DECEMBER 2

Here are the pics of day 2. It is covered in pretty paper edged with both lace and silver edging. It has a pretty cut out with a little Eskimo girl in the middle and a pretty green ribbon. Now how did she know that I originally came from the land of the frozen north? The inside of the box was lined with a silver and white paper and a silver handle. The bottom has a little green heart bead hanging with her 2 tag. Inside this was a cute candy cane also with a green ribbon. I think this month is going to go very fast.

I must tell you a a little story. When my son was here on the Wed. afternoon I received a phone call from a gal who said her name was Gail and did I know who it was? I said no and she said Gail Tibbett and there was still a silence while I frantically tried to picture who this could be. She laughed and said Gail Priest and right away I knew it was my cousin from Toronto by her maiden name. She was the daughter of my Mother's brother, my Uncle Tom. There were 3 girls and my Mother in my family so one by one as we married my Uncle Tom gave us away. Well Gail said she was visiting her brother Ernie who was staying in the Villages for the month of Nov. and another family member had told her they were only an hour or so north of Mt. Dora where we were. They arranged to come up Fri. afternoon after Dave & Kim left early Fri. morning for the airport. Now I have not seen these cousins in over 50 years. We left Toronto for Chicago 45 years ago and when we would go home this was a branch of the family we did not see. We would stay with my sister who also had 3 children roughly the same age and an inground swimming pool which was the hook. After a week there we would head up to Lake Simcoe where Harv's Mom & Dad had a cottage for another week or so then back to Chicago. No time for visiting except for brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews. I thought this is going to be strange but they arrived and it was wonderful. Was like 5 years ago instead of 50. Ernie and his wife and Gail and her husband. I had been to both their weddings but both had been married over 50 years hence the time date. Ernie is retired and had been a principal in Toronto and I mentioned going back to our old house and visiting my old school 3 or 4 years ago and Ernie laughed. He had been vice principal at my old school for 4 years in the 70's before he made principal somewhere else. What a small world. It was a great afternoon and we all promised to get together again next time they are down or we are up.