Our First Video Blog

Here at Bubbies & Zaidas Blogging we have been working with the youth at Calgary Jewish Academy and we have been inspired to make videos.    We have been working with this new concept to tell stories and overcome some inhibitions.   

Here is a preview of one of our videos by Manny called:   

From the Good Old Encyclopedia Days to the Google Days

click on it to view it:

Come view the rest of the videos!

We invite you to join us at our: 

Video Premiere & Blog Celebration.   

April 30th at The Calgary Jewish Community Centre, in the Seniors Lounge from 6 - 7:30 

For a Dessert Reception.

Please RSVP to Shula Banchik at  403 537 8596

Following Your Dreams

By Sandi


At the young age of 66, I have experienced an interesting journey that took many twists and turns.

As a child, my dream as some young adolescent females, was to be happily married…have four children…first a son, then a daughter...the order of the last two children did not matter. I wanted a son, Todd, first so that my daughter, Tanya Leanne, had and older brother to protect her if needed. My third child either, Wade or Leah would also have their older brother to guide them.

My dream home was a bungalow consisting of a large kitchen, a bedroom for my husband and me and bedrooms for each child. The yard would be large so that my children could enjoy the outdoors as much as possible. We would live on a safe street with other young families and in time become friends. The purpose for the large kitchen other then the obvious, cooking and eating, was for my family and I to sit around the kitchen table and chat, play games such as crib, board games etc. and to get to know each other by communicating.

Dreams take many turns.

At the age of 21, I joined the Air Force. My journey from Nanaimo commenced January 3 1969 by taking the boat from Departure Bay to Horseshoe Bay. My journey continued from Vancouver by an enjoyable train ride to Halifax N.S. The last trek of the journey was via bus to CFB Cornwallis. At CFB Cornwallis, I commenced my military career as a very proud recruit (Private Starling) with basic training during the very cold and miserable winter months of January, February, and March of 1969. I lived in a barrack block that was identified as South Block with many other women who were military career oriented. Some women wore the army uniform, some the navy uniform and others including myself wore the air force uniform. We did not have the pleasure of wearing the actual uniform until the last week of basic training…instead; we wore dresses, which signified the three military elements. My choice to join the military was one of the best I have made and I would do it again. People thought I was a “bit out to lunch” as one of the routines I enjoyed during my journey was drill…marching…looking sharp, ready for inspection on the parade square. I felt very proud of myself…in fact was complimented once by the inspecting officer.

My military journey took me to CFB Borden for my trades training which was finance. The last trek of my military journey ended at CFB Rockcliffe…a very beautiful base in Ottawa. Along with my career at CFB Ottawa, I volunteered to be on the Base Defence Force. I learned out to use a gas mask…take an FNC1 rifle apart and put it back to together…how to use a baton during a riot.

As a volunteer with the Base Defence Force, I experienced two outstanding highlights:

·       A Commonwealth Convention was held in Ottawa and I had the privilege to be on duty at the Airport terminal when the dignitaries arrived. One of my duties was to check for identification. If I had any doubt that a person should not be going to the tarmac, I would ask for ID this also applied if I had suspicions of anyone who was entering into the building where I was on duty.  It was a great privilege and honour to be in the same building with numerous leaders from around the world….I even had the opportunity to give the odd direction when asked. The second duty was to be on guard outside of the VIP lounge and allow only classified personnel to enter.

·       The second highlight while on the Base Defence Force was being on duty at the Officers Mess at CFB Rockcliffe during the presentation of a medal to an honoured gentleman by the Queen. My location of duty was by the clothe room where I hung up various coats of VIPS. In attendance at this prestigious event were Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip, Princess Ann, Governor General Lège, Prime Minister Trudeau and other dignitaries. After the presentation of the medal was over and the VIPs were preparing to leave, I had the honour to hand Prime Minister Trudeau his “Top Hat” white gloves and scarf…it feels like it only happened yesterday.

I still remember what Queen Elizabeth wore. She had on a beautiful middle green velvet coat, and a gorgeous hat to match. Pinned to the lapel her coat was beautiful pin. I was within five feet from Her Majesty.

I requested and received an honourable discharge from the military, the end of March 1974. I lived and worked in Ottawa as a civilian until June 1976 and eventually moved to Calgary.

You might ask me why I choose to move to Calgary as compared to Nanaimo, the city I am from...my answer is “a voice inside me told me to do so”…I listened to my intuition.

Living in Calgary has had its experiences (ups and downs). I compare my life experiences to climbing up Mount Everest…one climbs so high…stops because of some plateaus or crevices and then commences climbing a bit more. Another analogy is “the little train that could”. I experienced 28 wonderful and educational years with various departments within the Federal Government: (Revenue Canada as a administrative support with Special Investigations; Agriculture Canada as a Staffing Classification Assistant; Human Resources Development Canada as a Senior Contract Support Assistant) I won’t go into the last 10 ½ years of my career with the Provincial Government. (There were more downs than ups)

Volunteering in various capacities helped to make my life seem more successful.

·       During my career with the Provincial Government I was involved with Calgary Corporate Challenge…great experience…this was the best learning experience for me as a Provincial Government Employee as it took me out of my comfort zone and taught me how to become a leader.

·       I joined the Royal Canadian Legion in 1976 and eventually became involved as an executive…for some reason, this gal, me…seemed to have a problem just being a member…she always had to jump in with both feet and be on the board.

·       As if I didn’t have enough on my plate, I joined an Air Cadet squadron and became a civilian officer for a couple of years. This part of the journey took me to Maelstrom Air Force base for an enjoyable weekend tour with other officers and cadets where I challenged myself to rapell Aussie Style down the outside of a small building.

·       My self-esteem and confidence needed a good boost; therefore, I became a Toastmaster. I was a Toastmaster for 15 years and again concentrated on being involved with the planning and organization as compared to concentrating on doing speeches and presentations. Over the 15 years I was involved in two separate clubs. The second club, Twin Rivers, was where I think I burned out. The club was identified as “the old boys club”…, would you believe, I had the honour of being the first female president of the club…how awesome is that? With the support of the outgoing President, as well a good executive, I worked hard to ensure the success of the club. In 2008/2009 I planned and organized the clubs 60^th anniversary celebration with the assistance of other club members. I think I burned myself out because I did not delegate well. The event was very successful.

The newest twist/turn on my journey is being part of the Bubbies and Zaidas Blogging Group through the Jewish Community Centre…it has not been what I expected it, in fact, it is better in many ways. I have met wonderful people. I have been mentoring a woman pertaining to the use of a lap top and writing a blog. I have had the pleasure to meet some students at the Jewish Academy. My first day at the Jewish Academy was a fun. I connected with a lovely student named Lauren…to sum the day up; she helped to make it perfect. The facilitator, Mariette, is astounding.

As I am typing up some of my life’s experiences, I am thinking….hmmm I guess Mom’s do not experience these “types” of twists and turns that have challenged me. It was not meant for me to be a Mom. Well, now that I am settled down to a degree, maybe someday, somehow, I will have the pleasure and experience of having children in my life…maybe in some way I could be a mentor.

Life is what a person makes it…Life is great…All the bumps in my journey have helped me to become a stronger person and also have helped me to learn who I am as compared to who “others” what me to be.

Dreams take many turns...sometimes what is not planned,  fulfills one's life in unexpected adventures.

Marriage is a lot like the Weather

By Bruce Eekma

I’m no expert on Marriages but, after fifty plus years, believe it is a lot like the weather, one day it is hot the next cold. When we first get married we treat each other like Kings and Queens and there are many warm days. However this does not last because after celebrating a couple months of honeymoon, the storms start coming, first little ones mostly rain however after a couple months the fun begins. Don't get me wrong sometimes a good storm is just what the doctor ordered because we get to make up and every marriage need a little rain every now and then to keep things fresh. 

If you are anything like me, I got married to have kids, so got my wife pregnant after three months of marriage. Ones the kids arrive us males are not Kings anymore and we become number two. If we wanted a little sunshine in our marriage we have to help around the house. Gone were the night out with the boys, because we have to babysit, and gone are the extra little treats we use to get when we got home from work. No sir if we are not careful we can have more rain than sunshine and everything starts to droop if you know what I mean. However there is hope, because if a man is smart enough, he will purchase an umbrella to protect his partner and does special extra little things for her, then maybe the sun will start to come out again and the birds will start to sing.

After a couple of years  marriage we feel we can predict a storm or even start a small one, including prepare ourselves for the onslaught, but most of the time they come out of nowhere. Most storm happen around the festive holidays when there are a lot of parties. At these parties there are lots of people in the same boat as us that are looking for a little sunshine. After a couple drinks everything looks better and we start to feel like Kings and Queens again and get that feeling that we have been shortchanged in the weather department. These parties are full of people that agree with us and promise sunshine and happiness everday. However let me tell you don’t start to looking for a little warming, for you will run into a thunderstorm , because when you get home your better half will see right trough you and see it on your face and she will get the trued out of you because you’re a poor liar.

We have a Mayor, in one of the biggest cities in Canada, who also looked for a little sunshine but he ended up with a tornado and is going to spend the rest of next year repairing his life. Maybe it will never be repaired and he will be permanently condemned. Let me suggest to all of you that when you go to these parties make sure you have an umbrella to protect you from getting soaked and maybe some rubber booths to keep your feet clean because sooner or later it is going to storm. 

You don’t have to worry about me anymore because after fifty years of marriage my wife still picks up a treat for me every now and then and I have just completed a book about her life. At my age I don’t go to many parties and now she needs me to help with the great-grandchildren who bring all the sunshine we need so yes we have been blessed.         

What is Home?

Home is a complex concept and that changes as we gain life experience. 

This topic was inspired by searching out places and homes we had lived in via Google Maps Street View.  You can imagine how powerful it was to see a home we  had not lived in for perhaps 40 years and re-experience a place they thought they would never see again. 

Nomad

by

Amalia

When I was 17 I never thought I would live so long.  87 years old.

My childhood, with my parents before the war was a life without worries.  A naive state, perhaps.  I was with my parents and I felt safe & secure.  I have always thought of this feeling as the feeling of what home is:  safe and secure.

When there was war, then home changed.  In a camp, separated from my parents.  It was not home anymore, it was horrors.

We would dream in the camps, of what it would be like when we got out.  What would we want. Most of us just wanted to eat.  A simple life, safe and secure.   What I know now is that I would never feel like I had a home the same way again.

We fled from the camp, as the front approached.   The commanders and guards fled before us leaving they left their rifles behind so we took the opportunity to flee.  We were afraid we would be taken back to the camp so we hid out, reunited with my parents.  They feared for my safety being 17 years old so they sent me with other Jewish children, to an Orphanage in Romania

After a few months we were reunited and we had to look for another home

I don’t think any of us ever felt safe and secure after all that we had seen.

My parents were very sick, not very old, but sick because of life in the camps.  Home was not the same.  There were more worries I had to care for them, though they wanted  desperately to care for me.

Then again a change, when I was married we moved to Israel and then to Canada.

I think if there had been no war we would have stayed put, had a home, but the war made us like nomads, always searching, never finding, that sense of home.

Reflections on Home

by

Sandi

photo credit:  Sandi

Home to me is sharing my life with my 12 year old Pomeranian, Pinut who I have learned many lessons from, such as unconditional love; patience; kindness; caring; and much more. Pinut is champagne in colour. She looks like she has a mask on her tiny, sweet and endearing face. We are good buddies and seem to understand each other’s body language.

Home to me is a cozy condo townhouse which most of the time I enjoy. I enjoy my home because I feel safe and secure. My home is like a sanctuary as it is very calming and peaceful.

I have a small back yard, which was carpeted with yellow leaves from two large Poplar trees situated in my next-door neighbours’ yard…one on each side. Every year, I mindfully rake up the fallen leaves. As I raked up the leaves, I wondered if I would ever complete the job. This year, the job took about five hours from start to finish. I had to take a couple of brief breaks because of some pain…this happens as a person ages. I sat beside Pinut who immediately comforted me…that is the feeling of home. Finally, the job was completed. Hard work always gives me a feeling of accomplishment.

The next day the yard was carpeted with white due to the decision of Mother Nature to cover the ground with snow.

Home is many things to me. Home is a place where I can live with nature, with my wonderful partner in crime, Pinut and at times can be lonely. However, being alone allows me to learn how to be happy with whom I am. The hardest part of growing up at any age is learning to be okay alone and being happy with whom you are.

Home to me is a place of security and healing. I am very blessed.

________________________________________________

Where I lived

by

Aron Eichler

When you say I home, I think of my family.  There were 5 children in our family.  One born in Russia, the others in Poland. Only 2 left.

Over the years we have traveled to many countries during the prewar years.    We were not overly wealthy but my parents had to move in order to support us, it was very difficult to support a family with 5 children. 

Sometimes we had to be farmed out, to live with other family members in their home.  It was normal for a family to be broken up until we became of age: 12 for a girl 13 for a boy, when he has a bar mitzvah.

When the war broke out, my brother and I were on one side of the river that belonged the Russian authorities, my parents on the other side with the German authorities.

We stayed with my Uncle he had animals, it was nice.  It was not home but it was where I lived. 

I lost touch with my parents, when the Russian Government  gave them opportunity to go to Russia.   I stayed with my brother, he was 8, I was 10, living on my Uncle’s farm.

One day they arrested him for being a spy, he didn’t even know what the word spy meant, but they found an excuse to take us away.

We were put in an Arbeit Camp, a concentration camp.  It was not home but it was where I lived.

I shinned maybe 2000 boots of the Germans.  There were a few that would sometimes leave me candy or chocolate.   For a ten year old boy this was important.  They would eat their chocolate and drop the wrapper with a bit for me.   Not all of them, of course, but a few.

One day my uncle put on your two pair of pants, short and long pair.   I said why, he said  don’t ask why I will not give you an answer.

There was an escape planned.

He woke us up. 

It was time to find a new home.

Electric wire around the camp and the first few people died on the wire but their weight allowed us to pass over the wire to freedom.

Hundreds of people escaped.

My Uncle moved us through the wire ahead of him.

Then he was shot.

“Luft,  kinder, Luft” 

We ran into the woods, we ate berries, grass, sometimes we found a tree that found apples in orchards.  It was not home but it was where I lived.

We lived there for a long time.   

One day we heard “HALT!”

We froze.   

When I looked up I saw that the uniforms they were wearing were not of the German soldiers but of the resistance, the underground movement.

They gave me a new home.

__________________________________

What is Home?

by

Bob Peterson

Home:  What does home mean to this surfing senior?

“Home” on the ipad takes me back to different icons or applications.

Google Street View let me see my childhood "home" in Kingston Ontario.

Now, I looked up Google Earth Satellite view of my home but the street address was obscured by a cloud.  

(Am I living in “the cloud”?)

Then I Googled my  name a found an interview I had given regarding WW2

Is the internet my new home?

Home

by

Margot

“Home” does not mean the same thing for everyone.  For some people it is just bricks and mortar, for others it is a show place where they can display their wealth or their good taste.  For me it is and was always where I was with my parents and as I grew up with my husband and daughters.

My father always said that anything in life that is replaceable is not important.

I have lived in seven different countries one of which was Israel, where I met my beloved husband, who was from South Africa. 

When our daughter was 15 months old my husband decided we should move to South Africa, which meant, for me, leaving my entire family.  Parent’s, brother, grandmother & seven uncles and aunts and cousins.

After some years we were able  to go back to Israel very often and each time as I got onto the tarmac at Ludd, I had this over powering feeling:   THIS IS HOME.

Happy to be Home

by

Frances Kalb

As you know, September 11, 2001 affected everyone including me.  This is my story.

After visiting my daughter, Arlene and her family in Atlanta, Georgia, I was returning home to Calgary on that fateful day without any knowledge of what was in store.   We left Atlanta about 8 am Eastern time.   Shortly after take off the Captain’s voice came over the loudspeaker that we were making an unscheduled landing in Memphis Tennessee.    He also mentioned that there was not mechanical problem and not to worry.   We landed without knowing the sad and tragic day that was ahead.  Only when we landed were were informed of the tragedy at the Trade Centre in NY and other places, and were told to pick up our luggage and make arrangements to get back to Atlanta.   All flights were cancelled.

I was fortunate enough to meet up with a lovely young woman and her children on their way to Hawaii.   She was able to get hotel accommodations for herself and for me as she was an airline attendant.  Many people were simply stranded.   She had phoned her husband and he would be there to join them that evening and return to Atlanta the next morning by car.   They included me in the return trip and so I was back at my daughter’s home the next day to remain for another week.  

Arlene and my granddaughter welcomed me home with open arms, lots of hugs and kisses, so happy that I was safe.  

Remembrance

The Bubbies & Zaidas spent some time thinking about war. 

We are a generation that has lived long enough to have seen some terrible atrocities of war. 

We have a concern that younger generations will forget what it is we are asking them to remember. Remembrance day is not about the “glorification of war” but a time to reflect on those who’s

sacrificed, to remember how war comes about, and we remember so that we can strive towards the ideals laid out in the UN Declaration of Human Rights and Freedoms:  

 Never Again

Poppy Field, France

 Remembrance
By Norma

Why is it important to remember?

So that history will not be repeated.
So that future generations don't forget the sacrifices made by our
grandfathers and fathers during two world wars.
To be able to teach about the horrors brought about by war.
To be able to share memories with future generations.
Preventing the stories of our elders from being lost.
To let the youth of today,who will be our future parliamentarians,
know what to avoid in the future.

What is it important to remember?

That so many youth from the recent past have disappeared because of war.
So many young men who never got to realize their futures!
That war has a devastating aftermath for the soldiers and their families.
I think about what used to be called "shell shock" and that is now called PTSD.
The governments who have failed the returning soldiers with the lack of psychological resources and pensions to help veterans and their families.
To keep memories of war before the youth of today. 

 

May We Introduce Ourselves?

The Bubbies & Zaida’s Blogging group is a project that endeavors to take being an Elder into the  digital age.  The goal of the blogging project is to introduce you to some elders in the community and invite you to see the world from their perspective.  Perhaps you may see things differently after reading several stories about life on a different side of the mountain.    Before we dive in and share our stories, we would like to introduce some of our bloggers.

Sandi:  I was born August 1947 in the small town of Chemainus, B.C. located on Vancouver Island.  When I was the age of three my sibling and my parents moved north to Nanaimo, where I completed my education and at the age of 21 joined the Air Force.

January 03, 1969 I became a member of the Air Force, which was one the best decisions I have made. Basic training was took place at CFB Cornwallis from January until March. My trades training, a Finance Clerk took place at CFB Borden from March until June. After my training, I was posted to CFB Ottawa. I took my release the end of March 1976.

June 1978 I moved to the city of Calgary. Outside of my employment history, I experienced the joys of Ballroom and Latin Dance lessons; two stand-up comedy courses and one improv course; being a civilian officer with an Air Cadet Squadron and 15 years as a Toastmaster.

One of my proudest accomplishments is rappelling down a three story building Aussie style (face first), when I was involved with the Air Cadet Squadron about 17 years ago.

Bob

Robert Petersen:   The 4th of 9 children, Bob was born and raised in Kingston Ontario.  Bob married a Dublin gal, Maureen, in London, England in 1949.   They have 5 children.  Bob’s wife (nicknamed Penny) passed away in July of 2012.

In 1941, Bob became a member of the Air Cadets. In 1942 an Airforce Flying Instructor gave Bob a flight in a Harvard Training Aircraft and this gave him a thirst for a flying career.

Enlisting in the RCAF at age 17, Bob trained and graduated as an Air Gunner, and went on to serve as the rear gunner in a Lancaster Bomber in England attached to the Royal Air Force #100 Squadron

After WWII Bob served in both the Royal Air Force and Canadian Air Force and since retirement Bob continues his connections with friends in Aviation. 

Amalia

Amalia: I like challenges. I have lived over 87 years on this planet. I have seen many things and had many challenges.  Not many of them easy.   I always want to be active physically and mentally as I believe it is important to continue to do this for your whole life.   This is what the challenge of life is.

I sing, I act, I write...

and now I am learning computers!

Margot with classmates Amalia and Tutor Del.

 Margot:   I was born in Cologne, Germany in 1931 and I recently turned 82.   Hopefully my story, may in a small way, be of interest to future generations.

I have lived in many places including Israel, South Africa & Canada.  was extremely proud when the large company that I was working for in South Africa sent me to Malawi (we had a branch there) to each them the accounting systems used at Head Office, which was in Johannesburg.   I was there for a week and accomplished everything that was necessary.

I am a very ordinary person who adores her family, is very fond of animals and loves all kinds of music.

I also enjoy reading and movies and watching TV.

more bloggers!