Thursday, 23 February 2017
Wednesday, 22 February 2017
Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2017
I'm back on track, or hope I am, I did write to say hello I'm back then did something and lo and behold lost my first line..here's hoping this will stay and that you all remember me. My older blogs were mainly about Mac, but as most of those who followed my blog know, my darling Mac died.
Now I do continue to see people with the big A. Alma my friend's mom who lived in the Place behind this building has moved further, but I get to see her when I volunteer on Mondays in her Art Class. I mostly help Alma, but do get to give a hand to the others. Amazing to me is just how alert they are and certainly none have been aggressive or as far gone as some of the patients that are here on the second floor. I guess they have been chosen for their ability to communicate and not become frustrated. Certainly Alma is a case in point. She may say, "No dear, I don' t want to paint, but when I pick up the paint brush and say, well this is what the teacher is suggesting we do...abstract work, or paint in a heart for Valentine's I will kind of do a few strokes, and then Alma seems to feel o.k.my turn...so she has done some fairly good work.
So that is a part of my life, BUT, there is a life after one's loved one dies, and ONE, has to try to continue on and enjoy the time. This is important so doing what I feel is helpful, i.e. working with others, reading, - I now am in two book groups, my original one and one that just opened up at the Library which is right next door..Expanding my mind is the idea, The only thing is my eyes are not the greatest, having macular degeneration requiring me to have an injection in my right eye (wet type of degeneration) and the dry in my left, makes reading for any long stretches not feasible.
Continuing to do exercise, such as walking, yoga, zumba and stretch exercises plus dancing at home all help I hope to keep me supple and active ...as well...meeting people and doing fun things at the local over 55 place which here in Lachine is the "Tea Pot."..and going to Church..now here is the surprise I've been going out with a man that I met at church...This part of the blog is to say how have I kept from getting too sad...Obviously I'm much much better..and so I will tell more about the new man in my next blog...wait for it...ha.
I'm back on track, or hope I am, I did write to say hello I'm back then did something and lo and behold lost my first line..here's hoping this will stay and that you all remember me. My older blogs were mainly about Mac, but as most of those who followed my blog know, my darling Mac died.
Now I do continue to see people with the big A. Alma my friend's mom who lived in the Place behind this building has moved further, but I get to see her when I volunteer on Mondays in her Art Class. I mostly help Alma, but do get to give a hand to the others. Amazing to me is just how alert they are and certainly none have been aggressive or as far gone as some of the patients that are here on the second floor. I guess they have been chosen for their ability to communicate and not become frustrated. Certainly Alma is a case in point. She may say, "No dear, I don' t want to paint, but when I pick up the paint brush and say, well this is what the teacher is suggesting we do...abstract work, or paint in a heart for Valentine's I will kind of do a few strokes, and then Alma seems to feel o.k.my turn...so she has done some fairly good work.
So that is a part of my life, BUT, there is a life after one's loved one dies, and ONE, has to try to continue on and enjoy the time. This is important so doing what I feel is helpful, i.e. working with others, reading, - I now am in two book groups, my original one and one that just opened up at the Library which is right next door..Expanding my mind is the idea, The only thing is my eyes are not the greatest, having macular degeneration requiring me to have an injection in my right eye (wet type of degeneration) and the dry in my left, makes reading for any long stretches not feasible.
Continuing to do exercise, such as walking, yoga, zumba and stretch exercises plus dancing at home all help I hope to keep me supple and active ...as well...meeting people and doing fun things at the local over 55 place which here in Lachine is the "Tea Pot."..and going to Church..now here is the surprise I've been going out with a man that I met at church...This part of the blog is to say how have I kept from getting too sad...Obviously I'm much much better..and so I will tell more about the new man in my next blog...wait for it...ha.
Monday, 28 March 2016
Easter Monday, March 28, 2016....All the eggs are mine o.k.
Easter Monday, and the beat goes on...I went out to return my dvds and book in the library slot ...and perhaps make it to the pharmacy, but the wind and rain drove me right back home. At first I thought it might whisk me off to the land of OZ ...but on second thought realized it would probably whisk me onto the road, what a wind my umbrella went right inside out...but Easter Saturday was fun, the following is what I wrote to my neice who emailed me to know about our Easter weekend.
Just returned home from Maureen’s where we celebrated 4 birthdays (actually we usually celebrate 5 bd’s but Jacob is in Calgary, darn), and of course celebrated Easter. Little Finley and I did an egg search for each other…I was the bunny rabbit then she was..and she got to keep all the eggs, ha. So after too much chocolate, and food, came home and rolled around the house putting stuff away, got some lovely Easter flowers, plant, chocolate, and mixed nuts, enough to last till next Easter… oh boy, need it like a hole in the head…oh well.
Today would have been the day Mac went to Laura Secord's Chocolate Store, to buy half price Easter cream filled Eggs. We would give small ones to the kids for the real Easter day, and then buy the big ones after Easter..Each night after we'd watch the CBC news taking small slices of the Cream filled Eggs, savoring each morsel. I did buy the small ones and as I'm typing I'm pretending I'm not eating one.
I'm the only one in the family who still goes to Church Easter Sunday, or any Sunday for that matter; I always wonder as I go in to church, why I still go, and somehow before I leave I always have the answer; for sure it is not the people who I think I've mentioned many times are the friendliest and most loving; but who can say what overcomes me as I take the wine and the wafer, what makes me fill up with call it happiness, I really don't know, but it's there. So does this mean I BELIEVE unconditionally not really, I question, and I reject so much. We discussed this (my son-in-law, daughter Gaye and myself) on Easter day.
She told me of something she learned from Jehovah Witness person, they do not wear a cross on a chain or believe in having the cross, because as they said, if your father got killed by a gun, would you wear a gun on a chain around your neck...well hmmm. Then on the other hand maybe some would I'm always amazed at the people who tattoo themselves with some of the most violent scenes...or hang a spoon around their neck, cocaine believers???
A united church woman minister has quite a following in her church, they are all unbelievers, looking to believe kind of thing. She was interviewed on CBC, and some say she said she was an Atheist, I didn't hear the interview, but will get it online. In that case so are the people who go to the Unitarian church, wonder why if that is the case she doesn't go there, will have to find out.
Well all this to say, Easter has given me food for thought (other than Chocolate)...It looks like the rain is letting up, so have a good day, bye...
Just returned home from Maureen’s where we celebrated 4 birthdays (actually we usually celebrate 5 bd’s but Jacob is in Calgary, darn), and of course celebrated Easter. Little Finley and I did an egg search for each other…I was the bunny rabbit then she was..and she got to keep all the eggs, ha. So after too much chocolate, and food, came home and rolled around the house putting stuff away, got some lovely Easter flowers, plant, chocolate, and mixed nuts, enough to last till next Easter… oh boy, need it like a hole in the head…oh well.
Today would have been the day Mac went to Laura Secord's Chocolate Store, to buy half price Easter cream filled Eggs. We would give small ones to the kids for the real Easter day, and then buy the big ones after Easter..Each night after we'd watch the CBC news taking small slices of the Cream filled Eggs, savoring each morsel. I did buy the small ones and as I'm typing I'm pretending I'm not eating one.
I'm the only one in the family who still goes to Church Easter Sunday, or any Sunday for that matter; I always wonder as I go in to church, why I still go, and somehow before I leave I always have the answer; for sure it is not the people who I think I've mentioned many times are the friendliest and most loving; but who can say what overcomes me as I take the wine and the wafer, what makes me fill up with call it happiness, I really don't know, but it's there. So does this mean I BELIEVE unconditionally not really, I question, and I reject so much. We discussed this (my son-in-law, daughter Gaye and myself) on Easter day.
She told me of something she learned from Jehovah Witness person, they do not wear a cross on a chain or believe in having the cross, because as they said, if your father got killed by a gun, would you wear a gun on a chain around your neck...well hmmm. Then on the other hand maybe some would I'm always amazed at the people who tattoo themselves with some of the most violent scenes...or hang a spoon around their neck, cocaine believers???
A united church woman minister has quite a following in her church, they are all unbelievers, looking to believe kind of thing. She was interviewed on CBC, and some say she said she was an Atheist, I didn't hear the interview, but will get it online. In that case so are the people who go to the Unitarian church, wonder why if that is the case she doesn't go there, will have to find out.
Well all this to say, Easter has given me food for thought (other than Chocolate)...It looks like the rain is letting up, so have a good day, bye...
Monday, 21 March 2016
Monday, March 21, 2016 Still Alice....Still Mac
Many moons ago, when we discovered that Mac had Alzheimer's and was well into it. I was asked by my daughter Gaye to join a group - a support group - for those who live with people who have Alzheimer's disease. This was really a good step to take, and one I've appreciated so much over the years...since then, which is actually about nine years or so now.
We, the twelve of us in the group, all had someone in our family - mother, father, sister, brother, husband or wife with the dread big A. We received many papers outlining what we were going through, we were there for twelve weeks, each week gave us new and better understanding of the disease.
One of the suggestions, was that we should read the book, Still Alice.
Well I did buy or get the book from the library, can't really remember, but what I do remember is that I could not get through the second chapter...it was too much to read what we were going through.
I felt that why should I go through the trauma of reading what was happening, and although I didn't know what would happen exactly in the future, I and Mac had a pretty good knowledge and it really wasn't pretty.
So I would not read the book, although the leader felt that the person reading the book would have a deeper understanding of what the person with the Big A. was going through.
I as asked many times, did you read the book, Still Alice...my reply was always, no but I probably will read it. Then the movie Still Alice came out,various friends and relations, called me to say the acting in that movie was super, they had understood so much more about the disease, and really recommended the movie.
For different reasons, i.e. I was living through the disease with Mac, secondly why should I watch someone else, I was able to see this up front and personal. plus by then I knew many others with the disease, spoke to so many in the support group, and again did not go to the movie.
Well yesterday, in the library where I borrow films I saw "Still Alice", well Mac has been dead a year now. I still see people with the bit A. but it's not something that causes churning in my tummy, it is something that I help others with and seem to have a handle on things, so I decided to borrow the movie, and tonight decided to at last, sit down and watch the movie.
Well for sure the actress, Julianne Moore was terrific, she definitely "delivers a Career defining performance", well so much so, that just seeing her start to realize she was forgetting, words, where she was, and then begin to start checking things carefully, my tummy began to get those fluttery kind of butterfly feelings, but I tried hard to just ignore, and say, this is a movie, this is what is happening to Alice, get on with it and relax.
Then came the place in the movie where she decides to open up to her husband and say she is seeing a neurologist and he thinks she has the beginning of onset of Alzheimer's even though she is really much younger than the average age for getting the disease. Her husband says, "impossible"...precisely what Mac said, when he was first diagnosed, and when he was referred to a neurologist.
When Julianne in her role screams and starts to cry out to her husband, listen to me, it's true, ..that's when I lost it...and said right out loud in my apartment here without anyone to say it to. What am I doing I don't need this..and turned the movie off.
I think my many friends whose parents, husbands, wife,who have and are still going through this sad time, must have something I don't have..because some of them have recommended the movie to me in the past. Some have seen the movie earlier or later in the disease, how strong they are, as I could not take it.
In fact just last Thursday, I went to a Sugaring Off Party at a Cabana Sucre with the Retired Teachers Group. One of the teachers said, "this is such a break for me, my husband is in "Heron House" (An assisted living Residence) he has alzheimers. Twice a week I go to help him eat. Some times he knows who I am, some times he doesn't, sometimes he can eat by himself, other times he can't. Just yesterday, I had to help him eat he didn't know what to do with his fork. " I am so happy that we have placed him where he gets the help he needs"
The same thing happened to me as when I started the book and watched the movie..my tummy started to churn, I was about to cry, so had to move away, saying to myself, I don't need this.
Now, I have no problem with being with the people with the big A. right here in the building, or helping my friend's mom, Alma, over in the building in the back of us. I don't understand what I'm going through, but I know it has to do with just how deeply it hit when Mac was ill in the first few months, I guess I just start to relive...and for sure I don't need it.
Writing about it right now, has helped, I've gotten rid of the heavy feeling, and the sadness I felt and at time still feel for Mac. I really want to remember the happy times, even when he was ill, because for sure there were more good times with him ill than bad..and though I wouldn't want him back with the illness, I surely am so happy we had those years together, becauses he was Still Mac...
We, the twelve of us in the group, all had someone in our family - mother, father, sister, brother, husband or wife with the dread big A. We received many papers outlining what we were going through, we were there for twelve weeks, each week gave us new and better understanding of the disease.
One of the suggestions, was that we should read the book, Still Alice.
Well I did buy or get the book from the library, can't really remember, but what I do remember is that I could not get through the second chapter...it was too much to read what we were going through.
I felt that why should I go through the trauma of reading what was happening, and although I didn't know what would happen exactly in the future, I and Mac had a pretty good knowledge and it really wasn't pretty.
So I would not read the book, although the leader felt that the person reading the book would have a deeper understanding of what the person with the Big A. was going through.
I as asked many times, did you read the book, Still Alice...my reply was always, no but I probably will read it. Then the movie Still Alice came out,various friends and relations, called me to say the acting in that movie was super, they had understood so much more about the disease, and really recommended the movie.
For different reasons, i.e. I was living through the disease with Mac, secondly why should I watch someone else, I was able to see this up front and personal. plus by then I knew many others with the disease, spoke to so many in the support group, and again did not go to the movie.
Well yesterday, in the library where I borrow films I saw "Still Alice", well Mac has been dead a year now. I still see people with the bit A. but it's not something that causes churning in my tummy, it is something that I help others with and seem to have a handle on things, so I decided to borrow the movie, and tonight decided to at last, sit down and watch the movie.
Well for sure the actress, Julianne Moore was terrific, she definitely "delivers a Career defining performance", well so much so, that just seeing her start to realize she was forgetting, words, where she was, and then begin to start checking things carefully, my tummy began to get those fluttery kind of butterfly feelings, but I tried hard to just ignore, and say, this is a movie, this is what is happening to Alice, get on with it and relax.
Then came the place in the movie where she decides to open up to her husband and say she is seeing a neurologist and he thinks she has the beginning of onset of Alzheimer's even though she is really much younger than the average age for getting the disease. Her husband says, "impossible"...precisely what Mac said, when he was first diagnosed, and when he was referred to a neurologist.
When Julianne in her role screams and starts to cry out to her husband, listen to me, it's true, ..that's when I lost it...and said right out loud in my apartment here without anyone to say it to. What am I doing I don't need this..and turned the movie off.
I think my many friends whose parents, husbands, wife,who have and are still going through this sad time, must have something I don't have..because some of them have recommended the movie to me in the past. Some have seen the movie earlier or later in the disease, how strong they are, as I could not take it.
In fact just last Thursday, I went to a Sugaring Off Party at a Cabana Sucre with the Retired Teachers Group. One of the teachers said, "this is such a break for me, my husband is in "Heron House" (An assisted living Residence) he has alzheimers. Twice a week I go to help him eat. Some times he knows who I am, some times he doesn't, sometimes he can eat by himself, other times he can't. Just yesterday, I had to help him eat he didn't know what to do with his fork. " I am so happy that we have placed him where he gets the help he needs"
The same thing happened to me as when I started the book and watched the movie..my tummy started to churn, I was about to cry, so had to move away, saying to myself, I don't need this.
Now, I have no problem with being with the people with the big A. right here in the building, or helping my friend's mom, Alma, over in the building in the back of us. I don't understand what I'm going through, but I know it has to do with just how deeply it hit when Mac was ill in the first few months, I guess I just start to relive...and for sure I don't need it.
Writing about it right now, has helped, I've gotten rid of the heavy feeling, and the sadness I felt and at time still feel for Mac. I really want to remember the happy times, even when he was ill, because for sure there were more good times with him ill than bad..and though I wouldn't want him back with the illness, I surely am so happy we had those years together, becauses he was Still Mac...
Monday, March 21, 2016 Still Alice....Still Mac
Many moons ago, when we discovered that Mac had Alzheimer's and was well into it. I was asked by my daughter Gaye to join a group - a support group - for those who live with people who have Alzheimer's disease. This was really a good step to take, and one I've appreciated so much over the years...since then, which is actually about nine years or so now.
We, the twelve of us in the group, all had someone in our family - mother, father, sister, brother, husband or wife with the dread big A. We received many papers outlining what we were going through, we were there for twelve weeks, each week gave us new and better understanding of the disease.
One of the suggestions, was that we should read the book, Still Alice.
Well I did buy or get the book from the library, can't really remember, but what I do remember is that I could not get through the second chapter...it was too much to read what we were going through.
I felt that why should I go through the trauma of reading what was happening, and although I didn't know what would happen exactly in the future, I and Mac had a pretty good knowledge and it really wasn't pretty.
So I would not read the book, although the leader felt that the person reading the book would have a deeper understanding of what the person with the Big A. was going through.
I as asked many times, did you read the book, Still Alice...my reply was always, no but I probably will read it. Then the movie Still Alice came out,various friends and relations, called me to say the acting in that movie was super, they had understood so much more about the disease, and really recommended the movie.
For different reasons, i.e. I was living through the disease with Mac, secondly why should I watch someone else, I was able to see this up front and personal. plus by then I knew many others with the disease, spoke to so many in the support group, and again did not go to the movie.
Well yesterday, in the library where I borrow films I saw "Still Alice", well Mac has been dead a year now. I still see people with the bit A. but it's not something that causes churning in my tummy, it is something that I help others with and seem to have a handle on things, so I decided to borrow the movie, and tonight decided to at last, sit down and watch the movie.
Well for sure the actress, Julianne Moore was terrific, she definitely "delivers a Career defining performance", well so much so, that just seeing her start to realize she was forgetting, words, where she was, and then begin to start checking things carefully, my tummy began to get those fluttery kind of butterfly feelings, but I tried hard to just ignore, and say, this is a movie, this is what is happening to Alice, get on with it and relax.
Then came the place in the movie where she decides to open up to her husband and say she is seeing a neurologist and he thinks she has the beginning of onset of Alzheimer's even though she is really much younger than the average age for getting the disease. Her husband says, "impossible"...precisely what Mac said, when he was first diagnosed, and when he was referred to a neurologist.
When Julianne in her role screams and starts to cry out to her husband, listen to me, it's true, ..that's when I lost it...and said right out loud in my apartment here without anyone to say it to. What am I doing I don't need this..and turned the movie off.
I think my many friends whose parents, husbands, wife,who have and are still going through this sad time, must have something I don't have..because some of them have recommended the movie to me in the past. Some have seen the movie earlier or later in the disease, how strong they are, as I could not take it.
In fact just last Thursday, I went to a Sugaring Off Party at a Cabana Sucre with the Retired Teachers Group. One of the teachers said, "this is such a break for me, my husband is in "Heron House" (An assisted living Residence) he has alzheimers. Twice a week I go to help him eat. Some times he knows who I am, some times he doesn't, sometimes he can eat by himself, other times he can't. Just yesterday, I had to help him eat he didn't know what to do with his fork. " I am so happy that we have placed him where he gets the help he needs"
The same thing happened to me as when I started the book and watched the movie..my tummy started to churn, I was about to cry, so had to move away, saying to myself, I don't need this.
Now, I have no problem with being with the people with the big A. right here in the building, or helping my friend's mom, Alma, over in the building in the back of us. I don't understand what I'm going through, but I know it has to do with just how deeply it hit when Mac was ill in the first few months, I guess I just start to relive...and for sure I don't need it.
Writing about it right now, has helped, I've gotten rid of the heavy feeling, and the sadness I felt and at time still feel for Mac. I really want to remember the happy times, even when he was ill, because for sure there were more good times with him ill than bad..and though I wouldn't want him back with the illness, I surely am so happy we had those years together, becauses he was Still Mac...
We, the twelve of us in the group, all had someone in our family - mother, father, sister, brother, husband or wife with the dread big A. We received many papers outlining what we were going through, we were there for twelve weeks, each week gave us new and better understanding of the disease.
One of the suggestions, was that we should read the book, Still Alice.
Well I did buy or get the book from the library, can't really remember, but what I do remember is that I could not get through the second chapter...it was too much to read what we were going through.
I felt that why should I go through the trauma of reading what was happening, and although I didn't know what would happen exactly in the future, I and Mac had a pretty good knowledge and it really wasn't pretty.
So I would not read the book, although the leader felt that the person reading the book would have a deeper understanding of what the person with the Big A. was going through.
I as asked many times, did you read the book, Still Alice...my reply was always, no but I probably will read it. Then the movie Still Alice came out,various friends and relations, called me to say the acting in that movie was super, they had understood so much more about the disease, and really recommended the movie.
For different reasons, i.e. I was living through the disease with Mac, secondly why should I watch someone else, I was able to see this up front and personal. plus by then I knew many others with the disease, spoke to so many in the support group, and again did not go to the movie.
Well yesterday, in the library where I borrow films I saw "Still Alice", well Mac has been dead a year now. I still see people with the bit A. but it's not something that causes churning in my tummy, it is something that I help others with and seem to have a handle on things, so I decided to borrow the movie, and tonight decided to at last, sit down and watch the movie.
Well for sure the actress, Julianne Moore was terrific, she definitely "delivers a Career defining performance", well so much so, that just seeing her start to realize she was forgetting, words, where she was, and then begin to start checking things carefully, my tummy began to get those fluttery kind of butterfly feelings, but I tried hard to just ignore, and say, this is a movie, this is what is happening to Alice, get on with it and relax.
Then came the place in the movie where she decides to open up to her husband and say she is seeing a neurologist and he thinks she has the beginning of onset of Alzheimer's even though she is really much younger than the average age for getting the disease. Her husband says, "impossible"...precisely what Mac said, when he was first diagnosed, and when he was referred to a neurologist.
When Julianne in her role screams and starts to cry out to her husband, listen to me, it's true, ..that's when I lost it...and said right out loud in my apartment here without anyone to say it to. What am I doing I don't need this..and turned the movie off.
I think my many friends whose parents, husbands, wife,who have and are still going through this sad time, must have something I don't have..because some of them have recommended the movie to me in the past. Some have seen the movie earlier or later in the disease, how strong they are, as I could not take it.
In fact just last Thursday, I went to a Sugaring Off Party at a Cabana Sucre with the Retired Teachers Group. One of the teachers said, "this is such a break for me, my husband is in "Heron House" (An assisted living Residence) he has alzheimers. Twice a week I go to help him eat. Some times he knows who I am, some times he doesn't, sometimes he can eat by himself, other times he can't. Just yesterday, I had to help him eat he didn't know what to do with his fork. " I am so happy that we have placed him where he gets the help he needs"
The same thing happened to me as when I started the book and watched the movie..my tummy started to churn, I was about to cry, so had to move away, saying to myself, I don't need this.
Now, I have no problem with being with the people with the big A. right here in the building, or helping my friend's mom, Alma, over in the building in the back of us. I don't understand what I'm going through, but I know it has to do with just how deeply it hit when Mac was ill in the first few months, I guess I just start to relive...and for sure I don't need it.
Writing about it right now, has helped, I've gotten rid of the heavy feeling, and the sadness I felt and at time still feel for Mac. I really want to remember the happy times, even when he was ill, because for sure there were more good times with him ill than bad..and though I wouldn't want him back with the illness, I surely am so happy we had those years together, becauses he was Still Mac...
Wednesday, 16 March 2016
Tuesday, March 16, 2016 St. Patrick's Day tomorrow...
I'm thinking about the St. Patrick's Day, and how we used to enjoy the parade..we, Mac and I, sometimes went to the two parades, one in Chateauguay and the one downtown. Sometimes the weather was great and sometimes we froze, but always it was a fun time. At that time we would go down memory lane, Mac would say imagine my dad actually went in the parade with the St Thomas Aquinas Contingent. He said that his brother John rode a horse in the parade...I wonder??? Did I dream that one. We have a picture of his dad wearing real shamrocks on his jacket, we assumed that was when he was in the parade. All this Irish stuff was what sent us off to Ireland to check out Mac's family tree...SURPRISE, we discovered that it seems that there was more of a Scottish background. Who knew??
In the end we think that there was an Irish ancestor and that by the time Mac's grandfather was born the family had moved to Aberdeen in Scotland for work, as that's the place where we found some background information. Mac could not get enough solid information as to his grandfather's birth record, though we did see his name in the records, could not get his birth record..
Maybe one day, one of the family will investigate further. In any case, the McConnell's always seemed to be part Irish rather than Scottish..no one spoke about St. Andrews Day, but I remember St. Paddy's was the big celebration.
Not being Irish I would go along for the ride, and celebrate like all the other Quebecers who become Irish for the day. BUT, my big moment came a few years ago when my good friend Margaret Healy became the first Woman to lead the Parade as Grand Marshal...and big thrill, she came and shook our hand as she walked along the parade route with all the other dignitaries with their top hats green ties, and shamrocks, what a great day for the Irish Women ha..
One of the fun songs Mac's gang from St. Henri used to sing as they all rode their bikes to Pine Beach in Dorval (where I met Mac) was this one
The English Live on St. George's Street
The French they live in Cote St. Paul
But the Irish you can't beat cuz on old St. Patrick Street.
Every nation has it's treat in Montreal
So if you come from the land of the Shamrock
Where killarney's lake's are blue
Then sing a song and make a fuss
Wherever you are you're one of us
If you're Irish, this is the place for you....
Who does your laundry
O'Reilly O'really I really mean it
Don't take my shamrock away....
I may have the lyrics mixed up, but they were a crazy gang, and they sure had fun. I have pictures and many memories of the gang and how great it was to meet that boy ...Mac...
My dad was afraid I may marry him, (and of course I did) how happy he was to find out that though Mac was Irish(or so we thought) he was not Catholic. Of the seven children in the family, the first four (I think) were brought up Catholic, the last three Protestant, luckily Mac was the baby of the family and so was a Protestant, much to my dad's relief. Now I'm the only one in our family that continued to go to church, well hey I think I'm the only one
left ...oh no Mac's first cousin Mabel is still alive and she is Catholic, she still goes to Church....Have to check to see if she thinks she is of Irish decent.
Mabel is ninety years old.. Think it would be a good idea to phone her tomorrow and wish her a Happy St. Patrick's day..I'll be celebrating at a Cabana Sucre...so Happy St. Paddy's day to you all.and a ,g'nite.
In the end we think that there was an Irish ancestor and that by the time Mac's grandfather was born the family had moved to Aberdeen in Scotland for work, as that's the place where we found some background information. Mac could not get enough solid information as to his grandfather's birth record, though we did see his name in the records, could not get his birth record..
Maybe one day, one of the family will investigate further. In any case, the McConnell's always seemed to be part Irish rather than Scottish..no one spoke about St. Andrews Day, but I remember St. Paddy's was the big celebration.
Not being Irish I would go along for the ride, and celebrate like all the other Quebecers who become Irish for the day. BUT, my big moment came a few years ago when my good friend Margaret Healy became the first Woman to lead the Parade as Grand Marshal...and big thrill, she came and shook our hand as she walked along the parade route with all the other dignitaries with their top hats green ties, and shamrocks, what a great day for the Irish Women ha..
One of the fun songs Mac's gang from St. Henri used to sing as they all rode their bikes to Pine Beach in Dorval (where I met Mac) was this one
The English Live on St. George's Street
The French they live in Cote St. Paul
But the Irish you can't beat cuz on old St. Patrick Street.
Every nation has it's treat in Montreal
So if you come from the land of the Shamrock
Where killarney's lake's are blue
Then sing a song and make a fuss
Wherever you are you're one of us
If you're Irish, this is the place for you....
Who does your laundry
O'Reilly O'really I really mean it
Don't take my shamrock away....
I may have the lyrics mixed up, but they were a crazy gang, and they sure had fun. I have pictures and many memories of the gang and how great it was to meet that boy ...Mac...
My dad was afraid I may marry him, (and of course I did) how happy he was to find out that though Mac was Irish(or so we thought) he was not Catholic. Of the seven children in the family, the first four (I think) were brought up Catholic, the last three Protestant, luckily Mac was the baby of the family and so was a Protestant, much to my dad's relief. Now I'm the only one in our family that continued to go to church, well hey I think I'm the only one
left ...oh no Mac's first cousin Mabel is still alive and she is Catholic, she still goes to Church....Have to check to see if she thinks she is of Irish decent.
Mabel is ninety years old.. Think it would be a good idea to phone her tomorrow and wish her a Happy St. Patrick's day..I'll be celebrating at a Cabana Sucre...so Happy St. Paddy's day to you all.and a ,g'nite.
Wednesday, 9 March 2016
Tuesday, March 09, 2016...passing our markers....
Found an old journal from 1988, Reading the page marked January 10th I read how I was moaning about the fact that in our cross country skiing through the Pine Woods between our place and Kahanawake just across the road at that time...We, Mac, two other friends and myself had passed our markers and got lost on three different occasions. I wrote, we'd have to update the markers, and make them clearer as by the time we got home we were absolutely frozen and exhausted.
I went on to write how lovely the woods were, and mentioned again, how we must make sure to upgrade the markers as the ribbons and trees we used from former years were gone just like some old friends that seemed so much a part of our lives had moved away or died...but friends, and newer ones are there still and of course my best friend and lover, Mac is here; he, like the woods is ever-changing and ever interesting.
Well that last line really threw me, I'm sure when I wrote those words, I never thought for a moment that I'd be reading them on the eve of the day that marked his dying March 09, 2016.
Life then was all about our children, our young grandchildren, how busy we were, I was on a sabbatical leave from teaching..We were planning the year - travel to the UK and Europe, how wonderful it all was, even mentioned how lucky we were to have each other. I even still had my mom at that time and made a vow to make her more a part of our life, as she was losing her sight, her best friend had died, my dad had been dead for many years by then..so the pages turn and so do our lives.
Now mom is long gone, and many of my friends as well..I miss them, but never could I ever imagine how much I would miss my dearest and closest friend, husband, lover, father of our children my Mac.
Tomorrow, these children, now adults, and some of our grandchildren will join me in remembering their dad, and grandfather. We will enjoy our memories, and be so happy that we had him, we will laugh at his crazy ways, admire his wise ways and always know how wonderful was his loving heart, for us, his wife and family. g'nite.
I went on to write how lovely the woods were, and mentioned again, how we must make sure to upgrade the markers as the ribbons and trees we used from former years were gone just like some old friends that seemed so much a part of our lives had moved away or died...but friends, and newer ones are there still and of course my best friend and lover, Mac is here; he, like the woods is ever-changing and ever interesting.
Well that last line really threw me, I'm sure when I wrote those words, I never thought for a moment that I'd be reading them on the eve of the day that marked his dying March 09, 2016.
Life then was all about our children, our young grandchildren, how busy we were, I was on a sabbatical leave from teaching..We were planning the year - travel to the UK and Europe, how wonderful it all was, even mentioned how lucky we were to have each other. I even still had my mom at that time and made a vow to make her more a part of our life, as she was losing her sight, her best friend had died, my dad had been dead for many years by then..so the pages turn and so do our lives.
Now mom is long gone, and many of my friends as well..I miss them, but never could I ever imagine how much I would miss my dearest and closest friend, husband, lover, father of our children my Mac.
Tomorrow, these children, now adults, and some of our grandchildren will join me in remembering their dad, and grandfather. We will enjoy our memories, and be so happy that we had him, we will laugh at his crazy ways, admire his wise ways and always know how wonderful was his loving heart, for us, his wife and family. g'nite.
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