GOODBYE DEAR FRIEND

This picture is of a few of Bob's old friends and of course his dad and the many, many ORBS in the picture


On Christmas Day, 2007 my dear, DEAR friend Bob Sturgeon passed away shortly before end of Christmas Day. Bob has been my dear friend for almost 30 years and I will miss him dearly.
I met Bob almost 30 years ago through my other dear friend Louise. Louise moved next door to me in Richmond and we became best friends. Her best friend Bob naturally starting visiting her and in turn visiting me. Many MANY mornings the three of us would sit at my kitchen table, drinking coffee, smoking many cigarettes and doing the crossword puzzle. Bobby was a cab driver in those days and he would come in for his morning break and probably 3 hours later he would go back to work. After work Bobby would come over and drink a few beers with me and Lou, he would come over and mess around on Marc's computer - well Marc's first computer, the Coco 3...Bob and I had lots of fun trying to program "nothing" on it....Many many Xmas eve's Bob would help me put together one of Marc's Santa gifts...Willy would gladly open the door to Bob for that as Willy hated putting anything together...Me, Lou and Bob called ourselves the Three Musketeers - we did everything together the 3 of us...(dont ask us about our husbands, they were around but usually it was us 3). I have so many wonderful memories of those days. When Bob and his dad moved to Chilliwack it wasn't long before we moved out this way too. Then Malcolm and Lou followed and the Three Musketeers were back together again.
I held a memorial for Bob on Saturday, January 26th and was just in awe at how many "old" friends of Bob's came. There were people there that I knew but also old friends of his that I had heard about but never met. It snowed heavily but they came from afar..some not so far away - and we all drank a toast to Bobby and said goodbye. Things will never be the same and he will truly be missed.
I loved you Bobby Beluga...Till we meet again....

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL

We had a wonderful Christmas 2007. We had Lisa come home for the holiday, Amanda came over and of course Ali, Willy and myself for Christmas morning. Sara and Michael spent their first Christmas morning with Arianna. We missed Marc terribly as this was his first Christmas ever away...Christmas Eve was nice - we were all there, Sara, Michael and Arianna and Michael's mom Gloria came over. If your wondering why everyone is in pyjamas it's cuz I made them all pyjama pants so they all had to try them on. After they left Lisa's old friends Cheri and Peter came to visit and then Santa came. We were up at 6:00 a.m. and it took 2 hours for presents to be opened. I had wonderful friends and family members who really took good care of Ali plus Santa was good to all. Then we had supper at Sara's house where she cooked a wonderful turkey AND a ham...mmm - we were so full we couldnt do desert :(



Merry Christmas everyone!

Ali's Christmas Concert

Ali's daycare had their very first Christmas/Open House on Friday. The kids were all so cute. Ali just couldnt wait to go in the morning and specifically told me she had to be pretty...like that was a hard thing :) They put on a little show for us all - she practiced all week and did us all proud.
She sang so proudly and was so happy that her daddy, sister and of course nanny and papa could be there...We took a video but it is too big for me to show however here are a couple pictures, Merry Christmas everyone and hope you all have a great day. I have been truly blessed once again with the kind generosity of friends and family for Ali. I love you all.

Seasons Greetings

Seasons Greetings to all - we have all been very busy this time of year. Above is Ali's picture of her Gingerbread house she made and she let me help a bit; and Arianna's first Christmas appearance in new Christmas finery. I am awaiting Amanda to come over so I can also take her picture and add her to my "girls" Christmas post. Amanda has had a wee setback, she just had surgery to remove ruptured cysts on her ovaries and appendicitis. We originally thought it was her appendix that ruptured but it was the opposite - however she is home and albeit still in a little pain I am waiting for her to come over for her Christmas picture to add. Things are going good and the kids are anxiously awaiting Santa's visit.

ANOTHER YEAR LATER and...

Well it's almost one year that Cody passed and things havent changed much. Tomorrow still is Willy' and my anniversary only this year another year later, now 30 years. Wow who would have thought that 30 years ago that this would be today........
Ya know when Willy and I married it was only 4 years almost to the day that I lost my first husband..well actually didnt lose him because we really never ever found him(last time I saw him was Nov 27,1974 - I married Willy Nov 19, 1977) but... and yeah, well he still actually has never been found but was legally declared dead by dad and the law courts...But the Crighton curse still seems to follow. But I dont want to get into that now - read the book if I ever publish it :)
However I am really not being glib, this post Cody year has been truly awful. I never thought that things could get worse than the days after he passed but believe me they have. I did go back to work in April 2007 after being off quite some time but now am off again since November 2007. I am falling apart and wonder if I ever will be able to be strong. I know I used to be a strong woman but man you just dont know how hard this year has been, not just on me, but on Willy, Marc and Sara-who had a adorable baby girl April 13th, imagine how hard it is on her with me not being able to keep my mind posted on our dear wee Arianna...I love that baby so much, she is the sunshine that keeps me smiling every day and I try, I really try to keep smiling for her but then the other side of my life comes through and I need to focus on them too. Amanda, dear sweet Amanda, she is lost, she is living out in Burnaby with her new fiance and he is very much involved with many things in our lives that we do/dont like and they both know it...and my focus is on Ali - GOD it is so hard to be a strong confident nanny to her when things are falling apart. In the next few days I pray I can let us all know whether our prayers have been at least answered partially...Ali right now is with me and Lisa and Greg are doing their things. I am tired, so very very tired of crying and I really, REALLY dont want people feeling sorry for ME...I want them to pray that Ali and Amanda can get the happiness that they need. I am far far done now from the praying for me bit...dont pray for me, I dont need it...but they do....But I needed to post this for their sakes and to let you know that even though some people say it has been an "uneventful year"...well maybe for them, but for us living day to day with this it has been a very "EVENTFUL" painful year for all of us involved and hope that soon it all stops.
Talk to you all soon, and remember please - Love ya all.

WELL IT'S ABOUT TIME

Amanda and her fiance Chris and below Bernie and Cathi














Hi everyone, I know, I know...long time Cat - well I am back with lots of news
Sara and Michael are now happily married old folks, wedding and Reception all over and done with. New condo bought and ready to move in in a few weeks :) Right now they are in Medicine Hat.
Marc is in Calgary and ready to start a new endeavor with his Uncle Mikey - Marc will have a small percentage of Mikey's new business that they purchased, Marc will be in charge of his own kitchen there...It's of course a pub and they are calling it Mikey's Juke Joint and Eatery...kinda cool. Grand opening is October 31st. I will post pictures when they come available to me. I miss Marc but it's a great opportunity for him.
AND ta da....My little grandaughter Amanda Cathleen is engaged...Chris her "now fiance" gave her a beautiful ring for her birthday and asked for her hand in marriage...No date set yet.
I will keep you all apprised on whats happening. Here are a couple pictures for ya'll to look at.

The Wedding

The wedding went off without a hitch (no pun intended since "they were getting hitched). The day started early - as you know, it was at my house, in the backyard. The first thing I did when I got up was check the weather, our local newstation called for "RAIN???" - how could that be, it has been so beautiful out lately. It was overcast but RAIN...after all the lovely yard work Willy has done it CANT rain....geez louise - (sorry Louise) but...then I watched Channel 8 news and they said it was going to be a nice warm day...and it was...Everything went without a hitch. Michael went golfing - yep, that's what I said - golfing - poor guy, not only did we kick him out the night before telling him it was back luck to stay, his mom made him sleep on the floor - so he got up and went golfing (actually Marc went too as well as Michael's best man). Anyhow wedding was at 5:00 and then came running in at 4:30...sheesh, talk about cutting it close. Anyhow Sara was locked away in the backroom and Michael on the other side of the house, managed his shower and we hurried him out the back just in time. Moments before Sara came out I said to Mike "are you nervous" and his smart ass reply was "nope, just another day"...Suddenly the music started playing, Elvis Presley singing "Cant Help falling in love with you" and out walk Willy and Sara - both of them sobbing, holding back my tears, and muttering under my breath, "I am not gonna cry, I am not gonna cry" when I looked over at Michael and tears were streaming down his face - well sorry folks, I just lost it...and everyone else followed. It was a beautiful day and well, just look at the pictures to prove it. (and baby slept like a baby) :)