Cup 39 - Jacky

October 14, 2014

Jacky is one of those people who I hope I would be friends with, even if I wasn't related to her. Married to my brother now for 13 (?!) years, Jacky is a wonderful sister-in-law.  (Gee, I hadn't planned for two blog posts in a row to be about in-laws but seeing as this is a site dedicated to my friends, and these two recent honourees qualify, how lucky am I?!  Both originally from Saskatchewan too.  Huh.) 

Jacky came into all of our lives quite by coincidence.  A new teacher to Calgary, Jacky was hired to teach at Edgemont School when my mom took a semester's leave of absence.  Being new to town, a veteran teacher took Jacky under her wing and introduced her to her son of the same age.  This friend was a friend of my brother's which is how she and Mike came to be introduced.  So, even though Jacky was teaching in our mother's classroom, this isn't directly how they met.  It IS the angle she used to RE-connect with him, however - under the guise of having something of mom's to return, so maybe Mike could meet her for coffee?  Aw shucks, what the heck. It worked, and they now have many years behind them and the future of their two beautiful daughters ahead of them.

Jacky and I had a visit tonight when I dropped something off at their house for my brother (gee, are you sensing a "dropping off" theme here?)  Mike and Sara weren't home so Jacky and I got to chat while Sophie played in the background.  Seeing as I have mentioned my nieces twice now, in the last two sentences, it should be noted that they are one of Jacky (and Mike's) greatest achievements. They would NOT argue about this either.  I love being an auntie, even though I am guilty of not seeing them more considering they live in Tuscany too!

Jacky isn't teaching anymore.  She stayed at home, to be with the girls (there the proud auntie goes again), but has now gone back to school and is pursuing education in the field of Holistic Nutrition. (For as much Jacky and I have in common - teaching, red wine, watching the Bachelor, to name a few- holistic nutrition isn't one of them!)  

Jacky is passionate about her causes.  She is devoted to her practices and in passing down these good habits to her kids.  One simple but great example is how diligent she is in having her kids use sunscreen and wear their hats - ever since they were very young, I doubt they've missed a day. The girls don't realize it now but they are going to have the most beautiful, youthful skin for years and years to come!  Thanks Mom!

Jacky is an amazing mom, a great wife and fun to have as a sister-in-law.  An identical twin, she has that super-bond with her sister but seems almost as close with all of her girlfriends.  And it's a big group!  She enjoys cooking but dining out, weekends away but also family times at home.  She is fashionable and athletic, well-read and an amazing shopper.  She is super thoughtful and has been an important part of our family for a long time now.  Not just part of our family.  She IS family!

Cup 38 - Ellen

October 12, 2014

I have never understood Mother-in-Law jokes.  Of course my husband's mother-in-law is an incredible woman but my husband's wife has an amazing mother-in-law too!  

Ellen.

Family is very important to me and while Derek's family doesn't resemble the (conventional) closeness mine enjoys, not surprisingly Ellen is the glue and we are fortunate to see her on a fairly regular basis.  Family is absolutely, extremely important to her too!

A retired teacher Ellen is probably busier now than when she had to commute to school daily. Like her son, she is an avid reader/researcher and a do-it-yourselfer.  She keeps a vegetable garden the size of two backyards (really!) and is regularly maintaining her own home, inside and out.  Several times a year she ventures to Humboldt, Saskatchewan to spend time with sisters, aunts and other relatives (including her mom up until 2010, who lived to be 99!) who still reside in and around where her family farm was.  She and Rick also take short journeys together or spend time either renovating his properties or looking for new ones to buy.   In Calgary she maintains a wide circle of girlfriend - of all ages - who she enjoys lunching with, going to speaker series with, and the like.  It would be rare for her to miss a sporting event of one of her two talented, active granddaughters and, true to Grandma form, she is proud as a peacock of these girls!  (For good reason too!)

And speaking of being a grandma, I think she is equally proud to call herself Brier's grandma!  Both Brier (and our cats) know she faithfully arrives with pockets full of treats and they all accost her the moment they hear her voice through our front door.  Ellen has taken Brier on many a weekend when we travel by air and we call these visits his trip to the Spa.  Ellen purchased Brier a top-of-the-line Radio Flyer wagon last Spring and proudly walks him through either her neighbourhood or ours much to the delight of other walkers (especially seniors) who cross paths with them during their adventures together.

Being Thanksgiving weekend we enjoyed turkey dinner with Ellen and the rest of Derek's immediate family tonight.  She always puts on a delicious, homestyle spread and then loads us up with leftovers. (Actually, every time she comes over she brings us food.  Pies, pickles, veggies from the garden......hmmm, maybe my mother-in-law doesn't think I can cook!  Well, actually Derek IS better at it than me!)  But she is generous in more ways than can actually be mentioned.  Always caring, always concerned, always interested and always ready and willing to give back, Ellen is always thinking of her kids.  (Of which I include myself in the list.)  She would drop anything for us and we love her so much for this.  For other things too.  She doesn't have a negative bone in her body and her patience extends beyond compare.  She is a truly amazing woman who I am lucky, lucky, lucky to have in my life!

Cup 37 - Janay

September 22, 2014

Miss Janay!!  Another friend who dates back almost 20 years, Janay is someone I met during my "Industry Days".  If you've ever waited tables you will remember those days of always having cash in your wallet and being on a very unconventional sleep schedule. What fun it was to be 20-something!  Janay is a friend who, not on Face Book, I have felt out of touch with from time to time.  (And judging by the size of her her Linked-In photo (left), chooses not to have a very large digital footprint!)  But she dos have a large personality!

I met up with Janay at Nick's Steakhouse tonight.  The scene of the crime, if you will.  We worked in this lounge together for about four years and, although we think it had been four years since our last get together USED to at least meet annual for a pitcher of beer and a "Vegetarian Pizza with Spolumbo sausage, hold the onions but please add pineapple".  Yes, we are THOSE customers!  (But at least we tip well.  "Those" customers didn't always necessarily fulfill this requirement back when we were serving them!)

Janay is a self-made woman.  Climbing the ladder to her successful position as a consultant-rebrander-writer-marketer-advisor......(I don't actually know what her business card says) Janay worked her way up from lesser positions at ad agencies, and free positions at magazines, to have her own business today.  Her clients range from Crave Cupcakes to the Government of Alberta so diversity is a strength, for sure!

Fiercely proud of her own adoption story, Janay and her talented hubby, Mario, are the proud parents to Olivia - who shares a (loosely) similar story to her mum.  Not only has Janay been successful in her professional life but she stopped at nothing to achieve these blessings in her personal life too.  I admire her.

Janay has a contagious laugh, is genuinely interested in people (and animals) and can rock any hairstyle from a pixie cut to long, straight locks.  The twinkle in her eye has not faded in twenty years and I look forward to noticing it for twenty more.  And then twenty more.