I remember spending a couple of summers on my Uncle George and Aunt Yvonne’s farm when I was about eight or ten years old. Two of my Uncles, George and Charlie Gillies, and my Grandma lived near Big Beaver, Saskatchewan. The family farm, split between the two brothers, had grown to several thousand acres from Grandpa’s original homestead. It sat on the American boarder…as I recall, the big “excitement” was going across the border to Scobey, Montana, to use their swimming pool or shop in the American stores.

For me, though, the best part of spending those weeks on the farm was seeing a different way of life from what I was used to in the city. I was too young to appreciate it properly, I suppose, but the time spent with my cousins Mark, Greg, and Karen formed all sorts of good memories. I recall breakfasts in the big kitchen, riding in George’s new four wheel drive tractor, and following Mark and Greg around as they did chores and generally did things young boys do like play with the old farm equipment or shoot gophers.

One memory sticks in my mind of a “round up”, where the local farmers were moving some cattle from their own pastures to the community or shared pasture. Greg and Mark had an old grey horse, and I recall they put me up on it and we did a bit of “cowboying”. I’m sure they thought I was a bit of a pain in the neck, sort of useless baggage that they got stuck with entertaining. But for me the memories have that hazy “wonderful summer” feel to them, like something from a movie.

The last time I recall seeing Mark and Greg was probably when my Grandfather passed away: I guess I would have been around 13 or 14 then. I barely recognized them at the time, and in all the years since I haven’t really thought much about them. I heard the news from Mom now and then: Mark and Greg leaving the farm, becoming welders or various things, Greg getting into body-building and then professional wrestling. But it was more or less all somewhat fantastical: I had a cousin who was a pro wrestler, with a stage name (Doby Gillis, or “Mr. Gillis” later) and everything- kind of neat, but hard to imagine being “real”.

I found out earlier this week, on December 23rd, that my cousin Greg had died of a sudden heart attack earlier that morning. He had been at home in Coquitlam from his work as a heavy welder, which often took him to places like Fort McMurray, Alberta. His girlfriend was holding him as he died. He was born three years before me, in 1961, and died only a few miles away, without me even knowing he was there.

Thank you, Greg, for being a temporary brother to me all those summers ago.

Update: The wrestling community is responding to Greg’s sudden death- this article by Dan Denton seems to be the most complete.

My Mom’s 85th birthday was yesterday.  My sister Judy pulled together a surprise party, and as many of us kids as could make it were there. 

You can see the rest of the pictures by clicking on the above image.

We had a blast: I think Mom was at least somewhat surprised :)  It was great to have everyone together, Shane spoke Spanish, there was a great chat with Bryan towards the end, and food was (as always when Judy puts on a spread) delicious.  Thanks, everyone!  And Happy 85th, Mom!

The last couple of days I’ve been visiting with family.  That is, when I’m not playing new games on my XBox 360. 

My brother Ron, his wife Jessie, and their daughter Rebecca were passing through while on a vacation.  We spent the afternoon with the whole local clan at my Sister’s place on Saturday: Judy fed us salmon, and supplied Irene with her special wine.  On Monday Ron, Jessie, and ‘Becca came to our house for a few hours.  Rebecca played with our braver cats, and Iris met her first child.  She was apprehensive at first, but once we reminded Rebecca that cats aren’t fond of hugs, it was perfect.

(thanks, Shane, for the pictures)

I enjoyed visiting with everyone.  I’m feeling pretty lucky today to have such good family.

“Happy Easter” seems like a strange thing to say given the religious meaning of the holiday, but I’m not religious in any way so I’ll say it and not feel guilty.  For me, Easter is sort of like Thanksgiving: a time to give thanks for all the good things in life and to spend some time with family over a meal. 

Easter is also a celebration of rebirth and spring, and here on the Wet Coast it’s when all the flowers really start to kick things into high gear.  Everything is turning all those wonderful shades of green that months of falling rain can inspire, and we even get the occasional sunny day during which to admire the colours. 

Today we had a great meal over at our sister and brother-in-law’s house.  We had a good visit with folks as well, and I enjoyed every minute of it.  We left a bit early to try to make time to visit Irene’s horse, Spirit, but of course it started dumping rain on us as we neared home.  We drove on home and waved in the general direction of Spirit’s pasture, and Irene promised to come back another day with her horse’s Easter apple.

I finished the main story in Tomb Raider: Legend last night.   I really liked the game, but I have to say: talk about a set up for part two…which hasn’t been released yet, grrr!   Ah well, I guess I’ll just have to wait and hope that the usual gaming industry shuffle doesn’t result in part two never being produced…

It’s a little past midnight, so that means it is now officially 2007 here on the Wet Coast.  Irene and I got back from Chilliwack about an hour ago, and my wife is already off in dreamland.  I’m sitting here in front of my computer with a glass of cognac at hand, pondering the deep imponderables.  Actually, I’m just experiencing a mild buzz from the cognac fumes as I upload a handful of photos from Judy and Bryan’s New Years fondue party.

Dennis successfully gave us something new to talk about by almost burning down Judy and Bryan’s house while lighting the fondue burner.  No harm done- Judy got to be the hero of the day for grabbing the fire extinguisher Shane insisted they buy a couple of days ago, and which Bryan had installed just in time for use.  The fondue itself was great- the last time I cooked with fondue was…oh, probably 30 years ago.  Chicken and beef bits, and Irene was frying up zucchini.  Lots of snacks were around as well- Judy never permits an empty tummy. 

All in all, a great way to spend the last few hours before the turning of the year.  I expect great things from everyone in 2007: nah, scratch that- I just want everyone to be happy, great, small, or indifferent. 

We had a great day at Judy and Bryan’s place today.  My brother Colin, his wife Betty, and two of their children, Jacey and Troy, drove up from Edmonton for the Holidays. 

Click the above picture to see more…

As usual, Judy fed us all to bursting, and we had a mass of presents to carry home.  We had some energetic discussions regarding the Middle East (”nuke ‘em”), criminals of various sorts (”shoot ‘em”), and … heck, all the usual topics ;)  It’s the discussions that make the day for me- as long as we all walk away intact and with more thoughts in our heads than when we arrived, it’s all good.

I’m a pretty lucky guy to have family I can reach out and touch periodically…people I can respect, and that generally respect me.  Thanks, Judy and Bryan, for inviting us into your house!

It’s December 25th…I’m still wearing my PJs and robe and it’s fast approaching noon- it must be a good day

Christmas has been good to Irene and I this year.  We have each other, and our cats are all healthy and happy at the moment.  We are going over to my Sister and Brother-in-law’s place in a couple of hours, where we’ll have a happy day of time with the family.  Surrounded by loved ones, enjoying food and company- that’s what Christmas is about for me.

Best of the season to everyone reading this!

Irene and I went to visit my sister Connie today and to see the house she bought and refurbished.  She’s done a really nice job taking an older home that had been used and abused and turning it around.  Lots of TLC has gone into the place, but more importantly it’s her house- and it has a yard!

I really enjoyed our visit- and next on our list was dropping off some doggy items with my nephew Shane.  But when I called, he wasn’t answering, so instead we went to his Mom and Dad’s place to leave the stuff there.  Of course Judy wouldn’t let us out the door without some kind of treat and a visit…so we spent a couple of enjoyable hours there visiting with Bryan and Judy.  Shane came over from his place, and we enjoyed soup, tea, and snacks…like I say, Judy makes sure anyone who comes calling
is well-comforted and fed.

We are back home now, and I’m feeling guilty because we didn’t drop in to visit Mom.  Well…by the time we were leaving the McFarlands’ place, I was wanting to get home- no excuse, just a fact.  Mom will understand- she knows her Son well