Sooner or Later

At least that’s the adage.

Door Closing

Although I haven’t been working since December because of my health “challenges”, today is my first day of official retirement, and I guess that’s the door closing. I don’t feel like it’s slamming though – perhaps because of working from home for almost two years – and not working at all for 10 months! There are many things I won’t miss of course – many of you referred to them in the retirement card I received today. That said, I’m debating what to call a book I’d like to write now that I’m retired (although I probably won’t LOL). Some possible titles include:

• “Yes, there really are stupid questions!”
• “Why exactly is this so urgent?”
• “How to prepare materials you’re not sure anyone will actually read.”
• “Why could anyone possibly need 10 pages of background materials for a 15-minute meeting they haven’t yet decided to attend?” (<Cough> AMO/ROMA)

I’m leaning toward the first one but just wish I’d kept a list LOL.

On the plus side though, are the (almost) universally talented, dedicated and pleasant colleagues I had the pleasure of working with over my 17+ years with the OPS. I particularly appreciated the fact that they didn’t blame me (the ultimate middleman) for the constant requests to respond to questions or provide materials at the very last minute! MHSTCI (and its various configurations) has some exceptionally talented members working for the benefit of the people of Ontario. I learned a lot about many subjects the ministry dealt with which was always handy for making small talk at cocktail parties! It’s certainly my colleagues I will miss the most.

Door Opening

What next? Who knows! Dealing with my health is certainly the first priority but that continues to look positive. At some point – perhaps next spring or summer – I have a few travel plans to check off my bucket list depending on how the pandemic ebbs and flows.

After 10+ years as Curator, I’ll continue my volunteering for The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada Regimental Museum and Archive although in a slightly more administrative role as Director and Acting Archivist. Anyone in the museum and archives world knows that processing archival donations is a very different kettle of fish from cataloging museum donations, and I’m mostly enjoying the challenge of wrapping my head around those differences.

I do have some more serious publishing projects that have been hanging over my head for some time.  Since our transcription project in 2014, I’ve been very slowly working toward publishing the First World War war diaries of the 3rd Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force. This is one of the Battalions that the QOR perpetuates. I’m part way there but one thing after another keeps taking priority.

The other is creating for my own benefit, a photo book from my 2019 trip to Belgium and France for the 75th Anniversary of D-Day, followed by my 3,000 km drive around France. I’ve started but again…

And then there is more purging of closets and wardrobes and drawers and file cabinets. Hmmmm…maybe I should build a SharePoint site to keep track of these projects??  LOL

On Another Note

Unfortunately because of potential COVID exposures, I didn’t make it to Brighton to spend Thanksgiving with my parents. But all was not lost (certainly not any lbs!) as I got to have dinner with one of my sisters and her family in Pickering – with lots of leftovers to bring home!

And on October 22nd (that beautiful sunny and 20C day) my three sisters and I took a road trip to Wellington County. Our first stop was in Crosshill where some of our ancestors had lived, followed by Hawkesville which was actually founded by our Hawkes ancestors.

One of the latter was a sister of Samuel Lount. For those local history buffs out there, 10 points if you can tell us (in the comments below and preferably WITHOUT the help of Google) what Lount is known for; 15 points if you can tell us his fate; and 25 points if you can tell us what arrived a few weeks later. (There is no prize actually but humour me!)  I’ll provide or confirm the answers in my next post.

We then stopped by the West Montrose covered bridge (which is a designated heritage structure under the OHA) where we had our photo taken by a delightful Canadian Armed Forces veteran.

Then it was off to Elora and its spectacular gorge. Elora was packed.  I imagine this was because people thought it it could be the last nice weekend of the fall, and because the colours were pretty much at their peak.  A great lunch on the Handsome Devil Bistro patio (we had Apollo with us) and a pleasant wander through the rest of the village and made every opportunity for a photo op LOL

Then it was off to Fergus on the way home – clearly, those Scottish mason settlers knew what they were doing! One last spectacular view of the colours as we descended County Rd 25 from Acton down to the 401 where we then joined the stop-and-go traffic for longer than any of us expected.  A great day out and thanks to my sisters for spending the day with me.

Lastly, I have more scans at the end of the month and hopefully, in December the brain oncologist will tell me I’m allowed to drive again. It’s not the end of the world but depending on others for rides is still not something I’m used to…

Until next time, enjoy the final days of autumn!!