My Granny

Lately I have been having a bit of a pity party, with only one special guest, me. Life has been tough. I have two children, two and a half years and 5 months. Apparently life will never be as tough for me as it is now. I am home full time with the two of them, and I feel like I have been run off my feet, every day for almost three years. I have wonderful wonderful sweet children. They are good. They listen, they are absolute perfection in two small bodies, yet I have still been able to find things to complain about...no help, too much stress, yadda yadda yadda....bitch and moan.

It takes a lot of energy to be a full time mother.

Today is my Granny's birthday. If she was alive she would have been 93 years old! WOW! She passed away just over 6 years ago and her funeral was 6 years ago today. I miss her every single day.

I'm sitting here listening to the sounds of my washing machine, dryer, dishwasher, CD player, and computer.

I look around and I see a television, microwave, electric stove, vacuum, refrigerator and freezer!

Because it is my Granny’s birthday, I am reflecting on what life would have been like for her, here on Alta Lake when she had children as young as mine are now.

For one, she didn’t have any of the luxuries I listed above. No fridge, no washer/dryer, certainly no microwave, not even running water, and the stove required wood, which required chopping.

I complain because I am alone for 6-8 hours without help. My granny was alone for 4 years while my grandfather fought in the war.

Has the world become such an easy place that we are just looking for things to complain about? Or are my feelings of hopelessness, and desire for more, justifiable?

I don’t know. I have it pretty easy I guess. I know one thing for sure though; I would give up every single luxury I have ever known, everything, fridge and all, if it meant I could have my Granny here for one more day.

She was so awesome. Smart, funny, and tough as nails. A true Whistler pioneer. A force to be reckoned with. A wonderful woman.

If you want to learn more about my Granny, and her days in Whistler, check out the Whistler Museum. There you will find info on Margaret J Clarke, known to most as Betty, and to 7 lucky children she was known as Granny.

This is a picture of my Granny, Grandfather, and their 4 children, taken in the sixties.



This is a picture of my Great-Grandmother, Grace Woollard, who used to take the steam ship from Vancouver to Squamish, and then spend 2 days traveling from Squamish to Whistler by horse!

www.whistlermuseum.org