Saturday, December 24, 2011
I met Sally shortly after she moved to Vancouver through a sailing course. We both received our sailing certificates and soon discovered we had other interests in common. This was the beginning of a life long friendship and adventure together. We worked our way through cooking classes, jewelry making, calligraphy and many more classes. Along the way we also shared knitting patterns and other hobbies with an enduring interest in paper crafts. One day Sally told me about a date she went on with a man (Ian) that was to become her soulmate. They were soon a couple. When I first met her she had one cat (Babe) but over the years she made a good home for more cats and dogs. She also owned a horse which she loved to ride. Sally gave her full attention to any adventure we went on from shopping to ‘sightseeing’ and it was always fun. While shopping, she always spotted something she thought her family or a friend would like. She would surprise me with a present she remembered I liked on my birthday and at Christmastime. In 1990 Sally and Ian were moving to a beautiful new home in Manitoba where she would often later send me pictures of the deer and other wildlife that she enjoyed outside her door. The day Sally was leaving, she stopped into the hospital where I was waiting to give birth and gave me a stuffed bear as a gift for my baby. My son was born the following morning and soon met his ‘Auntie Sally’ when she came back to Vancouver for a visit. She always remembered him with thoughtful presents on special occasions. He still has the bear she gave him. Sally and I maintained contact through phone calls, letters, and later e-mail messages. We developed an interest in cardmaking and soon began exchanging handmade cards. She was always learning new techniques and soon started getting requests to make cards for other people. It was always a delight receiving one of her cards with her beautiful handwriting and a well chosen ‘saying’ inside. Sally convinced me to join an on-line card group she was on for awhile. Eventually Sally was asked to start her own group by a woman (Joy) who was on one of her card groups. Before long I was included and found myself part of a lovely group of ladies who Sally turned into a little family of friends. Sally made me feel like I knew even the friends and family I never met. Whatever was happening in my life, it felt good knowing that she was just a phone call away. I enjoyed our discussions on many topics and sharing our interest in paper crafts. I was impressed with her multitasking skills, especially when she could be on the computer and talk on the phone at the same time! You could feel her genuine concern for friends and family and wanting things to go well for them. Although it was too short a time, I feel grateful to have found a friend like Sally who was generous in sharing her time, skills and her enjoyment of life. We’ll miss her showing up at our door with a big smile and usually with lots of baked goods in hand. I’ve shared her sugar cookies with many people who were delighted to taste them! After Joe tasted some of the delicious biscotti Sally loved to make for Ian, he received some too. Thank you Ian for looking after things at home so Sally could come and visit. She will always be remembered and forever missed. Our hearts and prayers go out to Ian and her family. We hope that you will find peace and be sustained by memories of her. Love, Val, Joe and Chris
