By the end of September, my mother called from Nanaimo to read the Vancouver experts' results of my father's biopsy. He has a rare form of Bronchial Cancer, not due to smoking - non-mucinous adenocarcinoma. It's believed to have started in the brain. Dad is to have a brain scan on October 22nd and a bone scan on November 2nd. There is the possibility of his being palliative in several weeks' time.

Stephen took it upon himself to call everyone on his side of the family and cancel the planned Thanksgiving Dinner at our house. "We're taking the turkey to Nanaimo for Thanksgiving. It may be your father's last," he said.

On Sunday, October 10th, Stephen and I dropped off our budgie with his mother to look after for the weekend. We then picked up the ordered 12lb hormone-free/farm fed turkey from Mattick's Farm and drove - with our two cuddly cats - to Nanaimo for the two nights' stay.

Stephen and I helped Mum make the double crust apple crumble that Sunday. On Monday, we stuffed, cooked and ate the turkey.

Our weekend was not altogether without tension, however it proved to be one of the quietest and gentlest Thanksgivings. Given that I do love my father, I could never be close to him for sanity's sake.

On another note, the October edition of BC Christian News had a nice article about Congregation Emanu-El's arts gala showing. The freelance writer, Steve Weatherbe, quoted me several times in the write-up. One line is not exactly accurate. "That's journalism. It's to make the piece more interesting," said an RN-friend who insisted on posting the newspaper article on the 1st Floor board. She even put little stars beside my name and wherever I was quoted!

To the left is a photo of one watercolour painting during progress. It was one of several eventually finished for that arts gala. All the artwork, by all the artists who participated, were spiritual and/or inspirational.

Also, some of the senior residents at the facility overheard that 4 of my photos came 2nd place in the Saanich Fair. They asked if I could bring them in to show during a Social Hour. I kept my promise - after I framed the 4 photos with the 2nd Place red ribbon - this past Saturday much to their delight. So, I proved a bit of a celebrity amongst staff and residents for this month.

On the whole, I've been deeply reflective for the past few weeks: my sister's refusal of any contact with any family member, my father's alcoholism and his terminal cancer, my rigid and abusive upbringing, my love of life and my creativity amongst other things. I'm very thankful for Stephen's supportive listening. He and I have shared much of our similar pasts concerning our parents and childhoods over coffee, small outings and walks.