IWSG: Wednesday, August 2, 2023 ~ There Is No Taking It Back!

It's the first Wednesday of the month,
the day that members of the
Insecure Writer's Support Group
share their writing struggles
and writing successes
and offer their encouragement
and support to fellow writers.






To visit the IWSG website, click here.

To become a member of the IWSG, click here.

Our wonderful co-hosts who are volunteering today,
along with IWSG Founder Alex J. Cavanaugh are Kate Larkinsdale, Diane Burton, Janet Alcorn, and Shannon Lawrence!

 

I hope you have a chance to visit today's hosts and thank them for co-hosting.

I'm sure they would appreciate a visit and an encouraging comment.

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Every month the IWSG announces a question that members can answer
with advice, insight, a personal experience, or a story in their IWSG posts.

Or, the question can inspire members
if they aren't sure what to write about on IWSG Day.

Remember the question is optional.
This month's featured question is: 

Have you ever written something that afterwards you felt conflicted about? If so, did you let it stay how it was, take it out, or rewrite it?

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Happy August, Everyone! 

Wherever you are, whatever the season, I hope you are happy, safe, and well!

I'm writing this post on July 21st in Las Vegas.

We are flying to Halifax via Calgary on a red eye tomorrow.

I am not certain where we will be on August 2nd.

I could still be in Nova Scotia, I could be flying home,

or I could be in Colorado.

What I do know is I'm looking forward to being with my brother and three sisters

all together in one place for the first time since 2019.

And, of course, I can't wait to see my sister-in-law, my brothers-in law,

and many of our extended family members too.

It's a big group when we all get together.

The Last Time Together

Barb, Bertie, Roy, Me, and Donnie

Smith's Cove, Digby County, Nova Scotia, Canada

August 7, 2019

© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue

All Rights Reserved

Oh, yes, I have written something many times that afterwards 

I felt conflicted about, starting when I was ten.

My father was teaching at an Indian Day School in Lansdowne House,

and he wrote vivid letters home documenting the shocking conditions 

which the Ojibwa and Cree endured in the North.

My writing, speaking, and outrage at how Indigenous people 

were treated in Lansdowne House in Northern Ontario

inspired me (and me, my classmates) to collect five huge boxes

of clothing for a fifth grade Red Cross project. 

Ten Years Old with My Red Cross Project a Couple of Months Away

Smith's Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada

Fifth Grade School Photo, Fall 1960

© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue

All Rights Reserved

My Red Cross project, and thanks to me, my father's letter information,

were picked up by the Canadian Press across Canada,

raised questions in the Canadian Parliament, 

and nearly caused my father to be unceremoniously fired.

It literally happened as my mother and we five children were moving north to join Dad. 

The Red Cross in Halifax didn't know what to with the clothing,

but, because of the urgent situation in Northern Ontario,

they contacted the Commanding Air Officer of Maritime Command.

The Air Force sent the boxes via Ontario to Manitoba.

At that point the Canadian Press was reporting that the situation in Northern Ontario

was so dire that the Air Force was parachuting

emergency food supplies into northern communities.

Everyone was looking for the teacher

who was responsible for embarrassing the government.

The Department of Indian Affairs had narrowed it down to a teacher in Lansdowne House,

but all fingers were pointed at the Roman Catholic school teacher

because my father was ex-Air Force and knew better than to undercut his superiors.

The truth emerged that it was me who was behind everything.

My father managed to salvage his job and reputation,

and not too long after, he received a promotion.

I was ordered to keep quiet.  

Eventually the Air Force arrived in Lansdowne House

with the boxes of clothing and a photographer.

After some frantic talk by my father with the pilot, 

the plane left and the photographer left without an interview or photos.

The boxes of clothing were dropped off at another isolated northern community,

and I learned important lessons about politics, journalism, and life.

This is One of My Favorite Childhood Pictures.  It Always Makes Me Laugh.

I was 21 Months Old, and

In My Eyes and Expression I Can See the Passionate Idealist Already Forming!

Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada

December 25, 1951

© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue

All Rights Reserved

This has been my pattern throughout life.

I write speeches, I write articles, I write papers, I sound off,

and there is no taking something back.

I've had to let my words stand, because I'm impulsive, passionate,  articulate,

and often fearless when I'm inspired about something.

The conflicted feeling comes too late ~ lol.

The hardest thing I ever wrote about was about being sexually molested 

by a train conductor when I was barely eleven years old.

Talk about conflicted!  

It was such a painful, personal event, and it impacted me for decades.

It took me a long time to write about it, and I did so finally in a blog post:

https://selkiegrey4.blogspot.com/2018/05/the-lansdowne-letters-pervert-and.html

Again, once you put it out there, there is no taking it back.

But whatever I've written, I've written from my heart and from my personal truth.

Six Months After Being Molested

an Event That Changed Me Forever

Sioux Lookout, Ontario, Canada

December 24, 1961

© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue

All Rights Reserved

I'm updating this post on August 1st and writing about a completely different topic: 

I had so much fun reading Pat Hatt's 

Skunked and the Witch's Curse three weeks ago.

As I shared last month, this book was inspired by Pat's twin nephews

who begged him to write an adventure story about them 

featuring a witch, a skunk, zombies, pirates, and more.

It was exactly what I anticipated. 

Pat's free-ranging imagination spun a unique and fun-filled adventure

sprinkled with some typical five-year old potty-humor.

Skunked and the Witch's Curse

And guess who I met in Nova Scotia!!! 

I was so excited:  Pat Hatt!!!

Pat and I

Smith's Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada

July 28, 2023

© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue

All Rights Reserved

Yesterday this amazing man drove to Smith's Cove from the South Shore 

on his day off to meet Terry and me.

I didn't have access to a car, because the family cars were busy

here, there, and everywhere.

In fact, my sister Barb and her partner (with whom we're staying) 

were heading to Moncton, New Brunswick to pick up a rescue husky from Texas.

Josie doesn't know it yet, but she is one lucky dog.

She will have a wonderful, love-filled life with Barb and her Pat.

Poor Pat!  He got to meet Terry and me, as well as all my siblings,

spouses, partners, some of my nieces and nephews and their partners,

baby Jackson, assorted dogs and one cat.  Pat was such a good sport!

Pat's been my blogging bud since I started blogging and before I knew about the IWSG.

I already knew he was a great guy, but he's even greater in person!

Pat, Terry, and I

Smith's Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada

July 28, 2023

© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue

All Rights Reserved

Enjoy IWSG Day.  Stay happy, healthy, and safe.

I will be flying on the 2nd and 3rd, but I will reply to any comments as soon as I can!

Till next time ~
Fundy Blue

https://selkiegrey4.blogspot.com