Interurban

I was in Steveston today, and happened across a display of one of the old interurban rail cars that used to run around Vancouver. Before my time, the Interurban was the rapid transit of the old days. I recall stories that my Grandma used to tell me about taking the Interurban. I had a few minutes, so I climbed aboard and took some pics...

 

 

Old 5, New 5, Old 10, New 10

No... the title of this post does not refer to some new Dr. Seuss story. I looked in my wallet the other day, and I had an old $5 dollar bill, and one of the new-fangled polymer ones. Ditto for the $10 dollar bill. So, I took pictures of the front and back...

This day, Aug 22

Today, one year ago, Jack Layton passed away. No matter what colour your political stripes are, it was a sad day for Canadian politics.


Today, 40 some odd years ago, my parents got married. (No, I didn't forget how many years ago that was... I purposely omitted the number so you can't figure out how old I am!) Anyways, I'm kind of glad they did get married, otherwise I wouldn't have been born!! Thanks Mom and Dad. And congratulations on your anniversary.

Today, according to "Days of the Year" dot com... (www.daysoftheyear.com), it is "Be an Angel Day". Ahhhh! How sweet.

Today, way back in 565 AD, St. Columba reported seeing a monster in Loch Ness. (It is simply amazing what you can find on the internet these days, isn't it!)

Have a great day!

1946 headlines

I was scanning a bunch of old photos from my Grandma's photo albums. At the back of one of the albums was a newspaper clipping from March 17, 1946. (if you can't read the text, just click on the picture to make it bigger)...

I'm not sure which story was the reason that Grandma kept this clipping. I'm thinking it was the mice story. I guess I'll have to remember to ask her next time I'm at her place. Maybe she knew that Bert Samson fellow. Either way...I love the story. Only $34 damage. And the cause of all that damage? Mice chewing on matches. You can't make this stuff up! And it certainly couldn't happen today!!

Where were you 65 years ago?

Today is the 65th anniversary of VE Day. Victory in Europe. The day Hitler's Germany surrendered to the Allies.

I remember a few years ago, sitting around the dinner table, I turned to my Grandma, and said:

Me: "Hey Grandma. Did you know that it's the anniversary of VE Day this week?"

Grandma: "What day?"

Me: "VE Day. You know...when Germany surrendered?"

Grandma: "Oh yes! I remember that now!"

She smiled and continued on..."It was really wonderful. Everyone was partying in the streets. People were dancing. All the men would come up and just start dancing with you. Everyone was so happy. And the party went on until the sun came up. It was a wonderful time."

She smiled again, as her thoughts drifted back to that day.

Can you imagine? What it would have been like to have been there? It's conversations like that that strike home the reality of what my Grandma has been through in her life, and all the things she has seen, and been a part of.