My friend Brenda

A childhood best friend phoned me maybe a month ago.We hadn't seen each other or spoken for at least 25 years. She's attending Aden Bowman High School's 50th Anniversary Celebration this weekend and wanted to get together. I'm really excited, and all this has triggered a lot of memories for me. Brenda was one of those magical people who was beautiful, popular, kind, fun, good at most everything she tried, and a loyal, lovely friend. She lived around the corner from me. When I think of us being together it's a whirl of fun memories: pretending we were mice when we were very young, working on school projects together, having a bazaar in my basement to raise money for the Cancer Society after my Mom died, sitting on the back steps at her house eating her mom's vinertarta(yummy icelandic cake), afternoons playing yahtzee on the lawn at George Ward Swimming pool, dancing in her basement, sleepovers where we watched scary movies and afterwards being afraid to be alone but being afraid of each other too!I'm sure we had arguments but I don't remember any of them. She was always there- until her family moved away to Winnipeg when we were in High School. I'm going out with her for breakfast this morning to get caught up. 25 years...could take awhile.

Sorrow

We were devastated to find out this past week-end that Ray's Mom is very ill. We thought things were going well after her surgery for lung cancer in June, but now the cancer has spread to her brain. They told her she has only 2-4 months to live. Ray is desperate to get out there(New Brunswick), but has to check with his doctors. Maybe in September.It's all a bit too much.....

August

Ray is doing much better now. He's enrolled in the cardio patient fitness program at the Field House. I am going with him-walking the track 3x per week.Problem-I can't walk as fast as him.I never could.He's got these powerful legs and just motors along like a steam engine. I get so I feel it would be easier to run to keep up. I can walk as far, and I'm not puffing,I don't feel my heart racing, I just can't move that fast. My legs are quite a bit longer than his too. It's kind of embarassing not being able to keep up with the bypass man. He is the fastest man on the track, but that's not always saying much.Some of the cardio people are 90 and using walkers.This walking will be good to get us ready for the big Italy trip in April. Can't wait.