Our Edmonton Family
Well haven't posted for a while, life's been hectic one way or another and while I sit here, in Edmonton International, waiting for my flight back to BC I've time to reflect on how lucky we are to have family, whether by birth or by choice. Granted the dynamics aren't always easy, but we're dealing with human nature, good, bad and sometimes, downright indifferent, which I always think is worse than black and white, but the alternative is to miss out on love, warmth, joy and sometimes sadness.
As a new immigrant to Canada, some 38 years ago, Edmonton was my home. I arrived one very cold January, alone, suitcase and very young son, in hand. It was colder than I ever thought anywhere on the planet could be, minus 25 degrees. Canada was my "Land of Opportunity" I worked hard and acheived much.
My new home was good to me, as were it's amazing people.
Some 30 years ago my son, who was NOT a hockey playing, football star, attended an audition in a school gym for a part in a play "Hectors Happy Heart, being put on a local children's theatre group, the "Just for Fun Theatre School" (Go to Facebook) and he got a part then volunteered me for "Assistant Director" This started the most amazing journey, and relationship, with a family who became my family, and who "adopted" my Mother, giving her the family she never had, she even has a beautiful 18 month old "great-grandaughter" named after her, Graysen Clare ..... my Mother's name was Sinclair..... she would have been so proud.
Anyway fast forward 31 years and once again I'm back in Edmonton with my family and on this occasiont it's me doing the caring. Pay back time as I see it, not because I have to, because I want, must and need to.
Now I'm leaving, again, in body not in spirit or heart. I'm so very glad I made this journey. I pray I'll return after the summer, to find a very special man has been granted his wish, to spend a last summer in his treasured garden. That he's still here to laugh and love with.
Thank you Jackie, you know what you meant to Mum and will always mean to me.
Thank you Ron for your bravery, your humour and your light.
Family ..............whether given or chosen, treasure the gift.
As a new immigrant to Canada, some 38 years ago, Edmonton was my home. I arrived one very cold January, alone, suitcase and very young son, in hand. It was colder than I ever thought anywhere on the planet could be, minus 25 degrees. Canada was my "Land of Opportunity" I worked hard and acheived much.
My new home was good to me, as were it's amazing people.
Some 30 years ago my son, who was NOT a hockey playing, football star, attended an audition in a school gym for a part in a play "Hectors Happy Heart, being put on a local children's theatre group, the "Just for Fun Theatre School" (Go to Facebook) and he got a part then volunteered me for "Assistant Director" This started the most amazing journey, and relationship, with a family who became my family, and who "adopted" my Mother, giving her the family she never had, she even has a beautiful 18 month old "great-grandaughter" named after her, Graysen Clare ..... my Mother's name was Sinclair..... she would have been so proud.
Anyway fast forward 31 years and once again I'm back in Edmonton with my family and on this occasiont it's me doing the caring. Pay back time as I see it, not because I have to, because I want, must and need to.
Now I'm leaving, again, in body not in spirit or heart. I'm so very glad I made this journey. I pray I'll return after the summer, to find a very special man has been granted his wish, to spend a last summer in his treasured garden. That he's still here to laugh and love with.
Thank you Jackie, you know what you meant to Mum and will always mean to me.
Thank you Ron for your bravery, your humour and your light.
Family ..............whether given or chosen, treasure the gift.
