Pint 26 - Brenda

The End of June...

Brenda, Ben, Staniforth, Stanisworth, “Mrs. Forrest”, Sage’s Mom and Lake Girl…

On May of last year I found out I was coming to McCall.  In October we had our first beer.  In November we had another.  In December, another!  (Whoa, I sense a pattern!)  There was so much to talk about and get to know, about each other and about what was in store…. 

Back then, there was half a school year looming, to be tackled together…and suddenly, it’s come to a close!  I knew it would be busy, and likely pass quickly, but now the moment to say Thank You and Good Luck and Good Bye and Congratulations has happened TOO fast!    I know there will be other beers together in our future, more stories to tell and blogs to be read but now is my first chance to tell you what an honour and a pleasure it has been working alongside you.  I have learned a ton and appreciate you so much.  You are incredible with kids and staff adore you.  I love that you’re so wise, so real, so calm, so fun and so funny!  I have been very fortunate to have always had great relationships with my admin partners but wish we might have had longer together.

I can’t say I wish you were staying because I’m super excited for you and Jo in this next adventure, but I can say you will be missed.  Greatly.  I will miss your listening ear and perspective.  I will miss your Saskatchewan stories, your puppy stories, your Jo stories and your rhyming stories.  I think you are an outstanding teacher and leader and I’m thrilled that you’re my friend.  I wish you a future full of love, laughter, lounging, lake-life, and living it up.  Fill up your tool box, fill up that lakefront and fill up your passport.  May your retirement be as long and fulfilling as it is deserved.

Thank you for everything. 

Love,

Andrea

Cup 25 - Heath (well, actually, ...The Kleins)

June 22, 2014

It was an impromptu visit - and likely not even one he would "count" as a sociable - but given that Heath and Kelly will soon be moving north, and opportunities to get together with them will become rare indeed, I choose to recognize our spontaneous, half hour crossing-of-paths last week as my twenty-fifth cup of coffee.  I enjoyed the five years I worked with Heath and the two years I worked with Kelly. Both great teachers and colleagues.  As I didn't actually get to see Kelly last week, when I ran into her hubby after a year-end RJ event, I will focus this post mostly on Heath although it should be noted that I think Kelly is equally as fabulous (and that Derek had a bit of a crush on her when he first met her too.  I can't begrudge that.  She's a sweetheart.)

Check out this picture on the right and Heath is the "big boy", although in about 30 years I'll bet the little one, Hudson, looks pretty much the same as Dad.  (I wonder if they'll still be dressing the same...)  I love that Heath doesn't take himself too seriously.  He has a great sense of humour and is quick to make himself the first target.  A sports fanatic to the nth degree, Heath's friends even made him a mock-IPP in honour of his uncanny ability to remember numbers, facts and statistics related to sports.  He shares this passion flawlessly with his students too.  One can't help but feel inspired to cheer and commiserate with the athletic role models of today and yesterday, thanks to Heath's enthusiasm.   While only having lived in the area for a few years, the Kleins were quick to integrate into their community, beyond just the walls of their schools.  Active in their church, on various recreational sports teams, with parent groups and willing to help out any neighbour (or person, for that matter) in need.  With a fridge (or two) always filled with beverages to share, Heath and Kelly's living rooms and decks were frequent venues for groups of friends large and small.

I have known Heath for five years and although we were work mates first I feel lucky to count he and Kelly as friends.  Although, I can't imagine anyone not becoming friends with the Kleins. They are two of the most down-to-earth, easy to talk to, genuine people - and laid-back, amazing parents - one could meet.   Airdrie's loss is sure to be Barrhead's gain.  Barrhead picked up a couple of fantastic free agents.

Cup 24 - Jackie

June 15, 2014

Jackie!  A friend?  A former colleague?  Like a sister?  Another mom?  She is all of those things and so much more!  At RJ Hawkey, Jackie's desk was about 4 steps away from mine.  We spent the better part of six years together laughing everyday.  We knew about each other's families, husbands, friends, health, travel plans and pets.  She was in the know about books to recommend, movies to see and TV to watch.  She could tell me about where all the best consignment stores are in Calgary and I could tell her about where I bought my latest pair of shoes. Together we could giggle about all the silly things that would come out of the students' mouths while we worked together.  It was never a chore coming to work, thanks to Jackie (and Deb - but she'll get her own post, another time!)

I love Jackie because of her quirks and sense of humour.  Allergic to everything (and that is barely an embellishment) she would still keep treats for Brier in her desk drawer for his Friday shifts and would pet him with her foot.  She would feign such indignance if he preferred Deb's treats over her offerings.  A shoe lover herself, Jackie rarely wears anything other than flip flops, even in the winter.  Jackie keeps her hair shorter (by choice) than any other woman you'll meet (despite a recent attempt to grow it out.  Kudos for the effort!). She is a fantastic grandma to her girlies and mama to her boys.  She claims to be uber-conservative when it comes to her fingernails yet she still rocks sparkles and swirly designs with the best of them.   With a memory like an elephant, Jackie is sure to always ask about members in my extended family or follow-up with a question - weeks or months later - about an event I may have mentioned in passing.  Everybody knows the secretaries (and caretakers) are the ones who really run a school and Jackie is that historian who remembers everyone and everything.  An icon!

It has been almost six months since seeing Jackie on a daily basis became a thing of the past.  We met up at Good Earth this week and had a wonderful 90 minute visit.  There was a lot to pack in to the conversation but it felt good to do it and I hope we will do it again soon.  I miss our daily kibitzing and, even though I can now eat fish at work, this privilege doesn't fill the void.  She is a wonderful lady and a fabulous friend.  We met with a place of work in common but I know this need never be the tie that binds us going forward

Cup 23 - Susan

June 8, 2014

I call Susan my "Summer Friend".  We golf together most weeks from May through September and then barely speak through the Fall and Winter!  My schedule didn't allow for any May tee times this year and so this was the first week we were able to reconnect on the links.  Finally!

I know Susan from two years spent working together in Airdrie.  But that was seven years ago and since then she and I have both changed schools either one or two times.  Thankfully Fox Hollow has a great ladies league where we can take as many mulligans as we need and still win awesome prizes at the end of the season.

More people ought to know Susan as she is an inspiration.  She is independent and fearless.  She is multi-facteted and multi-talented, and yes - these are different things.  I admire how Susan tackles new challenges without a second thought.  If someone invites her to do or try something, she will do it.  If it is suggested she go somewhere, she will go. If she gets an idea in her head on her own, she will pursue it.  And most often she does these things on her own, not even necessarily knowing anyone upon arrival.  She melds with ease into different social groups and makes new friends in the process.  This isn't easy for most adults to do as we "think" we have enough friends.  While golfing she tells me about the groups she's joined, the church she has become a part of, the trips she's planning, the tennis/golf/hiking/skiing/camping invitations she has accepted and about all the projects she is undergoing at her home - roofs, fences, lighting, painting and the amazingly gorgeous garden she maintains.  She knows the best books to read, movies to watch, markets to frequent and recipes to try.  She is a phenom!

She is also a fellow dog-lover and, this past winter, lost her puppy partner of 17 years, Toby.  For all the time we have spent over the years, chatting about various things - especially our pooches - the fact that Toby passed this past winter was a missed opportunity for me to be more supportive. We don't keep up with each other over the winters and, if it weren't for FaceBook, I might not even have known.  I ought to have done or said more...  :( 

But now, a truly single gal, Susan is back on her game and as busy (or busier) than ever.  She has joined golf groups online and is driving to Vancouver island in a  couple of weeks to kayak, do yoga and drink fine wine with her sister.  The members at her tennis club will miss her.  It's only for a couple of weeks but I will miss her too.  My golf game needs the practice and our "time together" each year is so fleeting!  I will look forward to hearing about he adventures. I'd say I was living vicariously but even THAT would be so tiring for me!