The Difference of a Decade

Today I ran across an old photo of my friend Susan and I together in Las Vegas back in May of 1987. I think we'd actually been to see Tom Jones (or Engelbert) that night and someone had taken our picture in the show theatre. As I looked at it, part of me couldn't believe that was twenty years ago already! What happened? At that time I was going through a divorce (a marriage which lasted only 4 years) and she and I just felt it would be a good time to get away and celebrate what was then, our ten-year friendship.

The "seven" years have always been significant to me. In 1967, Canada's Centennial year, myself and five other grade 1 classmates were placed into grade 3 - we had been part of an accelerated program and had finished two grades in one year. I remember how proud my parents were (although I'm not sure it's the wisest move for kids socially - always being the youngest and smallest). Today, one of my old friends from this group actually contacted me through Facebook!

Ten years later (in 1977), at the age of 17, I graduated from high school, had an amazing summer road trip through the States with my old friend Tina (whom I've recently reconnected with), and then started University in September. After a one month commute, I was accepted into residence at SFU and I had lived away from home from that point on.

In 1987 my first marriage was terminated - and, on the night Susan and I were out for nachos and looking through our Vegas photos - I was first introduced to R (this husband - the keeper!) by a friend of mine. We went on our first date later that year and dated for several months - but we decided to call it off in early 1988 as he was travelling to Asia, I was heading to Europe, and I really just needed some time on my own (we did get back together obviously, but not until 1990). So, we actually started dating (the first time!) 20 years ago!

Ten years later, in 1997, R and I had been married for two years and decided to sell our first little house. I actually gave up drinking completely that year (it's been 10 years now) and also found out we were expecting. We lost the baby, but it was a year of other losses too. In June of 1997 I lost my young friend (and co-worker) Chariss in a tragic motor vehicle accident on her way home from work - after we had worked - and shared many laughs - that day.

That was ten years ago already. Today we have a healthy son and are finally building the home we have been dreaming about. I will be attending my 30 year high school reunion this summer and am looking forward to seeing some old friends - many of whom I am still in touch with. I have changed a lot these past ten years, but I'm still the same in many ways. I still have most of my same great friends. I've seen my neice and nephew grow up so fast - and my nephew actually graduates this year! These past ten years have seen me develop new friendships through my family, my son, my extended family, my work, and through my church. My outlook on life has changed so much and my faith has also deepened. This year has also put me in contact with several people I had lost touch with along the way - but it's always so great to reconnect! I see I have been rather reminiscent and reflective lately - but I really can't believe how much life can dramatically change in just a mere decade!

Mental Health Day!

Every once in a while I decide to book a day off right smack in the middle of the week. Today was such a day! After I took J to school, I ran some errands, did some house project phone calls, paid some bills, cleaned out my bedroom closet, did 3 loads of laundry and took the dogs for a long walk (it was such a beautiful, hot, sunny day!). After school J and I headed into Vancouver (skipping baseball practice) to meet up with my good friend LK and her son JJ (who J just adores). They'd flown into town from the interior for a few appointments. We picked them up and headed down to Stamps Landing in False Creek for dinner on the Monk McQueen's patio. What a beautiful spot - we all loved watching all the sailboats and kayaks in the harbour - with the snow covered mountains behind them. Our visit with my longest childhood friend and her son was great! L & I actually can't believe we'll be attending our 30 year high school reunion this summer - do we really look it? I'd like to think not, but our kids both say "yeah, you're old".... After dinner, we headed to my sister's house to have a quick visit there - she wasn't home but my parents were - so J played with his younger cousin for a bit. Then we drove down to "de la Casa" ice cream parlour on Venables - they have the absolute widest selection of ice cream, sherbets, gelatos you have ever seen! They have this nifty system where you pay first, and then they give you these coloured tokens (not unlike a Vegas chip) which tells the "scooper" how many scoops you're entitled to - and what type of cone (yes, quite an assortment). I had licorice ice cream! It's my favorite and it's so hard to find anymore. L commented that the times have sure changed - we used to know where all the great "watering holes" and night-life haunts were in Vancouver, now we just know where to find the good ice cream! Anyway, we all had fun and certainly enjoyed the spectacular Vancouver evening!

A Reason to Celebrate

Today was a day of Celebrations!
1) Today our church celebrated 7 decades of its Ministry - it first opened its doors in the pictured building seventy years ago (1937). We had a great party today - lots of memories from over the years - several long-time members reminisced about the many changes - and one of the original founding members got up and spoke to us about the beginning years. It was a fun celebration through time - they began by playing some old hymns and transitioned us through music, pictures and stories to what we have today (a band with drums, guitars, keyboards). We no longer have pews or hymnbooks - we have comfy chairs, great music, powerpoint, etc. Not to mention the best leaders (I'm not biased!) - who share a very accepting open door/community approach. Due to its rapid growth, a new building was built in 1990 at its present location. The theme Pastor D spoke of this morning was, although the message remains unchanged, the way we reach others has - just as our world/culture continues to change. The celebration was great, lots of laughter and reflection - even we have seen some big changes (ie: the building addition in 2004) in the few years we have been attending.

CP Photo/Richard Lam

2) The Vancouver Giants won the Memorial Cup this afternoon in a 3-1 win over the Medicine Hat Tigers. Our family - especially J - has been rooting for this team all year! And, we were able to see several games (unfortunately, not this exciting one though). Way to go Giants!

The Scream

Today, being the Victoria Day "holiday", we had made plans with my youngest sister and her daughter to come out for a visit - and then later we'd planned to all have a family dinner next door at my parents. J was very excited about seeing his cousin M - and we actually turned down another "invite" which also would have been a lot of fun (note to self - check JH's blog to see what we missed). Unfortunately, poor little M became sick as soon as they arrived. So, after she'd changed her clothes, back home they went. J was very disappointed.

We decided to do our own little "dike patrol" and took the dogs out for a long walk. The North Alouette river is still very low. Although J was bummed about M being sick, we still had a good time. That was until we returned and I happened to accidentally SLAM a door shut on his little thumb. The SCREAMMMMMM was almost deafening! And his poor little thumb was purple, pulsating (and no longer little!). I felt just terrible. The sobbing "Mommy, you really hurt me" didn't help. Now I was sick too - although he did eventually and abruptly stop the crying/screaming when I told him we'd probably need to go have it amputated.... Let me digress a moment here. I'm now thinking that my mother has told him about the time when I, at the young age of 6, had accidentally cut off my friend's middle finger. *STOP HERE IF YOU GET THE LEAST BIT QUEEZY (this is a true story). I still have nightmares about it.... My friend Fran and I had been merrily washing our new bikes and had turned them upside down to dry them (remember banana seats???). We were spinning the pedals as fast as we could to watch the water spin off. I still don't know how, but somehow her middle finger got caught in the chain, while I was still spinning those pedals as fast as I could. It was horrible - and it happened so fast. Her scream was worse than J's today - and so was mine. She was rushed to the hospital where it was re-attached while I had run home to hide under my bed (cowardly, I know). She had to undergo a lot of therapy over months and months to be able to move it. She eventually did, but there was a lot of nerve damage and she had little feeling in it after that. I remember helping her to print in Grade 1 when she was all bandaged up. To this day I still feel sick about it.

Anyway, with some ice (and ice cream) J did recover -- although his nail is still black. He even felt well enough to ask me to take him out for a bike ride. So out to the dikes we went again. He must have gained some trust back because he told me I was to ride on his right side to protect him from the bears (according to him, they must live on the right side of the dike). I did point out that the past few sightings/encounters with the bears had actually been on the "left" side. He proposed that I was to quickly change sides with him in the event of a bear sighting (on the left). I am somewhat relieved that he still has faith in my ability to protect him, even if I almost severed one of his appendages a few hours earlier. All in all it was a good day, and we later enjoyed a great curry dinner at my parents with J's Auntie K (my middle sister) from Chilliwack and her 2 dogs. P.S. No further emergency preparations accomplished today - feeling rather optimistic with the 2 week extension on the "possibility of floods" predictions.

Flooding Fears

Forms and information packages regarding emergency flood preparations have arrived in our mailbox. Although we are not in the "pink" area previously affected by the great flood of 1948, we are in what is considered the "flood plain" - protected by a diking system. The Ministry of Enviroment, the District, and the RCMP have asked that we develop an Emergency Evacuation Plan in the event that the water levels rise to a dangerous level. Evacuation Orders are issued once the Mission Gauge readings reach approximately 6.8 meters (today they are 3.6). We have lived in this area (between the Pitt and Alouette Rivers) since 1969 and have not yet had a problem with flooding - even though our main access road is often under water during periods of heavy rain. Other low-lying areas in our municipality could be hit hard, even if we aren't.

Apparently the Army has now been brought in to assist with emergency flood relief, if this is the case. Every home will be allotted 30 Sand Bags (don't quote me on this - I overheard it somewhere). We have been asked to stock up on candles, water, and canned goods and make plans for alternative living arrangements. I've booked our cat at one of my friend's homes - she's taken great care of her when we've gone away before. I was liberally telling everyone that we'd probably end up bunking at my sister-in-law's house - then thought I'd better let her in on that tidbit of information too! So, I called her today and she warmly and generously extended her hospitality, if needed. As usual, my sister-in-law B has always been there for us! The challenge, of course, will be in finding a place for our two big dogs.

At any rate, some people are approaching a state of panic, while others (such as myself) are hanging on to the belief that we will be okay. Perhaps I am in a state of denial, but I've learned that fretting and worrying has never really helped me or the situation at hand (I used to be just an incredible "Worry Wart" but I will get into that at another time). Tomorrow I will box up our photos and keepsakes and prepare to move them to Auntie B's. Then I will do a big shopping trip for canned goods and other items on my "check-list". Others who are obviously more organized than myself have already started this - there was no canned dog food left at our grocery store! At any rate, we can pray that the weather takes a dramatic cooling turn for a bit, in order to stop the heavy deposits of mountain snow from melting all at once!

Scars on Ice

Although I neglected to mention it yesterday (too busy ranting about road rage), I laced up those figure skates once again last night. And although I'm feeling a tad more "balanced" this week, my feet were just killing me. Throbbing, in fact. Maybe my feet haven't grown, but the bunions sure have! The session went longer and I was thrilled to find out an old friend of mine is on the team. I'm still very shaky, but they were all still very encouraging. Hopefully this attribute will not wane in several weeks - I think it's going to take a while... After our session we headed to Boston Pizza for some refreshments - and DH treated us to some awesome "cow chips" and nachos. It was fun to be out with a group of women and I enjoyed catching up with my friend RW. So, I signed up to be a full-fledged team member! It's my personal challenge - to relearn some of the moves that came so naturally to me 30 some years ago.

Unfortunately though, I woke up this morning only to discover several nasty looking large blisters and scabs on my feet and ankles. Even on the tops of my toes and feet. I should probably look at having those skates stretched - maybe they could do the same for my summer clothes.

By the way, I have not yet managed to read even one more page of that book I started back in January. I tried, but fell asleep two nights in a row - and had to re-read the page I'd already previously started. Twice. But Lo and Behold, my friend MP gave me a book this morning. HER book! A short story written by her! And, signed by her too - with a very thoughtful note! I was thrilled.

Tonight I took J and his friend BP for our Wednesday night swim - we've been going on a pretty regular basis lately. I opted not to join them in the pool tonight - I wasn't sure if the chlorine would bother my feet and ankles - as they're pretty torn and shredded up from my new sport. I really didn't want to flaunt two legs that looked like they'd stepped into a garbarator. And, I was anxious to start my new book! I managed to read it all while they swam - it was very moving and in a few places it actually brought me to tears (which I blamed on the heavy chlorine smell of course). I really enjoyed it - it was a short story called "Love's Blessings" about a couple struggling with the challenges of infertility. I do hope she writes more - she really identifies with some of the feelings a couple going through this has. And, it was way more interesting than that book still sitting on my bed - bookmarked for weeks at page 152. Thanks MP! (aka MG Braden)

Chocolate Craving

"There is more to life than chocolate, but not right now"

I know I have a problem when my friends and co-workers faithfully check in on me around 2:00 p.m. each day to see how much chocolate I've consumed. One of the Managers gauges my stress level by the rapid depletion of the chocolate bar supply under the sink. I actually have them all fooled I'm sure, as I also have other sources in the building (thanks G!). Then there's L & L's candy dish (of which I've made a complete dinner out of on my late nights)..... My most dedicated assistant LB, has been known to hide some of my own personal stash from me when she perceives that I am in a stressful period at work. What can I say? I need to curb it - obviously! It is particularly difficult as I've recently read new supportive studies of chocolate consumption and its newly discovered health benefits. One woman actually lives on chocolate:

http://chocolate.org/choclove/chocdiet.html

Quite frankly, this is too much. I just need my daily "fix", usually in the afternoon. This has been going on for years - but this is the first year I've really started to encounter the middle age spread. My family and friends have tried to assure me that this is what the onset of menopause can do - but I know better. I cannot button up/pull up the clothes I wore last summer. So, if we are going to have a summer this year, I really need to cut back, take control, ignore my "enablers", show some willpower.... At least before LD and PC perform their threatened "intervention".

Persuasion

persuade: One entry found for persuade (Merriam-Webster).

Entry Word: persuade

Function: verb

Text: to cause (someone) to agree with a belief or course of action by using arguments or earnest request


"She's attempting to persuade her friends to start a Blog."

Synonyms: argue, convince, get, induce, move, prevail (on or upon), satisfy, talk (into), win (over)

Related Words: cajole, coax, exhort, urge; lead on, seduce, snow, tempt; incline, influence, move, prompt, sell, sway; attract, bring, draw, entice, interest; chew over, converse, debate, discuss, dispute, hash (over), moot; reason (with)

* * * * * *

I really think that if I can do the "hip" and "cool" thing and "Blog", some of my friends should too!

Speaking of hip and cool - I never have particually cared if I was really hip or cool. I actually care even less now, perhaps that is partially because I have grown older.



It really hit me today when I took my son and his friend to the local fair. I clearly remember how much I used to love all the rides - the thrill of going fast and being tossed around and upside down -- and how it no longer appeals to me. At all. Is it entirely old age? I'm not sure. Anyway, now my biggest thrill is just watching their smiles! And speaking of persuasion - neither one of these boys could persuade me to ride that Scrambler! Or anything else!