What do you think? I was finding my recently surgeried eye was sensitive to the light when I was out walking, so I stopped in a variety store and picked up a cheap pair of sunglasses. That was supposed to be a smile too! I was grimacing to try and see the picture I was taking to get the lighthouse in the background.
The lighthouse is the reproduction that sits on the shoreline of Lake Ontario in Bronte, now part of Oakville. We were down there for several days to celebrate Mrs. F.G.'s mother, who passed away late last week. As you can see, the weather was terrible, about 6 foggy days in a row as the temperature rose above freezing.
If there is such a thing as a 'good death', this was it. Mama was nearly 97, and passed away painlessly and peacefully in her sleep. She was still doing puzzles that morning, her mind still sharp as a tack. She was in the hospital for some tests and actually quite enjoying being the centre of attention as people came to visit.
I did at least get out every day for a walk, down to the shoreline of Lake Ontario. I was surprised to find this nice trail between the nearest houses and the lake. Notice the pair of swans, and the nice foggy scenery!
A little further on, a whole raft of swans, ducks and a couple of geese!
A Tribute
Mrs. F.G.'s mother arrived in Canada in 1957, her husband having come five years earlier with several other brother-in-laws. She cared for four children in the mountains of southern Italy for five years before her husband had saved the money to pay for their trip. Life was not easy. Bread was baked in a communal brick oven once a month. Laundry was done down at the river. A hog was butchered once a year, and every bit of it was used. Food for the children was still sometimes short. The thought that kept going through my own mind while we attended final celebrations was enormous respect for parents who sacrificed so much, and had such courage to bring their children to a new land and set them up for a better life. Our country, like that of our neighbours to the south, was built by immigrants like these. We owe them so much.
A lovely tribute to a life well lived, FG. We owe our immigrant ancestors so much.
ReplyDeleteGlad your eye is healed!
A lovely tribute. and many caring thoughts, Mrs F.G. Your Mum at 97, a grand age, and a peaceful end, what more could you ask for.Lovely foggy photos. Fog can be beautiful as well.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear of Mrs FG's mother. yes, some parents made far greater sacrifices than others.
ReplyDeletePretty spiff shades you had there.
ReplyDeleteA life worth living should be measured by how well, not how long, but it seems that your mother-in-law lived both well and long.
Oh, so good to see this post. Sorry for the loss of Mrs. F. G's mother. But oh what a life she must have led...you or Mrs. F. G. should write her story. That is the type of biography I like to read...
ReplyDeleteYour mother-in-law sounds like an amazing woman. What a blessing that her death arrived so mercifully. Thanks for the lovely photos of the lakeshore in the mist.
ReplyDeleteNice selfie! Sorry to hear of your mother-in-laws passing. You wrote a nice tribute.
ReplyDeleteThe sunglasses are ok---lookin' good.
ReplyDeleteMy Mother died recently at age 95---sound mind and chatty as all get out. Like your MIL too. I want to opt that way too.
Like your snow scenes in your previous posts.
Take care
MB
They suit you, but it looks a bit cold to wear them...
ReplyDeleteHello, I like the new sunglasses. Your photos are pretty, I really love the last shot with the birds.
ReplyDeleteHappy Wednesday, enjoy your day!
Nice new glasses, looks pretty chilly along the lakeshore.
ReplyDeleteNice grimace and lighthouse! I like the new look. And thanks for the tribute to your MIL. She lived a hard but full life, it seems. And I want to go that way, too. :-)
ReplyDeleteWe stand on the "shoulders of giants" do we not. Glasses do look very modern and racy.
ReplyDeleteA good tribute to your mother in law.
ReplyDeleteI haven't been to the Oakville lakeshore in years. The last time was for a Shakespeare in the park thing in Coronation Park, I think, which can't be far from that lighthouse. I remember going down to the lakeshore in early March when I was twelve and having the crazy idea to wade in the water.
Snazzy glasses! Great shore photos, I like to walk along the lake in the fog.
ReplyDeleteSorry about you MIL. It's always hard to lose a loved one no matter what their age.
Sorry for your families loss . Looking good there with the shades . My parents were immigrants from England who arrived here a year after the second world war . Looks pretty much like down here by lake Erie only not as foggy now .Thanks for sharing , Have a good day !
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear of your loss.
ReplyDeleteYou look quite nice in your new sunglasses. : )
Would like to walk on the path along the shoreline.
Your mother in law must have been very thankful for her new life in Canada. I often admire people who uproot their families and start fresh in a new country. I don't think I could do it myself, but obviously war would change your perception. To have lived to 97 and still be in such a great frame of mind is such a blessing.
ReplyDeleteYou have some nice shots of the foggy shoreline. It's been dark, cloudy and rainy for so long down here by the lake ... getting a bit depressing. The only thing for it is to get out and enjoy the day as best you can. You look great in the cheap sunglasses. I hope your surgery has brought good results. I read back quite a few posts to catch up and love the snow shots you have been sharing (missing snow this year!).
Wendy
Nice tribute! Lately I have thought of my ancestors who traveled to a new world seeking religious freedom. How brave... or how desperate they were.
ReplyDeleteIt was a rough life. The location didn't help as most places were rural and development was slow. My grandparents were so poor that they moved and lived in abandoned house throughout different counties. My mom said she never stayed in a country school longer than a year as they had to keep moving. The area where your mother-in-law lived is fascinating to me as I live in the prairie. I am moving to a new town where the man made lake is nearby. Not the same as Lake Ontario is it?
ReplyDeleteOur generation stands on the shoulders of our parents. Anything we or our descendants achieve is a result of what the gave. Condolences
ReplyDelete'A-ha' so that's what a Furry Gnome looks like eh. Great selfie, cheap sunglasses and all. Nice tribute and I think it's hard for many of us to imagine just how hard life was back in those days. I'm reading a book right now about the Klondike during the gold rush and it boggles my mind how any of those people ever survived those harsh winters. We sure have it different than our ancestors did..........
ReplyDeleteBlessings to your family. She lived a good life didn't she?
ReplyDelete