Happy sad

It has been a fun time for almost 3 weeks.  We enjoyed Montreal.  Hanging out with family has been wonderful.  I actually feel like part of a real family here again.

When Harvey married Beth, it became clear that we were not particularly welcome.  We stayed with friends when we were in Ottawa to see Cevyn and the girls.  Of course they were, and always will be our priority.  But I felt like a bit of an outcast.  Cevyn had no room for us at her home during the first few years.  

 Since Beth left, Harvey really does feel like part of the family again.  When he married Beth, I told him that I was not going to stop being a mother-in-law.   Harvey cooks for us and we hang out together as a family again.  He is in a tiny apartment and is learning to be single again.  Tomorrow we are going to his place for Tagine (he really is a great cook).  

We go home on Friday.  It is hard leaving but the other part of the fam is in Alberta!  

The really good sad/happy news is that I spent time with Lisa's best friend.  We hadn't seen each other for a few years due to Covid. We went to dinner with Nancy and a fellow she is dating (her hubby died 3 years after Lisa), and Harvey.  We reminisced and laughed and had a wonderful time.  Nancy regaled us with stories about the antics she and Lisa got up to!  It was like old home week - but missing Lisa.  

Today, Cevyn and I went out for lunch with Nancy.  I always (almost always) visit Lisa's grave when I am in Ottawa.  Nancy and I headed off to say Hi to Lisa.  We got there to find about 2 feet of snow between the road and the grave.  We tried to navigate it but kept sinking in.  Lisa is buried in a small cemetery in the country, about a mile from the home she loved.  They don't do burials in the winter so do not keep the road open.  So we said hi from the road and promised to visit next time.

I love it here.  We walk the girls to school in the mornings.  There is a short cut  to school.  A path that goes over a bridge, and through a little park.  There are a least 4 or 5 varieties of birds that live around here - robins (are back), chickadees, grackles, cardinals, sparrows and of course crows and ducks in the creek.  We are serenaded.  I love it!!

Our neighbour has an April 1 birthday so we get to party on our first full day home.  It will help with my Ottawa homesickness!

Happy to have a more or less complete Ottawa family.  Sad that Lisa is only here in spirit.  I like to think that she was with us laughing up a storm!