I prefer to tell stories about people who are no longer with us. It is just easier that way. Fewer complications, no privacy issues, and within reason, you can make stuff up that very few living people can even question. Plus you get the added satisfaction of bringing long forgotten people back to life. But in this case I decided to make an exception. My Mom’s story is far too interesting. And in this year – when we have lost far too many – and when sadly many become statistics instead of stories – it couldn’t wait any longer. We all need a good story.
In late 2020, as the second wave of the Covid 19 Pandemic surged – and people her age in Long Term Care were again under siege – I convinced Mom – to let me record her – telling her story. Now – personally I can’t remember what happened last week ,yet here I was asking her , yes expecting her, to remember things that happened over seven decades ago.
But, gamer that she is, and nervous as she was – she came through.
This is her 2020 gift to all of us.
Merry Christmas – we hope you enjoy the “Ina Sessions”
The best way to approach the Ina Sessions is to simply follow the menu. Start where Ina started – in Chelton, PEI and travel along with her to Norval Ontario. As you travel along with Ina please add your own comments,questions and memories. Please conclude your journey by reading “The Letter.“
We didn’t put these memories down by ourselves. We had help. Ina’s sister Louise – stuck in New Glasgow PEI this winter and struggling with a serious jig saw puzzle addiction -miraculously managed to find time to listen to all the Ina sessions and add her own recollections. Two very special Aunts, who left us some time ago, contributed immensely. Much of this is a modernization of work done by Ina’s Aunt Anne Lowther MacFarlane. Many of the photos are from Ina’s Aunt Anita Webb’s collection. This is only fitting – as these two Aunts – each with very strong yet very different personalities – are the two people Ina credits most as having had the greatest influence over her – and her story.