Katina Largos

On yesterday's post I talked about the wonderful people you meet in life . I do not know Katina Largos . I met her one time only and most likely our paths will never cross again . For me , it was a defining moment . Here is how it happened . I was sitting in the Toronto airport waiting for my connection to Montreal reading a book . Three seats down from me sat an elderly lady . She got up and asked me kindly if I would watch her baggage while she made a washroom visit. I agreed but thought to myself that is something one should never ask a complete stranger but maybe she saw something in my face she trusted . When she returned , she sat next to me and happily bantered about her trip . Like me, she was traveling alone . She was from Winnipeg and was on her way to Greece via Montreal to see her daughter and grandchildren. She was a plumpish , short woman with a huge , motherly smile , heavy accent and a devilish twinkle in her eye . She began to relate a bit of her story... cancer survivor , widowed young and never re married , though there was a man in her senior complex who wanted to keep her warm at night. She laughed and said she was hot enough without him . We continued to chat waiting for our plane to board and I told her of Tim Hortons and where I lived . She wanted my phone number when I offered my email , she laughed and said that she knew nothing of computers but her family always gave her phone cards as gifts . Obviously a lady who loves to talk . As we got up to leave , I asked her what her secret was for being such a happy person despite the adversity she had faced during her life . She flashed me a big grin and said " Well my dear , you have to love yourself ." Those simple words went straight to my heart and as we lined up for boarding , something happened to my composure and I felt the tears on my cheek . Before we parted ways , this joyous and warm hearted Greek woman grabbed my hand , brought it to her cheek and kissed it . " I am going to call you she said ." Katina is in her homeland of Greece for three months . I am not sure if she will remember me but I do know this . I will remember her .

"Life is a Highway "

"I wanna ride it all night long ." Everywhere you travel on life's highway you have the chance to meet wonderful people . Some of them are old friends and family you reconnect with and some of them are strangers whom you leave as new friends . Here are a few picture memories of the people I met along the road from Montreal to Ottawa.

"Life 's like a road that you travel on , when there's one day here and next day gone ."


A self portrait of heat , humidity and love . I have been blessed with this kid for 31 years and pray for many more . Her smile alone can launch a 1000 ships .
This is Monique and Kafy ..a new friend of mine who loves dogs and dog people just as much as I do .
Suzanne is my dear outlaw sister who let me kill her butler this visit and has the patience and understanding to put up with me once a year .
Michelle is funny gal who makes movies and never brought James Denton to meet Ma but meeting her was just as special ...I think .
If there are angels on earth you would be looking at one now . Agathe is a long time friend of mine who is one of the most loving and kind human beings I have ever had the joy to meet on this earth . There are no words to express the gratitude I have in my heart for simply knowing her . My new friend Kim on the left with the beautiful strawberry blonde hair and a contagious zest for life that I admire .
My Mix 96 sons , Matt and Rob who always welcome me back and make me smile .
My very favorite Corn\Chip who is funny without even knowing he is funny .

Welcome Back Me

Is Ma washing a suitcase full of dirty laundry ?
a) yes
b) no
c) had disposible clothing
d) giving her wardrobe to poor Paris Hilton

Is Ma blogging when she has the time ?
a) who has the time for this sh**
b) when her chores are done ..hee haw
c) when Milky and Boobycakes aplogize for not wanting to see me
d) maybe

Will Ma post pictures of her trip ?
a) there are no chick pics except of N@ and me
b) see question 2
c) only if she does NOT look fat in any of her pictures or her eyes aren't closed
d) if she is not in a delete mode

Why is Ma wasting her time at this moment ?
a) she missed all you guys
b) her laundry is on the rinse cycle
c) she needs to exercise her fingers
d) she did not have a hatchling although she is constipated

Later kids ...

Posting Something Dammit

...for Bobbycakes .

Where in the World is Ma ?

( Nancy Drew a clue "Parlez vous francais ? ).

Tim Horton Camp Day June 6

Wherever you are , no matter what city , town , or province....walk , run , bike , bus , drive , skip , crawl , swim or boogie to your nearest Tim Hortons today and buy a coffee or 20 of them for underprivileged children in your community. Once a year on the first Wednesday of June , total sales of Tim's coffee today are donated to the Tim Horton Children's Foundation . This enables needy kids who live in your neighbourhood to attend one of six Tim Horton summer camps ...an experience that will enrich their lives and give them incentive for a brighter future .
So why are you reading this ....get moving and tell 'em Ma sent ya .

Brrrrrrrrr and Grrrrrrr

I would like to wish you all an early Merry Christmas as it is minus 3 and snowing out today . I do feel sorry for the birds and the bees and the flowers and the trees .....and screw the moon up above Jack Frost you bastard for icing up the gardens and having me wear mitts again . Where is your sense of timing gone ..it is the month of June damn you ! Go fly a kite in one of your spring blizzards and leave my two measly months of summer alone .

"Raindrops Keep Fallin" .."

" ..on my head , they keep fallin' " ....and fallin', and fallin' and fallin'. Okay enough is enough . I know we need rain to make the grass green and the trees sprout and I am the first one to say how much I love the smell after a warm rainfall . Excuse me for whining Mother Nature but I cannot smell that smell if it never STOPS raining .....key word here is after the rain not in the rain . It rained so much late yesterday afternoon my entire street looked like the raging waters of the Mississippi ( spell it ..old joke , sorry could not resist ) . Try finding all of your 5 umbrellas when you need them . You know you can't . There is flooding all over the place and boating will soon rejuvenate the commercially dying downtown . I might have something there ..The Third Avenue Marina . Good thing our former mayor has retired or he might just swap that idea for his own . Oh crap , I forgot the number 1 rule ..never talk politics or sex . Well I am never gonna stop the rain by complaining so I did me some talkin' to the sun and he should reappear on Tuesday. Now I have to go run and buy two matching yellow raincoats for Karma and I for doggy class tonight .
P.S. Forgive me P.O.M.N ( Pissed Off Mother Nature ) for being such a big drip ...the weather channel says SNOW tonight . Changing my Third Avenue Downtown idea to a skating rink .

Heroes

Memorial day was celebrated in the United States last weekend .It is a day of remembrance for those who have died in the nation's service . One particular story touched my heart and I would like to repeat it here for those of you who might have missed it . A young man growing up in New Hampshire had always loved animals and slept every night with the family dogs and cats ....a modern day St. Francis of Assisi . When he was called to serve in Iraq , his compassion was exemplified when the 22 year old saved a new born puppy off the bloody and war torn streets of Iraq in March of this year and brought it back to the safety of his barracks . On the next fateful day , Justin Rollins was killed by a roadside bombing. The family and fiancee asked army officials if it would be possible for the puppy to be flown back home to the United States as it would always be a fitting tribute to their son and the last thing he touched that brought him joy . Just before Memorial day the spotted , mixed breed , female pup was flown 6,000 miles and found a new home on the empty bed of a young man from New Hampshire . Justin was buried in Arlington National Cemetery . The dog's name .."Hero ".