Wednesday, July 16, 2025

A moment in time

 My moment in time this year was the passing of my younger brother (just 17.5 months younger actually) and we were very close as young children. I used to take his hand and we would go for walks before I went off to school (Kindergarten) and then slowly but surely the strong friendship disappeared as we grew up and went our separate ways (me primarily as I married at 20 and then we moved 700 kilometres away when I was 29). We just lost touch although I did phone him through the years but we drifted apart as well. We got back together for a bit when my older brother and I started doing the family DNA and he asked John to be part of that. He was enthusiastic at the beginning but it did wane unfortunately but it was a good joining item for us to get back together at least on the phone. However, time always moves forward in a daily eventful way and we are better for it actually. Leaving the past behind (good or bad) is better for us although the memories are lovely of the good times with my siblings. 

I did start to read the manual for driving in Ontario and it no longer is a one day read I discovered unless one kept at it all day! The booklet that I had when I learned to drive, a wonderful instructor for sure and he gave me a copy of the booklet that I needed to know (he said) from cover to cover and I did take that literally and had it memorized by the next week! For me driving was something I had wanted to do but no one dared to go anywhere in a car with me because my vision was impaired although corrected somewhat with my lenses which were very thick and imposing I suspect on anyone who actually looked at them. After all a student ophthalmologist told me I would be blind when I was 20 and I was all of six years of age at the time. I did take that seriously at the time and learned braille! But at 20 I could still see although my sight was always one of my weak points. My grandmother had taught me to read when I was three years of age because she felt that I needed something that would get me to sit down for more than a minute at a time and it was successful to the extent that I would hide away in my attic bedroom and read all summer long until my mother rooted me out to play!

Moments in time are special and I must admit I would love to go back to my hometown one of these days and visit the graves of my parents/grandparents and brothers (three of them gone now) sadly missed but yet they were ill and one must accept that illness restricts in one's old age. And so life moves on as it always does but the memories of my brothers will always be with me. 

Cleaning all accomplished yesterday I am content to say although I was pretty beat by the end of the day. But even though I could have more help I need to be able to manage these things on my own until I cannot at least that is my humble opinion. It is good exercise for sure for both the body and the mind. 

We still have smoke although it is coming down and hopefully will pass the next couple of days so that we can get out for long kayaks and walks once again. The yard needs clearing up. A huge branch came down whilst we were away and it was surprising as it was still a live branch rather than a dead one. Perhaps a big storm no ideas on that. Cleared it away partially and will get it broken up for the garbage pickup this week. The grass is starting to look like it needs cutting. There is always weeding to do but the sunflowers that survived being eaten as seeds and young plants are coming up nicely. The rabbit is mostly nibbling at the tender young shoots of weeds and leaving the thicker sunflower leaves alone which is great. 

Today some work on the matches I suspect. I have not yet gotten back to the Latin documents I was working on at the time that John passed away but will get to that as well. I generally do my Latin Duolingo lessons every day along with my French Duolingo lessons. Back to German in the fall likely. That is just sort of a maintenance thing; I learned German at University (mostly scientific) and perhaps I will use my German but probably not. Edward and I were re-learning our German in a more colloquial way in preparation for our trip to Germany in 2020 that we did not take because he was ill and COVID cancelled it anyway. Working at the German reminds me of our time spent together relearning our German. 

Up early drinking my tea and will perhaps have a nap and then breakfast and on to the matches and a day of exercise inside pretty much I expect.  

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