HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALAN!

I remember a Sunday morning event on this date in 1948.  Dad took Merv and I with him to the Frontier Hospital.  The nurse, Christie Uglene, asked me if I wanted to see my little brother.  I thought that was a strange question as my little brother Mervin was standing right beside me!  So much for my knowledge of pregnancy.  Now siblings are told about a new baby coming almost as soon as the parents know about it.  Ultrasound pictures are shared and even seen on Facebook.  The mysterious question was explained when I got to see a new little brother, a baby who was named Alan Morris Erickson.

 The story goes that we had gone to town as was usual on Saturday night.   We had had our baths in the square washtub, Mom had scrubbed floors and cleaned the house that day too.  She went in to labor during the night so Dad took her to the hospital just five miles away, leaving Merv and I sound asleep at home.  I don't suppose he stayed long in town and likely went home before the baby arrived.  No fathers in the delivery room in those days!  We didn't have a telephone until the late fifties so he wouldn't have known about his second son until we got to the hospital.  I was in grade one so had special news for Show and Tell on Monday.

Dad took Mom to the hospital in the Whippet, his first car.  Alan came home in a 1949 Ford, the first new car Dad had owned.

Well, that all happened 65 years ago today, makes me feel old to be remembering things that long ago!  Now that little brother is about to get his first old age pension cheque.  I hope you get many of them, Alan, and enjoy life as the years go by, faster all the time it seems.

This week has turned out to be a busy one too.  I took Ashley back on Tuesday morning, met Laurel at the Weyburn Public Library.  I wanted to get a book by Alice Munro, a Canadian who recently won the Nobel prize for literature.  A million dollars goes along with the honour.  I hate to admit that I had never heard of her, let along read any of her books of short stories.  A note on the flyleaf of one of her books states that she is "the only living writer in the English language to have made a career out of short fiction alone." She has won numerous literary awards through the years and now at the age of 82 has been awarded the ultimate prize - a Nobel.

After the library visit, where Ashley picked out twelve books to take home, we headed for Weyburn Carpet One.  I had picked out some fibre floor but didn't think that was durable enough for the kitchen so wanted to find something that would wear better.  I took another sample of some vinyl tiles and then we went to DQ for lunch.  Then I was off to Torquay for our monthly circle meeting at Trinity with Pastor Danny leading our Bible study on prayer.

Then I was off to Estevan for a supper gathering at Mosers for our "Homespun Harmonies" accordion group.  We all enjoyed Susie's big pan of lasagne and the potluck items we brought to go with it.  Thanks for being great hosts, Ray and Susie!

Wednesday afternoon fellow from Carpet One came out to measure rooms that are in need of new flooring, almost all the ones on the main floor!  He'll have an estimate in a week or so but I may not want to see it.

Then I was back to Estevan as "Homespun Harmonies" were presenting a few musical numbers for Christian Women's monthly meeting.  I don't like driving after dark so I won't be planning on any more evening outings until spring.  I think I'll just hibernate for the winter!  I'm stocking up - dug the rest of my carrots and beets this afternoon.

On Thursday mornings I volunteer at Torquay Library from 10 until 11:30.  Play school meets in the next room so I was invited to read them a story each Thursday morning.  We are hoping to have more people using the library so this is one way of reaching young families.  The library is full of books for all ages and interests.  It's also open on Monday evenings from 7 to 8.  Hours will be extended if there is enough interest.  Come over and make use of this wonderful resource.

This is sounding like a diary, not a blog post so I think it's time to quit for today.  I sent lunch with Clare this morning and haven't seen him since.  They were able to combine some soy beans yesterday afternoon so maybe they are at it again today.  The forecast doesn't sound good for combining so they will work as late as they can.  I had lunch at Torquay Credit Union as it was Credit Union Day.  There was quite a crowd on hand for the barbecue so it was a good chance to visit with folks we don't see very often - from Estevan, Weyburn and even Kelowna, BC!

I made buns this afternoon so I better get them in bags and in the freezer.  The carrots are washed and bagged and I'll deal with the beets tomorrow.  Have a great rest of the week.