.

Things that tell me of the grand kids and their kids which like those funny characters. And, now is probably the time, to say the old year 2019 was not all that bad.  Although getting everything from the government (health card and hospitalization) was a lot of problems. I went to bed at 10:30 and slept well.

So, out the door at 6:45 with the streets not plowed and street light still lit. No signs of people or cars. My plan was to catch my bus and greet 2020 with  my walk in the local Nature park.  Now, it is important to understand that the bus at the end of the street, goes one way to the "Base de Plein L`Air  (Nature Park) and the other way up town to the metro station. Being January 1, 2020 I believe we had a Sunday’s service which is one bus every hour.  With good intentions, I time myself to catch the bus passing at 7:15 in the direction of the park.

Streets empty Jan 1 2020

However, as I arrived, I can see the bus of the opposite direction approaching. Change of plans, I cross the street and now decided to go get my coffee at McDonald’s and then catch the return bus in 30 minutes and go to the park. Such a small alteration of plans.. Probably will have to do many such changes in 2020 to keep things moving at a good and lucky pace.

I have often use this first of the new year walk to prepare myself for the coming year if things all went good and I would anticipate a good year if things were surprisingly bad then I’m ready for a bad year.

Everything seems to be going good as I cross the street and  get on the bus. My bus pass does the recognized  "Beep Beep" which indicating that all is OK.  I had wonder if I had forgotten to renew my Senior pass which probably would have expired 31 December. (This was a false sign as the Beep Beep had been because it used my last remaining ticket on my card and my card had  really expired  as I was later to learn)

Not aware of this first Bad Luck Sign, I arrived at McDonald’s and got my coffee and an Egg McMuffin without too much delay, expecting the returning bus is 10 minutes. As I look out the window the returning bus was passing  and I had missed it again and will wait for the next bus in a half hour. (Normal Bad Luck)

Peacefully enjoying my $1 coffee I find that my iPhone finds the McDonald Wi-Fi. I know it is a weak signal balance ( 1.93 download and .63 upload) as indicated by my signal app. However, my tablet, simply refuses to recognize the presence of Wi-Fi. (I think my first indication of bad luck). Thinking the bus was on Sunday schedule for Jan 1st, I have set my alarm to 8:30 and I’m waiting when the next bus passes in front of me at 8:06. Oh No. another 30 minute wait.

My failed New Year Photo

Now, I decide that I’ll take my coffee and go to the nearby school grounds which is empty and covered with a freshly fallen snow to do my January 1 greeting photo.
The benches are alone in a field of white but there is nobody around for my photo so my iPhone is set to time lapse put up on a Branch in a tree.

This requires that I walk to the bench, sit and wave  to the camera and then go back and shut the phone off.  Done.
As I choose one of the time lapse photos I realize  that no way i can use this photo for my Greeting 2020 photo. What  ??  I have is  another sign of 2020 misfortune which I can expect. (Don t expect thing to all be what you expect them to be)

So I go back to the Bus Stop  and wait for the bus deciding that because I forgot my teeth  ( first sign of misfortune), I’ll go home and get my teeth and then go to the park for my 2020 photo. (At this point, I do not know I wasted a ticket to come to Mcdonald a 20 minute walk)

. The bus arrives and I get the surprise that my seniors pass is expired. So my last bus ticket was wasted, Another misfortune I guess that I will go home and spend the day working on the computer.

So here I sit.. my teeth and my computer.. and after my  New Year walk; which like tea leaves in a cup indicate to me to expect a year of surprises.  However, I do see some good coming.

 I am waiting on a used computer send before Christmas from Portland Oregon by a dear friend of computer  play. And the GST government cheque is suppose to be in two days.  I was expect a small $110. But, not surprised if it has been held back  to pay a  April 2019 overpaid NB tax payment .  But Life goes on... and all is good if you accept it as it comes... You have been warned, as I have seen in these tea leaves....to be prepared for 2020 with a lot of surprises.  Love you all family and friends...

John (J.J.)

Spirit Visit or Angel

After the death of my dear Friend, Joannie, there is still so very much to do.

During her "Celebration of Her Life" I had taken several Videos which is intended for her son Ralph, who is in Alberta and could not be here.  Also many things to do on computer and plenty of e-mails to send. Important is the special recording of a dream which I promised to send to her Daughter when things quite a bit. So the thought of this blog and some meaning to that dream. Send to confort me by her.

Each of us have our beliefs. And because of our religion or lack of it, we all have suggestions of what someone should believe. In many religions, a  specific period of time is respected between the death and the burial.  I, personally believe the spirit and Peace giving abilities of the deceased are close to us for this short time.

Many years ago, in the 80s when visiting  my sister Francis in Pugwash River;  I saw my first  Spirit or "Ghost". Since then have believe in the presence of these spirits  Today, I take comfort in this belief that the spirits of love ones are  with us.

That day in Pugwash River, I was visiting a friend and as we all sat at the kitchen table talking in mid afternoon, I told her mother "You have a visitor,..Somebody just picked up the mail and is coming in the back door" She replied  "Oh, did you see him too" She explained that many other people had seen someone come from the Mail Box into the back yard.  She did not know who's Spirit people were seeing but usually was saw in the morning.. Yes that’s true. And, although a young man, I was not smoking anything.   Actually. since that time I have seen many spirits through the years and with the exception of bad dreams of passed people never fear them.

The reason I’m writing about this , is because while living alone here at the homestead; after Joannie had passed, I saw twice within minutes, an old lady sitting in a chair. Later, when I asked about the mother of Joannie kid's father (Mrs Laird); I discovered that before her death she had live many years withand her son and Joannie.
 But more to the point of this Blog.  The last  night of my  friend Joanne's stay in the hospital; I sat up with her that night while she slept.   During that time, at about 3 in the morning, I  fell asleep for a few minutes and had a dream which was to help me handle  the  pain and anguish at her coming death.  In that short dream, there was a young girl who emitted a tone of peace.  During the dream, while being approached by this young woman whom I did not reconize; all my sadness and anguish  about the coming death of Joannie had passed. The dream had many other aspects, but the most important was the sense of tenderness and love.  After awaking from that 15 minutes nap, I took my iphone and walked down the hall to a visitor area and recorded it on the Iphone while I still remembered the details and the feelings.

  As my wife, Gisele, knows, i take dreams very important and remember them in great detail.  So standing there in the visitor area, within a few minutes I had recorded the whole dream.

What was unique about this dream is that in the dream as I was climbing up a sort of stairway, there was this man  who was worried I would fall.  I joked with him not to worry and as I touched his Chest (in the dream ) to said to him to "be carefully and not get to worried  because he was going to have a heart attack". Those were my actual words I recorded on my Iphone.
 At this same time, I am told around 4 am in the morning, Joannie's daughter companion was having heart problems and they had taken him to the hospital immediately; as  I was later to discover the next day He was even put on the same floor but in the opposite wing of the hospital.

Of course, I  did not know this  heart attack in my dream was actually happening to Joannie;s daughter companion of 50. It was not  until the next day when the daughter came to visit Joannie , her mother, that I learn of the incident. This would have meant nothing except immediately after having the dream, while it was fresh in my mind I went down the hall and record it the dream. I believe now and because I have promised a copy of the recording to Joannie's  other daughter Tammy. I beleive this was send as a gift to help Tammy with the passing of her mother and the pain which would come. 

Another incident occured in those few days after Joannie's death. Her 20 year old Granddaughter was  having a very hard time with her grandmothers death and a few days after the death; she awoke from a spirit visit dream.  Her boyfriend woke her up  to stop her crying  and she told  him that she was visiting her grandmother at the Homestead; and after talking to her grandmother, she now was OK with the death. Of all the grandchildren, she was taking it the hardest and had cried for two days straight. Since having this dream the granddaughter has now able to handle  her grandmothers death.

Closer to home, in my wife family many years earlier, I had the same sort of problem accepting the death of my wife's uncle whom I had got to know closely as he lived in the same house and whom had driven us (teenagers) to various places.  In my wife family house, I saw His spirit in the  stairway of the house shortly after his death. I even knew it was him and the dream helped me to deal with his death,  As I conforted the grandchildren of Joannie, I explained how their grandmother, Joannie,  would visit each one of them in the near future to help them with their grief. The first to be visited was Hally because she found it so hard.

 I believe strongly in these helpful visits to the grieving members of the family, and accept that not everyone will accepts this story.   I certainly was not thinking of this when I was sitting in the hospital with my dear friend.. It just happen.  That the Spirit of a loved one will come and visit  in time and help them handle their grief.

 I was lucky,  with the death of my friend, because in her last week at home, I was able to help her, In those last days it was hard required making a big effort as I was the only one living at the homestead with her.  I got some peace and certainly less of a burden of lost. . Joannie was a loving person and even after death could not allow her grandchildren and children (and friends) to suffer and came in a dream to help.   As I read this blog, nearly 2 years later and I am at home because of the Coronavirus's country lockdown; I know this virus is very dangerous for me (at 75).

Believe what you want 

ReplyForward

Family Life After Death

Following the death of a Friend or Family member,

Joannie (1945 - 2018)

We often get together for a "Celebration of one’s life". However, I guess we should live every day as if it is our last and celebrate the happiness of being alive.

A month ago my dear friend Joanne,  passed away quickly with cancer
The last month it has been and eye-opener to what happens after our death. Yes, there’s a great deal of sadness by all. Family tend tp come together to share the loss. But this blog is to look at our material world in which we live, and seems, to often , is to ask the first question of “What’s going to happen to…… “. and thoughts turn to land, home, belongs and everything but helping others to cope with this very sad time. Over the years we accumulate a great many things from gardening and home repairs to personal belongings like clothing, music and even Make-up. Sad, but even on her hospital death bed, a family member asked "Can I have her ring, which she is wearing" She was thinking of those she would leave behind as she made arrangement for me and her dog to remain at the Homestead.

Missy

Today, a month later, I still live at the Homestead where we shared accommodations. Her granddaughter was explaining my presence to Friends and said “ This is JJ, (John James) My grandmother’s friend" 

 For the last month I have worked to prepare for the coming " Celebration of Life" gathering and take care of Missy who was very much attached to Joannie. I have introduce her (Missy) to the Dog Park and everyday it is her moment of joy.  When 5pm arrives she will start asking me for the car and if we are going.

Since, last month there has been much work in the preparation for the Her "Celebration of life"   Yes there was regular charge to do

Missy at Dog Park

like cutting the lawn but during our life together, we lived with the acceptance of things in  certain places, It seem that everything gathered in the long (40 foot) porch, and when several people are coming to the house for this sort of celebration; everything must be put put in its place. The entrance porch was full,  Yes, I mean full of everything over the past few years had come from the car from somebody moving, or just brought indoors due to bad weather. Where to put everything.  The house was also full of things which we collect and make up our life.

Joannie Loved Flowers

Finally, the 11 August arrived,  the day for the "Celebration of Joannie's Life". Sunny and  everyone seem there as the yard was completely fill with vehicles of friends family and neighbours.  Some were missing like her Son from Alberta and a sister, but all who knew her over the years came to celebrate and share the lost.

Joannie,  my friend, (photo)  loved roses so in her entrance

as a gift, I planted two rosebushes which I was happy to do.  Of course, now her residence will become the residence her grandsons and whether theses rosebushes are care for or not doesn’t really matter because, I believe Joanne will be looking down and sees these rosebushes every day. Every day As I do my daily chores, of cutting the lawn and maintaining the property; I have this joy of her presence.

Family Friction ??  Yes, after a month, I guess there was certain to be friction in the family who waited for the decision of the missing Last Will. But in general the gathering was friendly. Each had their own interest and certain  family members wanted to know what was promised to them.  Actually all celebrated "her life" as she lived it. "Loving everyone and always having a good word to say about everyone." 

Morning Flowers

Today, Everything is now over, myself, I  do the regular choirs (feeding  dog and cat and regular cleaning) and placed flowers on the kitchen table every morning which was  one of her joys. Although, the photos with her urine of ashes still cover the living room table I find the house empty.  . However, with the exception of a couple family members which have work very hard over the last month and  now come daily to divide  all of Joannie's belongings; most of the family members coming are people gettng their share of what my friend Joannie left behind.

Where the celebration of life was cars and  over 80 people,  often people which were not seen during  the last week or months of her life; this last week has been trucks and  the continual question, “Can I have this or can I have that ?” To watch a truck load of furniture or  bedroom thing drive out of the driveway I can only think “They certainly must have a a bed at home". or "Do they really need that or is it something that can be sold" That is life after our DEATH ?  "Who is going ot get what "

Rest in peace my dear friend.

 Of Course, you know, that those that you leave behind all still  have their day-to-day problems; which you are now free from, but even in these time; we still think of you and miss your presence.  Dear Friend it will not be the same.

Laughing at Stupid Things

Monday morning and I'm sitting here on the bench  in the local Outdoor "Base de Plein Air" park

In the "Base de Plein Aire"

with  the falling snow. It's a light sprinkling snow, so everything is white  amd with the temperature  about -10,  it is beautiful.

I am happy I came out in this  small storm because as I sit here I can see over on the ice rink , in front of me,  a couple of young parents pulling their child on the toboggan. It reminds me  of how when my children were young we did those things as a family. Gisele made me  work at being a good father and  I still see my kids at that age in dreams and memories. Life is great as a new generation replaces us in the endless cycle of parent n Kids.
 

The Christmas Card which I am reading from my family member, ( because I have promised that I would read one sentence  a day), has brought me to this place and quite moment.

 This blog is about "Laughing at Stupid Things" because my Christmas card sender had talked about  happy times which she remembered sharing with me and her cousins. She comments how very much they laughed and how they enjoyed  time spend with me (their uncle who talked bad french) as kids. 

Well I guess I never stopped making people laugh because on my bench in the photo is a black bag which  I took to the park with a lunch and a bottle of coffee. Yes as I dictated to the tablet on the park bench for this blog I had my coffee.As I dictate, for my blog,  here in the park, many people are jogging or walking by. I'm happy to be here  on the outdoors bench.

 Of course I don't yet know the surprise I am to experience when I leave and go home on the bus later.  But I guess  now is a good place to mention it...  I didn't close the top of my coffee bottle tight, and while I was return home on the bus, I felt my underneath (bum) being wet. YES "WET" ???? No, at my age I still don't need diapers but I have over the years sat on a bus seat where a diaper did not catch it all.

Yes the bottle of coffee had open and all ran out over me. It had spilled all over me, and it after had run down into the single seat where I was sitting. Now, I am home on the computer, after walking in the cold with all the back of my pants wet and cold; (those pants are in the washer).  Sorry no photo available. ha ha  who would want to see a back view of me...(ass anyone) Being re-edited now....

 

As funny as this  might seem it's not very funny to the next person who's going to sit in that same seat on the bus. I told the bus driver, as I got off the bus that my bottle had open, but of course he won't do anything. Maybe he will report it on his Maintenance report. Today workers do the less they can.
  

In taking the above photo I had to put my tablet on timer and place it on a stump; so I guess this Christmas I will buy myself a tripod as a gift.

 I thank the many people that have shared life with me and  allowed me to be  part of their life. God bless you all and Merry Christmas. (dictated from the park bench and then copied to this blog)

Winter in Moncton or Montreal

The Colder Maritime weather began to change the leaves of urban Moncton, It is that time to evaluate the winter activities  At 70 years old, each day is valuable and needs to be spend wisely. Last year, I tried to do a "Snowbird Retreat" and spend a couple of months in Longueueil,  south shore  Montreal, Playing Pétanque at the local Bouledrome and being around the family was great. Last year, I had to cut the visit short and returned to Moncton in mid November bwcause it is hard to find a room and not have problems with the conditions of stay..

  Enjoying the sport, I could play a different type Petanque team game each week night and still do  a tournament on the weekend.. Petanque is much like my  summer sport of Lawn Bowls with a shorter lenght playing field but the same game objective.  Managing a team toward a win. Pétanque is the french version of Lawn Bowls and the canadian sport of Curling.
.
Bowling out of the Riverview Club of Manchester LBC, and not having a executive role, my  Lawn Bowls consisted of the provincial Interclub and a few competitions, When I was not at the greens practicing. I worked at the nearby public park to build a Pétanque court. The city of Moncton had planned to redo the Read Park and from June to late August their contractor had removed the Play Jungle Jim from near the woods and into the center of the Park.

 A bike path was planned for the edge of the woods and as they removed the old Kids play area, I approached the city's planning and recreational staff to suggest that the Kid's Play area could be converted into a Pétanque area. It was agreed that this area's development would be delayed and I could work to build the Petanque court.

At this point, although Moncton is a bilengial city and the french Acadian make up a large percentage of the population, there was no knowledge of the sport of Pétanque. When I began talking to the city staff the word Bocce was often used. When it was explained that Bocce was the Italian game of Bowls as Lawn Bowls was the English game, and Pétanque is played all over france and Quebec; my reply was "Great Idea, but there is no budgeting for such a development"   When I told them that I would, with a few friend build the Pétanque court if they allow me the present Play ground material, it was accepted.

In the beginning the area of development was large enough to develop 6 Pétanque lanes of 4 meters wide. However, with the Bike path running so close to the Pétanque court and the need of a grassed area between this path and the Court, the size was decreased to two lanes. Final dimension of the court was 25ft by 50 feet. as myself and a few africian immigrants finished the boundries and began to level the playing surface.

At the end of August,, with the contractor finishing the development of the park, it became a question of wheather the city accepted my development or was it to be tuned into a grassly area.  Unable to contact the city staff who were on vacation, the contractor contacted the planning architect who accepted the new Pétanque court.  The gravel was placed and packed and  the landscape of trees and grassly area was completed.

 I finishing the season with the Atlantic Bowls Competition in Prince Edward Island;.A four days of quality competition  was a big expense, which I decided to try as a retired sportsman. Well worth the while, and I understand why some fellow players travel all over Canada to compete  Also during the summer I had spend  a lot of my non-bowls time building the first Pétanque court which exist in Moncton. It was a good summer and now at the age of 70, I did not want to waste my winter with only a tuesday night pool commitments.

Returning from the four dauys of competition of the Atlantich Bowls in Charolettetown, PEI,; it was necessary to decide if I should keep my apartment or make some sort of move.. In March, seven months earlier, the furniace had broken and although I paid heating in my monthly rent of $650; there had been on heat.  It was not the first week of September and I  had told myself that if nothing had changed when I returned from PEI, I was going to move out of the present apartmernt..   Still no heat as I told the landlord in a registereed letter.

The decision was wheather to move to another apartment or completely closedown my my apartment, It all required the sameamount of work of getting a trailor, pack everuthing into boxes and finding help with the moving.  The difference was that if rather than finding another apartment, I just sold everything and kept the miniumn, I did not have all the problems of building another apartment. Also, not know what to expect for the winter seem too much as  the cold of April and May was unbearable with my artistas. So with Kijiji.com selling my livingroom and furniture, and a couple of yard sales it was decided.  Moving out and keeping only my clotghes and a few personal belongings.

The last day, was hard to put my books and VHS cassettes in a box and out on the lawn with the sign of "Free, Take what you want. A Donne". The car was filled top and even the roof rack had boxes and a "Spare Tire" as I drove out of the parking on my way to Montreal on Wednesday, 29th September.

My 1987 Callidac was running well with only 146,000 kilometers actual mileage, but was not starting regularly as my battery as due for replacement.  During thise first few hours between Moncton and Fredericton, I worried if the trip was going to be a trip of problems. My first Gas stop was before Fredericton and although the car had run good with the occational "Jump,jump" as the motor got worked into the trip,I was thinking I would probably be spending the night somewhere along the road.

In Northern New Brunswick,.as I began to climb into the higher elevations, the fog and rain became a continual part of the trip. The windshield wiper were not new but they did their job.  I was forced to keep my speed up to 110 as I followed the large transport and night began to arrive.  Between Edmondton, in the North and the Quebec border, the highway seem to be under construction almost all the way.  With the two lane hightway turning to one lane, left or right as we moved along; and then finally into two-way traffic and the continual darkearn light it was necessary to find one large transport and keep it in sight.

Using the 200 or 300 meters to the transport ahead as a indication of the changing direction of the highway and the changing construction; I followed a clearly light truck for the next 100 or 200 miles.  Actually, followed it right into Rivere de Loup and into the yard of the Quebec Highway éscales.  I had to finally squeeze between two cement balls as I passed the scale and went to the Tim Horton and Subway which was beyond the scales.

Quebec highway and finally the 20 or Trans Canada" was a welcome sight as it was wide and well lit.  At 9pm as I began to approach the edge of the St-Laurance and Quebec City I decided to call my daughter Lisa to give her news of my success.  The car was driving well and now into $200 of gas I had decided that Shell was the best performance gas.  The highway was almost empty and the car was rolling along at 110 and 120 and the music was just quite enough to make the trip enjoyable, although I had to stop somewhere and rest.  So using the Iphone, I called Lisa.  "Dad get a motel and rest" she suggested and offered to pay it.  I explained I had $500 in my pocket and that I appreciate the offer but it was not necessary.

With the Tim Horton stops for coffee I had found the trip agreable. Finally, I decided to pull into a Tourist Stop station at St-George de Bauces.  Well this was good and bad luck.  Good luck in that I had hit a bird in northern New Brunswick and it had broken my grille on the front of the Caddty.  If I had not stopped for this rest area, I would not have seen the damage and I would not have seen thath it would have fallen off.  If I had lost he grill which was not held by only one plastic holding area, it would have fallen and gone under the car and been lost.  I took time to use a cloth scarf to tie it into place and repair it.  Good for the rest of the tirp and certainly save a repair of over $200 as it would be hard to replace.

Bad Luck in that I could not sleep.  First, the Caddy was so filled that it was impossible to streach out and second, the two large transport of PIGS going to market was very ncuh noise.  The PIGS were fighting and like a barnyard extremely nosey.  I decided to try for Montreal.  I first thougtht I would stop at St-Eulalie where my inlaws lived but as I approached and saw that it was near Midnight, it was a mather of trying Drummondville.   Actrally, being in my home area,  I knew the Toursist Stops as they approached.  Finally just after Drummondville, I decided to go of the 20 and sleep.

Deciding to pull out a few winter coats and climbing up on to the Trunk I fould I had fallen asleep and was awaken bu myself snoring.  I felt good and decided to finish the trip to Montreal.  It was only an hour of highway and the traffic was almost none.  I arrived in Longueuil at 4 in the morning and decided to have breakdfast a t Tim Horton.  There I changed my clothes to the better pants and shirt which I would be wearing when I visite the new landlord where I would be sharing an apartment with my own room.

At 8am I called the number and finally knocked on the door and got to meet the land lady .  my room required that I enter my blankets and pillow and by 9:30 I was in bed a attempting to sleep.  Of course, if you hav forced to stay away while driving, it is nto easly to close you eyes and sleep.  almost as if you are goign to have an accident.  So I decided to go have a beer and that would help me sleep.  Yes it idd.  But at 9pm I awoke and knew that my sjgars were low aas i had not eaten much.  Also, I had not done a grocery and so feeling dizzy and weak, I went to to d grocery.  The container of milk I drak and the two candy bars gave me a lift as I took the groceries up the stair and into the fridge.  After a bowl of cereal and milk I was back to bed and settled in to Longueuil.

Over the next few days I slowly moved in my clothes.  Yers the Caddy is still filled and now a week later after visitin my friend in the hospital and a few night of Petanque, I am at the Library on their computer writing ths blog   Tomorrow, I will put phtots with ti and publish it.  Not yet made cotnact with my family and even writing this without my glasses...   " I HAVED ARRIVED IN LONGUEUIL" 

Christmas Giving Cards and Happiness

As the second week of December  finshes and Christmas Day


Nice when all lite up

 approaches; I can see Christmas in a couple of different ways,. First it seems everything is being projected as to when their activity or service  will be closed for Christmas, and then in January 2018 when the activity will be started

 And most important,, this is the time when  family and friends seem to try to get together or to say hello to each other and if they can't visit, they at lease do  some sort of communication.

I was awaken by the doorbell yesterday and was thinking maybe I got a visitor. This was because one of  my friend from New Brunswick is travelling to Quebec City. Montreal and then Toronto by car.. They would be passing through Montreal at this time  and probably sleeping in Montreal so I went to bed thinking that today they might be visiting.. But it was the mailman  who brought me a small package and from the return address I was excited to see that it was from British Columbia which contained a package which contained  two small gifts and a Christmas card.

Christmas cards are common Christmas habit to some people but not me.  I don't think I received a mailed Christmas card for several years. ( Not counting the regular card from my wife)  Although friends, whom \I knew or lived with, seem to receive 20 or 30 of them.

Reads "You're A Blessing "

 

There are Christmas cards that are sent where the sender writes three or four words like "Merry Christmas|", "Season Greetings" or something else usually rather  short. But this card was like a  table side conversation that happens when somebody comes in and  sits for a visit. I could see that it was as if something had been said (written)  and then later something else, and then later something else. It was clear that finally she had to stop writing because all the white space for writing was used up. Where to start ??

So I got my first Christmas card in many years and after viewing the two full interior pages,  I read the first sentence I saw, which filled my eyes with tears as my heart , excited with joy, remembered the thing or time which was being told.  I could not read any more, although there seems to be so much I wanted to read.  But that one sentence brought to mind the love of the sender and a sadness as  it  reminded me of how some people were, in year past, and how much they have  changed and how family had valued me in the past.

The sender, who has had her own hard times of the past years spoke of how we all have experienced the  good time  But that one sentence spoke of memories that were as valuable as gold and  I could see and remember the sender  laughing as she was always laughing as a little girl.

I decided that her card was so valuable that I would read one sentence a day and cherish it. When I say cherish it. I mean to spend time thinking what was being said. Like if somebody was sitting at the table telling you  this thing and you know that the conversation is not going to end soon, If I forced myself to read the whole card at once, it would be over in 5 minutes;  and it might be a long time before I experience this level of happiness and memories. 

 

So I will value it and after I have read every line and spend the day with that memory, I will find time to be sure  to answer the card and remember all the things  written as if it has been a visit and the conversation of a visitor at the kitchen table.

 

Thank You my dear sweet child of the past..  I love you too. You made an old man very happy and all this next fwo weeks will be a new experience as I read a new sentence. Probably in the outdoors on a bench.

God Bless,  The Christ Child be in you home and heart.

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