Welcome back to my blog.
August 2021, Pearson airport 4:45 am. It’s a warm, dark, breezy morning. Jacquie and I have exited the departure lanes from the airport. We have just dropped Chloe off in the middle of the pandemic. Travelling to a country she has never been for med school. With 2 suitcases of personal belongings, umpteen passed Covid tests, masks and her unbridled optimism. Knowing it will be sometime till she see’s family and friends she is on her way to fulfilling her life’s dream.
After a torturous quarantine (think lack of food, water and 100 degree heat with air not properly working). Her final Covid test is passed and she is free.
Semester 1 basic sciences is one of the most difficult and major hurdles for all med school students. It’s passed leaving a lot of her fellow students behind and she is on to semester 2. 2 goes by quickly and once again success. It’s spring and an upcoming visit from Jacquie and I with Greg and Vickie is on tap between semesters. Semester 3 ends in the fall and once again Jacquie and I are up for a visit. (didn’t think you were getting rid of us that easy did you?). Semester 4 goes quickly and she is home for Christmas. Plans are underway for a family vacation to help celebrate Chloe’s success.
Semester 5, it’s busy. So busy in fact theres only time for a few short FaceTime calls to plan the celebration with the family come the middle of April.
April 22nd the big day is here. 14 family members are on their way to the Barbados for 8 glorious days. Chloe’s time on the island (at least school wise) is over. She is understandably sad to go. Many, many new friendships have been made with people from California, Florida, Philadelphia, Michigan ect. Constant 30 degree plus weather, snorkeling, beautiful beaches, a love of the kind, easy going Bajan people and the outstanding food on the island are all high lites. Most importantly she has done what a large number of her classmates couldn’t. Made it through the 5 semesters of class room medical school. She’s half way there. Can’t say M.D yet but can we at least call her an M?
8 glorious days for the family in Barbado’s.
What an incredible time. Lots of beach days, catamaran snorkeling tour, island tour, swimming, the islands only craft brewery, watching the surfers at the world class Bathsheba beach, incredible seafood and just a whole lot of laughs.
Thanks everyone for the great 8 days.
Here are a few pics from our trip.
I would like to dedicate this post to my friend Duncan Mcphail. 20 years ago Duncan was the first person I met at our lake retreat. Jacquie and I weren’t there more that 5 minutes when we met Duncan. Pretty soon we were sitting on his deck having a beverage and being welcomed.
Duncan was the kind of person most of us aspire to be. Smart, giving with a great sense of humour. He could pull in on his Harley or his 68 Camaro looking totally retro. Then turn around and leave the next day for a council or mayors meeting to help right his municipality.
When you needed something he had it. Over the years we shared some great bbq, margaritas, Sunday morning church at our neighbor Charlie’s for a laker (Charlie was a retired stelco steel worker) and just a ton of laughs. Yes, a ton of good memories.
As parrot heads say “Duncan set sail in March”.
Till next time.