The Tapestry of Barbara’s Life Painted with Friendship and Community
Barbara has always found a way to see the positive in any experience and enjoy everything life has to offer. Since moving into Tapestry more than two years ago, her positive philosophy for life is stronger than ever.
Barbara was born in the charming seaport town of Kirkcaldy in Scotland. The youngest of three daughters, Barbara fondly remembers playing in the streets with her friends even as World War II raged all around and she constantly feared seeing Nazis land on nearby beaches. Despite the fearful uncertainty and the many deprivations of war, Barbara was joyful and happy, living in the warm embrace of her wonderful family.
“Everyone was in the same boat,” says Barbara, recalling the challenging times. “We didn’t have much but we learned to just get on with it. If we were faced with another difficult situation, we knew how to make the best of it. This is truly the legacy of my generation.”
Barbara fondly remembers the day she met her husband Dougal at the Kirkcaldy annual fair. After a few rounds on the “dodge ‘em cars” and other fun dates, Barbara and Dougal started a happy life together always finding time to laugh when things went wrong. Barbara describes her now deceased husband in the most gentle and loving way. “He was just the right person for me.”
Barbara and Dougal’s life was filled with travel through Europe and Egypt. It was a shared passion that really took flight when Dougal learned how to pilot a small two-seater plane that took their adventures to the skies over the United Kingdom.
Their travels eventually brought them to Vancouver, BC. Thinking they would “try it out” for about five years, Barbara and Dougal never left deciding to make the beautiful city on the West Coast their home.
Together, they raised a family and enjoyed a life filled with joyous experiences. They particularly enjoyed art and collecting beautiful, unique pieces that today adorn Barbara’s spacious suite at Tapestry. Dougal eventually became an accomplished painter leaving Barbara extraordinary works of art to cherish after he passed away from cancer.
After years of living on her own, Barbara considered moving into a retirement community but never felt quite ready. After a fall, she realized it was time to move into a place where she could remain independent, but benefit from services to keep her healthy, active and engaged with life.
“We have to realize getting older is going to happen,” says Barbara. “Things are going to change and you have to realize that you may need a bit of assistance from time to time. My family are delighted that I am at Tapestry; they can’t believe the things that I get up to.”
At Tapestry, Barbara lives a full and rich independent life. She participates in almost every activity and has cultivated an incredible community of friends and neighbours that feel more like family. Barbara has found so much joy at Tapestry that she has invited many of her friends to become residents.
Today, Barbara couldn’t imagine herself living anywhere else. “As soon as I walked through those doors, I knew Tapestry was the place for me.”