Family

The last few months for me have taught me a lot about family.  I don't want to imply anything negative because in fact the last few months have taught me that family is so much more than just the people who share the same genes.

This really hit home after October 11th.  My father had just celebrated his 89th birthday,  my Mom's birthday was that weekend.  Dad was waking into the kitchen when he fell.  This was nothing like a call he had a few months back but the effects certainly were much worse.  The ambulance came and took him to the hospital where they determined he had broken his hip and would need replacement surgery.  My Dad has been a strong man over his 89 years battling breathing challenges,  cancer and the call earlier the year but this was a lot.  My mom was worried as was I. That weekend they did the surgery and the first few days were very much touch and go.

My mom cannot drive and my sister has not been able to drive for the last few months so they relied on others to get them to and from the hospital. Mom never had a problem there as family stood up to help.  And not just our blood relatives.  Her neighbors,  her church family and everyone in between stood up to help.  Whether mom need a ride to the hospital or home or my sister a ride to a doctor's appointment someone was there for them.  Mom had people offering to take her out to eat so they did not have to worry about coming and had lots of people bring all kinds of home cooked food to make sure they ate well.  These same people made sure to stop by the hospital to see how dad was doing and to make sure mom and my sister were comfortable and had someone to talk to. 

For four weeks our very extended family,  friends, neighbors and church family looked after things. On November 7th a new level of even greater caring began when my father passed away.

The next few days were hectic but also reaffirmed my belief that family is so much more than blood.  There were a lot of dad's and mom's family that were looking age things including my mom and sister but also a lot of family friends picking us up at the airport,  making dinner for mom and coming to celebrate dad's life.  There were people from his church,  old family friends and people that had worked with dad starting 50 years ago.  The stories are great to hear and just reaffirmed my belief that my dad was a very strong man with great values.  He taught others, as well as myself,  the idea that hard honest work is a great thing and that song the right thing is always important.  Those ideas so be with me forever ...

As well as the memories of my father.  I know my mom and sister will miss him and I know I will as well.

I love you Dad and I hope right now you are resting well

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Ok, I do know Halloween is not until Thursday but I carved the pumpkins yesterday while Sam was baking cupcakes with some of her friends from school and Kris worked on her class work. 

Sam wanted Jack Skeleton from Nightmare Before Christmas. After carving that we were trying to decide on what to do with the second when we came up with the idea of a zombie pumpkin.

So here you have The Walking Dead meets, our should I say eats, The Nightmare Before Christmas

Determination

People have always said I am stubborn - I always said that I was"determined". I now know that my determination comes from my parents. 

For those that do not know my Dad has had a challenging few years.  Many years ago he had angina.  That has largely been handled.  8 years ago though he was diagnosed with colon cancer.  He was 80. A major surgery and a hospital stay resulted in double pneumonia.  We were sure he would not make it.  I was preparing to head to the National Karate Championships and then to Japan for the World Cup so I had heard back home to Newfoundland in case I would not get to see him again.  5 years after that my Dad was at Laura' s and my wedding.  That made my heart soar.

This spring my Dad went to go out and left their apartment and fell down a flight of stairs,. Thankfully he did not break anything but a fall like that takes its toll on a now 88 year old man.  We visited him late in July/early August.  We spent time cooking and eating,  going for a drive and a beer.  We talked and laughed.  Myself and Laura left Newfoundland happy.

A little over a week ago Dad went to go to the kitchen.  He fell.  This time he broke his hip.  This hospital trip was now going to include a trip to surgery.  At 89 years of age I guess it was time that the suspension got updated.  But at 89 any surgery is tough and when you have breathing problems like COPD, even more so.  The doctors were not confident he would make it after the surgery and the frantic calls were made.

The evidence of stubbornness is that I talked to him yesterday and today he is feeling great (his words). Now I am not one to live in a fantasy world.  You can face challenge after challenge but at some point the odds are against you.  In this case the odds are not just the hip and the breathing problems but also a new discovery of cancer in the lungs,  liver and spine.  I do not know if this is a case of "odds against you" being true but as both my Mom and Dad have said - he has lived a good life.  I know I have learned a lot from him - especially about treating people right.

All along my Mom has looked after him.  50 years in.  Putting up with the type of stuff that Laura now puts up with - which astounds me after 3 years let alone 50. She is a rock and so is my sister who is still in Newfoundland with them.

We will wait to see what happens with Dad,   hoping for the best all along, but I will always be proud to call Donald Thomas Moore MY Dad - no matter what happens.

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is my Mom's birthday. I think she said she was 29. 29 what I am not sure but I know she has the liveliness of 29.

I know today was not the easiest of birthdays for her - and in fact the last few months have been challenging but today is also Thanksgiving Sunday in Canada and I know she will say she is thankful. I know she will say she is thankful for her health and the fact that she can help others. She would say she is thankful for the fact that my sister's surgery went well and she is improving. I know she will say she is thankful for the fact that her loving husband of 50 years was able to give her a birthday kiss today. And I know she will say she is thankful for her friends and family that have helped her through things over the past few years.

I know one thing - I am thankful that she is my Mom. Thankful that she was there to teach me, even when she tried not to show it, and that she was there to sit and talk with me for days when I had my own problems to face.

I love you Mom. Thank you for being there for us. I promise we will be there for you.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Anniversary!

Happy Anniversary Sweetheart!

Us in NFLD

It has been an interesting third year. There have been lots of adventures ... some good and some, well
less than ideal. But the wonderful thing that has been through each adventure you have been there ... right beside me and I would not want it any other way. Maybe this coming year we can do more of the "less challenging" though ;-)

I know we have had some bumps in our third year ... job changes, starting the new company and the occasional, well slightly more than occasional, need to help out our kids. The wonderful part has been that you have been there to support us throughout every moment - the easy and the challenging. You have been a wonderful mother and a partner that anyone would be proud to have beside them.

This year also saw us go to Newfoundland to see my parents. Now I want to meet their record and hit the 50 year mark and I would only want to do it with you. Of course that means I will be 96 and maybe I will not be running like I do today but I will promise to show you I love you each and every day.

Thank you for the last 3 years and I look forward to the next 47. I love you today even more than that day 3 years ago when I said "I do".

Happy Anniversary!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!

Today is my Dad's birthday. I won't divulge his age but he was almost 40 when I was born.

Eventhough the last few years have had bumps in the road I am very thankful that when I call he is there to talk to and very thankful that when we are in Newfoundland we can go out and have a beer. He has always been there to help guide us, whether through what he said (or yelled) or through what he did. I learned a lot from my dad ... things that have helped me be successful as well as things that I have passed on to my children so that they may be successful. I hope they pass those things onto their kids.

We love you Dad and we are all glad you are around to celebrate another milestone.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Race Weekend #2

This past weekend was the second of my half Marathons over the last 8 days. The Canada Army Run
is a big event - about 8500 half-marathoners and over 10,000 5k runners. I would expect that there was likely more registered for the 5K but it was wet and cold early so maybe a few stayed away.

The race was great - I ran the half marathon and Tika ran the 5k. It was crowded, a bit windy, very cool and I did get wet from the occasional shower but I still managed a good run finishing just 2 minutes off the weekend before at 1:46:41. Tika also had a great run - consistent throughout her entire race and finishing in 30:30.

What made the weekend even better was getting to spend time with Tika while staying with our friends Malcolm and Lynne. Myself and Tika spent Sunday at the race, then she had us go to a great little restaurant on Gladstone called Pressed, where we had lunch with a couple of friends of friends, Nadia and Dennis. After lunch we did some shopping and then headed back to Malcolm and Lynne's so I could cook dinner. We had some great meals with the Browns and always great conversations.

There are a few pictures from the weekend - some of the official race photos and then some taken by my friend Tracy who also ran the half Marathon. You can see the pictures here.

If you need more than pictures there were raise videos at the finish.

Check out 34:55 in the video. I was wearing a yellow/orange long sleeve, black hat and had a red coat on my right hip.

And in this one you can just get a glimpse of Tika at 33:03 you will see a girl in a black top and pink tights all the way to the right on the screen - she is coming up to the finish and she crosses a couple of seconds later next to a guy in a yellow shirt

I may do one or two more races before the year ends but likely will be shorter ones just to have some fun.