Remembering my Mom...

on her birthday.

This picture of the two of us, was taken two years before she died (she was quite sick here)

Miss ya lots, Mom!

Sad Anniversary

coming up in our house. We try to not dwell on the negative, but sometimes that is easier said than done.

April 30 marks this sad anniversary, being especially difficult for Jake. That was the date his best friend, David, lost his battle with cancer. He was 7 years old.

Jake first met David when they were babies sitting in their car seats. David's mom (who also happens to be named Linda) and I went to Coffee Break, which was a mom's group held at a local church. As the boys grew, they became good friends.

David was a wonderful little guy, always cheerful and always happy. Even though cancer took many things from him (like his sight and his ability to swallow), it never took his sunny disposition or touched his spirit. Never. Even up to the end, David always had a smile on his face.

It was difficult to explain death and cancer to Jake. Even though Jake had experienced a loss through death (his grandfather) we were able to explain that event to him as a natural event that happens when we get older.

But this was different...David was not old. It had a profound effect on Jake that still goes on to this day. Somehow, Jake has convinced himself it was his fault (simply because he was David's friend) that David got cancer. Many times since then, he's been sure he needs to stop being friends with a current buddy or buddies. On more than one occasion, I've had to stop him from ending a friendship. Why? ..... Because, his reasoning goes, if he stops being their friend then they won't get cancer.

We've had many conversations about this over the past four years and although he hasn't mentioned this in a few months now, I am concerned as this date is again approaching. It always brings up those not-so-good feelings. Jake has been looking at the calendar for several days already and I can see it in his eyes.

It seems like...one step forward and two back.


Here are some pictures of Jake and David, taken at Jake's birthday parties. The first few are at Jake's 5th b/d party and just a few months before David's diagnosis of cancer.










Boys....being boys....they all thought it was funny to make faces for the pictures. I was unable to get a picture of them not making faces. Yes...boys will be boys.




David in on the fun of face making...



One year later at Jake's 6th birthday party. Yes....the boys are still making faces.




When David finished treatment, they had a party for him. This was taken at that party.

Tragedy, Caring and Compassion, Newfoundland Style

It's been a very difficult week for our province of Newfoundland and Labrador. I think most know of the helicopter which crashed into the Atlantic Ocean, killing 17 of the 18 on board. The helicopter was en route to the off shore oil rigs, where it was to deliver workers. (Here is a link)

I cannot even begin to describe the way Newfoundlanders look out for one another on a regular daily basis....but when something of this magnitude happens....that care and compassion is really beyond words. It's something that must be experienced or witnessed in order to be fully understood.

There was a memorial service at the Basilica in St. John's tonight. There were over 1300 people in attendance....standing room only. Ministers from all faiths took part in the service and worked together in a style of service with practices that were not familiar to them. They made it look, however, like they did it regularly....and they did it all for the support of families who lost loved ones.

The word "prayer" has been used publicly this week...many, many times. It's been refreshing to see the usual political correctness of our modern society has not been alive during all this.

The spring session of provincial parliament was to begin tomorrow, but they've decided to delay this due to the events of this week. Again, refreshing to see people are more important than anything else.

Newfoundlanders are caring and compassionate...but at the same time very strong. This is certainly not the first tragedy of the sea. They pull together, support one another but somehow continue to carry on. I have no doubt this time will be the same.

In the meantime....my heart goes out to the families and friends who have lost loved ones.

In Memory

It was 25 years ago today that I started working at Aviation Supplies at the Oshawa Municipal Airport in Oshawa. Wow, time sure does fly by!

I had gone for an interview just a few days prior and it was there I met Mr. Bill Cox. It was an interview I wouldn't soon forget as it was much different than any I had been on or have been on since. Besides Mr. Cox, there were two other younger guys there. One named Jim (who I later found out was Mr. Cox's son but didn't know that at the time) and another young guy named Dean. I was invited in to begin my interview, and these two other young fellows came along as well. The one named Dean brought coffee for all of us....and the interview began.

Now, Mr. Cox was one of these people who's bark was worse than his bite. He appeared gruff on the outside, but (as I later learned)....he had a heart of gold. It appeared to be coffee break time as the two young guys stayed in there and listened to the interview while they drank their coffee. Mr. Cox sat at his desk in front of me asking me questions. The fellow named Dean, stood behind me and told me the answers.....to all of the questions I was asked. I know Mr. Cox heard Dean....but he never batted an eyelash...just kept on going. Having Dean tell me the answers made it rather difficult for me to concentrate on the interview.....I was afraid Mr. Cox was going to get angry and yet I didn't know Dean well enough to know what was going on. I still remember the final question from Mr. Cox....."What is a P.O.?" he asked in his gruff voice..... to which I replied, "A post office?". After a few seconds of *that* stare he had.....he shook his head back and forth and said...."Don't ask me.....I don't know."

I got the job.....and that started a new chapter in my life. I had so badly wanted a job in the city. I wanted to get my own apartment and move out of the small town I had grown up in. This job enabled me to do all of that.

Mr. Cox was one in a million. I never ever heard anyone say a bad word about him....not ever. He was a great guy to work for.....he made me feel like one of the family. He always had great advice. Sometimes it didn't seem like over the top kind of advice at the time but proved to be invaluable later on in my life.

I was saddened by the news I received recently......Mr. Cox passed away a few days ago. He will be missed by many.

Rest in Peace, Mr. Cox.