Monday, December 29, 2003
It's been a lovely Christmas! All of us were thoroughly spoiled; Paul gave me a Polartec bathrobe and a fleece Marinac jacket (with WindCheck laminate!), both from Land's End. I haven't seen either yet; they await me in Brooklyn. But I'm very excited. And my parents' gifts to me were jewellery: a mystic fire topaz ring, quite striking - they treat a clear topaz with electricity and titanium introduced as a vapor, and the result is a stone with purple and green fire! - and my great grandmother's duo-diamond ring, in an antique setting with many small stones embedded in the sides. I love it! I've got to take it for sizing to someone who knows what he/she is doing, since there's a risk of dislodging some of the little chips along the sides of the setting. It's very beautiful, and I love it all the more since it was my grandfather Emory's mother's ring which my own mother wore constantly throughout my childhood!
Jamie is having a hard time coming down from the visit to my parents' house. He figured out how to walk while he was in Kemptville, and has continued to practise ever since; that was exciting, and the climbing structure that was my parents' gift to him was another HUGE excitement! But the best thing of all was having all his family around him for so long: all three of his grandparents, both parents, all his aunts and uncles and cousin Ariana! There was always someone to pay attention to him entirely, and often an audience of several admiring adults. He missed everyone desperately yesterday afternoon and evening, when it was down to Uncle Thom, Daddy and Mummy, and then when Daddy flew out this morning we had a miserable few hours. But Aunt Ruth and Ariana arrived this afternoon from Guelph to stay for a few days, and both small people brightened up unbelievably in each other's company.
This afternoon we went down to the Kensington Market, where (among other things) we found something Ruth identified as papa seca (note that my spelling in Spanish is suspect; it means dried potato). She offered to make me supper using them tonight, and I jumped at the opportunity. Ruth is a great cook! This style of drying potato for preservation was developed, she says, by the Incas, and it's a common dish in Peru, especially when someone has a large group to feed. The potato is rehydrated in water and stock along with a mixture of fried chicken or pork, onion, garlic, chili and oregano. We had it with rice, and it was wonderful! I'm very happy that it makes a lot, since I'd be happy to eat it regularly.
Later in the afternoon, after the weather had devolved into rainy altogether, I went out to return beer bottles, drop a couple of overused pieces of luggage in at Gold's for repair, and turn in the rental vehicle. On the way back, I stopped in at The Bay, where I was hoping to find a "Real Phone" by The First Years for Ariana (Aunt Tracy gave one to Jamie at Christmas, and Ariana can't get enough of it! She wanders around the house with it pressed to her ear, yacking away in Ariana-language, and it's the cutest thing...but Jamie also adores it, so there are frequent battles.). No luck on that - perhaps they're only available in the States - but I picked up a pair of OshKoshes for Jamie on sale; it pays to get those second-hand or at a good discount! I also picked up a heavily discounted second suitcase, since mine is in for repairs for two weeks and the reason it needs repair at all is that I fill it too full and too heavily all the time! I also caved and picked up a Teletubbies VHS to help put Jamie to sleep at night. He's mesmerized by that show; it's quite amazing.
New Year's is just around the corner; I feel as if I should be putting my life in order, but I have enough to do with just keeping my living room that way. I do plan to sort through some things and put them away properly, and to weed through the clothing I haven't worn lately to put together another pile for the Oasis box on the corner. That will be a start. And I need to sort out some resolutions.
Jamie is having a hard time coming down from the visit to my parents' house. He figured out how to walk while he was in Kemptville, and has continued to practise ever since; that was exciting, and the climbing structure that was my parents' gift to him was another HUGE excitement! But the best thing of all was having all his family around him for so long: all three of his grandparents, both parents, all his aunts and uncles and cousin Ariana! There was always someone to pay attention to him entirely, and often an audience of several admiring adults. He missed everyone desperately yesterday afternoon and evening, when it was down to Uncle Thom, Daddy and Mummy, and then when Daddy flew out this morning we had a miserable few hours. But Aunt Ruth and Ariana arrived this afternoon from Guelph to stay for a few days, and both small people brightened up unbelievably in each other's company.
This afternoon we went down to the Kensington Market, where (among other things) we found something Ruth identified as papa seca (note that my spelling in Spanish is suspect; it means dried potato). She offered to make me supper using them tonight, and I jumped at the opportunity. Ruth is a great cook! This style of drying potato for preservation was developed, she says, by the Incas, and it's a common dish in Peru, especially when someone has a large group to feed. The potato is rehydrated in water and stock along with a mixture of fried chicken or pork, onion, garlic, chili and oregano. We had it with rice, and it was wonderful! I'm very happy that it makes a lot, since I'd be happy to eat it regularly.
Later in the afternoon, after the weather had devolved into rainy altogether, I went out to return beer bottles, drop a couple of overused pieces of luggage in at Gold's for repair, and turn in the rental vehicle. On the way back, I stopped in at The Bay, where I was hoping to find a "Real Phone" by The First Years for Ariana (Aunt Tracy gave one to Jamie at Christmas, and Ariana can't get enough of it! She wanders around the house with it pressed to her ear, yacking away in Ariana-language, and it's the cutest thing...but Jamie also adores it, so there are frequent battles.). No luck on that - perhaps they're only available in the States - but I picked up a pair of OshKoshes for Jamie on sale; it pays to get those second-hand or at a good discount! I also picked up a heavily discounted second suitcase, since mine is in for repairs for two weeks and the reason it needs repair at all is that I fill it too full and too heavily all the time! I also caved and picked up a Teletubbies VHS to help put Jamie to sleep at night. He's mesmerized by that show; it's quite amazing.
New Year's is just around the corner; I feel as if I should be putting my life in order, but I have enough to do with just keeping my living room that way. I do plan to sort through some things and put them away properly, and to weed through the clothing I haven't worn lately to put together another pile for the Oasis box on the corner. That will be a start. And I need to sort out some resolutions.
Wednesday, December 24, 2003
2003 in review (our Christmas letter, also found on the main page of our website).
It has been a busy, difficult, rewarding year. Both of us have spent most of it getting used to our new role of parent; from the beginning, Jamie has been a going concern. He’s a stimulus-hungry little soul who was never content to kick his toes on the blanket or to play quietly with a toy in the playpen. For Jamie, going and doing have been much more the order of business. Not terribly surprisingly, his first word was “up”! Two weeks after his first birthday, Jamie’s a happy, social little boy now with very little of the baby left about him; he loves to eat and climb and chatter, has started to walk, and fights sleep as hard as he can. Both our mothers say he reminds them of us: Paul was a busy boy and an escape artist, and Kelly didn’t sleep willingly for fear she might miss something interesting.
Kelly has spent most of her time since Jamie was born in primary caregiver mode, and has surprised herself with how happy the role makes her. The Toronto-based external work commitments she has maintained have caused her quite a lot of stress from time to time; she feels her loyalties divided when a work deadline looms. In the new year, Kelly will be leaving her long-time clients, the Exultate Chamber Singers and Pax Christi Chorale, and will continue to work for Opus One Arts Management on only an occasional basis. She will be reducing the amount of time she needs to spend in Toronto - Jamie is an experienced traveler, but is getting harder to fly with as he grows! - and will begin to look for interesting opportunities closer to home. Jamie has recently started going to daycare two part-days a week, giving him social interaction with other small children and leaving Kelly a bit of personal time.
While Kelly spends most of her time being Mummy, she continues to perform as regularly as possible with groups such as the Aradia Ensemble, Consort Caritatis and the Bach Consort, and hopes to be able to continue to work with these fine ensembles and others on a project basis regardless of her permanent place of residence.
Paul continues to work at Sullivan & Cromwell, and is slightly surprised to realize that he has been there for over three years now. Work continues to be challenging and interesting and has been very busy at times as the market has begun to pick up.
Since we’ll be spending less regular time in Toronto in 2004, we are considering selling our Markham Street house early in the new year. Perhaps we’ll find a small house or apartment in Toronto to keep as a pied-à-terre; we certainly want to be able to go for several-week visits a couple of times a year (at Christmas, in the summer, or when Kelly gets a performance booking here!). In any case, we’ll be moving early in 2004 to something larger than our current one bedroom apartment in Brooklyn, which is nice but can’t contain our busy family any longer! Longer term plans, as always, are under further consideration.
Kelly’s mother Devon has been a great help to us this year, coming from Kemptville to provide Jamie-care on innumerable occasions. In July she accompanied Kelly and Jamie to P.E.I., where Exultate was appearing at the Indian River Festival. Jamie and Grandma played for three days while Kelly wore her manager and singer hats. Grandma also came to Brooklyn in September to take care of Jamie while Kelly had a small day-surgery procedure, which put her on the scene to greet new great-nephew Ian when he arrived a little ahead of schedule!
Paul’s mother Jane spent quite a lot of time in North America this year, coming over to meet Jamie in New York in February (and getting stuck for two extra days in a snowstorm that shut down the city) and then spending all of July in New York and Toronto. In October we visited Jane in Exeter for almost two weeks, and introduced Jamie to Dartmoor, the Devon coast and a couple of local pubs. On several day-hikes, Paul carried his son in the excellent baby backpack we brought instead of a stroller; Jamie had a great time, and Paul got a great workout!
In early December, Paul lost his father Chris to a sudden heart attack. We’ve been overwhelmed with kindness during the past couple of weeks while we made funeral arrangements and worked to settle Chris’s affairs; we’re very grateful to everyone who offered condolences and assistance. Jane and Paul’s brother Ian, with wife Ruth and daughter Ariana, will be joining Kelly’s family in Kemptville for a big extended-family Christmas; Kelly’s parents are very excited at the prospect of a full house and small children for Christmas again after so many years.
We wish you all the best of the season and a great new year!
It has been a busy, difficult, rewarding year. Both of us have spent most of it getting used to our new role of parent; from the beginning, Jamie has been a going concern. He’s a stimulus-hungry little soul who was never content to kick his toes on the blanket or to play quietly with a toy in the playpen. For Jamie, going and doing have been much more the order of business. Not terribly surprisingly, his first word was “up”! Two weeks after his first birthday, Jamie’s a happy, social little boy now with very little of the baby left about him; he loves to eat and climb and chatter, has started to walk, and fights sleep as hard as he can. Both our mothers say he reminds them of us: Paul was a busy boy and an escape artist, and Kelly didn’t sleep willingly for fear she might miss something interesting.
Kelly has spent most of her time since Jamie was born in primary caregiver mode, and has surprised herself with how happy the role makes her. The Toronto-based external work commitments she has maintained have caused her quite a lot of stress from time to time; she feels her loyalties divided when a work deadline looms. In the new year, Kelly will be leaving her long-time clients, the Exultate Chamber Singers and Pax Christi Chorale, and will continue to work for Opus One Arts Management on only an occasional basis. She will be reducing the amount of time she needs to spend in Toronto - Jamie is an experienced traveler, but is getting harder to fly with as he grows! - and will begin to look for interesting opportunities closer to home. Jamie has recently started going to daycare two part-days a week, giving him social interaction with other small children and leaving Kelly a bit of personal time.
While Kelly spends most of her time being Mummy, she continues to perform as regularly as possible with groups such as the Aradia Ensemble, Consort Caritatis and the Bach Consort, and hopes to be able to continue to work with these fine ensembles and others on a project basis regardless of her permanent place of residence.
Paul continues to work at Sullivan & Cromwell, and is slightly surprised to realize that he has been there for over three years now. Work continues to be challenging and interesting and has been very busy at times as the market has begun to pick up.
Since we’ll be spending less regular time in Toronto in 2004, we are considering selling our Markham Street house early in the new year. Perhaps we’ll find a small house or apartment in Toronto to keep as a pied-à-terre; we certainly want to be able to go for several-week visits a couple of times a year (at Christmas, in the summer, or when Kelly gets a performance booking here!). In any case, we’ll be moving early in 2004 to something larger than our current one bedroom apartment in Brooklyn, which is nice but can’t contain our busy family any longer! Longer term plans, as always, are under further consideration.
Kelly’s mother Devon has been a great help to us this year, coming from Kemptville to provide Jamie-care on innumerable occasions. In July she accompanied Kelly and Jamie to P.E.I., where Exultate was appearing at the Indian River Festival. Jamie and Grandma played for three days while Kelly wore her manager and singer hats. Grandma also came to Brooklyn in September to take care of Jamie while Kelly had a small day-surgery procedure, which put her on the scene to greet new great-nephew Ian when he arrived a little ahead of schedule!
Paul’s mother Jane spent quite a lot of time in North America this year, coming over to meet Jamie in New York in February (and getting stuck for two extra days in a snowstorm that shut down the city) and then spending all of July in New York and Toronto. In October we visited Jane in Exeter for almost two weeks, and introduced Jamie to Dartmoor, the Devon coast and a couple of local pubs. On several day-hikes, Paul carried his son in the excellent baby backpack we brought instead of a stroller; Jamie had a great time, and Paul got a great workout!
In early December, Paul lost his father Chris to a sudden heart attack. We’ve been overwhelmed with kindness during the past couple of weeks while we made funeral arrangements and worked to settle Chris’s affairs; we’re very grateful to everyone who offered condolences and assistance. Jane and Paul’s brother Ian, with wife Ruth and daughter Ariana, will be joining Kelly’s family in Kemptville for a big extended-family Christmas; Kelly’s parents are very excited at the prospect of a full house and small children for Christmas again after so many years.
We wish you all the best of the season and a great new year!
Sunday, December 21, 2003
I had hoped to go and sing Advent carols at St. Thomas's this evening, but the cold I didn't succeed in fighting off has settled in my chest and I'm coughing too much for it to be advisable. I do have a long sing tomorrow...so I'm staying in and making a roast beef dinner. I'm sure they'll get along just fine without me. I did make it to mass this morning, and gave Christmas greetings to a number of people then. Early this afternoon, we dropped the family's Christmas gifts off to my grandparents and had a visit and a bit of lunch. Jamie is also back down with a sniffly nose. Not sure what it's going to take to shake this!
Jane is on her way to Toronto now; we expect her in time for dinner. Ian and Ruth are coming on Monday; I think they're planning to leave Ariana with Jane and Jamie here at the house while they go out for a lobster dinner in Chinatown! As for me, I'll be rehearsing from 10 to 2, having my hair cut at 3:30, finishing any leftover Christmas errands between then and 6, and beginning the Christmas Oratorio performance at 6:30.
With only one concert to sing this Advent, one would think I could have arranged to stay healthy for it...
Shortly, we'll be posting a Christmas letter to the main page of this website. We decided to do that instead of mailing one out with our Christmas cards!
Jane is on her way to Toronto now; we expect her in time for dinner. Ian and Ruth are coming on Monday; I think they're planning to leave Ariana with Jane and Jamie here at the house while they go out for a lobster dinner in Chinatown! As for me, I'll be rehearsing from 10 to 2, having my hair cut at 3:30, finishing any leftover Christmas errands between then and 6, and beginning the Christmas Oratorio performance at 6:30.
With only one concert to sing this Advent, one would think I could have arranged to stay healthy for it...
Shortly, we'll be posting a Christmas letter to the main page of this website. We decided to do that instead of mailing one out with our Christmas cards!
Thursday, December 18, 2003
I'm fighting a cold again. Arrgh...and with the Christmas Oratorio concert on Monday evening, I really don't want to have a cough. Crossing my fingers...
Jane and the others are back from the cabin, having dealt with the most urgent of the various things that must be done there. The rest will wait until spring, when Jane plans a return visit. Now they're in Guelph again, and will be having a garage sale tomorrow (12-5) and Saturday (9-2) to dispose of some of Chris' household effects, including a number of play scripts and novels and goodness knows what else. Lisa has been there today helping to get things organized.
Jane will be there until Sunday night, when she's coming up to Toronto on the bus to stay here with us for Monday and play with Jamie. I'll be tied up with a dress rehearsal and the concert. And on the 23rd we all leave for Kemptville, where roast beef and Yorkshire pudding await us!
I think...don't say this too loudly...I'm almost ready for Christmas!
Jane and the others are back from the cabin, having dealt with the most urgent of the various things that must be done there. The rest will wait until spring, when Jane plans a return visit. Now they're in Guelph again, and will be having a garage sale tomorrow (12-5) and Saturday (9-2) to dispose of some of Chris' household effects, including a number of play scripts and novels and goodness knows what else. Lisa has been there today helping to get things organized.
Jane will be there until Sunday night, when she's coming up to Toronto on the bus to stay here with us for Monday and play with Jamie. I'll be tied up with a dress rehearsal and the concert. And on the 23rd we all leave for Kemptville, where roast beef and Yorkshire pudding await us!
I think...don't say this too loudly...I'm almost ready for Christmas!
Tuesday, December 16, 2003
Jamie and I drove Jane out to Guelph yesterday morning; she had been in Toronto overnight to take care of Jamie for me on Sunday afternoon. The work at the house is going well, although there are many decisions to be made and a good deal of stuff still to be gone through.
Jane, Ian, Ruth and Ariana are planning to go up to the cabin on the Bruce Peninsula this afternoon, stay over the night, and return to Guelph on Wednesday. Before they go, Jane has to pick up the coroner's report and get copies of it to a couple of places for official reasons...so many things to take care of when you're trying to wrap up someone's life.
Jane and Ian kindly let me take one of Chris' rings - a heavy silver one from Mexico with an Aztec pattern that I saw on his hand many, many times - to have for Jamie when he's older. I'm delighted; I wanted him to have something concrete that belonged to his Grandpa Chris, and this is perfect.
I've been straightening up the house, wrapping things, and writing Christmas cards tonight. Tomorrow evening some of the Exultate folks are coming by for a visit with Christopher Adler, who lost his father Friday morning after a long and, at the end, painful illness. It will be good to be here with Christopher, and just to eat, drink, and talk, and it's perfect for me because I can keep Jamie more or less to his routine while the party takes care of itself downstairs.
Jane, Ian, Ruth and Ariana are planning to go up to the cabin on the Bruce Peninsula this afternoon, stay over the night, and return to Guelph on Wednesday. Before they go, Jane has to pick up the coroner's report and get copies of it to a couple of places for official reasons...so many things to take care of when you're trying to wrap up someone's life.
Jane and Ian kindly let me take one of Chris' rings - a heavy silver one from Mexico with an Aztec pattern that I saw on his hand many, many times - to have for Jamie when he's older. I'm delighted; I wanted him to have something concrete that belonged to his Grandpa Chris, and this is perfect.
I've been straightening up the house, wrapping things, and writing Christmas cards tonight. Tomorrow evening some of the Exultate folks are coming by for a visit with Christopher Adler, who lost his father Friday morning after a long and, at the end, painful illness. It will be good to be here with Christopher, and just to eat, drink, and talk, and it's perfect for me because I can keep Jamie more or less to his routine while the party takes care of itself downstairs.
Friday, December 12, 2003
The funeral and reception took place on Wednesday afternoon, and were very well attended. Chris sure made friends! We found it amusing and not inappropriate that the largest of the floral tributes was sent by his friends at Wally's Tavern.
Paul will be here through the end of the weekend. He, Ian and Jane are spending a lot of time at the Guelph house clearing things out and sorting things through. Yesterday they made several interesting discoveries, including the mother-lode of basic Lego blocks that everyone assumed had fallen by the wayside after the boys grew too old to play with it! They're also talking about going up to the cabin on the Bruce Peninsula tomorrow to bring some things down and take stock of what's there. Today they met with the lawyer and the bank.
Exultate performs tonight; I'm running!
Paul will be here through the end of the weekend. He, Ian and Jane are spending a lot of time at the Guelph house clearing things out and sorting things through. Yesterday they made several interesting discoveries, including the mother-lode of basic Lego blocks that everyone assumed had fallen by the wayside after the boys grew too old to play with it! They're also talking about going up to the cabin on the Bruce Peninsula tomorrow to bring some things down and take stock of what's there. Today they met with the lawyer and the bank.
Exultate performs tonight; I'm running!
Thursday, December 11, 2003
Obituaries - Dec. 8, 2003
GOLDING, Christopher Alan Windsor - It is with great sadness that the family announces the sudden passing of Chris on Thursday, December 4, 2003, in his 60th year of life. Survived by his wife Jane Asten, and his sons Paul and his wife Kelly, and Ian and his wife Ruth, and his two young grandchildren. Also survived by his mother Margaret Golding, and his sisters Diana Faulds, Alison Stodin and Lisa Yanch and their families. Predeceased by his father Clyde Windsor Golding. Chris was a longtime teacher in the Elora and Guelph areas, and continued his loves of acting and world travel throughout his life. He lived life very much on his own terms, and was much loved by family and many friends who will miss his zest for living. Visitation will be at GILCHRIST CHAPEL, McIntyre and Wilkie Funeral Home, One Delhi Street, Guelph on Tuesday, December 9 2003, from 7-9 p.m. A memorial service in celebration of his life will take place at the GILCHRIST CHAPEL on Wednesday, December 10, 2003 at 2:00 p.m. Cremation to follow. We invite you to leave your memories and donations online at www.gilchristchapel.com.
GOLDING, Christopher Alan Windsor - It is with great sadness that the family announces the sudden passing of Chris on Thursday, December 4, 2003, in his 60th year of life. Survived by his wife Jane Asten, and his sons Paul and his wife Kelly, and Ian and his wife Ruth, and his two young grandchildren. Also survived by his mother Margaret Golding, and his sisters Diana Faulds, Alison Stodin and Lisa Yanch and their families. Predeceased by his father Clyde Windsor Golding. Chris was a longtime teacher in the Elora and Guelph areas, and continued his loves of acting and world travel throughout his life. He lived life very much on his own terms, and was much loved by family and many friends who will miss his zest for living. Visitation will be at GILCHRIST CHAPEL, McIntyre and Wilkie Funeral Home, One Delhi Street, Guelph on Tuesday, December 9 2003, from 7-9 p.m. A memorial service in celebration of his life will take place at the GILCHRIST CHAPEL on Wednesday, December 10, 2003 at 2:00 p.m. Cremation to follow. We invite you to leave your memories and donations online at www.gilchristchapel.com.
Sunday, December 07, 2003
Paul got away on the bus, and by now is most of the way to Toronto. He'll be going up to Guelph with his brother Ian tomorrow to start to finalize arrangements for Chris' funeral. Coroner's report points to its having been a massive heart attack on Tuesday night. From the sound of things, it was very fast.
The funeral will likely be on Wednesday afternoon in Guelph, though that has still to be confirmed. Paul's aunt Lisa has been amazing; while Ian, Paul and Jane battle schedules and the elements to get to Ontario, Lisa has taken care of all kinds of immediate details in a competent and matter-of-fact way. She's a nurse, so it's no surprise that she's practical about this sort of thing...though it might be a bit different when it's your brother in question.
My clock says it's midnight, which means Jamie's birthday has just started. Happy birthday, sleeping boy!
The funeral will likely be on Wednesday afternoon in Guelph, though that has still to be confirmed. Paul's aunt Lisa has been amazing; while Ian, Paul and Jane battle schedules and the elements to get to Ontario, Lisa has taken care of all kinds of immediate details in a competent and matter-of-fact way. She's a nurse, so it's no surprise that she's practical about this sort of thing...though it might be a bit different when it's your brother in question.
My clock says it's midnight, which means Jamie's birthday has just started. Happy birthday, sleeping boy!
Saturday, December 06, 2003
One thing after another...
We're being snowed in. Paul's flight from Newark, and all subsequent flights yesterday, were cancelled, and it took him five or six hours to get home from the airport because ground transportation at the airport was also disrupted. My flight today has been cancelled, and all the Sunday flights are full, so now I'm rebooked on a flight Monday at 8am...which means Jamie and I will be alone here for his birthday: no fun! We'll make it fun, of course, but I wanted more of his family to be there...his father at least!
Paul is now on the way to the bus station to try to catch a Greyhound leaving here at 1pm for Toronto. If it weren't for the 11-hours-on-a-bus-with-a-baby part, I might try the same thing, but I just can't see doing that. Jamie would hate it, and the other passengers would hate me.
Arrrrrgh, weather!
We're being snowed in. Paul's flight from Newark, and all subsequent flights yesterday, were cancelled, and it took him five or six hours to get home from the airport because ground transportation at the airport was also disrupted. My flight today has been cancelled, and all the Sunday flights are full, so now I'm rebooked on a flight Monday at 8am...which means Jamie and I will be alone here for his birthday: no fun! We'll make it fun, of course, but I wanted more of his family to be there...his father at least!
Paul is now on the way to the bus station to try to catch a Greyhound leaving here at 1pm for Toronto. If it weren't for the 11-hours-on-a-bus-with-a-baby part, I might try the same thing, but I just can't see doing that. Jamie would hate it, and the other passengers would hate me.
Arrrrrgh, weather!
Friday, December 05, 2003
It looks as if we'll be celebrating Jamie's birthday on Sunday in Toronto after all.
We had a call early this morning. Paul's father Christopher was found dead in his Guelph house by a friend late last night. We don't have a coroner's report yet, but apparently it looks like a heart attack. Paul is on the way to the airport now; his mother Jane will be arriving on Sunday afternoon, and Jamie and I will probably be going tomorrow, although it's snowing heavily and will continue to snow for a couple of days.
It's a shock; when I saw Chris in Elora this summer, I thought he hadn't looked so good in years.
Jamie and I have been passing germs back and forth for a couple of weeks. He has had a horrible cold, and he's been teething, and because of all the phlegm and drooling he's had the runs...and thus diaper rash, a horrible unwelcome surprise to a boy who has never experienced it before. I'm convinced I'm going to wrench his legs off one of these days - he's that squirmy! He hasn't been sleeping that well for a while, which explains why I haven't shaken my own cold. I think it's on the move at last. Certainly hope so...
We had a call early this morning. Paul's father Christopher was found dead in his Guelph house by a friend late last night. We don't have a coroner's report yet, but apparently it looks like a heart attack. Paul is on the way to the airport now; his mother Jane will be arriving on Sunday afternoon, and Jamie and I will probably be going tomorrow, although it's snowing heavily and will continue to snow for a couple of days.
It's a shock; when I saw Chris in Elora this summer, I thought he hadn't looked so good in years.
Jamie and I have been passing germs back and forth for a couple of weeks. He has had a horrible cold, and he's been teething, and because of all the phlegm and drooling he's had the runs...and thus diaper rash, a horrible unwelcome surprise to a boy who has never experienced it before. I'm convinced I'm going to wrench his legs off one of these days - he's that squirmy! He hasn't been sleeping that well for a while, which explains why I haven't shaken my own cold. I think it's on the move at last. Certainly hope so...
