Oct 5

10C, low overcast.

Yesterday we had a bit of  a wind storm, fairly strong for this early in the season.
Along with the other birds (purple finch are back) I see Bruce the hummer out there. He sipped off a good inch of his juice yesterday.
M arrived safe and sound in Salmon Arm yesterday afternoon. But some trauma over the situation with her mother and the way it was handled by staff of Ministry of Social Services. I realize that the Government agencies have a method of picking up on things published on the internet, so when the watch dog reads this, they will know that a complaint is coming and some unwanted publicity.

I have to finish readying the motor home and other stuff for the trip up tomorrow. Unfortunately my once a year appointment with the eye specialist isn't until 11:40 tomorrow so it will be a late start on the trip up.

I had thought about holding off on Patty's story but tomorrow will be a busy morning and perhaps a change in pace from the ending of "Mission" is in order.

Once again; the doll in the rocker at the top right is the central figure in this little bit of 'human interest'.

Patty’s Story

 For a week or so some of you may have noticed a picture of a doll sitting on a rocking chair. I put the picture there so that when the previous story was concluded I could tell the story of the doll.

To this point in time there are two parts to the story.

First part:

When I was born (a while ago) my mother had difficulty with the birthing and she ultimately had a caesarian which resulted in her unable to have any more children.

I think it was about when I was thirteen or fourteen my father gave the doll in the picture to my mother for Christmas. She had always wanted to have another child – a sister for me. If she had been able and if the baby had been a girl her name would have been Patricia Ann.

So my “sister” who was a real doll, resided with my parents from that Christmas morning onwards. I have to confess I didn’t pay much attention back then but after my Dad died in 1970, she (the doll) always spent her days leaning against the pillows on Mom’s bed.

After my mother’ death’s in 1998, Patricia Ann (Patty as she was known) came to our home and my wife found a place for her on the rocking chair that we keep in our bedroom. She occupied that chair until two weeks ago.

Second part:

In 1993  we became friends with Emi, a young Japanese international student. She stayed with us on holidays and many other weekends, we became friends then friendship grew to something more.  During this time my mother and Emi became quite fond of each other. Emi graduated and went back to Japan; by mail and internet our relationship stayed strong. When she got married in 2008, we were honored to be asked to and did attend her wedding. A year and a half later Haruka was born; we brag that she is our Japanese granddaughter.

Recently Emi’s youngest sister came to visit us for a few days; we wanted to send something special to Haruka and we thought that sending Patty to Japan to be Haruka’s doll friend would be the right thing. We believe that Mom would agree.

Patty did go to Japan and was welcomed into Haruka’s life.

Just today as I completed this little true story I received an email from Haruka’s real grandfather thanking us for sending Patty to Japan. Here is a small portion copied from that email: Haruka strongly hugged  Patty. Haruka liked her. We are happy to have her in our family but we are worrying whether she can understand Japanese and can use chopsticks. Furthermore does she like Japanese food and does she miss you all? So you shoud visit us to please her sometimes.

Perhaps some day there will be a Part Three.