1990

Overall, 1990 was a fun year with a wedding in our back yard, another visitor from Britain and my trip with them, and then Irene spending the Christmas holidays with us.     But before that, we had the sad happening at the start of the year in losing my brother Gordon.

This photo was taken a couple of months before his death when Dick and I went up to Duncan on Victoria Island, BC, Canada.    

I often share with people who are going through a bad time that it helps me to compare it to the worst thing I ever experienced.     If it doesn't stack up to that, then it's not such a big deal and I got through the worst one, so can get through this one.     I point out that everyone has that one time in their life that is their worst.     Mine was the last week I spent with Gordon in May of this year helping Irene before he died.     He was dying of colon cancer that had spread and he weighed less than 50lb.    No time in my life since then has compared in the enormity of the emotions I shared with Irene.

But to better times.    

We gussied up our back yard with flowers and an arch for Becky's wedding.

She was a beautiful bride.     Unfortunately the marriage didn't last, but from that marriage we have our first great-grandchild in Jessica.

My nephew Ian and his girl friend Danielle visited us and I took a trip up to Canada with them

Danielle was born in Milan, Italy and even though I think she enjoyed her trip overall, I do believe she was disappointed in our San Joaquine Valley - I learned later that she thought all of California would look like the Santa Monica beach!

It was Irene's first Christmas without Gordon so we persuaded her to spend it with us.     We had a good time and this photo is of myself, Irene and Louise all dressed up to go somewhere.     The funny thing is that I haven't a clue where we went!!!

This last photo was taken around the same time, and a favortie of mine.   It really shows the size of Duke!    That's Lady with them and you can see Lena on the back of the chair.