{"id":39531,"date":"2017-11-02T06:03:25","date_gmt":"2017-11-02T10:03:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/huntsville.dopperonline.ca\/?p=39531"},"modified":"2018-10-01T12:48:04","modified_gmt":"2018-10-01T16:48:04","slug":"never-say-never-meet-barbara-james","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/doppleronline.ca\/huntsville\/never-say-never-meet-barbara-james\/","title":{"rendered":"Never say never: Meet Barbara James"},"content":{"rendered":"

Every two weeks, I will be profiling an extraordinary human being who lives in our community. If you know someone who is doing something interesting with their life, I want to hear about it. Send me an email at <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong>laura.maclean@doppleronline.ca<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/strong>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Five kids, three dogs, a cat and a rabbit.<\/p>\n

In the glory days of Barbara James’ life, that is what daily life consisted of. It was busy, to say the least, but as hectic as life was living in a teeny-tiny house with a big family, she was perfectly content. After all, she grew up an only child and fulfilled her dream of having a big family.<\/p>\n

Raising five kids was hard work but it was a job she was cut out for.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was meant to be a mother,\u201d says the 73-year-old, point blank. She’s sincere when she adds, \u201cI never liked working, anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Barb grew up an only child but was lucky to have a wonderful and caring mother. Although she passed away at the young age of 56, Barb still thinks about her to this day.<\/p><\/div>\n

She’s naturally the caring type. In fact, her empathy towards others is what recently earned her Muskoka Landing’s Making a Difference <\/i>award. When she was told she was this year’s recipient, she was completely taken by surprise. It was a real honour, she says. She even cried.<\/p>\n

I couldn’t believe it. I’ve never won anything before. It was like, ‘Wow. This is really awesome.’<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Barb is sweet and generous and follows a motto that you should say you can, even if you can’t. And if you can’t, at least you tried.<\/p>\n

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She believes no one should die alone, but a sad reality is that it happens. Barb has taken it upon herself to sit at the bedside of residents who are facing the end of their life without friends or family by their side. It breaks her heart. She does what she can so they aren’t alone. She says she’s befriended a woman in the nursing home who can’t say too much and easily becomes agitated. But Barb thinks she is lovely. Sometimes the lady tells Barb she loves her. She even cracked up hysterically when Barb made a video of her on her iPad.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would like to think that I’m compassionate,\u201d says Barb. And clearly she is.<\/p>\n

Barb is witty, quick with comebacks and loves to laugh. She has the kind of hearty chuckle that is infectious. She’s genuine; the real deal. She used to care what people thought about her, but being comfortable enough to speak her mind and not care what others think was something that only happened as she got older. It also makes her the perfect fit as president of the residents’ council.<\/p>\n

It’s not really difficult. I just keep an eye on what’s going on around here. If someone is unhappy about something then I report it. I like advocating for the other residents.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Barb has called Muskoka Landing home since 2013. She shares a room with her husband, Michael. It’s an extension of a love story that began when Barb was just 15. She met him when she was walking down the street with one of her best friends. They both wrote their names and phone numbers on his dirty car. He ended up calling Barb. It wasn’t love at first sight for her, but for him it totally was. She started to realize they had a lot in common and soon they were spending every weekend together. A year later, they got engaged. A year after that they were married. Nine months and nine days later Barb had her first child. There were a lot of ups and downs but more good times than bad. They’ve been together for almost 56 years. They have separate beds in the room they share but they still hold hands any chance they can get.<\/p>\n\n\t\t