December 29, 2021 – Zoom Meeting – NVHS/Delbrook 1958

Eighteen classmates joined our virtual meeting. .  Sheila (Brown) Ward tactfully made sure that everyone was involved. 

The screen shot, taken by Bill Wedley, missed one attendee (Sylvia’s cat – a very handsome blond). Sylvia arrived first and told us about a tradition her family has of making apple pancakes. She explained how they were made and it would be very good if she would post the recipe on our class website.

Top Row: Sheila (Brown) Ward, Bill and Jo Ann (Mitchell) Wedley, Rob and Lynn Hohert, Ken Matheson

Second Row: Nina (Genjack) Kurrle, Marion (Humphrey) Marsden, Cathy (Bottomley) German and George German, Colin Neal.

Third Row:  Ed Jackson, John Bartok, Duncan McLean, Joan and David McKay

Bottom Row:  Paul Moores, Diana Davidson, Sylvia (Jones) Enga

Diana had significant contributions. Among other things, she spoke about “green burials” which cost less than a thousand dollars and nourish the earth so another tree can grow. Also, she emphasized that sexual impotence doesn’t need to be permanent for those with prostate issues. Getting advice from a sex clinic/therapist might mean all the difference. Folks might be quite surprised.

Sylvia relayed a true story of a Nigerian woman living in Port Coquitlam who has a 4 year-old, twin 3 year-olds, a 2 year old and just gave birth to triplets – giving her 7 kids age 4 and under. Sheila hoped that the woman had knowledge of and access to contraception as it is important that women give birth to the number of children they want rather than the number that may come to them.

John gave us the scoop on his boat repairs and would be glad for any donations to assist the $100,000 repair bill which hasn’t come yet because the repairs are yet to be completed. In the meantime, he is keeping busy with tennis, pickleball, and enjoying his son’s fish catch. John has much knowledge about various species of fish and other creatures such as seals.

 Colin emphasized that he left warmish weather at his inexpensive trailer home in Ontario to come out to visit with sub-zero temperatures at his son’s multi-million-dollar home in Vancouver

 Nina is a creative whizz. Her daughter wanted a replica of a dress she had made her a few decades ago. The daughter is a little bigger and so Nina had to design the pattern, use the material her daughter selected, and just in case alterations were needed, she sewed two dresses. A great accomplishment. Nina also has a new computer for which she is very grateful with regard to its speed.

 Rob and his wife were visiting in Denver at the home of one of their children that they hadn’t seen in a couple of years. Someone asked him where he lived and he explained their residences in Wisconsin and their big yacht off the Georgia coast.

 Several classmates told of their various medical conditions and how they were all overcoming adversity in those matters. Sheila recommended an important book, Being Mortal, by Atul Gawande. He is a brilliant physician/surgeon in the US who has written several very useful books. This one is worth reading and thinking about with respect to those we love and ourselves.

 Paul Moores joined the zoom meeting for the first time and gave us a thumbnail of his life work with BC Telephone which after early retirement became a new venture in ergonomics. He explained that his inventions saved a great deal of back injuries and became appreciated by various companies.

 There were prideful discussions about grand kids, many of whom are too far away (like the Wedley’s grand kids in Australia) and others scattered about the province or country. George and Cathy are excited to be near enough to have fun with their twin grand kids who had come along rather unexpectedly and added joy to several lives.

 There was talk about the homeless and being kind to others. Joan McKay, for example told us that here husband (and our classmate) David McKay has been instrumental in overseeing a charity that helps women and children in need of protection and services in Victoria.

 Ed explained the friendship with neighbours for whom they were going to get together to share a holiday dinner but because of the virus, the neighbours delivered the dinner to him and Anne instead.