Here We Sit

August 20, 2009 1100

So here we sit in the Toronto airport awaiting our flight to Alberta. We arrived at 0615 for our 0800 flight only to find out the flight had been cancelled because of mechanical problems. We are rescheduled to leave at 1310 arriving in Calgary at 16:24. Because we are travelling with WestJet we were given vouchers for access to the VIP Lounge with free food and internet. It could have been worse - we could have been flying with AirCanada.

We have had an enjoyable week in Toronto visiting with Rob, Jennifer and the Perry's and of course Tim Horton's.

We had the opportunity to watch the Perry grandkids at their sailing school. Alex looks very natural at the helm. We watched him accidently "turn turtle" that is the sailboat turned upside down while they were sailing. He and his crew were able to right it in short order. Millie also looked very comfortable sailing, although there were a few squeals coming from her boat when it was heeled over.

Griff had a pleasant surprise happen. He contacted his sister, Holly, who told him there was a family reunion on August 22 and she thought their Uncle Norman was visiting. Griff contacted his niece and sister, Anne and sure enough Uncle Norman is visiting from England.

Unfortunately we will not be able to attend the reunion, but Rob took us to Burlington yesterday and we were able to visit with Uncle Norman and Anne for the afternoon. The last time Uncle Norman was here was in 1991 for Griff's parents' 50th wedding anniversary. It was an emotional reunion with both of them commenting how much they looked like Griff's dad. Uncle Norman is 90 and travelled here by himself. He said he had tried coming last year with his son, but his son collapsed in the airport before they left. This year he told his son he couldn't come - he said, "If the trip is going to be cancelled because someone collapses that someone is going to be me."

After spending time with the oldest member of the Thomas family, Griff's Uncle Norman, we look forward to arriving in Calgary and spending time with the youngest member of the Regier family, my granddaughter Eva.