I am pleased to let you know that since my “LAST BLOG” that I am indeed back! I had to upgrade some of my programs and now I have a new virtual assistant to process my blogs onto my website. As you know I have had many issues with this. My new assistant and I figured out the problem and have remedied this. I certainly have missed every single one of you. Your feedback over the years has helped me tremendously. I have heard from many of you about how much my blogs have resonated with you. I even had a friend ask for a monthly e-mail as she would miss me. I am so grateful!
I find it so hard to believe that a year has passed since Covid19 first appeared in Canada. We are lucky in many respects as our cases and deaths have been a lot less than other countries. I don’t know about you but just hearing the number of deaths does not cut it for me. These are real people that we knew, worked with, cared about or loved. One of the over 184 deaths in London Ontario was a nurse that I used to work with at Regional Mental Health Care London. (Formerly London Psychiatric Hospital).
Today we are grateful for a vaccine available to all. My husband and I got our first vaccine at the Agriplex on April 1st. We both have compromised immune systems. We have increased our masks to 3 layers plus a double-layered cloth one on top! We only go out for senior hours at Metro or Shoppers or the odd walk outside together.
In March I got to celebrate my husband Jim’s 70th birthday. There were balloons, streamers, cakes (3) and wonderful food from the Mandarin. My special project was to contact family and friends across the globe so that they could send him birthday cards. I was thrilled that so many people responded! Over 40 and many messages on Facebook as well. Each day I would check the mail and hide the cards in a bag near the mailbox. We can open our mailbox from the inside. This is handy in inclement weather! It was exciting for me to watch him open them all. My special card to him was made by my friend Carol. It included a picture of Jim with our first two dogs Magic and Dana. They were cuddling him. This was particularly poignant as they are both gone now for many years.
We were both thrilled to have such warm weather the week before. It was wonderful to go out into the garden and do some cleanup work. I totally love Spring. I have so many wonderful flowers that
show up every year. The tiny yellow daffodils, crocuses, hyacinths, English daisy’s and forsythias are all opening their beautiful petals. My gardens are a riot of colours. The tulips are getting bigger and will soon show colour as well. Spring to me always brings hope. Hope that the winter is over and the renewal of all things green. This week even the leaves on the trees have started to open. My two barrels in my water feature are now devoid of Lavern our fan-tailed goldfish. Something got her. Sad as she had made it through another winter. I had her for 3 years and am grateful for the experience of having her around. Soon I will need to clean out the barrels again of all the algae. In the meantime, I still have the heater and the pump working which draws a lot of animals and birds there to get a drink. I have seen a nuthatch, goldfinch, purple finch, sparrows, doves, junco, chickadee and a Robin that stood on the heater cover and proceeded to have a bath. Water was going everywhere! What a treat to see him. Many squirrels as well routinely come to the barrels. I have to replace the water in the barrels daily. I find that the simple act of watching these wonderful creatures fills me with joy.
Another thing that brings me joy is talking with my children and grandchildren on messenger. I recently played some games with my Barrie Grands. It is always so much fun. Fingers crossed we can see them this summer and enjoy their company in our trailer. So miss little arms hugging us! We actually booked the KOA in Barrie for our R.V. for the end of summer. Keep your fingers crossed that this event will actually happen!
I had a friend of mine from Toronto recently move to London. We got together while social distancing. We went for a walk and got some ice cream which was so yummy. It was hilarious as it was really cold out in March and we sat at either end of a bus bench to inhale our cones. I look forward to more times together and hopefully once we have our second doses of the vaccines we can actually travel together. Until then we continue to support each other. We are finally getting together this weekend while still social distancing for an outside walk. She usually walks on the grass giving me the sidewalk! I wanted to make sure that I had 2 weeks in after my covid vaccine. She got hers before me! No ice cream this time as everything is closed. The hardest part is not hugging my friend of many years. That too will come in time as long as we all respect these virulent strains of the virus. I feel that hand sanitizer is oozing out my pores!
The world was saddened to hear about the death of Prince Phillip. Just two months shy of 100 years old. His love for his country, environment and especially his wife of 73 years, the Queen, was renowned. He was a character for sure who made the Queen smile. The world seems somehow less without him. This is the end of a legacy! My Mom was born in England and I feel a closeness to this country and the monarchy.
Take care of yourselves and your loved ones. Know that this is truly all that matters. Be cautious when things open up that we don’t forget some of the rules that have kept us safe. With the new variants, this is so important. It has been hard to be patient for over a year now, BUT we have done it and I am so proud of each and every one of you. Truly love thy neighbour has applied during these times.
Until my next blog….keep well.