Somewhere Over the Rainbow

While we were visiting at my Mom's for her birthday, the weekend after the festivities were over, the three of us (Mom, Bruce and I) went out for a little drive around the bay and looked at all the expensive homes. It was a gorgeous day, it was mild, the sun was shining, and we enjoyed the drive. Afterwards we went out for supper to Applebees. While we were there it clouded over and we had a very sudden downpour! It rained so hard but it also turned sunny and the storm turned into a sun shower. This happened just as we were leaving the restaurant. But we got to see the most incredible rainbow!! And... I had my camera with me for once!!


This rainbow had to have been the largest, brightest, and longest lasting rainbow I have ever seen. I got several good shots of it.

The above photo was taken from the car while driving with the window down. It seemed to be at it's brightest and widest at that point in time.

It even turned into a double rainbow!!I also got a couple of shots of the sky from inside the car while we were driving. It was so interesting looking.



The happy camper............

The last two shots are of Bruce who found his own private pot of gold at the end of the rainbow!!

I Wish You Enough

Recently I overheard a Father and daughter in their last moments together at the airport. They had announced the departure.

Standing near the security gate, they hugged and the Father said, 'I love you, and I wish you enough.'

The daughter replied, 'Dad, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Dad.'

They kissed and the daughter left. The Father walked over to the window where I was seated. Standing there I could see he wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on his privacy, but he welcomed me in by asking, 'Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?'

'Yes, I have,' I replied. 'Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever good-bye?'.

'I am old, and she lives so far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is - the next trip back will be for my funeral,' he said.

'When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say, 'I wish you enough.' May I ask what that means?'

He began to smile. 'That's a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone..' He paused a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail, and he smiled even more. 'When we said, 'I wish you enough,' we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them.' Then turning toward me, he shared the following as if he were reciting it from memory.................................




I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day may appear




I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more




I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting




I wish you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger




I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting



I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess




I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good- bye................................

To my dear friends and family... I wish you enough!


LOVE FROM KAREN

Mom's 80th Was a Huge Success!!

We are back home after a very busy week spent at my Mom's, celebrating her 80th birthday. It was a whirlwind of celebrations and visiting with family. We drove down the day before the big event and it poured rain most of the trip. On top of that we chose a different route and it turned out to be a very long drive... longer than usual :-(

But... we finally arrived.

This is a photo of the birthday girl... an amazingly youthful and beautiful lady..................
The day of Mom's birthday we met up with other family members at Kelseys for a luncheon. There was supposed to be about eight of us in total but Mom had two surprise guests... Taylor and Gwen ( my Uncle Doug and Aunt Marg's daughter-in-law and grandson) which brought the total to ten! A very nice turnout. My aunt Verna who I mentioned in the previous post turned 90 the week before and who very recently had hip surgery felt well enough to come and her son Grant graciously elected to bring her so they were there with us! I was so thrilled to get to see my aunt there and looking so well and we had a nice visit. Here is the lovely lady also looking very youthful and healthy....

Grant and Allan..............

My Mom's brother and his wife, Doug and Marg made it too and it was wonderful to see them there.

My Mom's cousin Lynda and her husband Allan came and brought the cake with them... a huge slab cake with all our names on it who were celebrating milestone birthdays this year! Here is a photo of the cake...........
And here is Allan who was sitting next to me and that is why the close up of his head....

Lynda looking lovely as usual.....
The three siblings... Verna, Doug and Barbara...............
We spent about three hours at the restaurant until the visitors started departing for home. Mom and I and Lynda and Allan went back to Mom's where I finished preparing our supper for that evening. Just after eight o'clock my brother Mike and his wife Debbie arrived and the day was completed by their presence.

The next evening us kids took Mom out for supper as our birthday dinner to her. Here are photos taken at the house before we went out.

Mike and Debbie with Mom and our dog Jett...............

And Bruce and Jett...............
Our brother Dave unfortunately couldn't make it during the week as he had work commitments.
He had been there the weekend before to spend time with Mom and take her out for dinner and he brought her some flowers. But.... he surprised us the following weekend by showing up unexpectedly. Thanks Dave for coming... we enjoyed seeing you!!!

For the gift to commemorate the day we designed and produced a 104 page hard copy picture book honoring Mom's life from cradle to present day. There were photos of her as an infant right up to today as well as photos of all those who have figured prominently in her life. The actual book which was still away being printed did not arrive on the day but Mike prepared a digital copy for all of us to see and the book looks amazing. It will be a beautiful coffee table book for Mom to look at and enjoy.

We drove back home to Elliot Lake the following Monday and it was great weather starting out but as we got to Barrie it clouded over and rained again most of the rest of the way although not quite as hard or as steady as it had on the drive down.

Although we enjoyed our time with family you know what they say... there is no place like home!