Sunday's events

I was not feeling up to par today so stayed close to home.  Around 3 p.m. I went over to the mall just to have somewhere to go.

People watching is one of my most favourite things to do.  Today, there was rain forecasted so I could not go down to Pier 8.

I was lucky, the heavy rain happened when I was in the mall and it was only a few drops by the time I left.

You see the most interesting people in the mall - all shapes, all sizes, all from different ethnic groups.

Hamilton is a very international city.  I like it for that.  Toronto and Montreal also.  In Montreal, there were many Spanish speaking people as French is easier for them to learn.

I have to say that the Spanish speaking people sure know how to have a good time - all you need is two or three people and a little food and everybody has a good time.

I also notice that people from the West Indies enjoy life as well and are more spontaneous in their outlook.  Good for them!

Life is too short to be gloomy and "down".  I try and enjoy the little things of life, a nice cup of herbal tea, a lovely chat with a friend over the phone, going to the waterfront, and hiking at Princess Point.These things do not cost much money at all.  In fact, some of them cost nothing!

In my opinion, good solid friends are so important and should be cherished.  I have friends still from Montreal and Toronto and I am so blessed to have some great friends here as well.  Many from the writing community, some from the two churches, some from Whitehen concerts.  I have one friend I have known for almost 75 years.  She lives in Collingwood, Ontario so we don't see each other very often.

It is my son's and my birthday coming up.  We have a joint birthday which is nice.

The gals are taking me out for lunch to a local hotel here.  It should be nice - I have never been there before.

I think that is all.  I will go back to watching Netflix and their special programme called The Crown.  An excellent picture so far.  It follows the life of the British royality basically.

Isn't it strange that the British royality have German relatives.  That must have been very tricky in World War 2!

Thanks for dropping by.

My apologies

A friend of mine called me last night to make sure I was all right.  She had been checking my blog on a regular basis and had not seen any entries for a while.

I just have been lazy - watching a lot of netflix and reading tons of books.

I use my library religiously and borrow tons of books at a time.

Some things have been happening though which I will mention here.  My daughter and son-in-law came down for Canada Day (July 1st) and we went to Pier 8 for the festivities there.  Too many people for my happiness but the younger generation enjoyed it.  They had put the double length buses on but even they were crowded.  They seemed to run every twenty minutes on Canada Day.

Billy and Anna took a picture of the Tall Ships which I will post here.

The kids went back on the 5:30 bus. We had an early supper as they would be travelling at supper time.

Also, another thing that has happened is that I am back going to Martini Hour again. Henry Strong is now playing on Wednesday nights.

My Whitehern group (only the gals) went on the terrace at the club and we all enjoyed it.  The weather was nice and we had an umbrella over us which helped.  As I was in the hospital for so long last spring, summer and half of September, I missed out on enjoying the terrace.  It is a lovely spot.  I plan to go up there and read when I have the time.

Here is a picture of one of the gals and myself on the 2nd floor of the club.  It is my favourite room in the club as there is lots of natural light there.

Anita

Me with my very flexible hat

There were six of us counting myself and it was most enjoyable.

I don't think there is anything else new.  Next week will be a quiet week, but the week after will be busy with a doctor's appointment and a luncheon invitation.

I still am not doing any creative writing alas, but I will share a poem I wrote for a group from my home town.  Hope you will enjoy it.  I got 75 compliments on it when I originally posted it to the group.  It was written for a time over 50 years ago when life was much more simple and my home town was smaller.

Seasons of my Life

My feet crunch on icy snow

white clouds, grey underbelly

hover over my bowed head  

ready to dump more white stuff

Sun sinks on horizon

ice and snow shimmer

footsteps etched on lake

naked trees shiver in wind

Utter silence as I walk

beside Lac St. Louis

fond thoughts of times gone by

I’m “home” for a visit

to touch base with my roots

deep in Lachine soil

Black ice underfoot, I slip  

why did I come in winter

temperatures twenty below

a need for boots, overcoat  

scarf and warm mittens?  

Shivering, I walk fast

anxious to get to my cousin’s

place - a haven for me

a return to “home”

We sip hot chocolate

my glasses steam up

we reminisce of 50 years ago

Back yard gardens

vegetables & flowers

my favourite spot

the wooden playhouse

which overlooks the lane

New life in Spring

feathery leaves burst out

on gray tree trunks

crocuses & daffodils

lily of the valley thrive.

Neighbours venture outside

call greetings and stop to chat

streets and sidewalks alive

with kids playing games

rugby, marbles, hop scotch

skipping and Mother-Mother, May I?

Streetlights come on, time is up

hands grip bike handles

strong legs pump - head home

Shad flies, mass together  

mesmerized by light poles

fall victim to man’s wheels

crunch underfoot as I walk

Stench overpowers nose

they lie thick on ground

impossible not to step on them

I shudder as I hear them pop

Through the lane I race

as the train from Montreal arrives

familiar smells at Lachine Station

I’m glad to see my Dad

Summer in Lachine, lazy days

school over - freedom!

summer cottage in Ile Perrot

swimming twice a day

hair washing in the lake

ivory soap floats away  

Row boat takes me far

oars dipping into the coolness

of the lake, solitude I desire

to think and to pray

Inner tube on gentle waves

lulls me, refreshes me

peace reigns on this sunny day

All too soon, September here

school days begin again

easy living of summer gone

It’s Halloween, how exciting!

I don my cherished outfit

trick or treat with friends

bob for apples or sing a song

in the hope of getting a treat

Scene after scene comes

as we walk together down memory lane

tramping through deep snow to the Pier

to pick out a Christmas tree.

decorated tree sparkles with tinsel

photos taken of starry-eyed children

wrapped gifts sit mysteriously

waiting for Christmas day.

Our hot chocolate finished

we call it a day, climb the stairs

bid each other a good night

to dream, perhaps, of times gone by.

Copyright(c)WilmaSeville 2015

Performed at Carnegie Gallery - 2015

Performed at Caroline Retirement Residence November 2015

Originally written for Lachine, Then & Now - website 2015

A very small part of Lac St.Louis in Lachine, P.Q.

Thank you very much for dropping by. Tthe picture above was taken by Luc Simard.  He is a wonderful photographer.