July 16, 2015

I left Jay, May and the girls in Vernon last Thurs. and drove back to Victoria to work with Bill on all that has to be done now that mom and dad have left the only life that we who remain know of. It's very strange to be here without them. I have come here so often, with and without Jim, staying with Barbara and Terry. They remain a constant in this experience, and I don't think I could have survived it all without being able to join them for coffee and conversation almost every morning. I'm still grateful for that, but it's hard to adjust to the reality that the main reason for my being here is no longer mom and dad. It's a sadly liberating sensation.  Bill and I have been working well together, and, as Bill excells at finding whatever's a good thing to do in a given place, having some adventures too. His partner Sharon has been here for a few days, so I have now met her and enjoyed some good times with them.  I'm going to meet them this morning to go for a bike ride on the Galloping Goose. 

I rented a bright blue bike yesterday afternoon and went for a ride by myself on the GG in the direction of Sydney. It was perfect weather, easy biking and I peddled on and on, stopping to buy lemonade and rest under a tree, at which point Bill phoned me. After our talk, as I put my iPhone back in my jacket pocket, I realised I didn't have my keys with me. End of glorious ride!  I peddled back to Barbara and Terry's as fast as I could, powered by my legs and sheer panic. I had been lucky to get the whole afternoon for free from the Oak Bay bike rental and was excited fitting my rented helmet on my head so that my ears wouldn't stick out like jug handles as they usually do. Had I left the keys in the car? Had the doors automatically locked so that I couldn't get at them? Had I left the keys on the ground outside the car for a person to find and drive ooff with the car?

As I rounded the corner on to Catherine Street, I saw the car. I couldn't believe my luck and that was compounded by the fact that the keys were lying untouched on the front seat AND THE CAR HAD NOT AUTOMATICALLY LOCKED!  I rushed in to touch Barbara in the hope that my incredible good fortune might stay with me a while more and transfer to her so that her back would be miraculously healed. Unfortunately this

did not happen and Barbara is still waiting for time do what only it can. 

It's evening now, and I am enjoying a quiet rest after a wonderful bike ride along the Galloping Goose with Bill and Sharon. 

Bill, me and Sharon at the Lido Bistro on the waterfront in Victoria where we ate the best halibut tacos I have ever eaten.