I'm From... chapter 1

I'm from Edmonton in Alberta where we used to take axes out into the street on a spring day and chop up the ice which was covering the road. My family went to church every Sunday and one week we all took pictures of ourselves dressed up for church to send the pics to my dad who was out of town. I stood there with my little grin and held up my offering envelope for the camera.

I'm from the lady whose fur coat - muskrat actually - looked exactly like my mom's and one day I followed the fur coat out of church and into the parking lot only to find out that my mom wasn't inside it.

I'm from not trying to feel embarrassed about it.

I'm from Coquitlam BC, from a house where there's a creek and a culvert going under the road, and where it always rains and turns the creek into a river! I'm from falling into the creek on the first day we arrived, because I couldn't make the leap across like my big brothers and sister. (I was four.) I'm from peeing in the creek and being blackmailed by my sister for several years afterward because we knew we weren't supposed to pee in the creek and she threatened to tell mom. I finally told mom myself a couple years ago.

I'm from the Port Mann mile long bridge and the new Potello Bridge which looked the same, and we crossed those bridges so many times. I'm from Stanley Park and walking along the ocean at White Rock and reading about some unfortunate person who died when he "perished on the dashing rocks below." I'm from my neighbours the Thompsons, who lived across the street. I'm from the place of grief where they mourn for the oldest daughter Kelly who was my sister's best friend and was killed in a car crash in Kelowna.

I'm from Kelowna because my uncle, my aunt and my grandma all lived there for a time, and they all died there. Kelowna is a beautiful place. When we were kids we took a holiday in Kelowna and swam in Okanagan Lake. I'm from the drop off where the lake goes from long and shallow to quick and deep into darkness. My cousin Neil remembers swimming that day so many years ago. I saw Neil at aunt Lorraine's funeral this year. It had been about 30 years.

I'm from Calgary because that's where aunt Lorraine lived and raised her four kids Mary-Ann, Sandy, Bob and Neil by herself after uncle Mac died. I met some of Mac's family at Lorraine's funeral for the first time.

I'm from Red Deer because Uncle Don and Aunt Joan always lived there and we visited them, especially that one time at Christmas when we moved out east, and we packed up our stuff from Coquitlam before Christmas, went to Red Deer for Christmas with nana Hepburn, and then continued on our move to Oakville. The septic tank broke and we had to walk to the neighbour's to go to the bathroom. It was eight weeks before we saw our stuff because the moving van broke down and they left it sitting somewhere on the highway.

I'm from Boston Bar, BC, because my dad lived there for many years starting when he was a teenager. My grandpa bought a cabin business there when he sold his garage in Viking , AB. My uncle Bob lived in Boston Bar and we stayed with them a few times in their log cabin house right on the trans-Canada highway with the trucks barelling by all night long.

Eulogy for Auntie Lorraine

Lorraine Lawes (Agnes Lorraine Brown)

Lorraine’s story begins on November 30th, 1926. She was born in Viking, Alberta so she could be near her mother. Ronnie was born there as well on January 30th, 1931. Our elder brother, Bob was born on May 25th, 1925 in Vegreville, Alberta.

Viking is a typical small country town and we all lived and enjoyed the typical small town life. Everyone knew everyone in town including all the kids and parents. We were free to go everywhere, and pretty well do anything we wanted within reason.

All three of us were in the Viking School Band. This was one of the things I remember most about our early days in Viking where all three of us did something together. Bob played trumpet, I played trombone, and Lorraine the big-big tuba and she played it with all her heart.

You’ll be interested to know that a guy by the name of Marvin Lawes played trumpet in the band. Marvin was a grade ahead of me and a year or two later they moved away from Viking. Little did we know at that time that he would bless all our lives many years later.

As we grew up in Viking, Bob worked after school in Dad’s garage before going into the Navy during World War II. Lorraine worked in Styles Rexall Drug Store opposite Dad’s garage on Main Street. I was still doing all the usual kid stuff with hardly a care in the world.

I remember one incident during Lorraine’s high school years when she must have made Dad proud, and certainly surprised her school pals. It was a warm afternoon and either the high school kids were given the day off (P-D days were non existent in those days) or several of them played hooky. I don’t think it was hooky or Dad would not have been that proud of her. Anyway on the way to Lake Thomas, about 3 miles east, Junior Broughton’s car had a flat tire. “Brody”, as he was called, said “I provided the car, but you guys are going to have to put the spare on”. No one volunteered and the car just sat there for a few minutes while they discussed the situation. Lorraine, without hesitation, said “Where’s the jack and wheel wrench. My dad is a mechanic and I’ll change the tire!” And she did it all by herself just to prove that point.

Dad sold the garage in Viking in 1944 and took on the job of co-ordinating the 8th and last War Bond Drive in Viking. Bob was now in the Navy.

We moved to Boston Bar, B.C. in June of 1945 arriving in “cherry” time. Lorraine and I had never seen fruit on trees before. We were soon up the big cherry tree behind our house eating all we could handle.

Lorraine was soon working at the Hotel Café and continued there for about a year or so.

She moved back to Red Deer, Alberta in 1947 and lived with our Uncle Dave and Aunt Mabel while working at Horsley’s Drug Store.
Lorraine met Mac Houston and they got married in 1949 in Red Deer. I remember going back there with Mom and Dad for the wedding in Gaetz United Church.

They later moved to Calgary in 1952. Mary-Ann, Sandy, Bobby, and Neal were all born in Calgary.

During the kids’ high school years Lorraine began working at Fowler High School, running the book store among other duties. She remained there until retirement in 1987.

After Mac passed away in 1970, Lorraine assumed both parenting roles very well.

My career and business brought me through Calgary two or three times a year so we were able to keep in touch. Lorraine and I bonded closely as brother and sister during those years as we provided moral and physical support to each other on many occasions, and in times of personal and family concerns.

It was a real pleasure for me to be chosen to walk with Mary-Ann down the aisle when she and Jim Berridge got married in 1972.

Mom and Dad had moved to Kelowna in 1963, and as time went on Lorraine visited often to keep in touch. My business allowed me to schedule fairly frequent visits through Kelowna as well.

Bob and Dot later moved to Kelowna from Boston Bar so they were also able to keep in touch and help Mom and Dad as required.

After retirement Lorraine moved to Kelowna as well. Just prior to retirement, and on the occasion of one of Lorraine’s visits to Kelowna, Marvin Lawes re-enters the story of Lorraine’s life.

Marvin’s folks had wound up in Kelowna, connected with our Mom and Dad periodically, and Marvin retired to Kelowna as well, to be near his folks.

Brother Bob thought Marvin and Lorraine would make a good match and got them together somehow; and thus began a wonderful relationship.

During their 18 years of marriage both Lorraine and Marvin constantly remarked how happy and fulfilled they were at this point in their lives. Their blended families bonded together so well and it was great to experience this on several occasions when Jean and I were able to visit on special occasions, especially the big family reunion in 2000.

Now I digress for a moment:- Unbeknown to my family and Marvin, his dad taught me a very valuable lesson back in my pre-school days in Viking. You know the commandment “Thou shalt not steal”? Well he caught me in the act! Mel Wenstob and I had developed a fairly successful business of “recycling” pop and beer bottles from the back of Kelly’s Hardware, around to the front, where we would “resell” them. It worked good for awhile. Anyway, on this occasion Mel got away! I got caught! Marvin’s dad put me over his shoulder and carried me off down Main Street to Streit’s Butcher Shop, all the while explaining that he would have Mr. Streit turn me into sausage for stealing bottles. After much pleading and assuring him I would never steal again, he let me free. I probably never went back to Kelly’s Hardware until after the Lawes moved away from Viking.

As fate would have it, after Marvin and Lorraine were married, and I was on a regular visit to Kelowna, Marvin said, “Ronnie, come on over and meet my Dad!” How we all laughed when we both revealed our well kept secret to our families after about 50 years, and I had the opportunity to thank him for that very profound lesson he taught me.

Since then Jean and I have enjoyed frequent visits with Lorraine and Marvin, several joint Christmases, and even vacations. Our kids and grandchildren literally fell in love with both of them.

Lorraine has knit afghans for all 14 of our grandchildren, and I’m sure she also did the same for many others.

Such was her life, creating happy memories for us all, and getting great pleasure out of serving others.

She leaves us all with wonderful memories of a beloved mom, wife, grandmother, and sister, and a legacy of love and adoration.

Thanks be to God for her life and love.

Ronnie

My Cousins, part 1

What a bunch. Some of them I haven't seen in over 30 years; not since I was in Kelowna for Grandma and Grampa Brown's 50th anniversary! I had the pleasure of meeting many of their kids for the first time. When you add the whole bunch of my relatives on my dad's side, the "Brown" side, you end up with a small army of people.

Most of them live out in western Canada, with the exception of Sandy Houston who's in Halifax. Let's see if I can get them all: Mary-Ann and Jim Berridge- Calgary; Bob and Jackie Houston- Grande Prairie; Sandy Houston- Halifax; Neil Houston- Casa Grande, Arizona; Karen Brown- Kelowna; Keith Brown-Vancouver; Bill Brown- ; Bob Brown- Grande Prairie, AB; Kim (Brown)- Mackenzie, BC; Kirk Brown-

I'll complete this listing later.

On Friday, the day of the funeral, we sat around at Marvin's and just tried to relax. We got telling stories about dumb things we'd done. Sandy was talking about driving the old Blue Nova and going into the ditch on a ski trip, and also a story about Aunti Lorraine coming out to give the car a boost one time and forgetting to put on the parking brake, with the Nova rolling backward down the hill and winding up on some guy's front lawn. Bob matched the story with his tale of falling onto a ladder that slipped on the ice, and then another one about a nail gun putting a nail through his finger. Gerry told my blue paint mixing story with great relish. This was a good visit; a healing time; a connecting time. It's nice to not have to prove anything to anyone. Marvin's daughter Dorothy was there, and his daughter Kate also. She had her little boy Ari tootling around at her feet. She put him in a little cardboard box lined with a blanket where he could sit up and play with his toys. What a cutie.

Then we all went out to dinner at The Keg and had a good meal and more time to visit. Arlene got to have a good chat with Kim, and I was glad to get to talk with Neil. He's interested in doing some video editing so we shared that common interest. Keith talked about the type of importing work he does; sounds like all my cousins are not the type to sit around a wait for life to happen!

Next, Karen invited us all to her new apartment for a little while where we just sat around and visited some more. I think that was a special time for her to be able to have us all in.

A Spring Day in Kelowna

Lorraine, Lawes (2005-03-07)LAWES -

Lorraine passed away suddenly at home on Monday, March 7, 2005 at the age of 78. She is survived by her loving husband Marvin; daughter Mary-Ann Berridge (Jim) of Calgary; three sons: Sandy Houston of Halifax, Bob Houston (Jackie) of Grande Prairie, AB, Neal Houston of Arizona; and Marvin’s children: Dorothy Lore (John) of Duncan, BC, Mark Lawes of Calgary, Kate Lawes (Curtis King) of Calgary; ten grandchildren; and one brother Ron Brown (Jean) of Oakville, ON. Predeceased by her first husband Malcolm Houston and brother Bob Brown. Lorraine had a passion for volunteering and helping others. Lorraine will be sorely missed by all who knew her. A Memorial Service will be held Friday, March 11th at 11:00 am at the Chapel of Springfield Funeral Home, 2020 Springfield Road, Kelowna, BC. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Canadian Red Cross, 2280B Leckie Road, Kelowna, BC V1X 6G6 or charity of your choice. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.springfieldfuneralhome.com . In living memory of Lorraine Lawes, a metre of the Mission Creek Greenway will be dedicated by SPRINGFIELD FUNERAL HOME LTD. 250-860-7077.

An Inquiring Mind

There is eye candy and there is visual art. Eye candy is pretty and shallow. Visual art is deep and full of meaning.

Similarly, there is milk for the spirit, and there is solid food. My dad loves solid food that grabs his thoughts and goes deep beyond a surface scratch. I observed this yesterday as he was describing to me his strong interest in reading and understanding the spiritual truths that are at stake behind the Creation / Evolution debate.

Dad has a deep desire to express the truth of God as told in the Bible. He has come to love God's word and the powerful life-giving message of the Gospel contained therein. I believe he has experienced its transforming power in his own life, in his relationships and in his outlook. He is baffled by the willingness of people to believe in a fuzzy, powerless God, without any apparent curiosity to seek out deeper truth. He also is aware that his views are not shared by many people in his congregation, nor even by the minister. He reads for his own understanding, and also that in some humble way he might have opportunity to share something of what he's learned with someone. But, like me, he gets easily tongue-tied if not intimidated by quick talking skeptics.

When mom found out that Dad bought another book, she was not surprized a bit. She's come to expect it. "Dad has a full hour of reading every morning before I get out of bed," she said.

Dad has a collection of Creationist literature that would fill a book table. There's no place to put it without clearing out the collection of National Geographics that are archived in the living room bookcase.

It is so good to see that my dad's mind has met its match in the scriptures and in the fact of God. "How precious are your thoughts towards me; how vast is the sum of them." Ps 139. What God knows and thinks about us is far more profound than we can conjure up about him. It puts us in our proper place as beautiful, puny creatures, greatly loved by our Creator.

Job History of R. J. Brown

Dad started to work for Imperial Oil around 1965, when the company was starting up Car Clinics. The idea of the Car Clinic was to make a vehicle check and then report the status of the vehicle to the customer. "It was a diagnostic service that was about 20 years ahead of its time," he said.

When Dad began with Imperial Oil, he moved to Vancouver to work as the supervisor of the Car Clinics in that region. The whole bunch of us came along for the ride too! I started my schooling in Coquitlam at Brookmere Elementary School and stayed there until grade 2. I have many fond memories from my earliest childhood of the house at 551 Cochrane Avenue, with the stream running through the side yard.

Dad's duties in Vancouver included arranging for purchasing, installing and training on the various equipment and processes that made the clinics run. Much of his work involved selling the idea of the product to the employees and service station owners, and coaching them in marketing the idea to their customers.

In 1968, Dad was transferred to Toronto head office. This was a promotion for him. He ended up supervising the man who replaced him out west. The job in Toronto included a fair bit of travel around the province and the country. He continued to play a key role in sustaining and streamlining the Car Clinic program. Later the company added Car Wash facilities at many of their service locations, and Dad became a technical assistant in this area. Again, his duties included overseeing the procurement and installation of the correct equipment, and also consulting work in the design of the car wash buildings.

When self-serve gas stations took over in the early 70s, cross-selling of the "free car wash with fill" became difficult, and car wash services then had to be sold separately. The car washes could not sustain themselves for very long and many closed. It eventually became apparent that his role as an automotive service specialist with Imperial Oil would soon disappear. He would have been able to choose some other positions, but not in the automotive field which was his "lifeblood."

During his travels over the years, Dad made many friends and acquaintances in the automotive service industry. He had occasion to speak with a service supervisor from Canadian Tire who mentioned the great need for training for mechanics. The car manufacturers would not easily allow just any tradesman into their training programs, so there was a considerable need for training. "If I was to offer that training to you, would you be interested?" Dad asked. "Absolutely!" was the response.

In retrospect it was a combination of things that brought about the change of employment for Dad.

Alien Encounters

We finally found the church where our meeting was to be held: Temple Baptist in Cambridge. Speaker's name: Gary Bates, author of Alien Encounters. Lots of blowing snow on the road; one car had crunched into a tree, later another had gone off the 401 into the ditch facing backwards. So, we drove carefully.

My Dad, RJ Brown

My dad is coming over today. He invited me to a meeting on Creation and Evolution. I feel glad that he wants to see me and spend time with me. Not everyone has this luxury. I'm gonna ask him some questions that will hopefully fuel a few blogs over the next several days.

I've got lots to write down here, starting with my dad and branching out into the past, the future and who knows where else.

G.