The members of the Bliss I-Band were happy to celebrate two special events this May!
Carolyn Henry had her birthday on May 28 and on May 22 Carolyn was recognized for 25 years of volunteering at the Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital!
Congratulations for 25 years of volunteering, Carolyn!
and
Happy Birthday!
Here is a music video to help you remember your special month of May!
Carolyn, we hope you enjoy signing along with Rebecca and Shirley
as you look back on your special times in May 2024!!!
March had at least two special days, Rebecca’s birthday and St. Patrick's Day.
We want to wish Rebecca a very Happy Birthday!!
Carolyn wrote: I remember my father had a St. Patrick’s Day tie that he wore every March 17. One of my brothers had one also. They were funny to look at. I like the song group called Irish Rovers. I bought a necklace of shamrocks to wear on St. Patrick’s Day. Wearing something green for St. Patrick is a tradition for a long time.
I have a good friend who is of Irish heritage. His ancestors emigrated to Canada from Ireland in the 1840s and settled as subsistence farmers along the Ottawa River north of Renfrew. So, St. Patrick’s Day was very special for his family when he was growing up. It is also his sister’s birthday. On the day, it was a combined celebration with Irish Stew and a birthday cake with green icing. His dad used to like to play fiddle music records and Irish Rovers that day, which his family felt was right because his dad’s birthday was March 19. My friend’s name is Patrick (I should ask if he is named after the day!), and his tradition is to keep thirteen different types of Irish whiskey and he always makes it a point to sample some “nectar of the gods” on St. Patrick’s Day.
Samantha wrote: My dad is 29 on the 17th of March and has been for the last 30 years. So, St. Patrick’s Day is always fun at our house. He is Scottish, so he likes scotch whisky to Irish whiskey. This is Jayme and I getting into the spirit!
By Samantha Millar and Carolyn Henry
with assistance from Julie Millar and Glynis Henry
Rhonda told us that she likes to celebrate her birthday at her friend’s camp. She likes to sleep over and have drinks like rum & coke.
Rhonda’s friend Elaine told us that Rhonda's birthday was a little different last year due to Covid. “We celebrated at Batchewana Bay on Lake Superior. Had take out food from the restaurant on picnic tables as we couldn't eat inside. Then a bonfire and cake and gifts. Her sister brought the cake and 9 other friends joined in. She wore her favourite butterfly dress but then had to cover it up as it was so cold and windy that day. So I took a couple of photos of her on her own next day.”
What a beautiful dress that you are wearing!
Remembering Summer!
Summer of 2021 by Carolyn Henry
I had a wonderful summer because I had two trips to Stratford to see plays. They were called A Midsummer Night’s Dream and R&J. They were very good plays to see. I am also visiting with my mom every two weeks and having FaceTime with my mom.
Some of my favorite memories of summer include the first year we had a day camp offsite of 2880 Bayview. We went places like Ontario Place where we went for a walk around the grounds and we went to the zoo.
In 2012 My sister and I went to the Paralympics in London, England. We went mostly to track and field events. They were neat to watch. We also watched the marathon event from in front of Buckingham Palace. The blind runners were impressive to watch.
Summer of 2021 by Samantha Millar
My family and I went to the cottage for the last week in August. We had a lot of people visit and that made my dad very happy.
By Samantha Millar and Carolyn Henry
with assistance from Julie Millar and Glynis Henry
Once I went to Cornwall there was a fair with games and rides for Canada Day; then I found a funny hat for Canada day. There were some fireworks in front of my parent’s condo at night. Then one year, my sister and I went to Vancouver for Canada Day and went to the celebration at Canada Place. We saw some fireworks from our hotel room. This year, Canada Day will be more thoughtful as we remember all parts of our history. Our country has done good things, but we have also made some big mistakes. We need to try to fix them, so all our people feel like they are a Canadian.
Remembered by Samantha
Dad, fireworks, fun at the cottage and Grandma's birthday are what I think of when I think of the long July weekend. Celebrating Grandma's birthday, July 3rd, at the cottage usually means a trip to Dairy Queen. Dad and our friends from across the lake love to put on a fireworks show. It is a lot of fun and I am glad to be having them again this year!
July Birthday for Elaine!
July 6th marks a special birthday for Elaine D. This past year has been hard for her but she has risen to the challenges. She is living in a new home and keeping in touch with her friends. Now that she is settling in her new home we hope that she will be able to join us playing in the iBand this fall.
Happy Birthday Elaine! We hope you enjoy your surprise on your special day!
From all your Bliss i-Band friends!
STOP THE PRESS!
Another birthday in the Bliss i-Band!
Gabriel’s birthday is July 18th and he has told us that he usually celebrates his birthday by having chinese food, and that he spends it with his parents and his sister and brother-in-law. He is hoping to do the same this year for his birthday, but this year is different because he now has a nephew named Max.
Samantha: Have fun with your new nephew!!
By Samantha Millar and Carolyn Henry
with assistance from Julie Millar and Glynis Henry
Posted on
It's Carolyn's Birthday !
Carolyn’s Birthday is May 28th. She has shared her birthday memory with us:
“One birthday I really remember was when I was quarantined in my room for ten days because I went to North York Hospital at the beginning of the SARS outbreak in 2003. I stayed in my room for ten days, it got boring sometimes. People used to wave at me in the window in my door. A birthday memory is when I turned 40 and 50. I had 2 parties when I turned 50, one with my family in Cornwall and one with my friends in Toronto. It was special for me because I saw friends and family that I hadn’t seen for a long time. We played games, visited and ate cake.” I guess you will probably be celebrating in your room again so you will have to zoom with your family and friends. I will be thinking of you on that day!
Let’s all wish Carolyn a very happy birthday and if you can, send her a birthday email wish!!
Me & My Mom
Mother's Day
May is Mother’s Day month and we wish our mothers, and those who are like mothers to us, a very Happy Mother’s Day. Mother's Day is special to Samantha because she has both her mother and grandmother living with her! Carolyn is very lucky to have a sister, who is like a second mother to her. Let’s be creative when celebrating the day with all of our “mothers” this month!
Victoria Day
Victoria Day is a federal holiday which falls on the Monday before May 25th. It was established to celebrate Queen Victoria’s birthday and now to celebrate the current sovereign’s birthday. It is unofficially the beginning of the summer season. It is a long weekend, also called May Two Four weekend. May 24th weekend is Jayme's birthday (Samantha’s younger sister)! As with many people it is the weekend we open our cottage. It is usually celebrated with summer activities such as having barbeques. We have to find a different way to celebrate the day again this year. We can be outside with our families but probably with no fireworks to watch.
Jayme and Queen Victoria share the fireworks!
Written by Samantha Millar and Carolyn Henry, with assistance from Julie Millar and Glynis Henry. Comments in red are by Samantha.