On The Lighter Side.....

Back on Saturday morning we paid a visit to my Mom's to see my brother who was in town from up north. It's always a fun and interesting time because he is still firmly in denial of the fact he has problems with alcohol and so we try to catch him early in the day. Funny, because on one hand, there are a steady stream of caps being snapped off beer bottles, glug, glug, glug; and on the other, he always asks how my work here at the treatment centre is going. 'Well D___, your bed is still on reserve just in case you ever want to use it, bro.' He just laughs and tells me to go to hell. Good natured brotherly stuff.

His daughter Becky and her partner Sheila had come out from Toronto to see him as well and it's always a blast spending time with them. They're a great pair. They were married about 4 years ago soon after our provincial same sex legislation went through. Between our work schedules and theirs these opportunities to get together don't come nearly often enough.

During the visit Mom told us that our eldest brother has handed in his retirement notice after 40 years of teaching. He started out in a 2 room elementary school in a small northern town and is retiring from being principal of the regional high school after almost 20 years in that position. He could write a book about the variety of experience that has entailed. Good guy, good teacher, good administrator. Time to enjoy the grand kids.