Tina's brother Walter wrote this limerick for Tina’s 90th Birthday.
VALENTINA
Валентина
In nineteen hundred and twenty-three,
In a country far across the sea;
One bright and sunny summer morn,
To Demitri and Anastasia a child was born.
The date of her birthday is somewhat obscure,
What month of the year no one can be sure;
Was it in May or was it July,
Both months are recorded makes one wonder why.
A name she needs, what will it be
It was their second girl you see;
Malluska, Palashka, Zina, Katarina,
They chose one less common, the name Valentina
Her childhood spent in Horodezy Sillo,
As a youngster they say she’s quite a shillo’;
With four kids around her, mother needed some peace,
So she'd send Valentina to pasture the geese.
Immigrating to Canada was not a small feat,
A new country, no money and Kunka to greet;
Sea sickness, diarrhea all got sick on the cruise,
And oh the clean-up of one lady shoes.
Travelling across Canada to St. Walburg by track,
Eight days on the train with all the family could hack;
Getting food for the brood was really no fun,
Dad recalled at one stop, caught the train on the run.
Soon to school she would go, a new language to learn,
Her teacher Miss Melville was just a bit stern;
She soon learned the three R's, each test she would pass,
Before you would know it, she was the head of the class.
At home she did chores, both inside and out,
At cow milking, she was tops, on that there's no doubt;
We all picked our cow favourites, Tverduha was not,
So which cow do you think, Tina always got?
In summer she picked berries, dug seneca root,
Picked stones in the fields which sure was no hoot;
She helped weed the garden, dug potatoes in fall,
In all these home chores, she outdid us all.
Depression hit hard in the thirties you know,
Railroad ties were in need so in winter she’d go;
To help cut down pine, but then even more,
She would take on the job of school janitor.
There was no running water, in those days long ago,
So with bucket in hand, to the well she would go;
Jim, our horse, would be there wanting some water,
On being denied, on the shoulder he bit her.
To St Walburg she’d go to finish her schooling,
Studies she found not a big gruelling;
Segel’s warehouse is where a room they got her,
Where she learned amongst other, how chickens to kosher.
It was clear from a young age, her mind was on sale,
Segel’s store, where she learn the art of retail;
The books how to keep and how to account,
To mark goods up high, then sell at discount.
From Segel’s to Marshall’s to a store on Queen Street,
She'd soon rival tycoon's on Bay, Wall and on Fleet;
Forcing store closure, was a part of her game,
Then taking it over with a slight change of name.
To say not of her love life, I would be remiss,
Tis true she's no husband, on one she did miss;
On matters of the heart, she kept deep inside,
Was always a bridesmaid and never a bride.
Suitors kept calling, all three score and three,
Nick and Tom Lenko, Bazuk, Reshevie;
And there was Sam Dirkson who sure had a crush,
But for one reason or other, she gave him the brush.
From Spruce Lake came Seabrook, one never to be heard,
The reason for that, he spoke not a word;
He'd just sit on the couch with love in his eyes,
Tina's love in return, she could hardly disguise.
He came one day calling, just to go for a ride,
To his grief, he would find us, the kids, piled inside;
The day it was Sunday and he sure had us beat,
He drove us to church with some in bare feet.
Good fortune allowed her to travel the world over,
from the East to the West and even down under;
She garnered great memories wherever she'd roam,
Scarborough Bluffs is still the greatest, for that is her home.
Tina's generosity helped those in great need,
the cousins from Rovno, despite apparent greed;
A loan for my first car and it sure could be said,
That car I did need, like a hole in the head.
In buying a house, a business or car,
Tina’s financing arrangements are better by far;
On ratings of credit, she never picked bones,
She's even been known to forgive certain loans.
At four score and ten, Tina's quite well preserved,
It must be the borscht she so generously served;
Or was it the kielbassa or her great Goloptsi,
But, if you should ask me, it's her great Seledtsi.
Her years of retirement are marked with events,
One comes to mind that made little sense;
This one day, there came a call from a cop,
Your sister has driven into a bake shop.
All kidding aside, we’re all pleased to be here,
To celebrate your ninetieth birthday and make it quite clear;
You're cherished as a sister, an aunt and a friend,
Much love from your kinfolk, on this note I’ll end.
With love from your brother Walter
