Gail Siemko

Blue Jays Memories

It’s been a month since I last wrote, but some exciting things have been happening and I wanted to share in my excitement and gratitude. I have been a Blue Jays fan for over forty years and have always followed their meteoric rise in their standings. They have been up and down like a toilet seat for many of their decades, yet my love of the game has never wavered, I have always followed their passion for the game and enjoyed it immensely. I attended many home games with my hubby and family. We have been staunch supporters, wearing all of the gear, waving individual flags and paraphernalia. We would fill up the car and take off for Toronto with as many happy individuals packed in as possible. On game day, each one of us had our royal blue caps on, with the beak properly tweaked at the front to keep out the bright sunshine. Inspired by all of the hype of our favourite players in the lineup for the day, brought out much more adrenaline that I could contain in one vehicle, so the songs we chanted were loud and strong “Let’s Play Ball”. On more than one occasion, we had difficulty in finding a parking spot, so it was my job to scout for our rows and locate all of the appropriate washrooms, along with delicious foot-longs for two hungry boys. After being seated, the boys were munching on their snacks, the Rogers Centre became alive with unbelievable enthusiasm, and the noise levels were astronomical. That’s when the players were entering and being introduced to all of the home teams then it was time for the challenging team to come on. After a brief first pitch, it was first inning per usual, and the chanting started with much embellishment on behalf of our four family members. What a day we all had. It was only for a few hours but those memories last a lifetime. To this day I can still remember and recall, what each one of us wore. Where we sat, and how ecstatic my sons were at being present. The year was 1992, and the Bluejays were playing at their finest, much like ten years ago and again this year, 2025.

We are a true baseball family and no matter what else is going on, we take the time to gather together for our beloved games. Even though my sons are not always physically together, they share the love of the game and communicate that regularly.

Recently, we were watching, animatedly at our beloved getaway home in Thornbury. Enjoyed watching all of the ALCS series with the Mariners, both in Toronto and Seattle. It had us on our proverbial seats. Watching how our Bluejays lost a game, then won then lost, our hearts were in our throats. Then it was time for the Mariners to lose two in a row and we jumped off the sofa into the air each time one of their excellent hitters missed a pitch, we couldn’t believe it. So many nights this performance happened in a row. We were all yelling, vocalizing our beliefs about how well our team was killing it. Some of the Blue Jays players were running so much faster than they had ever run before, manufacturing runs and home runs right before our very eyes. It was so amazing, you could see their legs move so fast and speed along. It looked like they had wheels. After the last night when we finally won, I think we all screamed so loud that we woke up the neighbours. It didn’t matter, as our beloved team had clutched the playoff to the World Series and that’s all that mattered. We were still up, yet exhausted from all of the ALCS series, but looking forward to tomorrow night, when we start playing the Dodgers at our home plate advantage.

Baseball has played a huge part in our collective lives. I am overjoyed to say that it brings much joy.

Here’s to the World Series and much more appreciative activity in the Siemko household while being entertained by the finest. We have our caps and memorabilia ready for tomorrow’s game, and all of the Bluejays will be rested and in their finest form to take on their opponents.

#bluejays #memories #ALCS #WORLDSERIES

#ADayInTheLifeOfGail

I remember learning how to dance on my Daddy’s feet, to the tune “Shall We Dance?…..from Anna and the King”.
I was Deborah Kerr and Daddy was Yule Brenner. This was a glorious time for me as every Sunday we would play the old show tunes and I got to sing along and dance with my father. My father and I always danced on Sunday morning before breakfast and before he went outside to perform his weekly chores it was a time that I look back on as being very special and hold dear to my heart. To this day I still dance with both of them but I don’t have poker parties where they can get money off the floor, no they have their own jobs, however while young, when they performed duties and received allowances.

It is something that I have done with my sons too to this day. I still dance with both of them but I don’t have poker parties where they can scrape money off the floor. No they have their own jobs; however, while young men they did perform duties and receive allowances. Getting back to my childhood, my job on Sunday mornings was to clean up all the coins that were left on the kitchen floor from the evening’s numerous card games. Saturdays were always a card event in my parents’ home. All of their friends would take their excess coins and throw them on the floor, it was up to the individual or a person designated at the beginning of the morning, which was me, to clean up all of the coins and the area. On some occasions, it was quite a lot of money especially for a five-year-old. I made enough money to purchase an extra milk carton for school and a freezie (triangular shape) and always with enough money to take to church on Sunday. This was something I did every Sunday, going to church with my good friend #ElaineJacob. Put on our Sunday best, then I’d meet her across the street from the church, go for about an hour and when that was over we would scoot either to her backyard or head back to my place and bring out all of the equipment to play with. Some of our activities included hopscotch, jump rope, dress up, and walking along the picket fence to get to the roof of the garage. After running around which seemed like forever, we were called in for our lunch by my mother, who was a good cook and made something delectable and always served a treat such as peanut butter cookies. We were always anxious to help out and do the dishes, that was our chore and then my mother would ask us to run an errand to the nearby Glow Grocertia, probably for another jug of milk or her favourite pack of cigarettes, which we did gleefully as there was always a penny in there for Candy.

That’s basically how our Sundays worked with Elaine and me. I think we both learned a lot from our weekend chores and playdates along with the fact that if it was to be, it was up to me to do the right things that both of our parents encouraged in us. It’s been over sixty years since we were both carefree and running around, up and down the old neighbourhood but we both have our own families and still stay in touch with each other. I think that our upbringing has instilled in us many wonderful qualities that we have in turn passed down to our children.

Memories are everlasting and I can always bring back the joyful sounds of our times together by just thinking about what we learned when we were five.

#warmwishes #childhoodmemories #gailsiemko #elainejacob

A Day In The Life Of Gail #WelcomeFall”

The first day of Autumn has started without a huge imposition on my daily activities. It is still very nice weather, despite all of the rain and light show last night; however, that hasn’t dampened my spirits. I always remember my children’s exciting news when they would return from their respective classes, running animatedly out to my van and shouting “Mommy, we need more school supplies, specifically wax paper,construction paper and leaves to press for class”! So away we went to the Biway and made our purchases along with foraging for the perfect leaves to be pressed between the wax paper that I always had plenty of for lunches.
After finally arriving home, my two young charges got to work diligently while I started dinner before their Father came home after a very long day at the office in his stock business world. After we finished our meal, cleaned up the cut-up construction paper, it was my duty to press the leaves oh so carefully with the iron, while they watched me.

These leaves were so beautiful and delicate enough to be presented with care the next day at their home room classes,and their respective teachers were complimentary towards both Jonathan and Addison. Just seeing your children being so proud of their accomplishments made my heart swell and to this day I will never forget their little cherubic faces smiling back at me,while running into the school with their homework safely tucked away in their backpacks. It kind of reminded me of my own accomplishments back in Grade School doing exactly the same thing with my Mother and running all the way to my teacher with the beautiful presentation of waxed leaves for show and tell. So I guess you could say that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Memories of days gone by are sacred and these ones are very special to me and my children as we go forward in life.

I cannot imagine life without them or the leaves that fall in the changing of the weather. I do appreciate the beautiful warm breezes that we are lucky to be experiencing and cannot wish them away for anything.

JustG, oxo

A Day In The Life Of Gail #BirthdayWishes

The birthday celebration was an absolute blast! Family gathered around for an unforgettable party filled with mouthwatering steaks and delicious chicken salad. And let’s not forget the soft ice cream from The Dairy Cream—it was the cherry on top! Watching my Blue Jays triumph on the big screen was the perfect finale to an amazing day. I couldn’t have asked for a better way to celebrate! Thanks to Addison for finding time in his busy schedule to drop in and bring the ice cream.

A Day In The Life Of Gail

John Morrow and Vicki Morris Morrow.

It was a pleasure entertaining Vicki and John Morrow, over the long weekend at our Georgian Bay retreat. We hadn’t seen each other for a few months and quickly caught up as the incessant talking continued during the entire time. I don’t think there was ever a lull. We chatted and enjoyed reviewing the busy lifestyles that we live in which was crazytown, but it’s always been that way.

We have been close friends for over sixty years and laughter has always been a key factor in our relationship that permeates the air, guffawing after John would update us on one of his recent trips or incidents at work and play with the “people”.

I remember being introduced to Dennis first during a summer party at Glen Turpin’s house, a friend from high school whom I hadn’t met before from Hamilton, On. There were so many individuals filling all of the nooks and crannies that I couldn’t believe it. That was July 24/75 when John wore his red Afro and bell-bottoms along with high stacked shoes, which was the style as Dennis was attired in a Superman t-shirt, bell-bottoms and desert boots. Ultimately the large gathering included more guys than gals and even though I was only 13 years old, I felt comfortable with the age difference of 16 and 17 years old respectively. Although, I told a fib and convinced everyone that I was turning 16 years old in September, which was uncovered by his younger brother Len, who was in my home room, who uncovered my secret.

Oh well, that’s history so they say. Getting back to John, he had a muscle car, a Barracuda that everyone wanted to catch a ride in, which included me albeit, at that time, we walked everywhere. Especially my girlfriend Tina, who went with me in tow to all of these unsupervised parties, all gussied up and decked out in the finest that we could afford on our babysitter’s allowance. It was during the early part of our courtship, I learned John and Dennis had become friends at a very early age while living on the same street and playing hockey with the other children on their block. I believe they became fast friends and enjoyed close relationships with siblings and parents, which I later adopted as my own. I know that both John and Dennis kept an extremely close bond and maintained it over the time period, as evidenced by so many of our family memories and outings that have been shared every time we get together and here on my blog.

It was during this period of time that I remember attending numerous gatherings where teens go to share music and make new memories, at places like the Dairy Queen, the Red Barn and Hutches where I worked for two summers. My friends would make fun of my attire which consisted of a hairnet, nylon uniform and orthopedic shoes to which I would end up permeating the surroundings, so I guess I deserved the chiding. During this period I would wash up quickly and change into a new mini skirt and bubble top attending the next Glen Turpin party with threats of police sirens always being heard in the background of Grand Funk Railroad. It was a wondrous time and even though I was holding down my full-time studies and two part-time jobs, I was able to keep it all together. My parents forced me to bring Dennis and John home as I was spending more time with these unknown individuals than I did with my family.

It wasn’t long until John and ultimately both Dennis and I met the formidable Miss Vickie Morris Morrow where she and I became fast friends along with the boys. I distinctly remember how pretty Vicki was with her big Brown eyes and luxurious brown hair, a body like Marilyn Monroe and with intelligence to boot! She was 16 going on 17 and went to Grade 13 with the boys, where somehow John was able to impress her with his plethora of musical knowledge and Barracuda. We all attended concerts together with Guy Taylor and Cindy, enjoying life as it presented itself in every aspect of our spectrum. The boys had full-time studies and part-time jobs leaving little precious time for partying; however, we managed to squeeze a modicum of time to energize each other with ongoing mischievousness and non-stop dancing to The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. Some of us drank beer and on rare occasions would smoke cigarettes to appear much older than we actually were. After graduating, attending College and University we all started to think of marriage, and working full-time, where both Vicki and I were hired at the CIBC and RBC respectively. John and Dennis both worked at MFM, the food chain, stocking shelves and earning a living while we all married within a year of each other.

Times have changed nowadays but back then it was the norm and to this day both of our relationships have stood the test of time and been married over fifty years for me and Dennis and and forty-nine for John and Vicki. I don’t know too many other people who can relate to this but I know how much we are enthralled when we gather and nothing changes; we just pick up where everything was left off. Our most recent gathering was eagerly anticipated by me, as I couldn’t wait to hear about The Morrows’ two daughters and their respective spouses, Lee-Anne and Cameron and Allie and Matt. I was extremely entertained by the regaling by both about their adorable grandchildren, five in total. It seems that Vickie is a hot commodity in the Morrow household, to which I am not surprised, being the perfect caregiver to all of her grandchildren regularly, in addition to working full-time. When discussing the grandchildren, Vicki has many photographs and stories that she personally shared, to which we were all privy and thoroughly ensconced. I just don’t know how she does it, in addition to her regular life with John, who is a caretaker full-time. I do know that John enjoys his lifestyle with walking adorable Penny, their family pet and yard work which includes the maintenance of his pergola and pet goldfish.

I cannot wait until our next gathering which is going to be either next month for a chili con carné dinner at their place after all of our mutual obligations. I just simply LOVE this couple and cannot get enough of John’s anecdotes. I do believe I drank over eight glasses of water just to keep up my saliva levels and was thrilled to gift them both with “The Man From Uncle Gift Series” as John is into collecting Retro Vintage items and this definitely fit the bill. In addition, we were enlightened about a new internet provider that will provide us with a deep discount on our present provider, and to that I say #supercalifragilisticexpaladocious Thank you for the great visit to you both John and Vicki and even though your battery died, the wait wasn’t too long until Jason from AAA showed up. Until next time.

Just G. xoxo