How the Salem Witch trials still apply today

I have always loved history. My favorite books as a child were the Little House on the Prairie series, and even in my teenage, trashy Danielle Steele phase, my favorite ones always took place in some exciting time in history. In the past ten years I have started to devour books on English history, both fiction and non-fiction, especially biographies. It's interlinked with my love of Genealogy and wanting to learn more about the times in which my ancestors lived. Which could be a whole other blog post!!

 The story of the Salem witch trials has always been fascinating to me. The hysteria that can arise from something small, and in this case, lead to the death of innocent people is something we can't even fathom in this 'enlightened' day and time. Interestingly enough, at the end of a lovely presentation at the Salem Witch Museum, the presenters showed that the same cycle that resulted in the Salem trials has been happening over and over again throughout history.

What it essentially boils down to is Fear + Trigger = scapegoat. In the case of the Salem Trials, the fear was of God/Devil, the trigger was unusual illness which could not be cured through the primitive ways of the time, or by the priest, so therefore one doctor proclaimed it witchcraft. In which a hunt begins and stories circulate wildly by gossipy young girls and tenuous evidence is presented. It becomes a situation of damned if you and damned if you don't. Literally. And the scapegoat becomes (mostly) women who are guilty of nothing but using herbs for healing, serving women as midwives, and using their skills to help and heal those around them.


A Poppet or doll, given in evidence against Bridget Bishop, the first victim.

 Upon reflection, it occurred to me that if I had lived during the 16th/17th/18th centuries, I probably would have been a healer and a midwife, as these are some of the gifts and talents the Lord has blessed me with today, practicing in the relative safety of the 21st century! If I had lived in those times, not just in Salem, England and Europe went through the same thing, I could have been seriously persecuted and in danger of my life for what I believed and knew, and practiced in my day to day living. My integrity would be questioned, the work I did would be twisted into something evil and malicious.  I could be in a position where I would be asked to give up or deny what I believed, in order to save my life.

This idea is what has been brewing in my mind; asking myself what would I be willing to do?  Would I have broken under the torture these women were put through, and denied what I knew to be true, reject my knowledge?  Would I have been one of the young girls, caught up in the frenzy and speaking against these women?  Would I have been a spectator, too afraid to defend my midwife, the woman who had brought my child safely into this world, for fear of being persecuted myself?

What made me think even further, and what really is the reason it has taken me so long to be able to write and post this; is to look at myself today, and see any similar patterns going on now? And what side am I on?

The museum gave a few more modern day examples of the Salem cycle: the McCarthy Communism trials in the US and the early days of the AIDS epidemic.  Luckily for me, my medical education came in the 90's not the 80's, so the AIDS hysteria was winding down, but there was a lot of persecution because so much was unknown about the disease.  

For me personally, there is something going on in our day that is looking like a very similar cycle as the Salem Witch trials. Fortunately no one is dying over this issue, but I feel like it creates wild swings in anger and persecution.  And that is the marriage debate.  Whether marriage should be between one man and one woman, or not.  Personally I feel like I cannot express my opinion on the matter because it is not 'right with the times' and that I will be persecuted for my beliefs. Is this sounding familiar? 

In the Salem cycle of Fear+Trigger=Scapegoat, I think there are many things that could be inserted in each of those categories. Whether they are realistic to me or not, they are very real to the people involved.  I don't want to get into the semantics of gay versus straight, marriage versus commonlaw.  What the concern is for me, that I have been reluctant to speak on, is the right that I have, as a human being living in a modern society, to worship and believe as I see fit for me. Whether the legal definition of marriage is changed or not, really, is no consequence to me, but if the legal starts to impede my right to worship, or forcing clerics to change how they worship, or perform religious ceremonies, that very much concerns me.  I think that there is room in this world for all types of legal unions, it has just been commonly called Marriage because the institution has been so long based in a union associated with religion. If you really want to separate Church and State perhaps we need to just change the wording so that anyone who wants to be legally united can be, and those who wish to be 'married'(by the common term used by Christianity to define the union between a man and a woman) can do that too. Or make up a new word to separate the two, I don't care. But please stop battering on religious people who believe what they do and hold sacred things that fundamentally anchor them to be good people in this world! We no longer live in a time where people(gay or straight) are burned at the stake for their beliefs, so why are we behaving as if we were in 1690's Salem?

I fulfill a childhood dream with a bosom friend

What I wanted to share tonight was my visit to Prince Edward Island this summer. It has been at the top of my list and it absolutely did not disappoint! I have been an Anne of Green Gables fan for as long as I can remember and visiting there was a dream come true! Luckily for me, I got to take my darling stepdaughter, Lady M, with me, and she was a fantastic tour guide. My first visit to PEI was her tenth. My first impression was the red soil, and the huge potato fields! I just wanted to go digging.

Our first stop was, of course, Green Gables. Which, by the way, was NOT full of Asian tourists, as I had previously been warned. The house was amazing, the grounds beautiful, and my darling girl took me on a walk down Lovers Lane, behind the house.

We saw Annes Bedroom, met the lady herself, and drank a lot of Raspberry Cordial! So yum!

We also visited Avonlea Village, did some fun shopping, had some PEI potato French fries, and spent some time on Cavendish Beach. Which I also recognized from the Anne movies, and was one of the most beautiful, clean, and strangely peaceful beaches, despite the tourists and 30+ Celsius heat. I think Lady M and I could have spent the whole time there and been completely satisfied.

The Day ended with a spontaneous drive down a red dirt road(insert Brooks and Dunn song here) and discovered a plethora of Alberta roses. It was completely symbolic sign again, that I belong in this part of the world.

As we were driving home along the two lane highways, up and down the hills, I was also reminded of England(my favorite place in the world!), if you replaced the fences with hedgerows, the land would look just like England. There is more farmland that I expected and so so many lovely old gabled houses, that were mostly well take care of. The whole island just looks friendly, clean and homey. The local town halls and churches were advertising ceilidh on random nights, that I definitely want to be brave and go to on my next visit! How fun would that be? The absolute best part, of course, was the time spent with my step daughter. Obviously I see less of her, but our relationship is as strong as it ever has been. That has been the greatest, brightest thing that has come out of the whole ordeal with her father. He handled the whole situation with her spectacularly, and that's been a huge blessing to all of us. Her mum has been completely supportive of any time that I want to spent with her. This trip was a brilliant time together, where it got to be crazy stepmother day, instead of evil stepmother day.(which has been an ongoing gag between us) We got to talk, and laugh and just be together in the car ride there and back. I have often asked why God was so clear with me about moving out here, and yet The main reason I moved here, to be married, collapsed so quickly. I have never felt that I should go back west, I know I am supposed to be here. Why? For what? Not so clear. But I have also learned in my life that the reasons for things are rarely clear in the beginning. We have to trust in the process, and have faith that we may see the bigger picture. I know that the longer time passes, the more I have been able to see how I have changed and some of the reasons for trials in my past. I would not be the woman I am today(and I'm pretty ok with who I am) without the things I have experienced, good and bad.

So watch this space for more Maritime adventures with Alberta Prairie Girl! XO Leah

I wonder as I wander...

The Alberta Prairie Girl is back!
 I haven't posted on my blog in over a year. There are a few reasons for this; 1. My husband has concerns regarding social media, and sharing ones life in a public venue. Apparently this has bitten him rather harshly in the past, and really rathered that he, and his daughter, not be a part of it. And I respected that. 2. It came to a point where I had so much to catch up on, that the task became too daunting! Now, I am at a vastly different place, not one I ever expected to encounter. However, I have started to explore the Maritimes in earnest, and I would really love to share my escapades in a more journal-like form, rather than just a few pics on Facebook, so the blog is back!

So, (in my very best Inigo voice) let me esplain, no there is too much, let me sum up. Buttercup is marry Humperdinck in little less than half and hour....wait! I am so easily sidetracked....

 Anyway, the number one reason for NOT blogging has chosen to no longer be a part of my/our life, which, ironically, kinda negated any need to worry about my second reason.
 Huh, funny how things turn out.
 I realized that this is not the classiest way to share this radical change in my life, but there it is. I have learned over the past months that choice is a great and terrible responsibility. The accountability that goes with ones choices is also a great and sometimes terrible thing. I have come to know I cannot be responsible for another persons choices, I can only chose how I will respond and how I will move forward in my own life, hopefully with dignity and integrity that makes me a better person.

 What I can say, and share, is that my wedding and receptions were lovely. It was so amazing, especially in Edmonton, to look around and see so many people, from so many different parts of my life, in one room. I will always be grateful that we had that time to reunite, to love and be loved. I can also say how blessed I am to have people in my life, new and old, that care so much about me. Those who were willing to drop everything, had I needed it, to come "rescue" me, physically or mentally or spiritually. I don't think I ever truly realized what good friends and family I have. Thank you.

New Brunswick is a neat place to live. It runs at its own speed, has some of the most stunning scenery, fairly decent snow removal and the friendliest Canadians hands down! Those are some of the reasons I also love my job so much. I had been itching to get back into the clinical side of Respiratory, and getting this job here was an answer to my prayers in so many ways last year. I work with some wonderful people, who are so friendly and kind and supportive. My past work experience and skills from Edmonton and Phoenix were welcomed and suprisingly came back to me very quickly, and I love helping people in the hospital setting so much. I am also a better therapist, co-worker and student preceptor having been on the education side for 5 years at NAIT. It was certainly a big reason why I chose to stay. Don't get me wrong, the thought of coming back to Edmonton, or Alberta, did cross my mind, but it was so brief I barely entertained the idea.
These are the reasons I feel I can share;
 1. I had no confirmation of the Spirit that I should go back. Going along with that, I had such a strong impression when I moved that this was where the Lord wanted me to be, that I could not deny that feeling. Its as strong today as it was when I packed up and left Edmonton.
2. I felt I had perhaps accomplished all that I could do in Alberta. Especially as far as my job and as my social life goes. I have amazing friends and family that I certainly miss alot, but I reconciled myself to leaving them before I left, and Skype, text, email and phone calls make the distance bearable.
3. Moving to New Brunswick still feels like I'm progressing forward in my life. Going back would be just that; slipping back into a comfortable way of life that would still be great and fun, but essentially keep me from progressing.
4. Other than the changes in the husband department(!), everything else in my life is going pretty well. Good job, amazing location, new adventures in travel, great people, family who will always be family to some extent, and lastly, but most importantly, Lady M. She is still a very important part of my life and I feel very strongly that we need to keep that bond we have and for her to KNOW that there is another person out there who loves her completely and is there for her. I also want to be a good example to her in the gospel and the church.  I will always be on her side to love her and support her in whatever way she needs me, for as long as she needs me. And she still loves her wicked evil stepmother and gets a kick out of me in the time we get to spend together! Bonus for me!

So despite the turnaround my life has taken, I am still mostly me; happy, hopeful, grateful; and ready to come though this as a better person, who the Lord wants me to be.
 XO Leah

Gone, gone, gone

I've been sitting in the Toronto Airport for the past hour and pondering how I got here.  Not in the literal way, of course, but marveling at the course that life can take you.
The past week has been an absolutely crazy whirlwind.  I finished work, said farewell to alot of people, packed and packed and almost filled my complexes garbage bin with stuff when we loaded the trailer and emptied out my place this weekend.  It could not have happen without the help of my mom and dad, and especially Matt and Elaine.
There were funny times in the dispensing of the old...

and overwhelming times to think that the tangible items that represent my life is contained in these boxes and plastic cases

and that it all fit in this amazing trailer that my mom and dad brought up to load, and then they are generously hauling to New Brunswick behind their motorhome when they come out next month for the wedding.

I cannot even believe how tired I am.  If I wasn't so totally giddy at the thought that I will see Dave and Lady M in a few short hours I would be curled up in a corner somewhere bawling my eyes out. 

I'm still way too emotional to write about the miracles of the past few days, but its enough to say that I still know that the Lord has firmly had a hand in this move and this change in my life, and that there are so many good things to come.

Bring it on!


But let me have a really good long sleep first!  ;)

Showered with love!

I know its been over a month since I've posted anything, but all thats been going on is a non-stop cycle of sort, shred, pack, garbage, take to recycling.  And then sort into keep, sell, donate, and a pile of I-can't-decide-right-now-my-head-is-about-to-explode-so-send-to-mom-and-dads.  My mom was here for a little over two weeks and we really got alot accomplished. Well, SHE got alot accomplished. My mom is amazing, I absolutely could not do any of this without her.

Including trimming my Merryweather family heirloom veil!
 

She is in there, I promise!
So I was awefully glad that she got to fill up the back seat of the truck with stuff that she really wanted of mine; clothes, shoes, books etc.

While mom was here my good friend Shalene, threw me a beautiful bridal shower. We've been friends for over ten years, old room mates, road trippers, confidantes and I was a bridesmaid in her wedding.  Which might not have happened had I not encouraged her to give Dan a chance!  ;)

Yes, that is red velvet cake with purple stripes.  She is a cake genius!

Its still feels strange for all this to be about me, but I so loved my shower!  It brought together friends and family from literally all parts of my life.  Friends I've know from almost the day I moved to Edmonton in 1992, to new ladies from church that I've just been getting to know better, and love and respect so much!

I'm still amazed at the generosity and love shown by the gifts given to Dave and I at the shower.  And the lovely messages left in the cards, and in my 'Wedding Book' that I started to collect addresses and stories and memories made me laugh, and cry! Sometimes at the same time.

 
The little girls that I work with at church were so sweet as well, as they suprised me with the most beautiful white roses! That are still absolutely gorgeous a week later!

Even my respiratory students gave me a card and Purdy's chocolates to say goodbye.  Just before I gave them their final!!  How sweet is that?  Good thing they all passed with flying colors!
I have been feeling rather overwhelmed and verclempt sometimes at all the love I literally feel showered with over the past few weeks.  Its interesting to think about all the different people I'm leaving behind.  I hope I've left good impressions and feelings of love on these people I've had the pleasure of interacting with here over the years, especially the young ones I've worked with.  There is a catchy little church tune that has been running through my head called "Have I done any good in the world today?", and I think about that in all aspects of my life.  Church, friends, collegues, students...
As this era ends, and another begins, I know I will take all that I've learned and done here with the people I've known and continue to grow and become a better person.  Certainly I know that I will be a better Respiratory Therapist in the hospital because of my time teaching and interacting with the students so much, and I really look forward to that.  I hope that I will be able to serve well in my new church family as well.  They are a much smaller group than I have been used to here in Alberta, so I really want to be useful.
 I am so excited to start our new life, with new people, and new experiences that Dave and I will have together!!

It's just stuff

 I am now 60 some days away from moving to the east coast.  And as one begins to seriously prepare for a move involving over 4000 kilometers, you start to look at the things that furnish your home and your perspective starts to change about 'things'.  How important certain items are to you, what you can or cannot live without, what is worth selling, or just give it away.  Luckily I'm moving in with a man whose house will be somewhat established, and he had a pretty good idea what the ex-wife took. So that makes it a bit easier as to sorting through needs and wants. As every item you look at putting into a trailer, you attach weight to it, because, as my truck driving father wisely told me from the beginning, its not necessarily about how many things you take, its how much it weighs. Because it's the weight that can make or break a load on a trip like this. 

It has also occurred to me that this clearing and packing and deciding how big of a load I'm going to carry out my new life is also rather symbolic of our other types of baggage.
Both of us coming into this marriage are grown adults; we have past relationships, past experiences both good and bad, and have just LIVED life in our own ways for the past 15-20 years.  Now we want to come together and form a cohesive existence and continue to move forward in a positive way of life for ourselves and his daughter.  So how much weight we want to haul with us into this marriage is completely up to us.  We may need to lighten our loads ourselves by forgiving, and letting go of the past, or maybe we need assistance from the Lord through repentance or making amends. Either way, the less unnecessary weight we bring into our marriage, the lighter and easier it will be to move forward.  Now neither of us expected to come to our new life completely unburdened, but we have been open and clear about what we are carrying so that we can help each other.  "(A)nd are willing to bear one another's burdens that they may be light" is a scripture associated with the covenants we as Mormons make at baptism, and I find it especially applicable to marriage. (Mosiah 18:8-10)
So as I am going through my home that has been my sanctuary from the world for the past five years I will be looking at 'things' very carefully and deciding if they will bring goodness and happiness to the next stage of my life, or if it's just gonna be another unnecessary weight in the trailer.

Yeah, the spitfire picture is coming, the piano is not.
Regardless, I'm still gonna need alot of garbage bags and boxes over the next few weeks, so if you have so to donate, feel free to drop them off!
XO Leah

Making it Really Real

Today I went wedding dress shopping with my dear friend Elaine.  Its funny, when Dave and I decided to get married, it took me days to realize that I get to go wedding dress shopping, and that I get to fullfill my little girl dreams to dress up like a princess!
The really cool part is that Elaines eldest daughter, Miss A, got to come with us, as she was home sick from school with a tummy ache.  It was amazing how much better she was feeling by the time I got to their house! (wink)  The only thing was that Miss A couldn't tell anyone where we went, since her younger sister would be completely put out with not being included in this shopping expedition.  It was really fun having Miss A there.  She is such a sweetie and had fun feeling like a princess too!

Now, before you get too excited this may or may not be the dress I chose, but I thought it was such a cute picture of Miss A and I that I had to include it!  I have to highly recommend Simply White Bridal for thier selection of affordable, modest wedding dresses.  Heidi made me feel so comfortable and asked alot of great questions before I even got to her house and had pulled out a number of dresses that she had close to my size, and the style I told her I was looking for.  I tried on maybe 6 or 8 dresses, and it was pretty easy; it was either a definite no, there was one dress that was a weak maybe, and the third one I tried on I kept going back to.  We were there about an hour and a half and I walked out with the perfect dress for me!!  I think it helped that I knew very much what I was looking for, and what I did and did not like for my body type.
Trying on wedding dresses today really made it real to me.  I mean, I KNOW that I'm going to marry Dave, but all the plans that we have made so far have been just that, plans.  Very little have actually had tangible results until today.  And a financial investment made as well! 
What was interesting today as well, was realizing how comfortable I am with me.  I gained probably 50 pounds with my MS diagnosis and early days of treatment that I've never been able to shake.  However  the older I get, the more solid I am with not just the shape and squishiness of my body, but who I am and what I want.  I was thrilled to find a dress that made me look and feel pretty, even though I'm not a size 12 anymore.  I'm so happy to have found a man who loves my curves and me, just as I am. I love that I really have come to know me, and am comfortable with me, inside and out.  I'm not sure if it only comes with age, but I think also with the solid relationships I have in my life; my family, my close friends, my work relationships, and of course, my relationship with God and Jesus Christ.  I think that all those things work together to help me to be the best me I can be and hold me to the standards and meet the challenges that I still face in life.  I'm really excited to no longer be traversing this life by myself and to have an eternal companion by my side to work with and love and for all the experiences we get to have together. 
Seems like alot of waxing philosophical about a dress, but it brings out alot of things that I've struggled with and overcome in life.  And I love wearing my little tiara while I write this! Hee Hee!!