Tyler – actually believe it or not, I might have been overseas that weekend. There was a marketing meeting in Venice but I decided not to go since I couldn’t afford the time away and it was my thanksgiving/birthday weekend. Really glad now I didn’t go!

Anik – very true … it took me a while to realise that some tumors just can’t be easily removed. I don’t hace a paper copy of the letters but did read what you posted so far and am eagerly awaiting the sequel(s). Ooo inside job in the book industry! Actually Dan and I started making a list of some of our favourite books when we were kids, so at Christmas or whenever things slow down for him a bit I’ll get him to dig it out and see what’s up.

Thanks all

This reminds me in a round-about way, I should get around to typing up more of the WWII/missionary letters that Aunt Martha passed along (have you been given a copy of these? I typed up the first few pages of the first one in my blog here but haven’t gotten to finish it yet).

Anyways, take care of yourself, kiddo. And let me know what books you’ll eventually want for l’enfant, I have secret sources for that sort of thing.

1. Your story of the flight to see your mom not knowing her condition reminds me of a friend of mine who was flying to Winnipeg from a missions trip somewhere far away to be with her family for Christmas. She got to the airport, and before she could board the plane her roommate came running up and told my friend that her mother had just died of a heart attack. I guess she didn’t want her looking forward to seeing her mom throughout the long flight only to find out her mother was gone.

2. Your description of your mom in the hospital reminds me of the last time I saw my grandpa before he died of cancer. He went from sort of sick to barely hanging on over night, and stayed enough just long enough for my uncle to arrive and say goodbye. What’s really weird is that he had planned on visiting from Ottawa for months and just happened to arrive a few hours before my grandpa died.