CHRISTMAS WISHES FROM THE SISTERS 2005

        

                ‘Tis the Season to count our Blessings

       Amid the bustle and hustle of the Christmas
           season – shopping, trimming the tree,
           decorating the house, it’s easy to
           lose sight of the true meaning of this
           special time of year.

            It is a time to count our blessings…for
            our health, our family, our friends
            and the privilege of  doing meaningful
            work year round.
 
            T
his time last year little did we
             realize we no longer would have
            Bill with us, a man of great faith, who
             was known as Governor to most of us?
            His concern for each one of us and for
            the poor is the wonderful legacy he
             left with us. Another true gentlemen was
            called to his eternal home in the person
            of Fred Walter, family and his community
            too will sadly miss him. 

            I was about to write a “Christmas Blessings”
             however discovered one of Joyce Rupp and
             it conveys all I wish to relate.
 

            May you give and receive love generously.
            May this love echo in your heart like the
            joy of church bells on a clear December day.
 

            May each person who comes into your
            life be greeted as another Christ. May the
            honor given the Babe of
Bethlehem be
            that which you extend to every guest who
            enters your presence.

 

            May the hope of this sacred season settle
            in your soul. May it be a foundation of courage
             for you when times of distress occupy your
            inner land.

 

            May the wonder and awe that fills the eyes
             of children be awakened within you. May
             it lead you to renewed awareness and
            appreciation of whatever you too easily
            take for granted.

 

            May the bonds of love for one another
             be strengthened as you gather with your
            family and friends around the table of
            festivity and nourishment.

            May you daily open the gift of your life
            and be grateful for the hidden treasures
             it contains.

             May the coming year be one of good health
             for you.  May you have energy and vitality. 
            May you care well for your body, mind and spirit.

 

            May you keep the eye on the Star within you
            and trust this Luminescent Presence to guide
            and direct you each day.

May you go often to the
Bethlehem of your heart
   and visit the One who offers you Peace.  May you
            bring this peace into our World.


                             This year has been a memorable one for me in
                             that I celebrated my 50th Anniversary as a SCIC
                            I am most grateful to one and all for the many
                            ways you made this occasion special. I have been
                             in Vancouver since 1997 and continue to enjoy the
                            beauty of this great providence. My ministry
                            consists of being a member of the Board of
                            Directors and Society of Providence Health Care
                             as well as being on committees.

 

One of the facilities of Providence Health Care is Brock
Fahrni Pavilion and I am the Mission Facilitator for the Staff.
The Sisters Association of the
 

Archdioceses is very active and I chair the Justice
Peace and Integrity of Creation Committee.
We have a number of Associates which I
very much enjoy working with throughout the
year.

The Future Planning Committee for our
Community takes me to Saint John from
 time to time through out the year, which
gives me an opportunity to visit with family and friends.

 

My wish for you is that you will experience an abundance
 of God’s peace and love throughout the Christmas Season
 and every day of the New Year.

 

In Christ,

 

Margaret

 

 

         

THE BENNIE VICKERS’

 

Mary continues to be busy, quilting in the winter,
 enjoying her beautiful cottage in the summer, which has
the most magnificent view of any cottage in Utopia. She is
very generous in sharing her time and gifts with her friends,
many a trip she makes to
Saint John with them for their doctor’s
 appointments and shopping. We are always delighted to have
 her at her gatherings.

 

Judy is an extremely busy lady, teaching school, driving
education and nursing on the weekends.

 

Kelly and Fred are enjoying life, Kelly working part time,
 Fred driving his truck across Canada and U.S.A, from
time to time Kelly takes a ride with him.  Golf is a top priority
 in their household. Catherine is enjoying her studies at the
University of Prince Edward Island and has frequent
visitors from her home base.

 

Wendell stops in occasionally to see his Mum when his business brings him to N.B.

 

Co-Author ~ Sr. Alice

 

 

 

THE WILLIAM VICKERS’

 

On behalf of everyone in my family, I like to wish
 all our relatives and friends a Merry Christmas
and the very best in 2006!   We’re coping well with
 the loss of our Father and want to thank one in all
with the support we received. Dad has certainly left
a mark with all of us. Many of you who read this,
will remember how he affected you in some way.

Mary Gill best described him at a family reunion
 in Nowlanville in the early seventies; “The one
 that gives and never counts the cost. “ As his
siblings, we knew he volunteered his services on
 the Miramichi. I remember so many early mornings
 while loading up my truck; he too, would be loading
 up the station wagon and taking his own personal
 milk run. Families who couldn’t afford to put
food on their own tables were often surprised to
 see dairy products on their doorsteps. But just how
 much he gave to the under privileged wasn’t truly
 clear to us until last February. So many people,
who we never met before, explained to us on how
 our Dad helped them in some way. Just last
summer while I was eating a steak on the
barbeque, my Mother mentioned she found
 a receipt of a side of beef which dad bought
 last fall. However, only a quarter of that side
 of beef managed to arrive home. Ironically,
while celebrating his 70th birthday, Uncle
Junior asked Dad what he would change in
his life if he had a chance to go back and do
 it again. He hesitated for a second and said,
 “I would have helped the poor more.”

 

Mother is well and busy as always. I often call
 home and she would be out picking blueberries,
playing bridge or at a book club. Mother and I put
over 3000kms on the new car this past summer.
Our goal was to try the seafood chowder from all
the restaurants along the coast of
New Brunswick.
 It was so much fun walking the trails and boardwalks
 along the
Atlantic Coast. It was great seeing the
Sisters, Uncle Gerald and Kathy at a summer cottage
 in Rexton, NB. Mom is off to
Florida in November
 where John,
Kingston and I will join her for Christmas.

 

Mary and Ed Rawlinson have an empty house this
 fall. Amy has joined her sister Erin and cousin
Laura at
Mount Allison University. Mary continues
 to work with Social Services and Edward the
Miramichi Community College. I know my sister
would want me to announce that she turned the big
 50 this past June. As in most summers, Ed can
 be found in your nearest Triathlon. The girls
enjoy their visits home from M. A.

 

Kevin and Ann Vickers and their children Andrew
 and Laura are well. After 25 years with the RCMP
 Kevin has officially retired. He is now head of
security of the Parliament buildings and the
Prime Ministers residence in
Ottawa.  Anne
floats from the Miramichi to
Ottawa and can
 also be found berry picking with Mother.
Andrew is attending
Miramichi Community
 College
and Laura is a key volleyball player
 for
Mount Allison University.

 

John Vickers is a busy man on Vancouver Island.
 He initiated and organized a Victoria Ball to raise
 funds for UNICEF. This Black Tie event was a
great success, which included the Victoria Symphony
 and national Artists.  In the same month he had
thousands of citizens from
Victoria and out lying
areas come and tour his Pumpkin Art at
Government House. Again, all proceeds from his
Artwork will go to UNICEF.  At times CBC Newsworld
and CTV Newsnet will use his Artwork during
commercial breaks in the latter part of October.
He is to be congratulated as he raised in the vicinity
of $15,000 for his Charity.  Besides this, John finds
 the time to manage his own business, Bay Systems,
 which uses smart Technology for new homes.
In my youth it was quoted that our “Uncle Burns
 knows everybody and everybody knows Burns
Vickers.” In the years to come I‘m sure this
will be said about my brother John.

 

I’m officially in the North 20 years as of August.
 I still love teaching and spend my time in my kayak
n the summer months and on the squash courts
throughout winter.  This past summer I did a part
of the
Coppermine River system. On the third evening
 I found a beautiful small
Island to camp on. 
It was a good location as we were at least 2 kms
from shore in all directions. The Tundra is the home
 of the Barren ground Grizzly, so this
Island was ideal.
  However, we woke up on Day 4 of our trip with
 high winds and large swells on the river. Day 5 and 6
 were actually windier. So on Day 7 I called Air Tindi
 to come and get us. It was a let down not to finish
what we set out to do but being on the Barrenlands
is truly amazing.

 

Kingston lives the good life in Indian Rocks Beach
, Florida. Actually, he is probably working the hardest
 working in sales for a German firm and at the same
 time studying for his MBA.
Kingston is certainly a
 great host to me as well as all of us when we visit.
My sister Mary loves to travel with
Kingston as
he goes on business adventures across the state.
As I mentioned, along with Mother, John and I
will spend Christmas with him.

 

Once again, thanks for all the support you have
 given us this past year. Our prayers are with
Dad along with Uncles Bennie, Allan and Junior.

 

Merry Christmas

 

Will Vickers

Co-Author ~ Willie

 

 

 

THE GILLS

 

Mary continues to reside at the Billings Court
 Personal Care Home in Burlington,
Ontario. She is
 about a 5-minute drive from Colleen’s house. Her mind
 and memory are as sharp as ever.  She had a
number of relatives drop by to see her when they
were in the
Toronto area this past year, and she
 enjoyed the time she spent with each of the visitors.
She welcomes phone calls and letters from relatives.
She can be reached at 905-634-3197 or by mail at
3700 Billings Court, Burlington, Ontario L7N 3N6.

 

Colleen retired from teaching this past year and she,
Ed and Paul moved into a new home in downtown
Burlington in October. They are just a few minutes
walk from
Lake Ontario in a beautiful older section
of the city. Paul graduates from high school this coming June.

 

Barry continues to work for Purolator in Thunder Bay,
Ontario. His son Chris works in electronics in Toronto
and his son Andrew works in
Thunder Bay. Barry and
his son Geoff traveled to Winnipeg to celebrate
Thanksgiving with Gerard, Maria and family this year.
Pat Gill and Denise and Evan also joined them on that day.

 

Gerard returned to teaching after 11 years as a
school administrator, and is enjoying his liberation
 from the tyranny of paperwork and administrivia.
Gerard and Maria were able to connect with a few
relatives this past year.  In January, they spent an
enjoyable few days in
North Carolina with Kelli and
Scott Hammond and their children Carolyn, Natalie
and Elizabeth while Gerard was at a conference in the
 area. In July, Gerard and Maria were pleased to be
 able to connect with John Vickers for lunch in
Victoria.
In August, Gerard traveled to
Burlington to visit his
 mother and Colleen and Ed and family, and also in
August, Gerard and his son Michael spent four days
in
Thunder Bay visiting with Barry and his family.
Michael graduates from high school this coming June.

 

Co-Author ~ Gerard

 

 

 

 

THE BURNS VICKERS’

 

Burns and Peggy have had an exciting and
 adventurous year.  In the spring they sold
 their house in
Bathurst and moved to the
Miramichi.  Peggy does miss her house in
 
Bathurst, but is settling in and enjoying the
 extra attention from her girls.

 

Talk about movers and shakers!  Carol-Ann
 and Sandy also moved to the Miramichi and
 sold their property in
Bathurst.  They are temporarily
 residing in the
Bahamas for Sandy’s work. 
I hear Todd has found someone special on the
 
Island and Carol Ann sneaks away whenever she can
 to visit Pam and Joey in
Toronto.

 

Emma Jane and Frankie have welcomed the
extra family on the Miramichi with open arms. 
They have been busy helping Burns and Peggy
settle in to their new home.  Laura May and DJ have
 had an addition to the family (new puppy Molly).
Claire has purchased a new home in Rothesay,
 where she lives with her two sons Patrick and
Sean.  She is working to help the children
 adjust to their new life and continues to build
a career with NB Power

 

Betty and her girls still reside on the Miramichi. 
Tila is teaching full time and keeps
Beau Bears Island
on it toes in the summer. Allison is working on her
Masters; looks like we have a new Scholar in the
 family.  No one knows why Betty won’t sleep at
the cottage anymore, but my spidey senses are tingling.

 

Alice is now the lone ranger in Bathurst
How long will it take her to see the light and
move to the Miramichi??  Josh is living in
Fredericton and is often seen the road between
his home and
Bathurst.  BJ is still in
Saskatchewan doing God’s Work.

 

Maurina and Randy have been in one place for
almost two years. 
Houston now feels like home to
them.  Promises have been made to Jillian to
stay until she graduates in 2009.  Will they be
 able to stay still that long?

 

Joan and Tony are piling up the air miles flying
between
Montreal and Seattle.  Tony’s work has
taken him to the west coast temporarily and we
will see what happens in 2006.  David is still in college
 and Daniel keeps his parents busy as an active teenager.

 

Co-Author ~ Maurina

 

 

 

THE ALLAN VICKERS’

 

It was great to have the opportunity to host Mom during
 her visit here to Ottawa that was full of family, BBQ`s and celebration.

 

Chelsea graduated and the whole clan was here to celebrate the
wonderful event. It was great to host both sides of the family.

 

Everybody knows Debbie has the gift of gab and now
 she can do it both official languages.

 

Keith keeps his eye on the Prize and has spent
 over a month in Miramichi rounding up support
for his campaign to run when his MP steps down.

 

Ashley is next -so prepare yourself Carmel!

 

Allan is in honour band playing his trumpet.
He has also taken to the electric guitar and
continues his piano studies. He also started playing
football and enjoys his hockey as well.

It was great to see Pauline in June!
Gorgeous as ever.

 

Keith saw Richard, Carolyn, Cindy and Jocelyn
 in Miramichi. Richard blew through
Ottawa
for a stop over on his way to
Huntsville.
 It was great to see him.

Carolyn is constantly upgrading her credentials
and is always the number one caregiver in the eyes of the kids.

 

Charlotte and John are proud of Jeffrey’s ingenuity.
The new entrepreneur has more business than he
 ever imagined and the
Fredericton landscape has never looked better

John continues to be busy selling lots of Co-op
Products- wouldn’t Uncle Bill be proud.

 

Charlotte remains busy at her Vice-President position at the Hospital. .

 

Barbara, Rick, Mathew and Garrett have been to
 hell and back but all the family, prayers and
 support have made us all realize we are never
 far away from each other.

 

Garrett is a strong young man and we are all proud of him.

 

Eileen and Kevin will never be finished traveling.
London, Paris, Ireland, Sweden, Alaska, and
Newfoundland- what’s next?

 

We have had the pleasure of having Jake for a
week in the spring. He also loves to travel.

 

Karla continues to dance as fast as she can- attending
University, working at a law firm, and teaching dance
classes - a multi-tasker extraordinaire!

 

Carmel, Bruce, Ashley, Jamie Lynn and John:

Bruce and John visited us in October while
John participated in the National Chess Championship
representing
PEI.

Jamie Lynn continues her studies and athletics in
St. Catherine’s.

Ashley is in grade twelve and is giving thoughts to
University and future endeavors.

 

Albert is inundated with work, expanding and training
 new workers for the new gold discoveries in
New Brunswick.
  Martha continues to break new ground with her health
 practice as a Nurse Practitioner.  Ensuring the people of
 the
North Shore stay healthy is only part of the work,
ensuring the Conservative NB government that Nurse
Practitioners are a cost saving alternative to a family doctor
 is another battle.  The family is very busy and continues
 to settle into their beautiful new home, set back from
the road and within the trees, it is a retreat from the
world Living outside of
Bathurst, they are in the
Riding of Miramichi -for now.  The past summer
 has kept the girls busy with Emma bringing in metals
 with her competitive
Highland Dancing and Courtenay
with her clarinet at Music Camp.  Music continues to
 be a strong part of the family with weekly piano lessons
 and choir practices.  The family has become very
 involved with Martha’s yearly Christmas concerts.

 

Co-Author ~ Keith

 

 

 

THE ALBERT VICKERS’ JR

 

There have been many changes within our family
 over the last year. It is with great sadness and excitement
that we report that Mom has sold her house and will soon
move into an assisted living facility in early December.

 

Deborah and Bill's daughter Tracey has successfully
completed her Bachelor's of education, and received
 a permanent full-time teaching job at a beautiful
school teaching grade 2. We thank God for this wonderful
 opportunity. Tracey and her fiancé Shane Dupuis have
 announced that their wedding will take place in
July 7, 2007. Uncle Gerald we are saving a table
for you and Aunt Helen :) Kellie is completing her
Honours degree in Social Work and will be graduating
 in the upcoming June. She hopes to work within
the area of palliative care.

 

Diane and Bill Pepper married on May 20, 2005 in Las Vegas.
Viva
Las Vegas!!! Diane retired from Bell Canada
after 32 years and is currently working in a small
office environment. Diane's son Dustin is currently
in teachers college and he is recently engaged
to his longtime girlfriend Karin Isley. He plans to marry Aug 25/2007.

 

Darryl and Sharon's daughter Jamie graduated
 with her Masters in Marine Biology, from
Dalhousie
 University. Jenn is currently finishing her
degree and is applying to Teachers College in the
 fall. She is engaged to Derek McGuire and is planning
 to get married October 2007. 

 

Donna continues with her challenging Social Work.
In early fall she visited
Saint John, Dalhouise and the
Miramichi. Ella was her companion while in N.B. She
was welcomed with open arms and everyone enjoyed
having her. In Donna’s words I had a fantastic time.

 

This year we were blessed with a visit from both Sister
Margaret and Sister Charlotte. They brought a lot of
life back to a very quite house. We can't look at a cinnabon
without thinking of them. They also proved to have a
 lucky streak with big wins at the Casino/Raceway...Go sisters Go!! 
They also shopped until they dropped for an outfit
for Sister Margaret's 50th Celebration. We look
forward to seeing you both again soon.

 

Deborah, Diane and Donna went up to Burlington to
visit Aunt Mary; we had a delightful visit and reminisced
about Dad. It was nice to see her.

 

Co-Author ~ Debra

 

 

 

THE MEAHANS

 

Ella is celebrating her 75th birthday this year. 
We’ll all be taking her out, as usual.  Too bad
Junior’s Donna won’t be here to make the margueritas. 
We enjoyed her visit this summer.

 

Mary is still busy with hockey, even though the boys
 no longer play.  Katie is doing hockey and ballet…
quite a combination.

 

Margie traveled to Stellarton, NS for Adam’s wedding
 to Michelle Avery.  Adam and Michelle have bought a
house in
Truro where Adam is an Advanced Care Paramedic. 
Robert has signed up for the military.

 

Noreen just got her Real Estate License. 
Michael is finishing up a Business degree at UNBSJ.

 

Patty is involved with sports too—hockey for Blake
 and swimming for Rebecca.  She is still teaching in
Camp Creek, Alberta.

 

Kathy’s Olivia started ballet this year and was pleased
 to see her cousin Jimmy’s daughter, Emily, in the same
ballet class.  Samantha is working on her next level of swimming.

 

Joan’s Vicky now has a license to teach in New Brunswick
and
Nova Scotia.  She is supplying at various schools in the
Halifax area.  Jared started High School this year.

 

Jack moved in with his caregiver, Jerry, who just bought a
new house with a big yard.  It is located close to Ella’s and
practically next door to the Fire Station.  Good choice.

 

Ed hosted the girl’s and Ella at Mary’s 50th birthday last year
 in Hamilton and we’re hoping he will make it home for Mom’s
 75th this year…but if not, maybe we’ll see him at Christmas.

 

Joe is working at Nova Scotia Education and Development
 and doesn’t get home too often; however, when Margie
was walking through King’s Square this summer, she ran into
 him with 10 of his clients.  He had decided to take them to
 
Saint John and then on to Joan’s camp for a summer outing,
even though the Department had cut this from their budget! 
He is dedicated.

 

Phil’s Kelsey started walking and Riley started
 kindergarten.  Phil takes all three to Sunday School
 and started teaching catechism when he saw there
was a need for teachers.

 

Co-Author ~ Margaret

 

 

 

CHARLOTTE

 

Charlotte following 13 years as Administrator of
 
Seton Court and St. Vincent’s Convent as well as
 Manager at
Mount Carmel Convent decided it
was time for her to enrich her spiritual life. It was
with a heavy heart she made the decision, as she loved
setting out for her ministry each day.

 

During her years in these positions she accomplished
 much in particular for the comfort and safety of the
 sisters. With the help of other sisters, the
Motherhouse face was change somewhat:
the front entrance area was re-organized
and the front doors changed, the Art and
Heritage Rooms dressed up, a number of
 bed rooms enlarged thus providing space
 for bath rooms, small tables purchased
for the Dining Area., an alarm system
installed throughout the building. The
Apartments at
Seton Court were. filled
 at all time, which was often a challenge
 to know which individual to accept.  
She created Manuals in relation to
renovations, purchases and major events.

 

On September 4th she left forEngland

 to attend the Renewal Program at the

 Redemptorist Centre. From all reports the

 program is most interesting and meeting

 sisters and priests from all over the world

 is an education in itself. One of her highlights

 was a pilgrimage to Rome. Each day they

 attended Eucharist, the first day it was

 celebrated at Saint Peter’s Basilica and

 they stood in line for two hours to visit

 the Vatician Museum and the Sistine

Chapel.  Eucharist was celebrated at

St. John Lateran (which is the Pope’s

Church, also in the church they have

the holy steps that Jesus walked to

meet pilot. There are 28 steps and you

 can only go up on your knees, she

was able to climb them and prayed

for each one of us.  While at the

Vatician city she saw the Pope as he

drove around in his motor vehicle.

She will visit Scotland at some point

 while at the Centre. On December 1st.,

she will move to a L’Arche Program in

 England for a couple of months. In

April she will return to Saint John

and her ministry will be working

with the L’Arche Program, which recently opened.

 

Co-Author ~ Margaret

 

 

 

ALICE

 

This coming year Alice celebrates 50 years
 as a SCIC. Also it is 30 years since she
 was diagnosed with rheumatic arthritis.
 It has been a challenging year as her
knees and shoulders have been giving
 her more of a problem but it does not
 inhibit her in anyway when she has a
goal to achieve.

 

As I look over the past year I am
heartened by her courage in her continuing
 to spent time at our cottages and
family homes, knowing she is missing
 the comfort of the nurses and her own bed.

 

Ella, our nieces and her many friends
ensure she has lots of diversion. Just
ask
Alice where the best restaurant
in
Saint John is to dine. Nature is
one of
Alice’s loves and she
appreciates the drives through out
 the countryside. Carl, the house
schofar is always available to
take her to the Library where she
 can spend many an hour browsing
 through the newspaper and picking
 up her favorite book. Larry King
is still on her agenda but American
 Politics is less interesting for
her since Bill Clinton is no longer President.

 

Her ministry involves her prayer, liturgy

 and funeral committee, RCIA at the

Cathedral, not to mention her telephone

 ministry. In addition she is able to assist

 with various celebrations, activities and

hospitality that take place at her Residence.

I marvel at her way with words as she is

called upon frequently to pay tribute to

a sister that is celebrating a certain

milestone or a staff member that is retiring.

 

Co-Author ~ Margaret

 

 

 

THE GERALD VICKERS' 

 

Life continues to be very busy in our branch
 of the Vickers family. Dad is working hard
 at his camp at MacDonald’s Point and we’re
 all enjoying the beautiful scenery and great
 swimming. Mom and Dad’s door (and fridge!)
 are always open for members of our extended
 family. There is rarely a dull moment, with
 so many grandchildren around.

 

Anne and Dan seem to go from one sporting
 event to another. Daniel is in mechanical
 engineering at UNB Fredericton, Ben is
playing Bantam AAA hockey and Adam
 is enjoying grade 12. Danny began his
new job as Executive Director or the
Heart and Stroke Foundation for New
Brunswick on Dec.1, and Anne continues
 to work at Ruth Ross.

 

Kathy is enjoying her position as a social
 worker affiliated with our local schools,
but has caught the travel bug, and plans
o take a leave of absence and spend next
year working as a social worker in
southern England.


Emily is in grade four and keeps her parents
 busy with dance, drama and music lessons.
Nora has accepted a new position this year
with the Dept of Health and Wellness as
Director of Community Mental Health Services,
for the
Saint John Region. Jim continues
to keep taxpayers in line at Canada
Revenue Agency. All three of them
 look forward to lots of snow this
year so they can enjoy the slopes
at
Poly Mountain.

Paul and Ginny are on the beautiful
 island of Arachat, off the coast of
Cape
 Breton
. Paul has been promoted to
Sergeant in charge of
Richmond County.
Ginny is kept very busy with the activities
 of Thomas, 4, and
Elizabeth, 6, who
are enjoying school, preschool,
swimming and skating.

 

Jon and I are busy chasing our two
 very active three year olds, Ellie and
Gerry. Jon has a year off next year
on the
New Brunswick teacher’s
deferred salary plan. We plan to
rent out our house and spend a
year in
England, so that the children
 can spend some time with the British side
of their family.

 

Hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas.
We all look forward to hearing all your news.

 

Co-Author ~ Karen

 

 

 

JOAN

 

Merry Christmas from Morgan Hill, California

 

I’m sure you are all well. As for me,
my health is good. I continue to walk
daily. Also, as you know, I keep busy
with my jobs.

 

My trip home this summer was particularly
 special. It was great to have some special
 time with Mary—coming and going.
She is very keen and enjoyed seeing photos
 of my trip on my return. She has a strong
 interest in the Miramichi, a lot like Dad—
knows the exact names and dates of people
 and events. It’s always nice to spend time
with Ed and Colleen. We shared some very
 good times together. Stopping at the
Abuds—five of us sisters—we had some
wonderful fellowship over teas, wines
and delicious meals. I admire Philip
who is such a survivor. Also spent
short but quality time with Burns, Peggy,
 and Monica. The primary reason for
my trip was to attend my 50th high school
 (St. Michael’s Academy) reunion.
They kept us busy for three days with
one event after another. It was so good
 to see how well my classmates were doing.
I continue to remember even now
their love and wonderful spirits. I
was driven from the reunion to
Gerald and Helen’s. Their family,
Ella, and Mary (Benny’s wife) held a
very nice dinner for me.

 

Michael, Irene, Carli and Andrew are
doing well. They moved into a beautiful
, new, larger home in July. Michael and
Irene are both working for mortgage
companies. Michael’s family and I make
 a point of getting together from time
to time over meals. Carli is 13 (March 16th)
 and continues to excel in school and
sports. She is doing so well at sports that
she is the starter catcher for the
16-years-and-under All-Star Team in her city.
Andrew also loves sports. He is very
creative in many areas. He is 4
(December 24th) and attends pre-school.

 

Kelli, Scott, Caroline, Elizabeth (Ella)
and Natalie are doing well. I try to
visit them in
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
 3 or 4 times a year. We go on nice
outings each time I visit: once we
lunched at the Carolina Inn, and
another time we spent a week on the
Outer Banks of
North Carolina. Our stay
on the Outer Banks was exceptional.
Kelli and Scott rented a house. We
spent time fishing, on the beach, visiting
historical places, and running away
from Ophalia. Yes, we have our own
hurricane story this year. We were
forced to leave in a hurry because
the police notified us that we had
to evacuate within an hour. The
winds were already heavy and the
only way to get off the island is
by ferry. Ophalia hit the next day.

 

Kelli is a stay-at-home mom.
Scott is flourishing in his job at
University of North Carolina. He runs
 a laboratory that deals with gene
and cancer research. This year he
co-authored an article published
in the New York Times. With a
houseful of girls, you can imagine
there is a lot of talking going on.
Caroline is 4 (January 1st), and
Elizabeth and Natalie are 3
(September 24th). Caroline is in
pre-school. She is a great reader
 and very much the big sister.
Elizabeth is musically inclined.
Natalie loves her books.
All three are in ballet.

 

BREAKING NEWS!! – The AMERICANS are
COMING! Since my 70th birthday is in 2007,
Michael, Kelli, their families, and I
will be crossing the border northward
to invade Vickers’ territory in August 2007.

 

 

 

 

THE ABUDS

 

Believe or not Alberta and Phil are slowly
 reducing their stock in the Store and
are carrying mostly “Work Clothes”
and consider themselves semi-retired.
Their 15 apartments keep them on
the hop thus no dull moments in
their house.

 

Dennis has the franchisee for the
Jean Coutu Pharmacy in
Dieppe and
when he is not playing Golf is
reflecting how he can expand the business.
  He is no stranger to field of business
 and thrives on visioning as to the
future of this lucrative field.
We are all proud when we see the
 name “DENNIS ABUD” hanging
outside his building. He has frequent
 visitors from
Adelaide Street to his
 home in
Moncton to hear about his
 endeavors and achievements as well
 as to give advice.

 

Julie, Hamud and Sahra are in Africa
and from time to time have opportunities
 to visit other countries; their most
recent visit was to
Spain. Hamud is
 employed by Alcan and has a very demanding
 position but all three are enjoying their
 new experience. Sahra is all of three
 years, and is able to speak fluently in
 English and French is picking up
 Spanish and other languages. She is
 able to talk on the telephone and
 tell her grand parents all about the
 happenings in her world.

 

Alberta reminds me she is the Baby of
 the family and this coming year will be
 receiving the “BIG GOVERNMENT CHEQUE’
 thus we are all creeping up and more
than ever must realize the importance
of prayer in our lives.   Alberta told me
this joke that her parish priest related
to them at Mass, he was expounding
that no one knows what prayer is or
 what is a Novena. “ A man confessed
 to the priest he had stolen a load of
lumber, the priest replied for that you
 will have to make a “Novena” the man
 replied you find the land, I have the Lumber.
  Hope you folks all know what a Novena is…

 

Co-Author - Alberta