Celebrations on Late Blooms

Success

Thu, 20 Nov 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Success is one of those abstract concepts that affect our lives in a myriad number of ways from cradle to grave. Depending on our upbringing, education, economic circumstances, social relationships, and life experiences, we hold many different views of what it is to be successful in life. As children, we mainly view success with regard to how we perform in school. How we perform then continues to be the yardstick to measure success in life.

Lithuanian Independence Day

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 00:00:00 +0000

“Patriotism is a thing difficult to put into words. It is neither precisely an emotion nor an opinion, nor a mandate, but a state of mind – a reflection of our own personal sense of worth, and respect for our roots. Love of country plays a part, but it’s not merely love. Neither is it pride, although pride too is one of the ingredients. Patriotism is a commitment to what is best inside us all. And it’s a recognition of that wondrous common essence in our greater surroundings – our school, team, city, state, our immediate society – often ultimately delineated by our ethnic roots and borders… but not always. Indeed, these border lines are so fluid… And we do not pay allegiance as much as we resonate with a shared spirit. We all feel an undeniable bond with the land where we were born. And yet, if we leave it for another, we grow to feel a similar bond, often of a more complex nature. Both are forms of patriotism – the first, involuntary, by birth, the second by choice. Neither is less worthy than the other. But one is earned.” (Vera Nazarian)

Festival City

Tue, 15 Oct 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Stratford is a picturesque Ontario town and is one of my favorite places to visit. It attracts many visitors every year for theatrical productions known as the “Stratford Festival.” We were there for a Doctoral Celebration which included a lovely lunch and afternoon walk along the Avon River. Many swans, ducks, and their young, make lovely companions for visitors who wish to admire and spend time with them.

Fruit Extravaganza!

Sat, 05 Oct 2013 00:00:00 +0000

__To be creative means to be in love with life. You can be creative only if you love life enough that you want to enhance its beauty, you want to bring a little more music to it, a little more poetry to it, a little more dance to it.” – Osho

I wanted to bring a little “something special” into the life of someone I deeply care about. We were having a special celebration lunch for a special happening and these kinds of events always seem to bring forth a burst of creative energy from within me. I was also already dancing in my heart. My thoughts turned to fruit and I remembered admiring edible arrangements at parties I had attended in the past - and enjoying them too. I thought: “Why not make an edible arrangement?”

Happy New Year!

Mon, 31 Dec 2012 00:00:00 +0000

[caption id=“attachment_660” align=“aligncenter” width=“584” caption=“Happy New Year!”][/caption]

When I was younger, New Year’s Eve was a time for partying, celebrating, and much revelry. All your friends were going out and if you didn’t have somewhere to go, you felt left out. You heard about New Year’s resolutions wherever you went and felt you had to make some of your own - even if you didn’t tell anyone what they were. It didn’t seem as though you had a voice of your own.

Happy Canada Day!

Sun, 01 Jul 2012 00:00:00 +0000

[caption id=“attachment_257” align=“aligncenter” width=“584”] Canada Day[/caption]

Canada’s Birthday - 145 years old. Celebrations everywhere. Lots of parties, birthday cake, and pride everywhere. The photos in this collage were taken over the last two days and hopefully represent the Canada that exists today even if just a little bit.

I attended a Canada Day party on Friday at which there was a BBQ, birthday cake, and watermelon, as well as a live three-piece band. Many people were tapping their feet to the music or swaying with it even if they were too old to dance. Everyone stood proudly for the band’s rendition of “O Canada” as it was sung beautifully by the vocalist for the band.