“Well, Beth, that’s my story. The rest isn’t ready to tell yet. My last chapter isn’t finished. We’ll just have to wait to see how this story is going to end. It’s kind of funny though, when I take a walk down memory lane and look back over all the years of living I’ve done, it’s hard to believe that I’ve put over a hundred years behind me. I have to chuckle at the thought that I can still remember the most of it. I’ve tried to hang on to the good parts anyhow. I have so many great memories. It seems that’s what’s most important in the end. Ma used to say that every gray cloud has a silver lining. I try to remember that idea. It’s like saying that out of everything bad comes a good. I guess optimism is what I’m talking about. It makes life easier somehow, rather than hanging on to all the bad things you encounter as you pass through this world. Everyone has their share of that. Life seems easier if you don’t dwell on it.
I can honestly say I’ve enjoyed my life, most parts anyway. My childhood was full of many wonderful memories. I grew up in a home with loving parents and had the opportunity to have a house full of fun-loving siblings. All ten of us were provided with all the love, nourishment, and hard work we required to turn us into well rounded adults.
I was blessed with six healthy children of my own and reared Logan’s three as well. Each of them brought me a lot of joy. They were loving, caring characters every one of them. They all turned out to be hardworking, good living individuals. Each followed their dreams and pursued a life of their choosing. That’s all a mother can ask. It sets a body’s heart at ease to see your children doing well and enjoying their own lives.
After the children were grown and gone from home, Logan and I sure had some good times. We travelled to the east and west coasts of this beautiful country we live in and witnessed some real beauty. There sure are some pretty sights to behold. We saw more beauty than all the stars in Hollywood. There are no words to describe some of the natural sights we took in. I can still close my eyes after all these years and picture the view of the Atlantic Ocean at Peggy’s Cove. I remember looking so far out to sea that the blue of the water touched the blue of the sky. It was magnificent. And I can still recall seeing the Rocky Mountains as we travelled west across Alberta into the foothills. It was breathtaking. The mountain scenery is so majestic. It’s pretty hard to compare the beauty to anything else. Mother Nature sure has provided me with a lot of pleasure throughout my lifetime. Of course, I had to be observant enough to take in all those sights and sounds, and appreciative enough to enjoy them. I think that’s the real key to it all.
I’ve always loved nature. Pa taught me a lot. He often pointed things out to me when I went traipsing around after him in my tomboy years. He had a real keen eye and took notice of things in the bush and all around. In those days, people took more note of nature. They were way more observant of their natural surroundings. It gave them signs to changes in the weather. That information was needed to help survive.
It’s hard to believe how life has changed with the passing of time. You don’t seem to notice it on a daily basis, but when you take a look back over the years, you can see how things have evolved. This world is certainly a different place than it was when I was a youngster. Today’s world has gotten too fast. It’s such a materialist society. People don’t take the time to appreciate all the simple things in the world anymore. They’re way too busy trying to fulfill their wants, and not their needs. It seems most folks have more money than they used to, but they don’t seem satisfied with what they have. Such a pity. The things that I thought were the most important in my younger days sure do differ now that I’m old. Material things certainly don’t hold the same value. All the simple things that youngsters take for granted seem to bring the most joy to me now.
The day I gave birth to Murray and Mary Beth, I could never have guessed in my wildest dreams where my life would lead. I was so young and naive back then. I would never have thought that of myself at that time, though. I felt that I was such a mature young woman. I was certain that if I was strong enough to handle the pangs of childbirth, there wasn’t anything life threw at me that I couldn’t handle. Well, I guess that I was partly right. I did handle all that life, or fate, sent my way. How well I dealt with things may differ with everyone’s opinion. I feel I did pretty well, considering the times I came through. Life certainly wasn’t easy, and I was thrown quite a few curves. A person just has to make decisions based on what works for them at that time in their life. People can always talk and say what they want, but what works for one may not work for another. They don’t make shoes in “one size fits all”. You have to keep that in mind when it applies to others, as well. You have to stop and take a look at the whole picture. Sometimes you just don’t know what you just don’t know. I recall my folks saying that on occasion.
No, I can’t say I have any regrets for any decisions I made throughout my life. Lots of things happened that were out of my control. I wished they could have been different, but that’s not the same. Those are the things you just have to accept and move forward. As they say, you can’t rewrite history. Some things are just meant to be.
Every mother always feels her children grow up way too fast. Sometimes when they were babes and not having a good night, I remember wishing they were big enough to tell me what was wrong. Then, when they were all grown and out on their own, I wished they were still babes. I sure missed them. But once they started having little ones themselves, I sure enjoyed being a grandmother. I sure enjoyed all of you little ones. It was more relaxing being a grandparent. I didn’t have the daily responsibility that motherhood entailed and I had more time to spend doing things with the grandchildren. It seems you have a lot more patience for grandchildren, too. You certainly have a different tolerance for their behaviour, that’s for sure. Sometimes you laugh when you know you really shouldn’t encourage their mischief, but they’re just so darn cute. Logan was the dangest one for getting the grandkids going. He teased them and spoiled them. Well, I guess that’s what grandparents just do.
My Logan sure was a good man, father, and husband. I was so fortunate that circumstance worked out for me and my first four children. After losing Jed, then Royce, I had no idea that the road of life would lead me to another remarkable man. I can honestly say that I had the privilege to have been married to three wonderful men. All of them were hardworking, honest, trusting, and loving. They all seemed to have a sense of humour and a great zest for life in general. I guess that’s why they were so easy to love.
In reflecting back over all those years I’ve put behind me, it makes me think about life’s true measure. I’m not sure that my ideals suit everyone’s opinion, but I believe we each have to live our own lives to suit ourselves. We’re all individuals. That’s important to remember. We have to just be ourselves, follow our hearts and live out our own dreams. Pa used to say that it wasn’t what we have or what we do that defines us, but why we do it.
I do believe that our life’s true measure isn’t about what we get out of life, but what we put into it. There’s a lot to be said about being a hardworking, good living person. By being loving, caring, and kind to others, we alter the world for the better. We pay it forward, so to speak. In doing so, we pass peace, joy, love, and goodwill on. That, in the end, is what will be remembered and live on way after us. That’s the legacy we leave behind. That’s what life is all about. That’s life’s true measure.”