What a wonderful family reunion as we gathered to lay my dear aunt to rest in Inglis, Mb. She was my Dad’s younger sister and now, of all my Dad’s siblings, there is only one auntie left: Aunt Shirley is ten years older than me and I lived with her when I went to Business College in Regina. Time goes by so quickly!

We enjoyed a nice visit with sister-in-law Rita and she was very thankful for the company while babysitting the dogs.

The road home was amazing and we could hardly believe our eyes when we arrived back in Prince Albert to find little or NO snow at all in the city. There is still plenty of snow in our yard and in our subdivision, but probably not for long. This is the longest winter I can ever remember!

Many gas fill-ups were required on our trip. However, we have to say that the last one, at Muskoday, won the “best service of the trip” award. We were VERY impressed with the service there. Not very often nowadays that you get full service at a gas station. The attendant was very efficient and friendly – all the windows were washed perfectly – it showed that this gentleman really enjoyed his job!

We were so happy when we finally arrived home, and so was our little dog, who missed us as much as we missed him. We often take him along with us, but this was not the trip to have a dog along. We got to enjoy niece Donna’s chihuahuas while we were in Brandon. Usually they are quite stand-offish, but with Donna and Brent gone, they lapped up any attention John and I gave them. They love “Granny” Rita too, as she has often stepped up to dog-sit her grand-dogs. It appears I misunderstood where Brent and Donna were headed, as it was not Calgary, but Las Vegas. Donna’s daughter and her husband were married in Las Vegas several years ago and they were all going there to celebrate their anniversary. They are known to the staff of their frequent accommodations, they have been there so often! If WE ever get the opportunity to go south again, it certainly would not be to Vegas – we would head straight for Texas!! Each to his own, I guess…

There is a wedding coming up in the family in August in Rivers, Mb.; the son of John’s younger daughter is getting married there. We haven’t heard yet if Christy and her family will be coming from B.C., but it would sure be nice if they could make it. We will probably be seeing them if we make a trip to Kelowna to visit George, as their place is a good one to spend the night on a trip to Kelowna… The news from over there is not so good – it has been a LONG WINTER for George and Mary and they are hoping for spring to come SOON, as he can then come home on the handibus and spend his days in the patio. However, the arthritis is so bad in her hands and feet that she should be there in the nursing home with him – we think it unlikely that that will ever happen!!!

Just as I am fixing to send this to the newspaper for publishing, we received the news that my cousin, Harold, my age, who lives in Edmonton, and who has been suffering from Alzheimers Disease for quite some time, had taken a turn for the worse and died in hospital today. Both of his brothers from Winnipeg travelled there directly instead of heading home to Winnipeg after our aunt’s funeral. As they often say: It never rains but it pours!!