Monday, June 2

One Year ago.....

525,600 minutes, 525,000 moments so dear.
525,600 minutes - how do you measure, measure a year?
In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee.
In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife.
In 525,600 minutes - how do you measure a year in the life?
How about love? How about love? How about love? Measure in love.
Seasons of love.


From "Rent" the musical ........

I have just returned from the most amazing evening . I went to the Metropolitan Community Church in Toronto for their 30th anniversary celebrations . It was an evening that was filled with spectacular music by soloists and the choir and was by far the most enjoyable and affirming event I have been too all year . I laughed, I cried and I shared something special with the whole congregation.

I'm also pretty emotional today for another reason, it's been a year now since mum was diagnosed with metastatic cancer ....a whole year .......

Mum is back at the Baldwins in Muskoka for her annual bridge week, I've just returned from a trip to New York and invariably, life just rolls on.....

How can I possible measure this year ? From the day mum was first diagnosed ? From the moment I realized that she would make it out of the hospital ? Since Colin's birthday , my birthday ? Doug dying ? The simple truth is that I cannot measure or even make sense of the past year ...it has just unfolded at its own tempo and we are merely waiting the sidelines almost as observers of our own life.

I am not trying to be too esoteric or "Zen-like"...it's just that whatever thoughts I had this time last year about how mums illness and indeed my life would unfold have all proved to be fairly useless and inaccurate. In fact I can only conclude that analysis and speculation was a waste of time.

The simple facts are that mum is doing really well, we are all reasonably happy and healthy .Beyond that, I cannot even begin to speculate what I'll be writing a year from now on this blog.

Watch this space....

Saturday, May 10

With Andrew and Decia 80 and 87 -Looking great!

Back From the Cruise(s)





Mum arrived back today from a wonderful month away. She left Miami in April and cruised to Southampton , spent 10 days with the family in the UK and then returned on the Queen Mary.

Mum looks AMAZING . She's the best I've seen her in over a year. She's picked up some weight and her vitality seems to be renewed . I could hardly believe that the person that arrived in the taxi today from the airport was the same mother I waved goodbye to a month ago . She had a great time with her friend Marjorie and she was glad to meet up again with her friends and family. My Anunt Decia was 87 this year and my mum says she lookers even younger than the last time she saw her ! My Uncles Charlie and Andrew are both looking well and it was great for mum to be with her family once more ...the best kind of medicine.

Thursday, April 10

Colin the Scientist

Brad and I were thrilled with Colin's wonderful achievement at the Niagara Regional Science Fair. As well as winning an award for the top project at school, he also won a Niagara Regional award .

How did he get so grown up and so smart all of a sudden ???????

Spring Finally and good news

I spent this evening with my friend at our local garden centre making this lovely spring container. It felt so good to be outdoors(well, almost) and working with plants and soil . What made me feel even better was the latest news about mum from Dr O'Connor. The bone tumors have shrunk significantly and there is no evidence of any sign of a growth of the cancer . The appointment was ctually on her 71st birthday and so it was probably the best pesent she could have possibly hoped for .
Andrew flew over from Vancouver for her birthday and we had a good weekend together .

Mum is now off on a cruise this Sunday . It was the trip she and Doug were planning together and she decided to go ahead with her plans . Her friend Marjorie is going along and I am sure they will have an excellent trip . They leave from Miami to Southampon and then returning to New York on the Queen Mary .

Spring is always a time of renewal and the good news about the treatment has made us all feel invogorated.

Friday, April 4

Trip To The Zoo




The highlight of March break was a trip to the zoo. Colin loved it, we were FREEZING ...beyond freezing ! Mum and I walked for miles and had a lovely day with COlin.

Old memories with Colin in Ferndown