Hello dear friends and fellow bloggers! This is a special post separate from my regular blog posts. I will from time to time make these posts, but it won't be often, and I do hope that you enjoy this post.
My regular post can be found here...
Perspective, Christmas Joy, Laughter
Many of you who have followed my blog from 2012 at my old location, Linda's Peaceful Place, which I had until 2017, may already have seen these photos...but even if you have, many years have passed and so I decided to make this post for everyone who may be interested in learning more about me, the author of this blog!
I am 69 years of age, born here in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and have lived here all my life. I am an only child. My mother lost 5 children before I was born, so I am the only survivor. 4 of those children were miscarriages and the 5th child, my brother Richard, died at the tender age of 7 months...bronchial pneumonia.
I was born in 1956, after the loss of my parents' 5 children. Richard died in 1951. (born in 1950) I was born just two months before my mother's 41st birthday, so I was her last chance at having a child.
Both my parents were also born here in Montreal, and my grandparents on my mother's side were born in Montreal as well. My paternal grandparents were born in Kent, England.
I do struggle with depression, but I want you to know that it does not define me. Both my parents struggled with depression as well, so this is something that I have to deal with, but it makes me more sensitive and understanding to others who also struggle with it, so basically I am saying that I am not sorry that I deal with this mental illness, because it makes me more able to understand and perhaps even encourage others who also struggle with it.
I have never smoked in my life, nor have I ever done drugs. I do not drink alcohol.
I have been pre-diabetic for more than 10 years. My father was diabetic (Type 2), and sadly in 1984, he died at the age of 64 from a heart attack in a military hospital here in Montreal. I was closer to my father more than my mother. My mother died one year earlier, in 1983, at the age of 67 in a hospital here in Montreal...she died of a stroke. Today, December 19th, would have been my father's 106th birthday. (he was born in 1919) My mother was born on Christmas eve, 1915.
I was married in 1983 until 1998, until my husband decided he wanted a divorce. We had no children, which to me was a blessing, because divorce is difficult enough for the adults involved...it is harder for children.
I am going to share some family photos. I have no childhood photos because there was a fire and all those photos were unfortunately lost. However, I am sharing the photos that I do have.
This first photo is of my beloved father, taken in 1939 at the beginning of World War II. He was 19 in this photo. He was sent from Canada to England to fight, and was in a Queen's Regiment over there. Unfortunately, he became a prisoner of the Nazis. He suffered quite a bit, apparently, and my father never told my mother or myself any of this, I found out after he died from my cousins, children of his brothers, whom he did tell. They pulled out his toenails, he was starved and other things as well but I don't know everything.
Wow Linda, that is so sad what happened to your father during the war! I’m so glad they were able to have you after so many losses. You must have been very, very special to them.
ReplyDeleteLinda, I so enjoyed reading this and learning more about you. There was a lot of sorrow in your history and life and I appreciate your good attitude and the way you want to bring joy to others.
ReplyDeleteYour Dad was a hero!
Lindos recuerdos. Te mando un beso.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the background information.
ReplyDeleteI loved the old photos and learning your story. That would have been so tough on your parents to lose their other children. I was born in 1956 also!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your story, Linda. It's very touching. Do take care.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading this post, Linda, and getting to know a little of your story, thank you! I am a year younger than you and have lived all my life on the prairies (Manitoba and now Alberta). My father served in Italy in WW2, so that generation's sacrifice in the war is well known to me. My parents also lost a baby who was born a couple of years before me. He died at 6 months, a "blue baby" as the term was in those days. My mother always told me how joyful she felt when I was born healthy and "such a good eater," LOL! I bet your parents felt the same way when you were born and brightened their lives with your vigorous little self!
ReplyDeleteIt's wonderful to learn more about you, Linda.
ReplyDeleteNice to know a bit more about you, I sometimes wonder what it might have been like to be born in one place and never leave. I haven't left Australia since we arrived in 1953, I had my first birthday here, and since then have lived in so many different places, though many were moves-within-the -town and then with my soldier husband a new place every 18 months or so, but still always in Australia.
ReplyDeleteGood evening, Linda. It was such a delight to learn more about you and your family and you shared such lovely photos of them. It was heartbreaking to hear about the abuse your father endured as a POW. I imagine your parents were strong people to endure so much in their lives. Thank you for sharing . Warm hugs and many blessings
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing some of your history ❤️ It's wonderful how you have chosen to spread joy and beauty and words of wisdom to the world, helping others.
ReplyDeleteA warm greeting from Finland. Bytheway... Meanwhile in Finland is a lot like Meanwhile in Canada 🙂🇫🇮🇨🇦
You are an absolute blessing Linda. Thank you for sharing your story 🩷🪷💖🤗
ReplyDeleteGracias, amiga, por estas bellas reflexiones, que nos permiten conocerte de un modo muy especial...
ReplyDeleteTe deseo siempre lo mejor.
Feliz Navidad, amiga