Born in the 40s or earlier

Comment

Comment by leslie b on August 22, 2011 at 8:37pm

It really isn't that frightening at the Falls, owlbert. It is just awe inspiring. You can feel Mother Nature's majesty. The barriers keep people back and safe but unfortunately some people find ways to get a closer look and sometimes with tragic results. Last week a Japanese student studying in Toronto decided to straddled the barrier for a photo op. She slipped into the river and was swept away. I believe they are still looking for her body. It is very safe if people just obey the signs. It is also very beautiful. I hope you will get to see it someday.

Comment by owlbert on August 22, 2011 at 5:29pm

Thank you "leslie b" and "Grandmafi" for your graphic description, in words, of Niagara Falls.    "Awesome" would usually be adequate for most 'things' but I think you are right;  with Niagara, I suspect  'awesome' would be found wanting!      I close my eyes and picture the scene and to me "leslie b" the noise sounds frightening in it's intensity, and the mist you write of adds to that ;  fear I suppose you might call it.     I have heard the River Dee in spate in spring and that was fearsome a mile away, how so much more 'fearsome' must the sound of nature's wonder Niagara be!   I feel so lucky to have 'met' you, and through you have now 'seen', and been part of, such a majestic and spectacular place;  thank you both for sharing that experience with me.    It is my 'dream' now to see, and experience, the falls with my own eyes and ears;  but then I am a dreamer.     My little village is the complete opposite, quiet  and peaceful, (except in a southeast gale), which is probably why I would find Niagara 'frightening'!     Someday I hope you can make it over to the UK 'leslie b', and then you might even walk along 'The Ferry' beach, something that 'Grandmafi' and I are going to do when the tourists leave us, and 'peace' reigns once more in Earlsferry!    'Happiness' shared is treasure indeed;  thanks 'leslie b' for sharing the 'enjoyment' of your trip to daughter and family with us.    Have a good week.

  

Comment by itaintme on August 22, 2011 at 8:49am

I read some quotes about grief that I wanted to share with everyone, as they struck a chord with me. "Grief is the tax we pay on our attachments." ~~Thomas Lynch.  And I think C.S. Lewis captures what so many of us are feeling:  "The act of living is different all through. Her absence is like the sky, spread over everything."

Comment by leslie b on August 22, 2011 at 8:16am

Good morning, everyone. Well, owlbert, it was The Niagara Falls that I went to last week. I have been to the Falls many times as I live only two hours away. It never loses its majesty however. The mist from the falls permeates the entire area around it. So much so that when you are standing behind the rails taking in the falls you feel the mist on your skin even though you are quite a ways from the actual falls. The sound is much like a freight train only louder. In the winter the falls empty into the river which is frozen but the force of the water keeps the first little bit around the falls unfrozen and then you see the ice all banked up and in pieces farther down. At night they put coloured lights on the falls but I prefer it in the daytime. There is an area where you can go underneath the falls and come out onto a viewing platform. That is when you can get the closest to them. You must wear the provided raincoat or get completely drenched under there. The roar is deafening. I have never been on "The Maid of the Mist" like grandmafi because I was a little frightened but being underneath the falls is pretty breathtaking. Of course, as grandmafi says, some of the surrounding sites are pretty tacky but they have nothing to do with the majesty of the Falls. They are simply manmade tourist attractions and to be expected. I try not to go up that street. There are other lovely attractions around though. One that comes to mind is the butterfly conservatory. It is very busy in the summer and attracts people from all over the world. Early autumn is a good time to go as the bustle seems to die down a bit. Someday, I hope that you will be able to see Mother Nature's Falls in all their wonder. I would love to see the United Kingdom and now that I have travelled alone I think it will be easier. I have a few friends who have the same wish so I hope that we will make our wish  come true to see your corner of the world sometime in the future. 

Hope your renovations are going well, grandmafi. Sounds like they are except for the dust! I have to start thinking about painting now, itaintme. I hope I can choose the colours wisely. Talk to all of you soon. Have a wonderful day.

Comment by itaintme on August 22, 2011 at 7:04am

Grandmafi, I love your description of Niagra Falls. I empathize with choosing the paint. I did well until I got to choosing the paint for my kitchen and then I couldn't decide. Finally decided on blue and gray and call it my Civil War kitchen because I've lived in the north and the south. 

Monday greetings to all from me, too. Here's wishing everyone a great week.

Comment by grandmafi on August 22, 2011 at 5:54am

Greetings from the lovely Kingdom ..... yes Lesley .... it is so good to get the kind of understanding that we get from the members of this group ..... and I`m so happy for you that you  overcame the discomfort you were feeling about travelling alone......Susan ..... my cottage is quaint and dinky and sealing was`nt an option ... I was wishing I had taken your advice tho about getting a contract cleaner in .... however my daughter came over to help .... painter starts wednesday when the plaster has dried properly .... more mess... I doubt my carpet in the living room will ever recover but I will get a contract cleaner in to try to clean it for me ( the wokrkmen had to go through the living room to access the kitchen ) ... anyway .. my next dilema comes tonight when I have to choose the paint .... my past "ME " decisiveness has deserted me .... it died whe the Fiona that I was died when Billy died ( ?? ... You will all understand that I`m sure ) ..... Owlbert .. I visited Niagra Falls a very long time ago when I visited my sister in Ontario ... I was overwhelmed by the roar of the Falls ... I cried at this  example of the Glory of Creation ..... words like awesome just dosent do it justice..... we took the little boat trip that takes you as near as poss to the falls and under the permanent rainbow .... sadly .... there is always a Pole with a hook kept on that boat  as apparently it is a favourite place to commit suicide...... hurt my heart to learn that ..... so getting soaked to the skin was well worth it ..... and I would dearly love to see the Falls in the winter as apparently they freeze.... and its truly a winter wonderland with coloured lights shining on the sparkling ice and frost and snow ( I saw pictures at the falls visitors Centre)..... not to detract from the Falls themselves... I found that part of Niagra very touristy .. and I dont mean to offend but a wee bit tacky ..... I woud love to visit again but only for a daytrip and then ove on to the more beautiful parts of niagra and the surrounding area.......Valentine 5 Itaintme is right .. you will surprise yourself and as she says .. wont have time to dwell on the Past as your time will soon be in demand...... well .. I better go and try to remove some more grime from everywhere !!!.... Monday blessings to all .... hope you all meet lots of sunshiney people today ...xx

Comment by owlbert on August 22, 2011 at 2:56am

'leslie b' .... I have never seen/ heard the Niagara Falls except on TV etc.   Could you  describe in your words just how it is?     You know, the noise and spectacle must be awsome;  I just want to 'hear', in their own words, from someone who has been there.    You know I've just thought...I'm  assuming you were at  'The' Niagara Falls?

   I'm glad you've found there is a future, albeit not one you would have wanted, but one that gives you a 'new' happiness.    Widowed Village is a major 'plus' in our lives and without question does help us 'move' forward.    Best wishes for your future 'leslie b'!

Comment by leslie b on August 21, 2011 at 7:05pm

Thanks, owlbert. I am finding out that there are so many things out there that I can do. I am so happy that I am learning to live again. I still would rather have my old life but that is not an option so I, like all of us, must find a way to go on. I hope that we all will be able to do that in the future. This group has definitely given me some of that strength I have been finding lately and for that I am very grateful.

Comment by owlbert on August 21, 2011 at 5:59pm

Congratulations 'leslie b';  we knew you could do it;  and had fun again.    You had the courage to 'go for it' alone... and found it rewarding.     There is indeed a 'lesson' in there somewhere;  enjoyment can be found;  all of 'us' have to find the courage to go look for it!    Perhaps easier said than done;  but that's the 'way to go'.    Big admiration!

Comment by leslie b on August 19, 2011 at 6:24pm

 

Hi Everyone,

I am back from Great Wolf Lodge in Niagara Falls. I had a wonderful time with my grandsons and daughter and son-in-law. I went down all the water slides. They weren't as scary as I thought. Once I tried one it was easy. I am so glad I tried it or I would have missed all the fun. I think there is a lesson in there somewhere. Hope everyone has a great weekend.

 

 

 

 

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