Helen Guest

Yesterday was Helen's memorial service. It was held at her house and there were a lot of people and heartfelt memories were told. It really hit me close to home. She is my cousin once removed (my Dad's first cousin) and she was only 63. The same age as p. This was her death notice in the Sloppy Grail last week:

GUEST, Helen Nancy
PhD, FCPRS
(Jan. 9, 1945 – Nov. 18, 2008) Died in her sleep in her 63rd year. Helen (née McKnight) was devoted to her family. She was the much loved daughter of Bill and Nancy McKnight, the beloved wife for 41 years of John Guest, and dear mother of Jennifer and Michael. She was very close to her siblings, Jane Steenberg, Michael McKnight, and Bob McKnight, and to their families, as well as to her husband's family. After completing her PhD in English at Trinity College, University of Toronto, Helen found her niche as a speechwriter and business communicator, first with the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants, later with William M. Mercer, and finally on a freelance basis with The Institute of Corporate Directors and a major accounting firm (she sometimes said she ''specialized in dull''). A celebration of Helen's life will be held in her home at 166 Glen Manor Drive, Toronto on Sunday, November 23, 2008 at 2:00 pm.

I did get to see family members at the memorial that I have either never met or only met when I was very small. But I feel very sad. I was only just getting to know that side of my family and now I've lost one member.

November 5th - Other reasons to Celebrate

Remember, Remember
The Fifth of November
With Gunpowder Treason and Plot
We see no reason
Why Gunpowder Treason
Should Ever Be Forgot!!!

Penny for the Guy!!!!!

Yes They Can!!

It happened! The dawn of a new era! The first black man is president of the United States. I hope and pray that he is all that he has promised and that no person harms him.

Barack Obama is president elect of the United States of America.

My faith in politics is going a long way to being restored.

Catch up sort of

I've been writing hard copy journal this week. But because I'm at work and my hands are in pain from cramps I am procrastinating this way.

it's been a horrid month. I don't even want to get into the details of October... suffice it to say among all the lovelies I am back on prednisone and experiencing the prednisone bloat. I don't want to yo yo in my clothing sizes anymore. And my lungs are not in good condition and that's all i can type right now because my fingers are clenched together... and Snipset died a week ago Friday. but she waited for peter to come home so she could say good bye

And I don't wanna be POF either

Happiness Yesterday, Sadness Today

Yesterday was a good day. A fun day. It was Saint Francis of Assisi and we took representatives of the Critter Crew to church to be blessed. Chetters, Bunka and LMM all went with us as did Thistle's ashes. Em was so happy to "hold a warm living animal". I was really glad that though late, we made it there. And I do have pictures. Which as usual I will upload eventually.

Sadness today: listening to CBC radio, the Andy Barrie show on the way in to town, we heard that Lupe Rodriguez died on Saturday of leukemia. She was a CBC contributor, artist and personality. And it only added to my sadness - this year on July 2nd, Oliver Schroer died from leukemia. He had been in remission, was slated for a BMT. But the process took so long that he relapsed and couldn't have it. See this link for an article from the Toronto Star about Oliver:
http://www.oliverschroer.com/TheStar.com%20-%20living%20-%20Oliver%20Schroer_%20Gracefully%20taking%20leav...pdf

and Lupe's obituary: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/Deaths.20081006.93171615/BDAStory/BDA/deaths

Definitely mourning for the loss of two very bright lights from the world.