Grandma Bee On-Line!
| Dedicated to: | My Story | Your Story | Our Story |
~News Highlights of the Past (abridged)~
Happy New Year?
It is natural for us to want things brand, spanking new for a new year but there is much to be said for the tried and the true as well. We aren't quite as comfortable in our new clothes for all our pride in them. We don't know ourselves. We don't feel as natural. What should we change? Our values? Sometimes but not on the spur of the moment. Many changes should be made gradually. We should feel our way into them. I guess I have a jumble of thoughts on the subject but I don't wan t to get into something lengthy. I'll just throw out some. Old shoes are more comfortable than new ones but they are not necessarily good for our feet. We have to break them in. Perhaps that is true of every new change we make.
Ah, this old head can't remember what other bright thoughts were teeming in my head a moment ago. It reminds me though that I am old. I cannot be made new. Like the old year I am on my way out. Not tomorrow, I hope, but I AM old and rapidly wearing out. Why deny it? Do I still have value? More to the point, do I value myself as an old person? I don't think I'll write an essay on the subject.
Let us hope that the year 2003 brings some changes but with time for us to adapt to them. The powers that be tend to rush us into new technologies. Oldies like me are overwhelmed. I was born into a world without radio or tv or plane travel. A class of children would flock to a window to see an aeroplane without reprimand from the teacher. Travel was by train or boat or horse and in my childhood baker's vans and milkwagons were drawn through our backlanes. That's something else that's disappearing. Well I'd sooner have a refrigerator than an ice box but I think cars need running boards and we shouldn't have gotten rid of Interurbans. Some of our world leaders need to change their way of thinking that's for sure.
Think peace. Think love and act accordingly. -And have a very HAPPY NEW YEAR.
-Betty McLean, the eve of the Winter Solstice, Dec 20, 2002
REMEMBRANCE DAY 2002
"Ban The Bomb!" "End The Arms Race!",
we chanted as we marched for Peace. "When will it ever end?" we sang.
Never mind "blue birds over the white cliffs of Dover". Will there be
blue birds anywhere?
I wept when I saw columns of young men marching by. I saw them as mother's sons.
I saw them as potential husbands and as lovers, being used to fight the wars
kindled by profiteers. And yet we believed Hitler and the Nazi's had to be
stopped.
I am a Pacifist. I deplore flag waving, martial music, even medals, It's all suspect, all bitter in my mind. My father thought he'd fought the war to end all wars but patriotically cheered his son to his death 20 years later. Madness. I mourn that brother.
And now my grandchildren, all our
grandchildren, all of us, are being urged by a U.S. President to risk not just
life and limb but an all out nuclear disaster. WHEN indeed, will it ever end.
I'm weeping still.
October 2002
THANKS GIVING MESSAGE
When
we give thanks in the Autumn it is not only the harvest for which we are
grateful but we think in gratitude of our many joys and blessings. It is more
difficult for most of us to feel gratitude for all our non-joys, our troubles,
our sorrows and fears. And yet without the troubles and problems we encounter
would we not be lesser people, shallow, unable to comprehend the trials and
tribulations of others? It is not our joys that hone us. It is our cares.
Tuesday July 30, 2002
Dear Friends & Family
I've had a lot of company.
Firstly my very first grandson, Kevin Marks was here for several weeks. I
enjoyed his company. His brother Eugene and
most of his family also were down and came
over for fish 'n' chips on the beach. Soon after, their folks, Heather and Dennis
were here. ... "His Nibs", Gordon, has also been here a couple
of times. Just last week Terry Faubert and my 2 youngest (step) grandchildren
Laura and Kyle were here. They are wonderful kids and it seemed very quiet after
they left. Now Duncan is back from his sailing trip up the coast and has been
visiting the last two days.
Please note I am no longer with telus. My new email
address is:
grandmabee@shaw.ca Love, Betty
SUNDAY MAY 26, 2002
Betty, has enjoyed an eventful spring. Long anticipated exterior renovations
are underway outside her windows, complete with scaffolding and "hairy
men's legs" (as they work on the balcony above). At the same time her garden
has burst into full bloom as can be seen on her "Home" page.
Enjoy.
SUNDAY MARCH 17, 2002
Betty, who celebrated her 85th
Birthday 2 months ago to the day, is going strong. In yet another health
break through, testing by her allergist revealed that she no longer has
any to speak of. Thus she is enjoying a number of foods long banished.
Finances remain a mounting strain. The waves of cutbacks to services and subsidies to seniors threaten to heap on additional costs with each passing month. However Spring is beginning to be sprung and with it the promise of enjoyments, hope and renewed life.
Saturday December 22, 2001
A dark and stormy fall. Despite
the elements Betty remained active including getting out to see Stuart
McLean of CBC's Vinyl Cafe, not once but twice. The last show was at
the historic Orpheum in early December where we sat "in the gods".
Betty's Christmas includes various special outings
and visitors. She decorated her place gorgeously and is enjoying various
furnishing "upgrades" that Santa somehow got down the chimney. A major
Christmas project was composing and widely distributing a her own 2001
Christmas Message.
Friday September 14, 2001
Its been a busy summer at Betty's new
place.
She has enjoyed hosting great number of visitors and
looks forward to more.
Aside from the usual complaints, all is well.
Betty is linked to a high speed internet connection
for the next few weeks.
Those wishing to email family photos etc., now is
the time
Like all of us Betty shares
in the horror of this weeks events in the United States.
Wednesday May 30, 2001
As of May 25 Betty became a property owner!
After non stop set up work her new home awaits.
Effective this night the new phone number is (604
535-5680)
For ideas of what she needs and doesn't need check
out the
Would Bee Nice List.
SUNDAY MAY 13, 2001
MOTHER'S DAY SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
Looks like Betty is returning home!!
A series of individuals and factors have made this break through possible:
| -Mom's own efforts, determination and improved health
-Those that have helped her maintain her connections -Community home care and a loving web of family and friends -A number of miraculous "coincidences" and opportunities -Gordon & Rene mortgaging their home!(!) so she can have hers |
Over the next week negotiations will be continuing to finalize...
Several friends and the Common Ground Co-Op are just up the quiet street.
If all goes well she should be in by June 1st.
SATURDAY MARCH 17, 2001
Betty entered the St. Patrick's
day "most green" contest.
She appeared dressed in green
from her florescent green shoelaces
to the green doily stuck on
her forehead. And won hands down!
Last month she won the Valentines
Day contest.
The luck of the Irish remained with her as she went on
to win
her largest Bingo Jackpot ever for a profit after expenses
of 14.95.
New bathroom neighbor has begun to leave faeces on the
floor.
On the bright side, after much ca-fuffle and paper work
looks like they may allow her to keep her Oral B mouth
wash
and Gaviscon antacids in her room for use as needed.
Betty's prayers are focusing on her son-in-law Dennis
Marks.
Another mild heart attack finally earned him a place
on the urgent waiting list.
Monday March 5, 2001
QUAKE!
We had a strong one this last week. 6.8
The manor, an old building and the only high rise allowed
in South Richmond,
swayed like crazy. Betty was in her room just finishing off
her next installment
in her writings, to be called "Very Earliest Memories",
when it struck.
Her first instinct was to save her composition! A true
writer!
Email!
Betty has decided to have a look at using her computer
She has already begun to check her email on her own and
send brief replies.
Best bet for a reaction is resist sending forwards
or anything too long, or too much all at once. And patience.
Spring!
Trees are budding and birds are tweeting.
Walks around the manor are becoming more pleasant
Today Betty cleaned down her scooter for possible
use soon.
Off to a local dentist tomorrow. Popped a crown while
flossing.
Sunday February 17, 2001
Betty has a new neighbor, and so far is none too happy
about it.
Nursing staff at the manor are gearing up to go on strike
for better wages and working conditions.
She is not back in the habit of checking or responding
to email.
However because of her arthritic thumb she has decided
to try
to use her computer for some of her writing projects.
When speaking with her brother Alan on the phone tonight
she summed up her current feelings thus with a sigh:
"Well, I am doing okay but I am not happy with the
ways things have worked out."
Sunday February 4, 2001
The biggest development this past week was the transfer
of her neighbor and bathroom partner, into Richmond's maximum care facility.
The unhappy woman's moans and howls at all hours, coloured Betty's first
6 months at the manor. ... a new chapter begins.
For the first time in many weeks mom got to church today
and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Reverend Philip Hewett spoke on the importance of hope
and community,
both of which mom feels are in not enough supply at her
present residence.
"Blackie" the cat accompanied mom right around the block 3 times this week.
January 21, 2001
January 17, 2001, was Betty's Eighty
Fourth
Birthday!!!
As you all recall, this time last
year Betty was truly fighting for her life.
Her heroic perseverance, your love,
and modern medicine, combined
to pull her back from the edge,
making this indeed a Birthday to be grateful for.
Thanks to personal encouragement
Betty has resumed her writings.
Many of these writings, can be
accessed
here
from her family web site
which continues to slowly grow
as material becomes available.
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