My Pen-Friend's Parents

A million years ago, Jilly and I became pen friends. We were 10 years old. Thanks to Jilly's great-aunt Lil, who was a member of my parents' church congregation, she hooked up two young girls who have been writing to each other for the last 34 years.

We haven't only written though. We've managed a few visits as well. Jilly came to Canada for a summer holiday when she was 15. The friendship we had on paper only grew as our visits became more frequent over the next 20+ years.  I was fortunate enough to be part of Jilly's wedding, and even have the great honour of being god-mother to one of her three amazing daughters. But you know, life happens, and the visits have become quite rare now (9 years since our last). Thanks to technology though, we do still write, though not as often as we did when we were teenagers.

Last night, by some amazing circumstance or something ... I don't know what to call it, but thrilled it happened - Jilly's parents were in Montreal on a tour (Toronto, Ottawa, Montréal, Québec City) and I was able to meet up with them and spend a few hours catching up on all the family news. What a total pleasure!

Seeing Pat & Brian has made me realise how much I have missed seeing Jilly and her family, and all the fun and laughs we've had over the years. Clearly a visit is long overdue and you know me, I love to travel! But it's also high time Jilly and John (her husband), make the trek over from England to spend a little holiday in Montréal.

Here's a little picture of the three of us from last night.

With Brian &  Pat

Change

How many more times will I have the chance to sit at my desk and look out this window?

Even the tennis ball that I constantly roll under my foot :)

When has change often occurred in your life? Is it the spring, summer, fall or winter?  For me spring doesn't usually bring a lot of change (that I can think of) but rather fall. Fall is the time that I have mostly, but not always, moved to other countries, other homes, other jobs, other relationships.

This fall I hope to be moving. I signed the papers with my real estate agent last week, and today a photographer stopped by to take the pictures that will help sell the place.  I won't be moving far. No more lengthy trips to India (this year). I'll stay in Montreal but hope to find a nicer, quieter neighbourhood. No more drunken fools outside my bedroom window every night of the week, no more lifetime supply of earplugs.

Tempting to write about Montreal's delicate political climate but I'm not nearly articulate enough to present an argument properly. Suffice it to say, I'm staying - for now.