Bank on it, bank on it

 It's been a while since I banked at the RBC Royal bank. Does anyone know if they keep a bank account open with $.89 cents in it? I still have my client card and my last statement. 

                                                                  ?

Just as an aside... Did you know that people have tried to say that I, Elfrieda, didn't write my novel... The Orchard Walk El Dueck.

What utter nonsense! I still have copies for sale. You can only buy them through me, personally. And... I ask you... who doesn't know that the only person who gets a 'working copy' stapled together for editing is the person who publishes the book. Of course, I still have mine.

Boundaries and Interviews and Boundaries

 So, here I am, in Dauphin, thankful that I will never again have to endure the countless interviews that I had in Winnipeg from 2014- 2022. Wow! That was a challenge.

So, I hear my son Jordan is going to have an interview to see how his problem of 'blindness' can be addressed to living conditions and new career opportunities. Now, thank you, good Lord, that Liam, his son, my grandson, is always available for him to read his text messages with his current eyesight. 

The construction sites are becoming a very dangerous place for a man whose eyesight is failing so the interview to see how things will be changed to give him his life back is a report I am really looking forward to receiving.

My oldest son, Scott, has a wonderful job in the field of 'electricians' and the glasses he is always needing are constantly changing. I've been waiting to see his son Tobias. 

Now, I don't know if my middle son, Tyler, is still doing electrical work or if his back has been injured beyond repair. I am very sure that a new career objective is going to be talked, and talked and talked about until solutions are forthcoming.

Now, I am looking forward to seeing the new running shoes that Liam received recently. He is one of those kids who usually only gets new running shoes when he outgrows his, through a sudden growth spurt. He is such an emotionally sensitive child, I do hope his environment is conducive to carefully monitored 'giving' circumstances. One time, he gave his runners away because someone presented a child as needing his only pair of running shoes and that's when I knew he needed to understand that sharing is only necessary when you have more than one of something. "Giving children" need to be empowered to make sensible decisions so they're not left poor from giving. I know its seems hard to find such a child in this day and age but... a few children are still like that. 

Liam's father Jordan was often too much like that as well and found himself trying to support people who weren't, in any way, related to him. I wanted to offer to buy him new running shoes when he came here to do some construction fix- ups. Moms never know how to tell grown sons to get new running shoes, or clothing. We always think their wives will be right on top of that. 

I think he may have had a few difficulties with 'boundaries.' I used to have terrible problems with boundaries until I got a few solid people in my life who told me I should be much more careful in whom I gave rides in my vehicle to and whom I invited for dinner and whom I invited to Bible study. 

'Boundaries' is one of my favourite books. I read it years before Riverwood Church brought it into the Bible study curriculum available for leaders... such a great learning tool. I think they brought in some of those books right after one of those leadership conferences I went to there.

Where, oh where are you?

 Well, it's Monday. I've been waiting to get visits from my sons and my grandchildren. Now, I  would, of course, be willing to drive all the way to Winnipeg in any emergency my sons might have. I have been waiting to hear from any of the four thousand church people I have attended with over the fourty years of living in Winnipeg, before I made this insane move to Dauphin... where it seems cell phone service is about as good as the early 1900's. Alas, nobody has called or contacted. Funny how people just don't miss you much when you aren't attending their church anymore.

Now, the last time I was required to buy anything... it was because of my terrible September 7, 2024 accident at the construction intersection in Winnipeg... that traffic light malfunction caused a huge incident and my beautiful blue Ram truck was 'written off' by Autopac because it was deemed irreparable. So, I can still drive into Winnipeg because I did purchase a 2014, old van and it is drivable. This is the worst vehicle I have owned for quite some time but... it drives, with me as the driver, of course. I made that sound like it was a self- driving vehicle. Thank the Lord I haven't fallen for that nonsense.

Is that the Alphabet Game

 Has anyone heard of the 'alphabet game?' I have not been involved with the game where the host says, "Pick!"

The reason I haven't been invited... not even once... is because I have so many questions about this 'game' and nobody wants to answer them.

So, I have questions like...

When people are invited to a 'pick-a-thing' event, who brings the 'things?' 

For instance, if I were ever invited to a event like this... would I be asked to bring a 'thing' for the game?

Would the 'thing' have a price limit? Like... at Christmas get- togethers people always decide, in advance, what the price limit will be for a 'gift exchange,' right? Almost everybody I know has been pressed upon to join in on these 'gift exchanges' at one time or another.

One time, at a 'family get- together' the price limit was $5. So, I am such a incorrigibly practical person, I don't like giving anybody junk and I have to admit, most of the time a $5 item can be kind of junky... unless, you make the item something practical... like a toothbrush. The one time that I recall, very specifically, I found a $5 soccer ball in a discount bin and I was so excited to 'give' my $5 item because I thought... mine will be the best!

So, what happened when my soccer ball was 'picked?' 

Nobody believed me that I really did find that bargain for $5. I didn't think I would have to bring the receipt but I certainly could have.

What I have found from these types of 'games' is that there are only two ways to play...                                                              'eyes wide open' or 'blind.' 

The $5 gift exchange was a 'blind' game so everyone had to bring their item wrapped so you didn't know what you were picking. I can't even remember what I ended up with.

Now, let's say somebody has a bit of a diabolical personality, man or woman, and that person decides to bring everything themselves for one of these 'entertainments.' That person would be the only one who could know what is in each 'envelope.' Hmm, like that popular game on television years ago... the price is right. For the family that I was in, $5 was the price that was right.

Let's pretend for a minute that the items were 'revealed' and everyone could choose but a fair way of choosing had to be determined. Well, here, the youngest put numbers into a hat and we all had to choose a number. So, myself and the old guy I'm with were offered the number basket first and old guy got 1 and I got 2. So, youngest looked at me and said forcefully... 'You're number 2.' Now, I had to play along but you can't imagine what I was thinking! At the time, I was thinking... 'Your name has some bad historical connotations so don't sass me, young man!' So, I behaved perfectly and no war broke out at this 'family' event of old guy... not my family, old guy's family.

There was another event that I only heard about and I would certainly like to have the facts verified as to the outcome of this and other events that I was not, fortunately, invited to.

I heard... that, you know how news mags always try to get you hooked with 'gossipy' language... well, I heard that a young man reached for an item that an old guy thought he was more entitled to and just as young guy put his hand on the item, old guy jumped up and belted young guy in the jaw... I heard young guy needed surgery but no one wants to talk about it.

Then, I heard, company man beat the hell out of fellow employee every time he thought they might not get the 'bonus.' If this is true, I would arrest the violent offenders and they would be going to 'how to behave' school because we're tired of their 'school of hard knocks.'

What I am trying to, elegantly, say... is this... when 'playing' these kinds of 'games,' people should not be getting hurt, they should have a reasonable limit, people should be allowed to 'opt in' or 'opt out' and the alphabet is a fine literacy example of what can be accomplished with twenty six letters. If a learning curve is necessary for forms of punishment... try writing an essay... I know these letters, below, look like I'm swearing but I'm not, it's just Edwardian script in capitals.

                      ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

P.S. Please be kind and safe.

Lifestyle Ensurance

 Today I'd like to talk about something I have termed 'lifestyle ensurance.' I don't think you're going to be able to phone any insurance company and get something called 'lifestyle ensurance' with the definition I have come up with. 

Ensurance- make safe.

Lifestyle- day to day living.

Why would anyone want to have something called lifestyle ensurance?

I will answer for myself here. 

                                             I highly value a safe day to day living.

I am going to list a few ways that I maintained a safe lifestyle for myself and my family.

When I first moved to the city, at age 17, having grown up in a hamlet that was approximately twenty minutes outside of Winnipeg city limits... I lived in a townhouse-style rental on a street called Keenleyside. I lived on the second floor which had only a stair walk up. You can live in places like this when you're young enough to climb stairs. Now, what do you think is the first item that was stolen from my balcony on Keenleyside? If you guessed 'bicycle,' you are right. I was very naive in those days and I was very shocked that someone would trespass on the balcony that I was renting and steal my bicycle. I decided to make an insurance claim because, in 1982, my deductible for a stolen bicycle was $50. Because this was my first 'home living' insurance claim, I was not aware that my insurance the next year would have a 'we remove the reward of a claim- free year' so your insurance will be more than the previous year. So, you must ensure that your claim is actually worth it because the next year will be calculated according to the previous year. It's so exhausting to learn all this. If I had never been stolen from or had my vehicles vandalized, I would not even know any of these rules.

Now, the reason my bicycle was important to me, in those days, was because I would work for home care directly downstairs for about 5- 5 1/2 hours and then I would cycle to Greene Avenue to work another 2 1/2 hours for a different client. I was 18 years old when I got that job. In winter I drove a gas guzzler because it only takes about ten minutes to drive that distance but it takes way longer to cycle and it wasn't always possible to take the time to cycle if I needed to be at another client at a certain time. I think I was also paid 'traveling time' for that government job. In winter, I had a client on Kildonan Drive.

So, in the first year of living in Winnipeg, in that rental, there was a humongous rent increase that so shocked me I started saving and saving and saving my wage for a down payment on a house. I attended a meeting to 'fight the rent increase.' That was downtown Winnipeg. I genuinely believed that the 'renters' (myself at that time) would win this travesty of a rent increase. We did not win... a corporation won. So, I decided to move out of that rental.

Now, when I think of shelter... I think of a safe place. I think of a warm house, safe from thieves, safe from inclement weather, safe from harm. So, to ensure all these lifestyle safety comforts, the first home I purchased was on Culross Bay.

It was a Greentree Homes purchase and my father worked for that company, at that time, so I was able to get a little help from my Dad in the 'finishing' department. I also was able to choose all the colours of the products that were available for that tiny home.

So, now life was going a bit better than in a high- priced rental townhouse. Now my vehicle could be parked right beside my house where I could keep an eye on it. These very significant changes made my lifestyle much better.

So, this was the beginning of what I term, my lifestyle ensurance. In order to ensure a safe place to live, it was of paramount importance that I didn't spend beyond my means. So, I purchased a new washer but I didn't have enough money for a dryer. So, I line- dryed all my laundry in the basement of my tiny new home.

My sister was throwing out an old stove that was in her 1930's house and she asked if I wanted it even though the oven didn't  work and only three of the four elements worked and the amount of greasy soil on the back of the stove was a shock to both of us. I accepted that dilapidated stove and it was cleaned and wired and the good Lord only knows how I cooked on that old Westinghouse for over 20 years. I didn't spring for a thermometer to test the temperature of the oven compartment until I was living at 90 Forest Cove Drive. I was so shocked to find that the old Westinghouse was baking at 100 degrees hotter than the dial indicated. This oven was manufactured long before the digital era.

I almost feel like I'm writing my biography.

So, before this story gets too long... I believe that to ensure something is vastly more crucial to my lifestyle than to insure something. Why? Because I have to decide how much insurance is necessary if I ensure that my safety follows some intelligent basics... 

Like...

Don't let dangerous people into my house. That kept my family safe from theft as well as attack.

If you have a dog, let your dog patrol the yard around the house while you get a little sleep.

Insure what you can't replace outright... with your financial means.

Fences are a great investment.

Be kind to neighbours.

I always tell people that I lived in Winnipeg for over 40 years, uninterrupted.

Now, I could tell about all the vehicles I have owned, all the accidents that ruined my finances, but, yet, how some vehicles probably saved my life and all the license plates that I had to find a way to remember... with something I call acronym memory... create an acronym that you can remember. 

But, that story is for another day. 

 

Some of my Family

 My son and grandson were able to come visit me in 2024. I really need to see them again. I don't know if their home at 775 Fleming in Winnipeg, Manitoba is still looking the same as the last time I was there. I go by every time I drive to Winnipeg. If you, from Cross Church, could drop in at 775, I would appreciate a note to check on how my little family is doing. Please pop in and see if their phones are working. I can't seem to get any communication out here in Dauphin. I am really concerned about that. I still know quite a number of family names from Cross Church but my phone is having a really hard time reaching them as well. I have also tried calling the Cross' and that landline is also not connecting. So, please check on my family for me. I can rescue anytime if a rescue is needed.

The brown Ford truck, just a six litre, I think, was the vehicle these fine folks owned and it made the long trip here. I didn't see it last time I drove by so maybe it is getting old... over nine years old I think that Ford is. Maybe it isn't in perfect condition. When you stop by, be a gentleman or a lady and ask, kindly, if the Ford is still working alright. That's such a caring thing to do.

I make my rounds to my three sons' homes every time I go to Winnipeg. There was a time when we all attended Cross Church... quite some time ago. So, whoever still remembers all three of my sons... feel free to go by 350 Winterton, where my oldest lives... with an old t-shirt...

as well as my middle son's home... the middle son married the youth pastors' child. Did you know one of my middle sons' names means 'gift from God' or 'God is gracious.' This son is always needing food that is 'easy to eat,' soft foods... soups...

Might be hard to know which one of those cute kids he is but I assure you... he's in those pictures. Whatever you do, don't imagine I'll ever get on a horse again. So, don't get any bright ideas.

Please contact me when you visit them. I'm very lonely so far away. I really appreciate this.

Any pictures will be temporary if my sons wish to be more anonymous.

The Orchard Walk versus The Orchard

 

Well, I am going to talk about this novel of mine, again. 

When I first published my novel, in 2012... I had 2013 printed on the inside because the company couldn't guarantee that they would have it ready for Christmas 2012. I self- published so I made that decision because I didn't have the 'coming out' debut at McNally Robinson until May, 2013.

Now, I had a rather long- time friend who lived quite close by in those days. She was actually from Dauphin, where I currently live. I can't believe I live here some days, really. 

So, shortly after I had my novels in hand... I wasn't having much success selling them. So, my long- time friend said maybe she could help. It has been a long time since that conversation but I do remember writing a note, in her basement, saying... well, if you can help, I would like to keep any monies from what comes in separately from the actual selling of my novels so... if you do anything via email, could you please just call this part of the 'fundraising' The Orchard so as to differentiate it from the name of my novel. So, I wrote that on a note and signed it... I am almost sure. 

Time went by and I didn't hear from my friend so I thought, well, that 'fundraising' effort is obviously not working. I had also given her an email of my sisters' who had moved into the city after years of living in Cartwright. This sister and I had been very close for many years. I recall how she was always concerned about our financial well- being. She encouraged me in my 'possible ventures' and one card she gave me years ago has a tea room table and two tea room chairs on it with blue shutters and a blue door with a wreath on it. On the inside of the card it says, "With appreciation for the warmth of your home, the conversation, and the good time... 

and then, on the inside of the card, 

... but most of all, with appreciation for you! Thank you for your hospitality. May God's Blessing Continue Upon Your Home!"

The Scripture on the third page says, "The house of the righteous contains great treasure...." Proverbs 15:6

Then she wrote, in her own handwriting, "Thank you for all your hospitality towards us all in the past few weeks. It is always a pleasure to spend time with you. I really treasure our friendship and the way that God has allowed it to bloom and grow. Then she wrote out Isaiah 58:11 Love, Eva.

So, I think I told my sister to watch for an email from my long- time friend, originally from Dauphin, in case any monies came in for my novel.

Well, I suppose they haven't been successful in helping me because I haven't seen even one penny.

I have sold a few novels. I recycled $7,000 dollars worth of my novels after a very difficult move from Horace to Bowman. There is a very easy recycling depot just off Marion Avenue in Winnipeg. I think that is where I put all those books. That was a very hard day. 

So, I have never heard from my friend or my sister regarding 'The Orchard' which was to be a separate venture trying to make a little money. 

I soldier on. Writing is hard work. So is making pillow cases. So is making quilts. 

So is raising children... and above all, that is the greatest treasure of most of us.