WOW!!!!

First I want to thank Sharri for her comment on the last post.  I met Sharri on a cruise years ago and we have been fb friends ever since.  She is one of the most supportive friends a person could have.  And I know it isn't easy to leave a comment on this blog but she does it and its always so comforting and supportive.  Thanks Sharri.

The reunion defies words.  You just can't describe what its like to be in a room with 100 of your related people!  And not just your ordinary people either.  These people are the kindest, friendliest wonderful people you could meet.  When they come over to talk to you they make you feel like you are the most special person in the world.

Most of them belong to the church I grew up in.  They are a smaller sect and a very interesting one. They don't name themselves or have churches, they meet in homes every Sunday morning and Wed. night.  They follow Jesus's teachings, almost to the letter.  A few rules...like no tv, movies, make up, no hair cutting for the women or wearing pants or jewelry.  No dancing or frivolity.  But the fellowship and human connection between us all was exceptionally strong.  And I think  this lifestyle plays a large part in why this large family is so connected and familiar.

Another interesting outcome...how aware we became of our advancing age within this amazing group!  My dad was one of nine surviving children in this large family.  And every five years at the reunions (starting in 1984) the aunties and uncles got a little older each time. The last surviving sister, Auntie Em, died last Wednesday.

  When it was giant group picture taking time, a line of chairs was always set out for the older generation, usually it has always been those original siblings, with all the others gathered around.  Well guess what??!!  This year, for the very first time, it was me and my immediate cousins getting to sit down (some of us)!!!!  We are the oldsters now!  Its so exciting.  All my life I have envied the older ones in our group and couldn't wait to be one...and now I have finally arrived!! When I get a copy of that picture I will post it here.

Kathy hitched a ride with me home.  Along the way, across from the Kelowna Airport is a cemetery where Mom's folks are buried.  So we stopped and hunted for their gravestones...to no avail.  I think we had the right area but just couldn't find them.  We did find Auntie Em's prepared grave site.  Her funeral is today.

So back to the grind today.  I have to go see my notary and go up to Budget and get packing supplies.  Monte is busing up after all.  He figured out how to get to the ferry and to the bus station in Vancouver and up here.  Tickets have been bought and he is coming up on May 1st.  He is pretty excited.

So all for now.  I will post pics as they roll in.  I didn't take any this time but I see my sissy did and I just may steal a few of them!  TTYL

I am adding a few pics I purloined from my sissy.

APRIL AND MYLES AT THE REUNION

SIX OF THE NINE SIBLINGS, DAD HAD PERTHES DISEASE AND HE IS THE ONE IN THE WEE WHEELCHAIR

KATHY KERRY ANTONIA STANLEY AND ME

OUR FAMILY ON THE FARM IN SMITHERS

MY GOOD LOOKING DAD WITH HIS DOG

NEWSIES ALL ROUND

Through back door shenanigans which I shall not detail, I have found out the results of my mammogram.  NORMAL!!!!!!  I am sooo relieved.  So its all systems go....

Through proper doors I received other news.  I get the keys to my new house on May 11th!!!  Yippeee!!!

Monte is going to get the bus to the ferry and I am going to drive down and pick him up.  He gets a shot on Tuesday and they are going to give him an extra one to bring up to Kamloops with him.  At the proper time he will get our pharmacist to give the shot to him.  She always asks me about Monte and will be happy to see him.  So I shall go down the day before and stay with April then meet him at Horseshoe bay and head straight up here.

By the time he gets here I will have a stash of boxes, wrapping paper, bubble wrap and a cursed tape gun.  Then its mode pack.  I don't care if the house is sold or not....we will be packing and moving.  I shall leave the place empty if necessary.  People will either buy it or they won't.  I don't need it to sell to buy the other place.  I have all the money sitting in the bank ready. I also have the insurance all lined up as well.  So all systems GO!

Now today I am heading to Kelowna to a Price family reunion, consisting of our nearest and dearest rellies.  Last time, five years ago, there were about 250 people there.  This is one very huge family and now my siblings and cousins are the oldsters.  The last sibling of Dad's (he had had eight of them) died.  Aunty Em passed away peacefully yesterday.  Not sure how they are going to handle this this week end.  Anyway, April and Myles are going to be there for the whole weekend and Kevin and kids will be there for Saturday. Tandy has to work.  Unfortunately Kathy's kids can't make it.

So I had best get packed and go.  Wrangler is already up at the kennels.  He almost lost his mind when he saw the road we were on...leading to the kennel.  He frigging LOVES it there.

I procrastinate....gotta bounce. Later peeps.  TTYL

WHINING (OR WINING AS MY SISTER CALLS IT!)

I just reread my last post and I can't believe how whiny I sounded about being alone this weekend.  And, I have a suspicion that my awesome caring sister read it and contacted her children here.  Jo and Craig are still in town and Emily and James are here right now for a couple of days.

I suddenly got phone calls and texts, inviting me to a day of activities with all of them.  Now maybe she didn't do a wee bit of suggestion, but it was wonderful and so well timed.

I hopped over to Kathy's house and spent some awesome time with Em, James and two little crazy active and noisy munchkins!  They were watching Ains and Stir for the morning...so book reading, hair salon playing and ripping after a very busy little two year old was in order.  I loved it!  

Jo and Craig arrived and more play and visiting and then off to lunch all together at the Korean bbq.  Nothing like cooking your own lunch on the table to create a fun experience, and not one of us was on our phone!  Which of course meant no pictures!  Sorry Kathy!

Then last night James and Em came over and we

 had a wonderful evening.  No silent gaps with the three of us.  I think I talked too much...that happens when you live alone.  I have always noticed that older people who end up living alone have a lot to say when you get together.  I am beginning to see why!!!!

Today I am meeting them for lunch...pho time!  Then right after I have an appointment with my notary.  I have a mortgage I own paying out...a biggun'.....will help pay for my new house in Port. Tomorrow I am picking Kathy and Kerry up from the airport.  It will be good to have them back in town.  I miss them!

Yesterday I bought Wrangler (really myself cuz I liked the colour) a new bed.  If you have to have a giant piece of something laying in the middle of your house it might as well be colour coordinated. So I got a giant poofy red one...by Coleman.  Its waterproof and awesome and huge.  And Wrangler is scared of it.  Seriously.  He won't lay on it.  When I force him he circles and circles and finally very tentatively will lay down on it.  But the moment my back is turned he gets off.  So it looks fantastic, but it's useless.  Sigh.  (weenie dogs...shovel list). He will tear after, growling and snapping, bad guys trying to break into Tank but won't lay on a poofy bed.

Well gotta bounce.  Get ready for lunch.  You should see my hair at the moment.  Gotta try to wrangle (haha) it into a neat poof.  TTYL

I THOUGHT I HAD SPOTS ON MY FACE...FREAKED ME OUT...UNTIL I NOTICED IT WAS DIRT ON THE SCREEN.  SIGH.  I AM SUCH A LOSER...AND THAT ISN'T THE FIRST TIME I HAVE DONE THAT.

PEA SOUP AND MAMMOGRAMS

I would have posted sooner but nothing much has happened.

Kathy and Kerry are in Toronto right now.  I went over to their house and got my casserole dish.  In it was the left over easter ham bone.  So I brought it home and made pea soup.  Then I took a couple of containers over to their house and stuck it in their freezer.  That way they have something to eat when they get back.

I went in for my mammogram on Thursday.  Anne, bless her heart, went with me.  Of course I have to wait now for what seems like forever to find out.  Sharri, a wonderful supportive face book friend, left a wonderful challenge for me on the last post.  And I am going to take her up on it!

I wondered what happened when you don't have a doctor to send the results to.  Apparently there are so many women in Kamloops without a doctor, they created a 'women's breast health' clinic in the hospital.  So if there is anything found, they send the report up there.  I was kind of glad to hear that.  I found out at Emily's soiree the other night, talking with a woman who volunteers there, that you can get chemo here in Kamloops.  The only thing they really send you to Kelowna for is radiation.

One thing I learned about myself since being alone since Bill died, I need a plan.  Always.  If I am in limbo, not able to plan until something else happens first, or it's not something in my control so I can't make a plan, I go nuts.  I need to have a plan.

So rather than sit here not knowing if I can actually move to Port, which I can't if things don't turn out well, then what?  So I came up with plan B...and immediately I relaxed.  I phoned Monte and discussed Plan B.  We would rather be in Port but....

Plan B:  Before I signed on the dotted line I explained to my realtor that if things aren't right with the mammogram I would have to withdraw from the sale of my townhouse.  She totally understood...listed it anyway and people have been through it already..but she said that accepted offers wouldn't happen until after I know.

I would keep the townhouse here and move Monte here.  He would have to reestablish himself with the mental health team here for his shots etc...  He would have the whole lower level, where he stayed before when he visited.  And musically, he would have to rent at the jam space downtown.  He was totally okay with this plan, but we both would be disappointed somewhat.

I would then have to turn around and sell the house in Port.  Selling it within a year would mean I would have to pay capital gains....which wouldn't be much.  The house will not have gone up that much.

Then if the worst comes to the worst Monte would have family here in town to help him, a housekeeper coming in regularly and a place to live for as long as needed.  And I feel really good about that.  Having a plan b, and, knowing Monte would be safe makes all the difference and has helped dial down the fear.  Now I wait.

Another thing I can't believe I forgot, is how nervous a seriously clean house makes me.  This house is spotless.  Last night I went around and removed a lot things I love, but looking at the pics on realtor.ca it looks totally cluttered.  Looks a whole lot better today.  Now I think I am going to go outside and tackle the green shit that is spreading like wildfire in front of my place.  I have no idea what it is but it needs to die.  Gotta pull the crap up.  The way it survives and spreads it has to be a weed.

I did the stupidest thing.  I wasn't paying attention and I didn't realize this weekend was a long, a really loooong one.  Everybody is either out of town, has rellies visiting or plans of some sort.  I should have planned something.  Its way too quiet and lonely.  I do talk to Wrangler though.  Thank goodness for him!  I took myself to Denny's yesterday for a mid day breakfast.  Kinda felt like a loser.  Haha!  A very interesting crowd of old people and losers in there.  The breakfast was good though and they have the best coffee.  And a bonus...the waitresses call you dear.

I just looked at the calendar, and on Thursday coming up the Price family reunion starts, in Kelowna.  Usually over a hundred people show up.  We have an enormous family!  Its held at a bible camp where you can rent the whole property.  Meals are provided as well as camping spots and there is a lodge with share rooms.  Share rooms are not really my bag so I am staying at the Holiday Inn about ten miles away. My brother and wife are staying at the hotel as well.  The last one I went to both mom and Bill were there.

Right after the reunion Monte is going to bus it up here.  If we are moving he can help me pack.  If we aren't moving he can have a wee holiday and then we will go to Port, pack his things, sign realtor papers and come back.  Thats a plan!!!

TTYL

SOMETHING THAT FILLS ME WITH LOVE:

Thats easy...my kids and family and dog and jeep and friends....the order is fluid depending on what's happening!  I am so grateful for the positive feelings they all provide for me.

SCARED

I don't like being scared.  You know that sick feeling you get in your stomach.  The last time I felt this way was when I went in for the ultrasound after my operation...looking to see if the colon cancer had spread to other areas.  You just kind of hold your breath and hope for the best.  And you feel helpless...there isn't a thing you can do about it.

Now I am feeling that way again.  I have a mammogram coming up on the 18th.  But this time I  really do have to come out okay on the other side.  I am not sure how I would swing those appointments with moving.  Plus I don't have a doctor which complicates things apparently.  

My darling Mother, bless her, had the philosophy that one just shouldn't worry until you know 100% that there is something to worry about.  And she was tough enough to practice that particular bit of advice.  At least that is what she portrayed.  She was a very strong lady in most aspects.

So now I am trying really hard to emulate her. But it ain't easy.  I will be so glad when it's done.  I don't feel like there is anything wrong...both instinctually and physically so everything should be okay.

And I am busy busy busy, keeping my brain off of it to some extent.  Wed. morning at 9:30 the photographer comes to film my place for listing.  And I really didn't think my house needed a whole lot done.  WRONG!  As I go along, more and more things raise their ugly head.  I just don't understand why I wait until I am selling to get the place in order.  Its such a good feeling when it's done.

I already have a giant huge industrial garbage bag full to the very top with clothes to donate.  And I have a giant box full of bedding to give away.  After three moves in the last four years, you would seriously think I wouldn't have anything left to get rid of.  I think that I will probably get a shit ton more out of the basement today.

Anne is coming over today.  Thank God!!!  She is such an amazing friend.  We are going to do the downstairs.  There is lots of laundry to do and organizing the place.  It isn't too bad...I say....but I am seeing that THAT isn't the case once you get to work.  But downstairs is where boxes are going to be stored til I move so I am not too concerned about down there.  Tomorrow I am doing all the final stuff....making the beds perfect, the main floor which actually isn't too bad and the outside.  Sweeping leaves etc....

I am not sure what I will do after the mammogram on Thursday.  The house will be as clean as possible, no appointments for anything, nothing to do, it will make me nervous!

Tonight Emily is giving a soiree to people at Kathy's place.  She is an undertaker and she is going to educate us about funerals etc...and be free to answer our questions.  I think this is going to be an extremely interesting evening.  I am really looking forward to it!

Well I shall be back here after the mammogram on Thursday.  If I remember correctly if they don't see something suspicious they just let you go.  Fingers crossed.  TTYL

SOMETHING THAT FILLS YOU WITH HOPE: Hmm...lets see....right now I am grateful that I am filled with hope about Monte.  This time a year ago I was completely heartsick and felt like I had lost him forever.  Now here we are, going to live together, and he is on a fantastic trajectory of health and success.  Last year I was totally devoid of hope for him, and now here we are in such a positive place, working towards the most hopeful goal one can experience.  I am so grateful.

SORRY ABOUT THE LONG PAUSE HERE

It's been busy and kind of odd and different in my life right now.  I feel a little discombobulated.

I have now removed subjects on the new house.  As per usual I am excited about moving, I find moving something I like.  But now that I am home in my cozy townhouse in my familiar surrounding town and people, the sad side of this move is descending on me.  I am so going to miss my family here and my friends.  When it gets a little overwhelming, I just shut my eyes and decide where I am going to put stuff in my new house and what bedroom I am going to use blah blah blah.  It helps.

And I haven't really taken super good care of myself over the last while and now I must.  So I have made a mammogram appointment, the first one in years, and I am eating humous and carrot sticks instead of junk, and I am thinking about the gym I will join with Monte in Port.  I am not sure why I care more about staying healthy for someone other than myself, I just won't think about it.

I spent a night at April's on the way home.  It was her 31st birthday.  Aryn and Bradley came over on the sea bus and met us down on the pier in a lovely restaurant for dinner.  We ordered this absolutely amazing seafood tower---which is a little off kilter as April is allergic to half of it!  But holy cow! it was fantastic...oysters on the shell, big fat prawns, candied salmon, lobster tails, crab legs, mussels, scallops, tuna, lox, all sorts of sauces and clarified butter.  And that was just the appetizer!!!  We had so much fun and laughter.  

I came home to a pristinely clean home.  Clearly Alice has been here!  Other than making the beds upstairs and tidying up the closets and top of the stairs heading downstairs, there really isn't much to do to get this place ready to sell.  The neighbour's place sold in five days, back before xmas.  But already the dog hair is showing up and I have only been home for 12 hours.

The next few days are going to be busy Kiwanis days.  Tomorrow night is Trivia Night...so much fun!  And this weekend it looks like Iris and I will be doing about 5-7 Gift of Grad appointments.  And I know my Cracker Jack real estate gal, Amy, will be doing open houses and showings.  Wrangle Dangle will be doing some serious Tank time .

Well I just put in a call to my good good friend Anne.  I have to tell her I am moving and its not going to be a happy moment.  We already got separated for years, which is sad for a friendship. But now here we go again.  I will have to spend as much time with her as possible over the next few weeks.  This is the hard part about moving.  We will have to go to lunch at 'our spot', The Stockpot.  They have an old schooly salad bar.  Which we love of course.

Well I had best get off my duff and go start doing those things that need doing.  I think the biggest bonus living with Monte is that he likes, actually likes, doing errands.  He is happy to do the shopping, mail, picking up prescriptions etc etc etc!  I hate it!  I will feel spoiled.  TTYL

THE CHAIR DOCTOR TOLD ME MY RED CHAIR WAS NOT FIXABLE.....KERRY FIXED IT!!!!!

APRIL'S BIRTHDAY DINNER AT THE PIER.....IT LOOKS LIKE THE SEAFOOD TOWER IS GOING TO ATTACK HER