Day 1 of July

Belated Happy Canada Day and Early Happy 4th of July to all my American friends.

So, where to start.....

Lets start with Patrick; and I have his permission to tell this story. I really should find my book of Patrickism's to keep adding to. So last night Patrick had to work; he gets home around 2:30ish and comes rushing into the house; seems he had his first run in with the police. It happened on his way to work, and by his anxiousness, he must have been excited to tell me all night. He was driving away from our house; turned left at the drive and headed down the hill. Within 10 seconds he was pulled over by the police for doing "70" in the 50 zone. The officer asked him if this was his usual "warp speed." Patrick said he did a lot of no sir; yes sirs; and he luckily was let go with a warning. But the officer told him if he seen that drivers license again, he wouldn't let him off with a warning. I didn't have my first speeding violation (and that was even a picture one) until at least 18 years after I had my drivers licence - not less than a year!!!

Today I was able to cross off another item on my 50 list. With Robin's assistance and Mom's accompaniment; we drove to Okotoks to locate our old house. Now technically this is not my first house; my first house was in Midnapore and as of now it is buried under some strip mall I believe. Plus I was only a baby so I don't remember any of it. The house in Okotoks is my real first memory of a house. Thank goodness Robin was there, because with Moms and my memory put together, we'd still be in Okotoks searching. Robin knew exactly where to turn off the highway. Our starting point was the old high school - which after 50 years is still standing, but of course is not longer the high school. We thought we had found it right away; but it didn't look the same; there must have been renovations done. A little disappointing so I really didn't want a picture. So we driver down the hill and around and back up the hill on a different road and realized the old high school was a different building yet. And low and behold we found our street (I don't think it had a name 50 years ago) And then doing the counting from the corner we found the house and yeah - there was little outside renovations done to it. I was very impressed with my sister's recollection of houses belonging to different neighbours and friends; for crying out loud, she even remembered the name of our landlord. I better start drinking what she's drinking. So I have attached a picture of our house at 10 Knight Street as of July 3, 2011 and a picture of the same house with Robin and I from October 1963.

My 50 list is getting smaller and smaller.

Stacey