Christmas came and went: five rare and precious days with my beloved, funny, clever and complex firstborn. Don't let it go to your head Tom, but when you came into my life everything changed. I toned down my Bohemian lifestyle and worked hard to become a respectable, responsible parent. I would like to say I stopped driving as fast - but really that is just wishful thinking.
Much of that serious parenting time was spent in Northumberland, as a teacher. I am back here today in the December rain, drinking my breakfast coffee and reflecting on my two-day visit to the very special friends who have kept in touch and will be my friends now for life. But my thoughts keep drifting across the Atlantic Ocean where hearts are heavy.
I keep thinking of my Canadian friend Beth, my sister Barbara's teenage penfriend. Her beautiful 89 year-old mother Sylvia died at 3am on Christmas Day in hospital in Ottawa. Today Beth is travelling from Toronto to say her goodbyes and with her brother to make arrangements to celebrate the life of a strong and remarkable woman whom I had the privilege to meet. And I am thinking of Sylvia's lovely older sister Do who will now be alone, with a great emptiness in her life.
Christmas came and went: five rare and precious days with my beloved, funny, clever and complex firstborn. Don't let it go to your head Tom, but when you came into my life everything changed. I toned down my Bohemian lifestyle and worked hard to become a respectable, responsible parent. I would like to say I stopped driving as fast - but really that is just wishful thinking.
Much of that serious parenting time was spent in Northumberland, as a teacher. I am back here today in the December rain, drinking my breakfast coffee and reflecting on my two-day visit to the very special friends who have kept in touch and will be my friends now for life. But my thoughts keep drifting across the Atlantic Ocean where hearts are heavy.
I keep thinking of my Canadian friend Beth, my sister Barbara's teenage penfriend. Her beautiful 89 year-old mother Sylvia died at 3am on Christmas Day in hospital in Ottawa. Today Beth is travelling from Toronto to say her goodbyes and with her brother to make arrangements to celebrate the life of a strong and remarkable woman whom I had the privilege to meet. And I am thinking of Sylvia's lovely older sister Do who will now be alone, with a great emptiness in her life.
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