Guide for Happiness

I received the following in an e-mail circulating through cyberspace. I felt it had some value and that anyone reading it might benefit from the message. I know I did. I find that I can find more reasons not to get up out of bed and get going than vice versa. Sometimes we just need to remember what we might be missing. We need to be keep focused on storing up those good memories. So here is the story.....

A 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud man, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with his hair fashionably coiffed and shaved perfectly, even though he is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today. His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary. After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, he smiled sweetly when told his room was ready. As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of his tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on his window. "I love it," he stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy. "Mr. Jones, you haven't seen the room; just wait." "That doesn't have anything to do with it," he replied. "Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged ... it's how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it. "It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do. Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away. Just for this time in my life. Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw from what you've put in. So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories! Thank you for your part in filling my Memory bank. I am still depositing."
Remember the five simple rules to be happy:
1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.

Winnipeg Birthday Trip Addendum 1

Skinners (Clockwise from L) Linda, Len, Aleta, Barry, Greta

L'Esplanade Riel

As you can see by the pictures we had some fun before and during the party. Linda and Len arrived with Barry and Greta late Thursday and we got to do some touring on Friday and Saturday. Got to see the St. Boniface Cathedral, the Fork's Market, a couple of antique shops and off to Skinner's in Lockport, Manitoba. I have to say I haven't been to Skinners since don't know when and it was like the old days with the best hot chocolate, dog and francophone fries one could sample. You have to get down there if you are in these parts. Trust me, it's great. I've attached some pictures for your pleasure, I didn't want to be completely outdone by my big sister Linda. You can check her blog and pictures at the Kootenay link on the sidebar. Unfortunately Blogger does not seem to allow us to post up more than a couple photos at a time so I have had to break up this post into multiples. More to come.

Welcome to Geriatrics

(L-R)Irene, grandson Darian, Bill, daughter Amanda, son Joe and Shannon, John's Cheryl at end

First of all, may I apologize to all of you for my not posting for quite some time. I've been busy (Linda would say "doing what?"). Just busy. We put on quite a surprise for my big sister Irene's 65th birthday which just passed on October 22, 2006. We put a real good one over on her this time. She was completely in the dark about the out of towners who arrived just for her. I have to thank Bill for making this the surprise it turned out to be. Of course, even more so thank you to my sister Linda and husband Len, Uncle Merv and Auntie Georgina plus cousin Betty-Lou and not to forget thank you to Barry and Greta for making this such an event! They certainly went to quite an expense to get here and I certainly appreciated the effort. It was so good to get together again and see everyone. Unfortunately it ended rather too quickly and the weather didn't cooperate as I had hoped. It warmed right up after they left which was good for us but not for the time we spent here. The snow is arriving tomorrow and it sounds like it may be a cold Halloween in these parts. Enjoy!.... and HAPPY BIRTHDAY IRENE!

(L-R)Len, son Joe, Irene, Uncler Merv, Greta, Barry, Amanda, Darian

Hello to the living. I'm sorry not to have blogged for such a while but as I told my sister Linda, when you work all day with computers you really don't feel like getting down to business in the evenings too. I am so looking forward to being able to say I don't have to go in to work today.... that day will come, sooner than later thank heavens.

I have to say I have not been feeling my usual tip top. I find I am succumbing to the symptoms of the "evil thing", the dreaded "menopause". I think it is also a bit of anxiety as well. When you have a family history of heart disease and then you can't get or stay asleep because your heart is doing the "alien" thing inside your chest and your stomach is distended with gas so you feel like it's your time, well what can I say. Your EKG is normal and the only thing the doctor can offer you is "antidepressants" with their own negative side effects, it just is not pleasant. To top it off, you're not even in menopause but "pre-menopause" and so you're still getting visits from your "little friend" and this friend doesn't necessarily show up at the usual prescheduled time or day! It's just not fair. What really bugs me is that in my case there is not any purpose for this "friend". I don't have children and CERTAINLY don't expect to have any soon. I think there should be a predetermined expiry date on these things so at least we women can have a date to work towards.... just like retirement! I mean really, this is supposed to be a natural occurrence, well so is the consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables! You are supposed to consume fresh fruit and vegables by a certain date after you bring them home from the store! Why can't that be stipulated for the "friend". When we have guests come visit our home, most guests have the common sense and decency to stay for no more than a week and go home; if you're lucky they don't come and visit again for a year. Certainly I would not expect to have the same guests come every frickin' month and stay for a week! O-M-G!

Sorry for the above, I guess I am just feeling sorry for myself. I had one of those unsettling nights and today I feel like sh*t. I have so much to do around here and I have zero energy and still feel gassy. I'm hoping the tea will help. I thought I would post some pictures I took at the English garden at Assiniboine Park which is located in Winnipeg. For those of you who are not familiar with Winnipeg the park is within the city, just west of the downtown. I have to say we do have lots of greenspace in our city. The second picture of the pond with the bronze figure of the boy with his boot is a landmark. Not too many years ago someone stole his boot but it was returned a couple years ago to its rightful place. If you are ever in Winnipeg in the spring, summer or fall, you must see the english garden. In the spring on Mother's Day the park sells off perennials from the garden; it is always a busy time.

I felt the need to just get this posted so even though I started this yesterday (Sunday), I'm finishing it at this moment. I've had a busy day working without Sylvia. She's on vacation which means I get the privilege of covering and picking up the slack. It used to be my job until she joined our office and my, my it's busy without her. (or maybe I'm just slow, I dunno) Well got to run and get busy while I can muster a bit of energy tonight. Lots to do. See ya!

Long Weekends

Ah, 'tis Sunday evening of a long weekend and the dishes are soaking, Loreena McKennitt is playing and I am longing to get my entry completed. Today Uncle Merv and Auntie "Cookie" Georgina Wilson called to let me know that finally my grandmother's headstone has reached its final resting place... albeit 53 years late. I am sure that Connie is quite happy to be acknowledged. I know my own mother would be pleased. As humans we like to leave our own mark, even if it is just a grave stone noting that we existed at one time. I have included a picture of my grandparents Constance Audrey Abigail Wilson [nee Stiver] and Charles Henry Wilson. Grandma Connie passed away from cancer in 1953 long before I was born. Grandpa Wilson died of heart disease in 1948. Uncle Merv and Auntie "George" are flying off to London ON next Monday to visit their son Roy who is not doing too well, suffering from MS. I last saw him two years ago at Merv and Georgina's 50th wedding anniversary. It was good to see Roy even if for the last time.

I have added some new "old" photos to flicker so if you want to reminisce then by all means have a look. There are so many, many photos of value (and some that mother took that I have no clue why they exist). I have discarded those that are of, oh I don't know, maybe there were UFO's or something... pictures of nothing in a sky seem like a waste of good film. You will see that I have some pictures of Mom, Dad, Mom's big sister Eva and baby sister "Miriam" Vicky along with some pictures of the Wilson kids etcetera. I hope you all enjoy. I have put them into sets so they are not all jumbled together.

James is staying over one night and today we spent part of the afternoon at Assiniboine Park (formerly called City Park). What a beauteous day for walking around the English Garden and checking the duck pond. The sun shone and the temperature was even a slightly too warm 26C. It seemed hotter than it was today. I took a few pictures of Canada geese partaking in some offers of bread. So many people were milling about the park today, it was a pleasure to see. Later I found out that there had been venues within the park promoting the Winnipeg Symphony.... missed that I'm afraid. Was a good day anyway without all the other fluff.

So glad that Krista is back on-line with her blog. I really missed the usual excellent photos posted there. I took a tip from Krista not to go out without the camera handy. So many great shots are missed when we don't come prepared. I will add another entry shortly with some photos of my fun today. Well.... have to close as those darn dishes are waiting.....

Vee Von't Zay Anytink about Za Vor!

Yesterday I received two emails from my very distant cousin Nancy (a very distant cousin through the line of Russell Forman of Ontario; we are both descended from the original John Forman). She passed along a wealth of additional information about John Forman's brother Joseph Forman who also came to settle in Ontario. In addition, after some hunting that very day, she was able to give me the lowdown on my grandmother Mabel Nunn's (married to my grandfather James Harris Foreman) lineage. It seems that Mabel Nunn was the daughter of Samuel Nunn and Marilla Misener (I actually did find out the name of Mabel's parents from the 1901, 1906 and 1911 Manitoba census). However, Nancy was able to dig deeper and provided me with an even bigger load of information. So here is how it goes:

My dad, George Foreman is the son of James Harris Foreman and Mabel Alberta Nunn. James Harris is the son of William Foreman and Melinda Harris. William Foreman was the son of John Forman and Margaret Long who came to Ontario from England.

Mabel Nunn was the daughter of Samuel Nunn (b. 1846) and Marilla Misener (b. 1852). Marilla Misener was the daughter of Leonard Misener (b. 1799) and his second wife Sarah Elizabeth Knockout. Unclear of what happened to his first wife. Leonard Misener was the son of John Misener (b. 1774) and Catherine Young. This John Misener's father was also Leonard Misener (b. 1744) and mother Eva B. Bender (not clear of the spelling). Anyway the Miseners were a New Jersey family line.

From the 1906 census it indicates that both Marilla and Samuel Nunn (Mabel's parents) were born in Ontario as well as Mabel. I suppose at some point they must have moved from Ontario and in Manitoba had Mabel's younger brother Benjamin Nunn. There are still Nunns living in and about Manitoba. I am tempted to start calling these people in the phone book just to see if they perhaps are descended somehow from Benjamin who apparently we have lost track of. From looking at the 1911 Manitoba census it appears that both the Nunns and the Foremans lived in the same area in Wheatlands, Manitoba. At this point James Harris Foreman and Mabel Nunn are already married and have the first 3 children. My dad was not born yet for another 2 years.

It seems that there is quite a bit of German heritage in this family background as the Nunns were German, the Miseners were German and the Stivers (from whom my mother is descended) is also of German ancestry. It is only the Formans who specifically can be identified as originating in England. The Wilson line also goes back to the USA, specifically Alexander County of the Chicago area. I am hoping to trace that lineage back as far as I can but I am pretty sure with a name like Wilson it will also go back to England. It is all just very, very interesting. Will keep you posted further.

As in previous posts, I am unable to upload a picture yet again. Not sure why, too big maybe. Anyway I had hoped to post a picture of my grandfather for whom this search started, Charles Henry Wilson. I will sort out the pictures I have and upload them to Flicker so that they are grouped and labelled appropriately. Keep watching.

It's a Good Thing!

Oh what an exciting day today has been. A few weeks ago I sent away to the Province of Manitoba for some records relating to my grandparents' (both sides) marriage registration. I am particularly interested in tracing my roots down the Wilson line. Unfortunately there has been very little information about my grandfather Charlie Wilson. My own mother could not provide me with much valuable information other than to say that her dad worked primarily as a mechanic and was from Chicago, coming up to Canada working on the railroad. I have received some little bits of information from another descendent of the Stiver line (Stever, Stober often name is changed). Previously I received a copy of the wedding notice that was published in the local paper at that time. The notice unfortunately did not provide me any information about my grandfather other than what he wore. Today, after a few weeks, I finally received a copy of the marriage registration. I could barely hold back my glee to find not only the name of my great-grandparent Wilson from Chicago but also..... wait for this...... my grandfather had been married before!!!! The registration indicates that he was a widower at the time of the marriage when he was listed as age 34. My grandmother was listed as age 22 (thus shattering the long held belief that my grandfather was a good 20 years older than my grandmother). It also narrows down a bit what year my grandfather was born. Although the registration does not indicate birth dates, at least we can do the math. Charles Henry Wilson's father is listed as a Harvey Wilson employed as a "sea captain" and born in Chicago; his mother's name is listed as Hannah Williams and also born in Chicago. Exciting stuff huh? Oh and the wedding took place in Elgin, Manitoba on May 24, 1921 and witnessed by the bride's sister Lola Anderson and Lola's husband Victor. The social event took place in Oak River, MB where the couple would reside after the wedding.

The other piece of information that I received was my grandparents marriage registration on my father's side. Although I knew their names, this information also provides the names of the witnesses, one being the bride's brother, Benjamin Nunn of Wheatland and a Lulu Johnston of Brandon. My grandmother's name was Mabel Alberta Nunn and my grandfather James Harris Foreman. They were married on October 31, 1906 (Halloween wedding) inWheatland, Manitoba. Of course I knew the name of his parents, William Foreman and Charlotte Melinda Harris. The Foremans came to Manitoba from Ontario and before that from England. Interestingly, the Foreman name actually was Forman and I discovered this weekend from sifting through internet research that it was William Foreman that altered his last name a bit from Forman to Foreman. One Canada census in the late 1800s indicates that William Foreman has a different last name from the head of the household. Don't know why he did that but there you go - mystery solved!

A third bit of information I received was information on the death of my great-grandfather Marshall Bidwell Stiver. He died March 27, 1919, ten days after seeing the doctor; he died of the spanish influenza. He died at home in Elgin with his wife Eva May Stiver (nee Park) at his bedside. Both Stivers are buried in Elgin cemetery. My grandmother Constance is buried next to them; an Anderson grandchild is buried in front of them. The Andersons (Lola and Vic) are buried not too fary away in the same Elgin cemetery. Just thought you might like this little bit of information. My mother gave us a copy of a picture of her grandmother, who must be Eva May Stiver (nee Park) as my mother did not know her father's mother.

I am having no luck uploading pictures again so will try again later.