Florence

Florence learned from a challenging early life, how to enjoy life at 78.  She confirms she “lived a lot during her lifetime.” She turns 79, July 15th and would like someone to write her a ‘birthday poem.” Writing a birthday poem, gifting it to friends and family is a recent pastime by which she honors those she loves.
Florence’s early life was filled with hardships she experienced in a family struggling to survive in times of war and economic uncertainty. As the youngest of four, she had three older brothers, she felt insecure. Her mother, possessive of Florence’s father’s love and attention, alienated Florence. Florence’s mother didn’t allow her in the kitchen. Today, she is grateful for Meals on Wheels and in winter orders from Boston Pizza.  
Florence’s strained relationship with her mother, something her mother apologized for, impacted Florence’s early marriage to John. He also came from a dysfunctional family. After Florence gave birth to Gordon, the couple divorced. Florence moved to an apartment on Saskatchewan Drive. John lived nearby. Together they raised Gordon who went to Garneau School. Today, Gordon, 56 years old, lives in Toronto where he is a sportscaster. He and ex-wife Sarah have one daughter, Florence’s granddaughter of whom she is very fond.
Happy in retirement, Florence doesn’t depend upon anyone. Although it took a long time to get where she is today, she enjoys life and is at peace, ready to pass away.  She organized her end of her life celebration. The music she’s chosen is Bruce Springsteen’s “Dancing in the Dark.” A friend, Wally will read “On Death” by Kahli Gibran. 
She studied Buddhism which provides comforts to live by. She meditates, informally. Plants, she insists are good to mediate on declaring “look at my African violet blooming, it’s happy.”
One regret is she didn’t travel more. She would like to see China, Greece, and study in Italy. But two bad knees, reliant upon on a walker to get around, travel isn’t possible.
Florence believes she lives with grace in life, now.  She refrains from judging others because she understands what others go through, having endured life’s upheavals.