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Next Steps in Researching Jane Darragh's Diagnosis

Image by rawpixel, edited by author. Last week I shared the beginnings of my research into Maria Jane Darragh's mental illness diagnosis of "acute mania." (If you haven't read that post, catch up here .)  Here's what I've been working on since then. Research Planning Given what I already know about Jane, I already have a good set of questions that I hope to answer about her acute mania diagnosis.   Her Life in St. Catharines, Ontario What would life have been like for Jane in St. Catharines? What was St. Catharines like at the time, it's population, trade, social and religious environment? What was Jane's married life like? What was it like raising her children in that time? Acute mania What was the medical understanding of acute mania in the late 19th century? What were the symptoms, how was it diagnosed, how was it treated at that time? How does one die from acute mania? Could Jane have been misdiagnosed? What other conditions could have...
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Plenty


It's family story time again. 

Many years ago, our daughter Anne drew this picture of herself, me, and her brother James. Apparently we were on a grocery shopping trip, and this I know by the thought bubble above my head which reads, "Wow! 5% off those fish fillets!" I am not quite sure if our daughter was dragging me to frozen food section or somewhere else. And poor James, toddling behind, hoping to catch whatever it was I was carrying. After all these years, I still find this image hysterical. 

Five percent off fish fillets. 


What struck me is that this is how our daughter saw me—now permanently enshrined in artwork!

To be fair, I am by nature frugal. That comes from being raised by a mom who had to pinch pennies in a one-income, five-mouths-to-feed family. There were food stamps and government surplus cheese from time to time when she was laid off from her factory job. 

My frugality also comes from watching my grandmother bring goodies to our house from various sales and clearances. A child of immigrants, Grandma knew how to scrimp and save and find a bargain. How to mend things, stretch supplies, and make do. How to find uses for things others might toss aside. These two women, in turn, taught me these essentials. 

I don't regret being that penny-pinching mom our daughter saw. Oh, there were some lean times, and times when my early lack of good money management meant I was raiding the penny pot to make it to payday without completely blowing our household budget, or my husband's patience.

I do cherish this vision of our early family life. It reminds me that while there might have been tight times, we always, always had plenty. Plenty of love. Plenty of laughs. A roof over our heads, warm beds to sleep in, food on the table, clothes on our backs. And so much more.

Then and now, I have two kids I cherish.

And a husband I love.

Plenty.

 

Until next time...Happy Thanksgiving. 

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  1. SimoniksNovember 23, 2023 at 5:18 PM

    Happy Thanksgiving~

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    1. Nancy Gilbride CaseyDecember 6, 2023 at 10:03 AM

      And Happy Thanksgiving (a little late) to you as well. Clearly we are related on my Mom's side - I'd love to know how we are connected. Thanks for reading!

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