Tradition is so much a part of people's lives really and losing it can really alters one's space and perception of life I think. Rediscovering one's traditions are important if they are lost to them. Canada, as a country of ten provinces and three territories, has a lot of traditions that are quite beautiful and these traditions include the First Nations, the French Colonials and the English Colonials (although other than the language English, English traditions have disappeared from Canadian life as far as I can tell). The group of Confederation Founders were in somewhat of a panic at the time wanting to create a country as they viewed the growth of the United States to the south of us. We wanted some items particularly (sea to sea to sea was very important) and it was the French Colonials and the English Colonials who created the differences that one sees between the governance of the United States and the governance of Canada.
Especially important are the moments in our present governance that are created by The First Nations. They take us back as Canadians to the very roots of this land whether we are a First Generation Canadian or have a very deep longstanding generational past in this country now called Canada but originally was called Turtle Island. We (the First Nations, the French Colonials and the English Colonials) were one together during the 1812-1814 war with the United States and it is important that that oneness always be there now. We have, the United States and Canada, been great friends these last over two hundred years). I especially appreciate it that the First Nations are always part of the ceremonial acts of Canada. More First Nations members in the governance would also be excellent so that consultation is always happening at the time of the initiation of new ideas/projects. The concept of a North American market was not ours but rather presented to Canada by the United States and later included Mexico. It has been very beneficial to all three countries for sure and especially I like the Wisconsin cheeses and milk although it is awhile since I have been there (nine years I think).
Yesterday was busy and I cleaned the basement. Today is the main floor. We also got in a long walk at the beach which was really very nice. My daughter had a long research meeting with her student as well. Her jaw is recovering very nicely and back to work once again. She really only took two days away from her studies which is typical of her actually! We lead a very quiet life working on our individual projects and that is pretty much the life we have lived, both of us, since she was a young child and was also true of my husband Edward although he was more of a going out to meetings and such sort of person.
My daughter felt very sorry for the young couple from Church that came to our door years ago now when she learned that they didn't have any children (she was only five years old!). But I took her for a walk a couple of days later and she saw them with another family that had children so I said look they have lots of friends and that made her happy and we went back to being the quiet family we like to be keeping to ourselves. Edward did continue working with his cousin Gordon Riddle (the husband of the young couple that visited us) on the family tree but both of us, my daughter and I, avoided that.
We were however at Church together and I being volunteer secretary our paths crossed often but soon they did have their family and we definitely gradually moved apart over the next while although I did babysit their children when they asked (Edward and Gordon still worked together on the Kipp Family Tree on occasion).
Babysitting is never my thing actually and I avoid it except when needed (partly because I always pick up whatever cold or flu or illness small children have that were left with me (I never thought of wearing a mask and gloves in those days but it would have been a good idea given my fragile health and determination to help in the schools my children were attending!)). A stroll down Memory Lane once again; it is amazing looking backwards over 81 years of life really. I appear to be very healthy and the fragility of my early adulthood has disappeared although I do feel my 80 plus years.
For the most part I have lived the quiet life I prefer (but always went to all the historical activities and events that my husband Edward asked me to attend with him as well as going to his Church!). Considering I moved to the attic as a young child separating myself from my then four siblings and eventually six siblings that lifestyle is probably not surprising. We did (my siblings and I) play a lot of card games together and board games but I did like the solitude of the attic for sure! Amazingly I was the middle child in the group of seven.
I worked away on my Great Grandparent data a little just to play with the file which now has 4377 lines in total. Today I may use AI a little to look at this file a little more intently. I may separate it into the four grandparents since that is basically how I will use it anyway. But the original is still safely stored away in case I ever want to look at the original extraction once again.
An article on wages paid in Canada was quite interesting to read this morning. It is surprising who is making the most money (just on an average basis within each grouping) on a group level but also a very rewarding look because that is really where you would think the best salaries/wages are and it is in working the natural resources. That is our greatest product really our natural resources. Getting them out of the ground is important and selling them beneficial to our present state. But respecting the land always is an important part of all of that. It may seem cumbersome to people but if we do not respect the land then we condemn earth to an unhealthy future. I think that we can get what is needed out of the natural resources to put us on a path that will make it monetarily feasible to move to protection of the environment as we move along but still maintaining a sufficient income to support the population of Canada.
I understand the desire to have a perfect utopia now but we have to be able to support that utopia without creating a poverty level that can not be sustained by our current GDP. Hence we need to listen (and discuss) to the suggestions made by those who know this land well, the First Nations.
Time to play the solitaire games.
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