Janny Walma
A Moment With Mom
03/11/10 08:18 Filed in: Travel
As part of my recent visit to Ontario, my sister Lynn
and I had our first opportunity to visit the London
Plane Tree we had planted at the Royal Botanical
Garden's Arboretum in Burlington in honor of our much
loved Mom.
I'm pleased that I was able to go to see it and
especially pleased that Lynn was there with me. She
and I have gone through a lot together over the years
and I'm glad to have been able to share this moment
with her.
The tree is already quite large and, judging from the fully grown plane trees in the area, it will be massive by the time it's an adult. What is more impressive is the location: beautiful. It's near the forest that lines the water, between the Lilac Dell and the shrubbery walk. It has an open space to itself and a small bench nearby. When you stand looking at the tree, you can also catch glimpses of the water in the distance.
I'm happy to have a place that I can go (or at least think of) when I want to feel close to my Mom. I don't know how often I'll get back there but it's good to know that the tree will grow and people, birds and other wildlife will get the chance to enjoy it for years.
The only negative was the fact that we got a
$35 parking ticket while we were visiting. We had
passes for the Arboretum but the ticket office was
closed so we just drove in. Oh well, we'll look at
the fine as another contribution to the good work of
the RBG.
On our way out, as we headed into the city across the high level bridge, one of the bald eagles that have taken up residence in the Arboretum soared over our car, giving us a lovely view as he passed. Again, I'm not the most spiritual person but it's hard not to notice the pattern: every time Lynn or I has an intense Mom moment an eagle or a heron (two of Mom's favourites) makes an appearance.
The tree is already quite large and, judging from the fully grown plane trees in the area, it will be massive by the time it's an adult. What is more impressive is the location: beautiful. It's near the forest that lines the water, between the Lilac Dell and the shrubbery walk. It has an open space to itself and a small bench nearby. When you stand looking at the tree, you can also catch glimpses of the water in the distance.
I'm happy to have a place that I can go (or at least think of) when I want to feel close to my Mom. I don't know how often I'll get back there but it's good to know that the tree will grow and people, birds and other wildlife will get the chance to enjoy it for years.
On our way out, as we headed into the city across the high level bridge, one of the bald eagles that have taken up residence in the Arboretum soared over our car, giving us a lovely view as he passed. Again, I'm not the most spiritual person but it's hard not to notice the pattern: every time Lynn or I has an intense Mom moment an eagle or a heron (two of Mom's favourites) makes an appearance.
Not So Plane a Tree
10/08/10 06:37 Filed in: Personal
I am grateful to my aunt, uncle and cousin for
sending along, via my sister, the photos that
accompany this post. As anyone who has read this blog
knows, my sister and I spent some time this spring
trying to arrange a suitable memorial for our beloved
mother in the Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington,
Ontario. Unfortunately, since I live about 1500
kilometres away, I haven't been able to monitor
progress nor, now that the tree and plaque have been
installed, to visit the site.
As a result, I was pleased to learn about a
month ago that the tree had been acquired and
planted; I was even more pleased when I received
these photos (and others), my first views of the
memorial. I think it looks great. Apparently, the
tree is already quite tall (close to 15 feet maybe)
and is located close to the access road but in a
relatively quiet, secluded place.
I miss my mother very much and still think about her every day (as the plaque says). I am having a hard time believing that it is now about 17 months since I last talked to her, heard her laugh. We watched our wedding video the other day and I was surprised and moved to see her on it, very much alive and vibrant, enjoying the day. I had forgotten she was on there and am grateful to have that video, to have those brief glimpses of her at least.
We spent much of our time together over her
last few years wandering the parks and trails in and
around the City of Hamilton and, most particularly,
the RBG. Mom loved those natural wonders and enjoyed
bird watching and people watching as we puttered
along. I think our tribute is a wonderfully fitting
one and I hope to visit it one day soon. I agree with
Patti, though: while the sentiment we chose to place
on the plaque is both true and lovely, Patti's own
suggestion ("This tree is for the birds, people")
would also have been perfectly fitting and so very
much my mom.
I miss my mother very much and still think about her every day (as the plaque says). I am having a hard time believing that it is now about 17 months since I last talked to her, heard her laugh. We watched our wedding video the other day and I was surprised and moved to see her on it, very much alive and vibrant, enjoying the day. I had forgotten she was on there and am grateful to have that video, to have those brief glimpses of her at least.
Going Dutch
24/06/10 21:30 Filed in: World Cup
I'm sitting at the computer, sipping a tall gin and
tonic, toasting another win by the Netherlands at the
World Cup and thinking about my Mom. She would have
loved this: the Dutch as one of the favourites,
performing with verve and vigour, winning games in
style.
She also would have loved the fact that just about every game has been available to watch, either on television with the CBC or through the CBC website, over the web. I can picture her, sitting there in her flat at Yorkville Place in Dundas, Ontario, watching game after game on TV, cheering on the Oranje when they played, looking forward to talking to her kids about the results.
This afternoon, when the CBC showed the Japan game on its television network, she'd be at her little bubble iMac instead, watching the live streaming broadcast of the Netherlands and its victory over the Cameroon.
She loved her Dutch heritage, my mother. It became more and more noticeable as the years passed. We'd be watching anything, talking about any subject, and if a Dutch name floated across the conversation (like hockey great Joe Nieuwyndyk, for example), she'd smile at me and say, "Do you think he's Dutch?" or, better still, "That's a Dutchman". She gloried in the fabulous Dutch speed skating teams of the late 1980s and early 1990s and she followed World Cup tournaments over the years with more passion than she let on.
She's been gone for almost fifteen months now and, I admit, the loss is a little less raw, a little more bearable. As so many people promised, I'm now more able to remember the happy times, the fun times, the laughter we shared, and I'm less focused on those terrible last few months. I'm happy to be finally in this place.
And, for some ridiculous reason, I have a feeling the Dutch are going to do very well at the World Cup this year. It just seems right. And I hope my mother is loving every minute of it.
She also would have loved the fact that just about every game has been available to watch, either on television with the CBC or through the CBC website, over the web. I can picture her, sitting there in her flat at Yorkville Place in Dundas, Ontario, watching game after game on TV, cheering on the Oranje when they played, looking forward to talking to her kids about the results.
This afternoon, when the CBC showed the Japan game on its television network, she'd be at her little bubble iMac instead, watching the live streaming broadcast of the Netherlands and its victory over the Cameroon.
She loved her Dutch heritage, my mother. It became more and more noticeable as the years passed. We'd be watching anything, talking about any subject, and if a Dutch name floated across the conversation (like hockey great Joe Nieuwyndyk, for example), she'd smile at me and say, "Do you think he's Dutch?" or, better still, "That's a Dutchman". She gloried in the fabulous Dutch speed skating teams of the late 1980s and early 1990s and she followed World Cup tournaments over the years with more passion than she let on.
She's been gone for almost fifteen months now and, I admit, the loss is a little less raw, a little more bearable. As so many people promised, I'm now more able to remember the happy times, the fun times, the laughter we shared, and I'm less focused on those terrible last few months. I'm happy to be finally in this place.
And, for some ridiculous reason, I have a feeling the Dutch are going to do very well at the World Cup this year. It just seems right. And I hope my mother is loving every minute of it.
In Loving Memory
08/04/10 19:29 Filed in: Personal
My mother, Janny Walma (nee Muys), passed away early
in the morning of April 9, 2009. I miss her very much
but, as so many people promised, my memory of her is
now less focussed on the terrible last night my
sister Janice and I spent with her a year ago and
more on the wonderful years that preceded it.
My thoughts right now are with my siblings and their families, my mom's sisters and brothers and all of my mom's friends who no doubt miss her as intensely as I do. On the first anniversary of her death, I offer this small collection photos as my way of honouring her life and remembering the happier times.
My thoughts right now are with my siblings and their families, my mom's sisters and brothers and all of my mom's friends who no doubt miss her as intensely as I do. On the first anniversary of her death, I offer this small collection photos as my way of honouring her life and remembering the happier times.
Missing Mom
02/11/09 22:05 Filed in: Personal
November 3, 2009 would have been my Mom's 74th
birthday. I miss her.
