The Difference a Year Makes PDF Print E-mail
Friday, 17 December 2004 00:00

This time last year, we were still parked in the driveway of our old homestead in Oro-Medonte Township, Ontario. We had encountered snow, some very cold nights and we were waiting for the sale of the house to be completed. We were about to embark on a brand new lifestyle and we were very excited. Our kids were all settled in their respective homes around the country, our mothers were secure and we were finally in a position to follow our dream. I was flat out on the couch in the motorhome with a case of the flu and Karley had flown into Ontario and was soon to join us as we drove over to Collingwood to a rented chalet where we could all be together one last time for Christmas.

Our lives and the lives of our family have undergone many changes since then. Rick's Mom, Bea, who was living with his sister then, has since moved into a retirement home in Stroud. Angie, Rick's daughter, is a nurse in the emergency department at Toronto Western Hospital and lives in her new house in Barrie. Bill is now a licensed commercial real-estate broker and lives very happily in the same duplex with Laura, but by themselves. Jay and Rachel moved out into a house that Jay bought in Markham and as you know, they have been dealing with the tribulations of cancer. Jamie has moved to Sioux Lookout with Mary to fly for Bearskin Airlines, however has been recently laid off as they are closing down that operation. In his time there, he has accumulated more flying hours, acquired a more qualified license and is seeking a new, more secure piloting job elsewhere. Karley is settled down with Ian and expecting a baby any day now and we are parked in Burnaby, only a few minutes away to be of assistance to them as they prepare for the arrival of their first offspring. Sam is living as a solo feline now and Sasha lives with Karley, Ian and Mina (Ian's cat) who is less than receptive to her, though tolerates her.

We have been from coast to coast of the USA, basked in the warmth of the Florida sunshine and felt the chill of the New Mexico desert. We have revelled in the beauty of Vancouver Island and have seen the all kinds of wildlife in between while enjoying the beauty of nature in both Canada and the US. We have met dozens of fellow RVer's, some fulltimers like us and others simply enjoying a brief vacation; many of them we still correspond with. It feels like a lifetime has already passed in such a short time yet we know we still have so much to see and do before we park our rig for good. Our lives have truly been enriched and couldn't be more different from what they were just one year ago and we are extremely grateful. It has been quite a year!