Standing Into Danger: One Spectacular Firework of a Sister!

Friday, July 17, 2020

One Spectacular Firework of a Sister!

Let me make it clear right up front.

I have four spectacular fireworks as siblings:

three sisters and one brother.

Shoot those fireworks into the sky, and the display

would bedazzle with sparkling, brilliant, shooting colors.

Fireworks

Pixabay ~ Nixon-Ruiz ~ License

Okay, maybe I'm a little biased, but I am so proud of my siblings,

and I couldn't possibly pick a favorite. I love each of them with everything in me.

Most Recent Photo Together

Barb, Bertie, Roy, Me (Louise), and Donnie

Smith's Cove

Nova Scotia, Canada

August 7, 2019

First Photo Together

Donnie, Barb, Me (Louise) holding Bertie, and Roy with Gretchen

Margaretsville, Nova Scotia, Canada

April, 1959

Recently something special happened,

something that would have thrilled my parents,

bringing tears of pride and joy to them.

Their primary goal when we were growing up

was for all five of us to graduate from university.

We all did and went on to earn multiple degrees in multiple universities.

However, this special event has its origins in the beginnings of our family.

My mother was the first person in her family to go to university,

unless you trace a through-marriage branch on the family tree.

She came from a poor family and achieved her dream of going to university

because of serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II.

My father followed in his parents' footsteps and went to his mother's alma mater.

My parents met when the music stopped during a Paul Jones dance

at Acadia University, and we five were the result.

Our Parents (Dad in a Bowtie) at a Dance

Acadia University
Smith's Cove

Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada

circa 1948

Graduating from university meant one thing in our family:

graduating from Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada.

By the time I entered kindergarten I already knew

that after kindergarten came school and after school came Acadia.

A photograph of University Hall at Acadia hung above my father's desk in the den,

and I can't remember a time that I didn't know what and where that photo represented.

University Hall, Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia

Wikimedia

My parents' Acadia yearbooks and issues of the Acadia Bulletin

were always stacked on a coffee table shelf or in a bookcase,

and I followed my parents' example of pouring through them avidly.

The Acadia Bulletin is the Acadia Alumni Association's publication,

and my parents would point out news about their university friends and events to me.

From my kindergarten childhood until this day, I've read this magazine from cover to cover.

The latest Acadia Bulletin, the Spring 2020 issue,

landed on our kitchen counter when Terry brought the mail in a few days ago.

I ripped it out of its plastic cover with great anticipation

and immediately turned to the page I was looking for.

There she was, my spectacular firework of a sister,

the new President of the Acadia Alumni Association,

Sara Donalda MacBeath, Class of 1975!

Forget my parents' tears of pride and joy.

My own were streaming down my face.

Do you see the sparkle in Donnie's eyes and the joy on her face?

She's thrilled!

In this difficult Covid time,

I can't think of a better leader for the Alumni Association

or a more capable person to sit on Acadia's Board of Governors.

Am I a proud sister? You bet!

I could detail Donnie's other notable accomplishments

like paying her way through law school by working three jobs,

passing the bar and articling to practice law,

rising through the ranks of legal, corporate,

and public companies to serve as upper management,

and raising three amazing children,

but I won't.

Donnie with her "Children"

Lisa, Krista, and Gavin

(All of whom graduated from Acadia)

August 2, 2017

Photo by Martin Mundry ~ Husband and Father

Donnie and Martin

Ad Deir ("The Monastery"), Petra, Jordan

November 28, 2019

No, I'm going to share some favorite photos of my favorite childhood roommate.

I often laugh when watching HGTV (Home & Garden Television),

because parents are always looking for homes with a bedroom for each child.

I shared a bedroom, and often a bed, with Donnie

from the time she was born until I left for Acadia.

I wouldn't have missed that for the world!

The Earliest Photo I Have of Donnie

Me (Louise), Roy, and Mom (pregnant with Barbie) holding Donnie

Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada

Christmastime 1954

Enjoying the Snow

Roy, Me (Louise), and Donnie (on the toboggan)

Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada

Winter 1954-55

Donnie with Her Dolly

Atholville, New Brunswick, Canada

Circa Summer 1955

One of My Most Favorite Photos Ever!

Roy and Donnie

Perhaps Atholville, New Brunswick, Canada

Circa Summer 1955

Donnie, Me, and Roy

Atholville, New Brunswick, Canada

Circa Summer 1956

Barbie, Roy, Me, and Donnie with Gretchen

Margaretsville, Nova Scotia, Canada

Christmas Eve 1958

Donnie's Kindergarten Photo

Greenwood, Nova Scotia, Canada

Fall 1959

Donnie (holding Bertie) and Barbie

Smith's Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada

Summer 1960

Donnie's Grade One Photo

Smith's Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada

Fall 1960

Donnie Graduates from Acadia

Me, Barb, Donnie, and Mom

Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada

Spring 1975

I have hundreds of photos of my sister Donnie,

but it's these early ones that melt my heart.

This sweet, shy child grew up to become an amazing adult with a huge heart

and a powerful intellect, someone who continues to accomplish so much.

How I wish my parents had lived to see her become

President of Acadia's Alumni Association and a member of Acadia's Board of Governors!

I am beyond proud of this spectacular firework of a sister whom I love dearly.

Till next time ~
Fundy Blue

On Margaret's Justice

between Freeport, Long Island

and Westport, Brier island

Nova Scotia, Canada

Notes:

1. Donnie's First Alumni Bulletin Message

Acadia Alumni Bulletin

Spring 2020

2. Donnie's "Welcome from the Acadia Alumni Association President."

For Map Lovers Like Me:

Location of Nova Scotia

Wikimedia

Nova Scotia, Canada

Google Maps 2020

Location of Acadia University

Google Maps 2020

21 comments:

nashvillecats2July 17, 2020 at 10:57 AM
What a happy proud family of siblings you must be, and how proud your mother would be. Such wonderful photo's to brighten the lives who see them. Thanks Louise for sharing this post.
Have a great weekend..... if you can.
Take care.
Yvonne.
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JimJuly 17, 2020 at 12:43 PM
Congratulations to Donnie!!
I can feel your pride, Louise, coming through the screen. It is very heartwarming indeed.
Yes, your parents would be very proud.
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Nancy JJuly 17, 2020 at 1:44 PM
Wonderful words from Donnie, in both the papers, and the family achievements, you can be overjoyed, so proud, and YES, your Mum and Dad would be more so.Hunker down, here we are having positive cases from those in isolation after returning to NZ, no outside public contact ones, and I am SO hoping we do not open our border to anyone from a country where the controls have been so loose, that the virus has taken over normal living to the greatest extent. I,too, would be staying home, making everything I could in the food department, and hoping that the isolation would not creep into my heart. Yes, travel is out for so many, but we have our blogs, Facebook, Instagram, and friends worldwide to share and care all news with. Stay put, Louise. keep safe, and with your family, celebrate another wonderful event.XXXX
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SandiJuly 17, 2020 at 1:49 PM
WOW...WOW...WOW! Congratulations!!! 😃

I gotta say...how cute is Roy with Gretchen in the second photo? He's helping her pose!

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L. Diane WolfeJuly 17, 2020 at 3:05 PM
President of the Acadia Alumni Association - that is fantastic! Your sister did well. All of you did. I originally wanted to go to college, but my free college tuition was nixed in 1980 when Reagan took office and all my mother could afford - and was willing to pay for - was community college for a degree in accounting. I excelled at that, but I just never wanted to be stuck behind a desk, so I never pursued it.

Ironically, where am I now? Stuck behind a desk!!!
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Pat HattJuly 18, 2020 at 12:57 PM
President of the Acadia Alumni Association is an awesome accomplishment indeed. Congrats to her. This covid crap makes everything harder but she sure sounds up to the challenge.
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BrendaJuly 19, 2020 at 12:53 PM
These are beautiful pics of the family, and how lovely the appointment of your sister is. I love looking back in time with all the old pics I have, and even though I only had my dad for eleven years before he sadly died, those eleven years were worth more than a lifetime that some have, sadly. You have a lovely family.
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Rain July 20, 2020 at 8:18 AM
Hi Louise :) Your pride shows! Congratulations to Donnie. What great photos you shared too. A trip down memory lane! :)
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Mildred Ratched July 20, 2020 at 9:10 AM
I actually don't know how I got to your blog, but...
all I can say is I wish my three older brothers felt about me the way you feel about your sisters. You have such a lovely family. Thank you for sharing them with all of us. Stay safe!
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JeffJuly 21, 2020 at 7:36 PM
Wow, you all went to the same school (we all went to different schools). However, I see one downside. With your sister in charge of the Alumni, that means she gets to call you for donations, right! Congratulations to her and it sounds like you have delightful siblings.

www.thepulpitandthepen.com
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Susan FiscusJuly 21, 2020 at 9:50 PM
I feel your pride, Louise! Congratulations to Donnie and to all of you, as well! Donnie wouldn't be where she is today if it weren't for her loving family. Each of you should pat yourself on the back for supporting each other as you all grew into wonderful adult human beings! I would love to have met your parents because they seemed to have had just the right stuff to propel their children to excel while having fun along the way.
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Theresa MahoneyJuly 28, 2020 at 11:02 AM
Congratulations to Donnie on all of her successes. You are such a wonderful, lovely sister, Louise. It makes me smile that you champion your sister and delight in her accomplishments. Here's to many more great things for all of your firework siblings in the years to come, pandemic or not ♥
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