PATRICIA O'NEILL

WEDNESDAY WOMAN: RAVISHING RUTH!

Hi Guys,

Allow me to introduce Ruth, today’s Wednesday WOW Woman. Ruth has been on this delightful planet of ours for more than 81 years! WHAT?? you may well ask, and with good reason too. The above photo was taken in August, just after Ruth turned 81 in July, and she sure does NOT look her age!! Not by a long shot! She is one of the most hardworking, self-sacrificing, and caring ladies I have ever met — archetypal Cancerian in all respects! She has a good heart, great style, and has never lost her Va Va Voom!

Ruth, by her very existence, has brought 29 people into the world! Yes, hope I got that figure right, Ruth? 6 children, 13 grandchildren, and wait for it…10 great grandchildren! Can you believe it? She remembers every single one of their birthdays, is very much a hands on Mother, Grandmother, and Great Grandmother and looks as hot as a Hollywood Movie Star! Her giving heart means she never forgets a birthday and is a very busy Mrs. Claus at Christmas too! How does she do it? You ask me! She has also been a very energetic Volunteer in her various communities over the years. A WOW Woman in all respects!!

Sadly, there have been illnesses, sorrows, and death in Ruth’s family, as is normal with all families. Her sweet little 2 year old great grandson was diagnosed with cancer at age 2. Ruth flew from Las Vegas where she lives to Winnipeg to be there for her granddaughter and her little grandson. That’s the sort of woman she is — Substantial! She flew to London, England, to nurse her darling brother back to health. She sure has healing hands, because I’m delighted to relay that both her brother and great grandson are thriving now! Deo Gratias!

Ruth’s own husband passed away over a year ago, so she is going to move from Las Vegas where she spent most of her married life, to Victoria — Yay!! for us! I wish her well in selling her home in Las Vegas, and look forward to having her here in Victoria! Women like Ruth are an inspiration. She’s a doer who just jumps into life, with a big warm and caring heart. My kind of Wednesday Wow Woman!

Hugs,

Patricia xxx

MONDAY MUSINGS: YES, YOU CAN!!

Hi Guys,

Hope you had a lovely weekend! Do anything fun? I learnt this past weekend that FUN is really important. It’s like a battery re-charge for the heart. I went to an Italian Wedding — well, not a real one! Just a fun musical theatre one and I had so much unbridled FUN that my heart was singing and dancing for days later! You gotta PLAY. Whatever it is that makes your heart feel joyful, DO IT!! The happiness component of the heart needs its exercise — badly! Or so I think. Play, just like you did as a child at your own birthday party.

The other thing I learnt this past week is the way our minds can be our own worst enemy! That was a BIG one for me!! For years I would tell myself I was the worst parallel parker in the world! I would never do it! HATED doing it, so gave up many great parking spaces because of my aversion to PP! Since they raised the cost of parking at our office to $1.50 per hour, and there was free parking on the street outside… Hell to the YES! I got great at parallel parking!! In fact I am so in love with Parallel Parking now, it makes me laugh out loud!! Who would have known?

The moral of the story:  Be careful with the tenants you allow to rent your head space! Only GOOD ONES! Because yes, YOU CAN DO IT!! If you really want to. Have a fabulous week and be sure to tune in on Wednesday to meet my Wednesday Wow Woman!

Hugs Galore,

Patricia xxx

WEDNESDAY WOMAN: AUDREY

“A woman of substance” is how I would best describe little Audrey. She is tiny in size, but enormous in spirit! Since my blog is about positive ageing, my Wednesday Women live their lives with gusto, grit, and grace. Life has not always been easy for them, but they give it all they got! Audrey ticks all those boxes!

Audrey’s early life was marred by tragedy large enough to break anyone’s spirit, but not hers. She is an indomitable Leo who continues the good fight, and will do so until God turns out the lights! She suffered polio as a child, was bedridden for a few years, and nearly died. Her beloved Father with his unwavering love and devotion, helped her find her feet and her wings again…

In her early 20s, she was engaged to be married to the love of her life. Sadly, he was killed in a car crash just days before their wedding! Heartbroken, Audrey never forgot her first love, and never married or gave her heart to anybody else. To this day, he holds the key to her heart and waits for her in Paradise. There is a true love story in it…

She is 86 now — 4 years short of 90!! Still works, and still drives her big enormous van. She likes to keep herself very busy, gives out food samples in the supermarkets, has friends to tea, and tends to her beloved 21-year-old cat. She hasn’t time to complain about the unfairness of life. She’s just “too busy” living!

My kind of WOW Woman!!

Hugs,

Patricia xxx

MONDAY MUSINGS: KEEP MOVING!

Hi Guys,

Hope you had a fun weekend and squeezed in some R & R time too!

Last Tuesday was a frustrating day. My automatic car door opener wouldn’t open! The rain was pouring down and try as I might, the door opener would not budge! I had to think fast… Yes! I had another spare key at home, so off I trudged in the rain, getting soaked. If my head was properly screwed on, I could have just separated the key from the automatic plastic part and opened the door manually!! Fortunately, my office is only a 10 mins. walk from home — 15 mins in the rain!

Avoiding all the rain puddles, I passed a very pleasant and spritely man who put a set of chat on me. Hello! Strangers in the rain, exchanging glances… I had seen him out walking the previous day when my car was in for service. He told me his name was Alan and that every day he walks no less than 20 miles — no less! He looked like a healthy 72 year old, so I was shocked when he told me he was 88 years old! Two years short of 90 and he was walking no less than 20 miles a day! He was as fit as a fiddle and delighted with himself! Notice how clean his shoes are for all that walking!! Doesn’t he look amazing for 88!!

Alan was such a happy and simple man, collecting cans, and taking breaks in between. He told me he lived on the 17th floor in an apartment with panoramic views over the city and Mount Baker. In addition, he owned 4 apartments in Ottawa, which were managed, as well as other property around Canada. I was floored! And that he was a millionaire who did this walking for R & R! Something about him made me believe him. You read about eccentric millionaires doing weird stuff like that!!

The bottom line my friends — WALKING makes you happy!! CHATTING to strangers is fun — And no, you can never judge a book by its cover!!

Happy New Week!! and remember KEEP MOVING…It makes you happy!!

Hugs

Patricia xxx