My Buddy

 Today I shall introduce you to my Buddy. He is my first born. He came into this world five weeks premature. We weren't ready for first few weeks that followed his arrival. It took the medical profession three days of avoiding us before telling us that he is Down syndrome. Immediately there after social workers tried to convince us to give him up into social service care. It was standard practice to do this in this situation. We were told it we should do this because of his condition. It would be very difficult to manage him especially in his teenage years. The pressure was huge. We chose to believe they were wrong. We were trusted with a special child to raise and we chose to view it that way. So once I recovered from the two separate near death postpartum bleeds that ensued, I was allowed home with Buddy at my side.
 My sister became an advocate for our well being from the beginning. She was there right from his birth. It was a good feeling. He was accepted by my closest family and that meant a lot. We treated Buddy with the same enthusiasm as anyone would with their first born. He grew in leaps and bounds because he had lots of affection and stimulation. What you don't know is that Buddy helped us to be pioneers of a new generation of acceptance of special needs infants into the main stream of local communities. He is extra special Kleinste Motte.

Saturday

We have had a lovely warm week but there has been no rain and none is on the way. The newly planted flowers and shrubs will need daily watering. Lawns will need attention too. The beaches are busier than usual at this time of year. Swimming has begun! I am happy for those who are enjoying this early summer like weather. Buddy and I manage our strolls around the pond. I've been a bit down. Health and motivation seem to be my hurdle but I shall keep on working at improving so I can do more. I get a little uneasy when the heart misses a beat now and then. I just need to be stronger Kleinste Motte.
P.S. I hope fellow bloggers get better too! Prayers will help.

Cannington

Township of Brock, concession 10, lot 19 was the title description of the parcel of land we came to love. At the end of July in 1988 we took possession of our country home, a 200 acre farm in Cannington.

For us it was  to be an investment and a weekend home away from the city. We wanted our kids to have lots of space to explore and enjoy. It would be part of their foundation for creativity. And it was. Our next door neighbours were the well known author Timothy Findley and nature writer William Whitehead. To us they were just Tiff and Bill. Tiff honoured us by referring to us in a chapter, Waterworks, in his book, From Stone Orchard, a collection of memories. It gives the history of his farm and ours. Both were originally owned by the pioneer Purvis family. The Beaver River flows through a corner of our place, an added feature of beauty. One day I shall write in detail about our times there.

Leni

Patiently I awaited her arrival. We have not seen each other since my surgery and I was longing to see her. My sister lives away from the city. Her busy schedule makes our visits scarce. She coaches the Special Olympians in swimming, soccer and snow shoeing. When she knew she had to come to town she found an opportunity to drop by. As soon as she stepped through the front door I rushed to give her a big long hug! She is a special sister. I love Leni, Kleinste Motte.

http://www.specialolympics.org

Opera Adventure

In pouring rain we drove downtown to the Sheraton Centre on Queen Street. There we parked and dined  exquisitely before walking next door to the Four Seasons Centre for Performing Arts. Tonight we came to experience Wagner's version of the Flying Dutchman. It is a full two and a half hour production with no intermissions. The stage setting is spectacular.I had delved deeper into the theme of the opera. Who would have thought that Pirates of the Caribbean shares a common theme of phantoms at sea? Wagner's music is haunting yet beautiful. The Canadian Opera Company has video clips on it's webpage at  http://www.coc.ca . If you're in Toronto you may wish to enjoy a free lunchtime concert. Just check their weekly schedule.
P.S. Today I learned to create a link. What fun Kleinste  Motte!!