As we get closer and closer to the finish line ...in other words as we age. it's kind of a time to take stock. Mac beat me to the finish line, so I am no longer with him. I am alone, but that doesn't mean that I am totally alone, I have my family, my friends, and so therefore, I should make the most of the last few lengths of this race. So what am I doing to make this time meaningful for myself and others...hmm.?.That is what I'm trying to think about .
During my life, family came first..i.e. my parents and my sister, when I was younger, later, my husband Mac, and of course our five children..While they were growing up, Mac and I made sure we took care of them, and had fun vacations, spent some time on our own, made sure we got ourselves educated to do this ..and then outside of this we did social activism.
During the Viet Nam War, we worked to help the conscientious objectors from the U.S. Also during that time, I belonged to a group, known as the Voice of Women. One of the many objectives we had was one I was proud to be a part of, that was getting baby teeth ...we would go to homes where young children were living, ask for the baby teeth that they were losing, and then sending them to be checked out for strontium 90, which is radioactive isotope produced by nuclear fission. Although we did get some doors slammed in our face...The findings were such that we were able to stop the testing of the H. bomb in the west. Of course we were also part of the ban the bomb movement. This led protests against war, and we were always proud to march for human rights.
Actually I could go on to mention all the activities both Mac and I were part of Amnesty International, i.e. being there for the Native people during the 91' crisis, and being there for them after as well. We belonged to various groups from the 70's to now that helped to make social changes in the city and the country . We were and I am still part of the Grandmother to Grandmother Campaign, through the Stephen Lewis Foundation helping the grandmothers in Africa. This and being part of a Church group who help here in Canada as well as abroad.
I'm proud to see the NDP making it's headway in Canada, and let's hope they keep up the political will to be a source for helping the downtrodden and not become a part of the politicians who are only there to take. Our NDP representative here in Lachine is excellent. She not only meets and greets but follows through on her commitments.
Now as I'm slowing down as so many of us are that went through those years of working for human rights, I'm kind of taking it upon myself to be a visitor. What does that mean. Well without really doing it as a part of any group movement. I've been visiting the elderly right here in our building, the ones on the 2nd floor where Mac used to be. I've been visiting my friend's husband, as she is now laid up in hospital, broken wrist and hip, and while there checking out the other patients that were there when Mac was there. I have several friends who are as old if not older than myself who need help or visits and this is not a chore as I would visit them anyway. BUT. all this to say, it seems strange but apparently there is a method and a means of being a visitor. Just found that out, as the priest from the Anglican church that I've been attending ...just called to ask me to go to a special day for pastoral care people..apparently they had classes to teach techniques and ideas to help be a visitor..So we are having a retreat day...How nice...I think this is meant to be.
So in honour of my dearest Mac, I'm carrying on with helping the people who have the big A. as well as a few others here in our building...and a few more friends who cannot get around so easily now
I have a new/old Mission, I am a VISITOR.
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