The new year begins with happy times and sad times …

We survived the passing of the old and the beginning of the new without much fanfare. We seniors are like Cinderella, when the clock strikes twelve we escape to our beds J It’s been quite cold since about mid-November, but as the New Year came in, so did warmer weather. We love it, but the Olympic planners aren’t happy. Snow is gone, and slush is here, and there’s not much promise for colder weather or more snow on the horizon.

We finally had Earl’s sister Esther, her husband Glen, their son Ted and his wife Sandra over for dinner. Glen and Esther moved to Kelowna last summer and it took us that long to plan a dinner date. They have a lovely new apt. in a senior’s complex and have their main meals in the dining room every day. Gee, that must be nice JJ After that the decorations came down and things went back to normal. Earl also became a great uncle over Christmas. Dwaine Grynke and his wife Erin just had a baby girl and are elated … Leonard is finally a grandpa. We are so happy for them all.

Our daughter Pat that lives in our basement suite is going through a painfully bad time with her back. Looks like she is going to have more surgery much sooner than she expected. She has had back problems for years, but the last three years have been almost unbearable for her. These sorts of things worsen as the years pile on. She was able to get in a few hours of work a week in her cousins clothing shop, which, as she said, keeps her sane! Last night Ruth & Royden (her daughter and husband) came from Seattle to celebrate Ruth’s birthday so we all went out for a nice dinner. Pat came with her cane, which she finally relented and picked up at the Red Cross. Her remark as she walked up to the door of the restaurant was “I look dorkey”. J J We assured her she didn’t look all that bad, and besides, people will all feel sorry for her in case she felt neglected. And it may also help her get a handicapped sticker for her car, which will give her all kinds of privileges.

On Jan. 14^th. my oldest brother Henry passed away. He had been in long term care for several years suffering from Alzheimer’s. The very day he passed away, five of us siblings went to see him and tried to rouse him, but got no response. Then we decided to sing for him and picked some of his favourite songs … more than anything else Henry loved to sing and he had a nice deep voice. When we sang ‘Beautiful Star of Bethlehem’ his eyes shot open wide and we knew he heard us and recognized the song. After a few minutes we said our good-byes and committed him to the Lord. He died peacefully a few hours later, with his wife Marion by his side. His family, we remaining twelve siblings will miss him, but he is a far better place.