Sad tidings awaited me yesterday when I was opened my mail to send my daily entry over for transfer to my desktop ‘Tony_Built3’. It was a short note by Ron to let us know that Ed had passed on. As former colleagues and breakfast partners we all knew that Ed’s health was precarious, but the death of the body is always such an uncompromising event; we may recover from poor health, but not from death.

So, after this message my thoughts wandered back over all the things and event he and I shared as colleagues in our Survey and Mapping section at Sait Polytechnic from 1973 to about 1985. I have decided to put some of this in writing to be shared with his surviving widow and son. From reading such notes from people who knew my parents, I remember how comforting it was to read other people’s experiences involving my parents.

So, after this message my thoughts wandered back over all the things and events he and I shared as colleagues in our Survey and Mapping section at Sait Polytechnic from 1973 to about 1985.

After lunch I called my sister Els with my birthday greetings for her. The friends had left and all was quiet now. Beside those friends her sons had taken her out last Sunday for a treat without the spouses, which was much appreciated by her. And our siblings in the old country also came by for a visit that Sunday as well, so Els had a good celebration.

After my call I went off to get my haircut downtown in the Grain Exchange, where Tony the barber has is minimalist salon. I’ve been going there for years now and we share and repeat our stories. He came from Italy in 1958 and never went back! Hard to imagine for me, who went back so many times.

Once back later on, I bought a Calgary Herald and read Ed’s obituary for myself sitting on a bench facing the Elbow river along 26th Ave. SW. Walking back home along 1st street and by the community gardens in Eberhardt Park I absorbed some of the significance of the passing and parting of my friend-like colleague Ed.

While so engaged, I suddenly recalled a dream from some weeks ago in which a person I know fairly well is leaving. At the time of the dream I thought it might pertain to one of my friend moving or even my son going somewhere else for work. However, none of these possibilities resolved the tension of not knowing.

But, yesterdays recall made the connection to Ed’s passing, resolving the mystery of the unknown identity of my dream’s figure. I have had dream experiences like this before and one in 2005 being quite specific as to who was leaving, but not when. That took about three months to become clear at the leaving of my friend Tom for Victoria.

Later last night my son Metta aka Derrick called to say hello as he walked and drove home after his choir practice. Such multi tasked phone conversations are hard to follow for the listener and are not my style. However, Metta is doing ok and looking forward to the upcoming choir performance, which will be a first for him. I took part in quite a few as a youth back then, singing base in the choir “Laus Deo” in Zeist, NL.

We also talked about plans relating to my up coming 80th birthday as to when Metta plans to be here or back in Victoria as John and Tammy will be there for holidays! Family life can be complicated as well as demanding, but worthwhile regardless.
<8:03am~