Calgary and Reunion weekend

Jun 24th – 28^th were spent with Arnie, his special friend Joyce, his son Derrick with his daughters Ashley & Caitlin. (Ashley left before we got to taking pictures). Caitlin is a very accomplished hockey player and decided, due to politics within the hockey system, to quit hockey and concentrate on criminology education.

Arnie's daughter Crystal, Les & their daughter Addie.  They all make a very nice family!

The damage done by the flood in Calgary was extensive in the downtown areas. We stayed away from these areas as requested by local authorities. Many, many people lost everything. It must be so devastating.  Every time the TV was on, there were stories of heartbreak and also heart-warming stories of the generosity of volunteers. It was very touching how the city rallied together to try to make the best of a very bad situation.


We had great visits with Gary & Val Lundgren, Keith’s Nipawin chums.  The idea was to have lunch with them and we were still sitting at the dining room table chatting when we realized it was 6:30pm…..pizza time!

With Gary’s connections, we were able to obtain book making programs to help simplify and hasten the making of our travel books.

We are very appreciative of this.

Gary Nelson was able to meet us for supper and a good chat. It was really nice to see him again. Keith used to share a house with Gary and others many years ago in Calgary. Lots of reminiscing!! Wild stories for me to hear :-)

Bernie, who has traveled with us on many of our trips, was visiting her daughters in Calgary.  We really enjoyed our evening with Bernie & Paula and the young granddaughters Ireland and Fallon. Lots of giggles and laughs :-).  Missed  Nicole & Dennis as they were in New York.

I had a visit with my friend Jill who I had worked with for several years in BC. She moved to Calgary in April so it was really nice to catch up with her life.

Keith went to the Legion with Arnie and was lucky enough to win a gift certificate of $25 from the co-op….gas money! We usually never win anything when we are at the Legion with our BC friends Elliott, Greg & George. They are ALWAYS winning…..maybe it is ME that is the problem !

Arnie took us for breakfast with his friends and also to the Seniors’ Activity Centre and we met many of his friends who were really nice and enjoying life. There are lots of activities to partake in and we tried our hand at “Floor Curling”.
We had lots of laughs but this may have messed up our technique for “Ice Curling” :-).

Arnie tries to decide what should happen next!

We also joined everyone for a Canada Day lunch celebration.  A very a nice meal and fun time!

It was nice to spend this time with Arnie. He and Keith have never spent this much time together as Arnie is eight years older so was pretty much gone when Keith was very young. It was good for both of them and we were so lucky to be able to stay with him for this long. With the flooding, we were prohibited from camping so arrived in Calgary early.

On Jun 29^th I followed Arnie & Keith as they drove the motorhome to Uncle Joe & Aunt Nettie’s family reunion in Lacombe (near Red Deer). 

Nine out of eleven children of Uncle Joe (94 yrs old)  & Aunt Nettie’s (84 yrs old)  were present with many of their children and some grandkids too. 
 

spouses included

It was a special time for Keith as he had not met many of these 1^st cousins. 

Keith & I were able to pitch our tent for the first time on our trip. A huge thunder & lightning storm came up. It was  pretty exciting with heavy rain and wind for about 4 hours!  We thought we might lose the fly off the tent and would have to take shelter with Arnie in the motor home!  After it had run its course, it suddenly stopped. In the morning we did have some water in the tent, but we were dry as we have a blow up bed.  Everything dried quickly in the intense sun after the fog burned off.
The rest of the time here it was very sunny and very hot…over 30 C degrees.   


Uncle Joe has macular degeneration and he still drives his truck in and out of the parking garage, out the lane to the road for about 300 feet and then turns to drive down through his field to the campground on his property! Everyone makes sure their vehicles are out of the way!  He is amazing!

Aunt Nettie is truly wonderful….one time we saw her chopping wood !!! 

She loves doing this and she did all kinds of baking for the reunion and made sure everyone had someone to talk to and generally made sure all went well.

They always have a Canada Day Celebration, so on Jun 30^th we had a HUGE bonfire and various people are wearing red tops and holding Canada flags.

Aunt Nettie led everyone in the singing of “Oh Canada” as we all stood at attention and joined in the singing. It was really fun!!

the gang at the big bonfire

Most people packed up Jul 1st and said their good byes as they had to return to regular life.  

Jul 2^nd saw the arrival of Keith’s other brother Ken & Bubs.  It was really nice for the three brothers to be together. It does not happen often!! 

Arnie, Ken, Keith

Uncle Albert & Aunt Laura from Red Deer came out to the campsite to have a visit with us. So nice to meet them. 

It was a wonderful time of making new and re-connections.  I enjoyed meeting a lot of Keith’s family relations. Really nice people.
Lots of pictures were taken throughout the weekend.  A Fun time!!

Keith on the camp grounds overlooking the Red Deer River

                Arnie’s Class A Motorhome,  Keith & Sharen’s car & tent,   Ken & Bubs Bus!!!!