It Ain't Easy

Yesterday was a grey day. Heaven opened and the rain came in a deluge. It suited my mood.

Saturday was beautiful. A new tradition was born. Stephen and Mary hosted a barbecue at the Forrester family cottage on the shores of glorious Georgian Bay. Hayley and Ryan swam between small rock islands close to the shore and paddled kayaks.

The evening sky was extraordinary. The clouds looked like they had been swirled about with a paddle. ..White to grey deepening to dark blue with the hint of a fiery red tunnel at the horizon.

The twins names have been carved in the tree trunk. The third generation of Forrester children who have enjoyed summers in that perfectly and uniquely Canadian place.

My grandson Cameron and his parents,Martin and Marnie were not there. Cameron was hit on the face with the handle of a hockey stick at a ball hockey game being played for fun and relaxation and healthy exercise.

Six teeth were knocked out by the roots and the bone holding them needed surgery to repair the injuries..

My son Andrew, an excellent hockey player, in his forties, is called upon every year to join a men's league. In his teens,Barrie Colts scouted him to try out. He wouldn't .

He had been on skates since he was five. He said; "I've gotten this far with all my teeth and without any scars, I'm not interested in playing that kind of hockey". But every year. it seems there is always a jerk who wants to maim and injure.Andrew can not understand that. It's a game for God's Sake.

What is that about?

The twins are leaving with their mother on Wednesday. Mary's going along with them on the plane to Seattle. They will be living together as a family for the first time, in their father's parent's house.

Stephen will be alone in his house after they leave. Stephen is a proud, passionate and loving father. He has been alongside Vanessa helping since the babies were born. Getting up at night for feeding, changing diapers etc. Full of admiration for his beautiful, strong, intelligent child and his heart bursting with love for her two tiny babies.

Babies born prematurely and under-weight need to be nursed every two hours on the dot. It is more than a full-time occupation with twins but it must be done.They are three months old. Reid is ten pounds and Claire is 8 and a half pounds and all is well.

So, yesterday was a grey day. It took me until this morning to focus back to the fact I can't live anybody else's life. Having one of my own helps with that reality.

I've never said it was easy.



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