Remembering

Remembrance Day always makes me remember my father, Robert Rowan, who served in the Royal Canadian Navy, based out of Esquimalt, BC. He came back home in 1947 after serving 7 years.  He did not have a physical injury but I came to realize over time the toll those years took on his future life.  He mainly served in the Atlantic on a corvette escorting other ships back and forth across the Atlantic.  He was then moved to the Pacific Theatre after peace in Europe in May 1945 until discharged in 1947. Thank you Dad, I love you.

Remembrance brick for him in Victoria Harbour.

High School Friends Celebrating 50th

In the years following high school and university graduation, we were in the whirlwind of attending weddings of friends and siblings, one after the other throughout the spring and summer seasons. Now I am thrilled that so many of my friends are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversaries, having stayed together in spite of the divorce statistics.

Today is Janice and Jim's 50th and here are some pictures of that event from Janice's blog and my old album:

Janice and Jim, May 18 1968

Cec, Linda, Me (Donna), Kerry & Roger at the reception

Janice throwing the bouquet to her single girlfriends (don't remember who caught it)

Janice, Kerry and me a few years ago, still connecting!

Walk at Van Duesen Gardens

Susy and I spent about 75 minutes walking through parts of Van Duesen Gardens this morning to enjoy the gorgeous spring blossoms, like these:

Tulips:

Rhododendrons:

Indian Wedding Set Up

The ceremony and banquet tents were set up on the great lawn in preparation for an Indian wedding ceremony and reception later in the afternoon:

Absolutely Gorgeous Dogwood Trees: