Valentine's Day

Days before Valentine's Day in 1994, my mom died. Ever the bargain-hunter, the sewer, recycler, composter, old barn forager, our church's White Elephant Table organizer and buyer, she enjoyed the thrill of a good bargain, lived on little and survived on less.

I will always remember being in the florist with my siblings the day before V-Day picking out the church and coffin flowers. The prices were astronomical and amidst the sorrow of our task, we couldn't stop laughing at the irony of it all - she had never bought an expensive thing in her life! Despite us hearing her scolding and tut-tutting, we bought as many roses as we could, opting instead for her oft-repeated later-life motto: "To Hell With It!"

best Love Day wishes everyone, hope you all felt warmth from someone in your life today, and if not, follow my mom's motto. She was a hoot!

Falcons and Hawks, 2015

Gosh, I miss this place and these people, young and old alike! My kids' high school, where so many of us volunteered and worked over the last 15 years, making a difference. So much involved to change it from being a school next-to-last in the Provincial rankings, a school ethos that had tanked, to being in the top 100 last year (or higher?) "this school is not about any one person, but all of us", with strong, strong student, staff and family engagement. What a journey it's been under this guy's leadership, something I'll be forever proud of. He moves on this week to different things, and the foundation we all created is strong. Best wishes Terry, end of a frikken great era.

Go Falcons and Hawks! Have a great Christmas break!