Saying "Goodbye"

It was time to say goodbye to the mountains...

Goodbye to the carefully tended flowers...

And the sleeping neighborhood... (5 am!)

Goodbye to our hospitable relatives! We had so much fun here!

Thank you for inviting us!

Thank you for the wonderful time!

Park Playground

The "heart" of downtown Kelowna is the city park on the lake.

It's a large place, where people can play tennis or simply stroll near the water.

My grandkids enjoyed climbing on the play structures, while my cousin  Elizabeth looked on... 

Later we posed for a family picture on this "bear family" statue. (Thanks to Elizabeth for taking it!)

Being here brought back memories of my teenage years: lyng on the "hot sands" beach to "tan"; attending the annual high school spring track meet at a running track near the bridge. 

We didn't walk far enough to see if the track is still there... The day was hot and sunny.

So many memories! It was great to be back.

Back Home Again!

Ten days ago, I flew across the country to the city where I had spent my teenage years...

My family moved there when I was 12. It's grown a lot since then.

The last time I was there, I stayed with my mother, who had packed up her things and was ready to move east to live in Ottawa. It was a difficult step - leaving the small city where she had taught school for over 40 years, a city she loved.

This time I was going to celebrate my mother's second youngest brother's birthday... 

He was turning 90! 

He still plays golf several times a week... and he still plays the tuba in the city band. Both he and his wife are looking great.

So glad I could be there for the celebration!