The New Chapter

Good Morning. Monday morning and the official first day of SPRING. Oh, how I long for dry ice free sidewalks and streets. A reminder of life.

Today is also the birthday of Alvin’s Best Friend Teddy. He reminds me of Alvin. They were truly best friends and on our last walk, Alvin wanted to go to see his friend. Wishing our Teddy a very Happy 10th Birthday.

Teddy, Alvin’s Best Friend

BFs together

BF Teddy

BF Teddy

The boys

Alvin & his BF Teddy

Yesterday I wrote this poem about saying goodbye. This post is reflective of how I am feeling both joy and overwhelming sadness.

Saying Goodbye!

No one knows what is coming

There is no way to prepare for that moment

We all know in our hearts that life does not last forever

But we are never prepared !

When that day comes

The blueness and emptiness we feel in our hearts

Weighs down our spirit

The loss is unbearable

The guilt weighs heavily on us.

Nothing will ever be the same again,

More change, how much can a heart take!

The pieces smashing down upon the floor.

Breaking everywhere.

Photos and videos remind us of what was

What will never be again

Life goes on, it must.

We cry at night and weep behind closed doors.

But the memories bring us up

Hard as it is,

Tears will fall, they will dry.

But the memories will remain.

Stories of who they were,

The start and the end and every moment in between.

How they touched our hearts

How they brought so much to our life

How we will remember.

How they reached our soul, in epic proportion.

How they brought so much joy.

The laughter and the tears.

How each memory will be carried in our hearts and minds forever,

For an eternity ……. they will live on ……..

Written by CYLewis on Sunday, March 19, 2023.

My heart is broken with the loss of my beloved Alvin.

*************************

Remember to tell your village, your family, your friends that you love them, that you care and always do whatever you can to be present in their lives. We never know when things will change.

Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus, possibilities, coffee and forgiveness.

Always, Carol & Alvin (My Forever Angel)

Thought for the day ……

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 10th day of November, 2018.

Today my second youngest brother would have been “55” years old.

He passed in March of 2009.

We miss him terribly.

Today I am thinking of him and our loss of his spirit.

We miss you buddy.

The boy with the big heart.

 

 

IF I HAD KNOWN

Looking at photos of us when we were kids.

It seems like only yesterday,

but it was a lifetime ago.

Things have changed.

We were five now we’re four.

How I long for those days.

When we were all together.

When playing school, all sitting in a row … I’d be the teacher…

Running about the yard playing in a nearby slough looking for tadpoles …

Playing in the dirt ….

Imagining driving to far off places in that old black car, and eating Mom’s homemade french fries and pumpkin pie.

Playing hide and seek and watching Disney on Sundays.

Was what we did, when we were just kids.

Now we’re grown,

Time has past.

If only I had known,

We would be four and not five.

I would have taken your hand.

I would have told you how much I loved you every day.

I would have loved you better.

I would have visited you more often.

I should have tried.

I would have known your pain.

I would have understood.

I would have known your favourite song.

I would have known your favourite colour.

I would have known you better.

Now we’re four and it’s too late

For me to take your hand.

To share your pain, and to comfort you.

I wished that I had knew you better.

Between the pain and the laughter.

You were a man, and I remember the boy

The little boy with a zest for life.

The little boy that always seemed to find a way ….. now that’s our secret….

That irresistible little guy that made me smile.

The little boy with such a big heart.

That much I did know when the boy became the man.

I feel that I let you down, but it is too late

I wished that I knew your favourite song.

Or what you made you cry late at night.

Why the time passed so fast.

Now we’re four instead of five

What did you think?  Your thoughts?

I wished that I knew.

If I had, I had only known  the man, not just the boy.

 

Written by Carol Yvonne Lewis, January 8th, 2010

Jeff and his sisters at Christmas

Grandpa Jim & All 5 of us ……

Jeff & two of five (Cindy & John)

Jeff and three of five (Carol, Cindy & John)

Jeff and Five of Five (Tyler, Cindy, Carol & John) – 1992

 

Special Hello to: my little brother ….. miss you

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 8th day of January, 2017.

Just saw a magpie (bird) fly by my office window.

The sky remains overcast with the morning cloud cover but in gapes I can see pure blue sunny sky.

It is quiet in the house.

Alvin is laying in the hallway waiting for me to come downstairs and start our day.

We were up several hours earlier so that he could go outside and have his breakfast, of course.

But then I felt it was too early to rise so back to bed (not the sofa this time).

Last night my sleep was filled with many dreams.

Unfortunately I do not remember them.

We have had a good weekend.

Yesterday my daughter and our newest addition came to visit before and after Aspen’s Doctor visit.

I love having them over.

Aspen tried her best to induce Alvin to play but he just could not find his way yet.

He will.

We feel as we watch interact that they will one day soon.

One of those things ….. they just need to spend more time together.

Alvin is not a puppy any longer so things sometimes take longer.

One of those “age” things ….. which I can attest to.

Baby Milo has already figured things out but then they are with each hour 24 hours each day.

Aspen is such a sweet creature, and I am so happy that she has joined our family.

We love her and I am grateful that she found her way to us at the most perfect of times.

She brings a loving, calm, peaceful presence with her.

She is a YING to Milo’s YANG.

They balance each other.

She will continue to teach him good things.

He is definitely still a puppy and she has taken the mother role.

We do miss our Elton and Miss Penny, and they will forever be in our hearts and minds.

 

As time passes on the younger ones will take over most of our everyday thoughts.

But always our beloved Elton and Penny will be in our hearts.

There is room for each one in our hearts for all time.

To all those who have lost a loved one recently whether two-legged or four the grieving process is different.

Take your time, remember them, and always keep them in your hearts as a memory for all-time.

To Sundays a day to reflect and perhaps relax before heading to the week ahead.

Special Hello to: my sister, thank you.

Always, Carol and Alvin

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 28th day of October, 2015.

Dark crisp morning here in Edmonton.

On my way home from work last night, I ran into one of our friends “A” and her dog Abi (Alvin’s girlfriend).

They were just going out for a walk.

Abi was so excited to see me that I thought perhaps they should come in and after I fed Alvin we could join them for a walk.

Alvin at first was more excited to see me because he had to go outside and then he foodie that he is …. had to eat.

They had their time and then we went for a great walk together.

Alvin and Abi …. so cute together.

 

Four sleeps until the big day.

I can hardly wait.

On Sunday the 1st day of November my Christmas Tree is going up.

So excited.

I am grateful that I can put it up on my schedule ….. previously I was working at the store most Sundays.

Please do not get me wrong I am grateful to the “STORE” for hiring me when I needed a job ….

Not everyone is willing to take a chance on an employee that is over 50.

Funny thing you would think it would be the other way round …. more experience and all that stuff.

Anyway ….

Back to the TREE.

Sunday morning the Halloween decorations will come down as well as all of my other ornaments ….

Only Christmas things will be displayed.

I have so many beautiful items that I want them to be out front … and not in between a vase that doesn’t really match the Christmas theme.

I am going to check to see if my daughter will be joining me for the big event.

Hot chocolate and a Christmas movie playing in the background.

There is no better way to spend a Sunday ……

Exciting and relaxing all rolled up into one.

Just a few days until my favourite time of year.

Tree goes up.

House gets decorated inside and out.

Pull out my Christmas cards and start writing them so that they can be mailed before the end of November.

Decide on which photo of me and Alvin to get printed from our annual photo shoot.

I always send a photo with the card.

Each year the amount of cards I receive gets less and less.

I love writing each card to friends and family.

Sending a letter about our year and also a photo.

I think it is a way of people catching up with you when perhaps that is the only time of year that you communicate.

Not because you do not wish to but simply because life has a way of passing and there is no time.

Well almost time to get going to catch the bus.

Last night I brought my winter coats/jackets up from the closet in the basement.

Too cool in the morning for my light spring/summer jacket.

I hope that you have an amazing Wednesday.

Special Hello to: all you folks out there who will be putting their Christmas Trees up this weekend.

Always, Carol and Alvin

 

Thought for the day….

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 1st day of June, 2015.

It is bright, sunny with perhaps a slight breeze here in Edmonton.

I had the best Sunday ever …..

My daughter and grand-puppies came over for a pancake breakfast followed by a trip to Dunvegan Gardens.

We were pleasantly surprised to see a line up at the gate upon our arrival.

Checking on-line we saw that they only opened at Noon on Sundays.

So we had a couple of minutes wait having yet another opportunity to catch up, which was fine with me.

We both agreed that walking around the flowers was one of the best ways to spend a Sunday.

The scents were amazing.

I picked up a couple of perennials for my front flower garden as well as beautiful pansies and impatiens and a couple of flowers that do well in partial sun/shade.

Lucky for me, I had bought the exact right amount.

They look so much better than the poor shrubs that had been in that front bed.

My flower bed all planted

Flowers

Breakfast

Well Monday here I come.

It is promising to be a great day.

I hope that you had a lovely Sunday surrounded by love and laughter.

Perhaps you were out and out picking up some flowers to plant in your garden.

Special Hello to: all my friends near and far ….. you are the best.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day…..

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 1st day of February, 2015.

Good-bye January it was a great month and February will be an even greater month, RIGHT !!

We are off to a good – good start as the sun is shining and the temperature feels pretty good.

I didn’t check to see what the exact number is but I usually go by what it feels like when I  go outside.

So February is a good month.

We have Valentine’s Day ……

We have Family Day here in Canada and in the U.S. there is President’s Day.

I wonder do other countries celebrate similar holidays?

Alvin is looking out the window from the vantage point of our bed.

Did I say “our?”

What a guy…… he’s my boy that is for sure.

Just getting ready here to go to work at the store ….. certainly the mall will be busy today.

People like to shop on Sundays almost as much as they like to shop on Saturdays.

I hope that you all have a wonderful Sunday.

Time for me to go and have another cup of coffee as mine is half full and half cold.

I am getting a ride to work.

Today our four-legged visitor for the past week …. Mr. Casey goes back home.

His family is now back from a trip to Mexico …

We shall all  miss Casey very much.

Such a cute little guy.

I will post some photos later of all of our pups.

Special Hello to:  You on this great Sunday morning.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day….

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 30th day of November, 2014.

The last day of this month for this year.

That always seems strange when I think it aloud or write it down.

This day will never happen again.

The sun is up and I am not sure what the temperature is but I heard it is supposed to warm up soon.

Well tomorrow is the first day of December, 2014.

I am so excited for this Christmas.

My kids and grand-puppies are all here under our roof.

We will have some of their friends and children spending Christmas Day with us.

YAY.

Always nice to have children in the house on Christmas Day.

Today is the last day of Black Friday Weekend ….. somehow retail morphed one day into a weekend and in some cases a whole week.

Well that being said I did finish my Christmas Shopping or at least 98%.

I wrote up more of my Christmas cards with notes and will finish tonight.

Next Saturday is going to be baking all day long

Just one long baking fest.

LOVE IT.

Crank up the holiday tunes and warm up that oven.

Thank goodness for my Kitchen Aid Mixer …… oh yeah.

Well almost time to leave for the store.

I do love to work Sundays.

Finish this coffee and leave.

I hope that you have a wonderful Sunday.

Special Hello to: my nephew who remains in the hospital but every time we see him he is doing better …..

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day……

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 17th day of August, 2014.

Another hot muggy summer day here in Edmonton.

Alvin and I went for a walk a bit ago while it was still somewhat cool.

There is still a cool breeze so that helps especially when you are wearing a “fur coat.”

I had a glorious weekend …… still coming off the afterglow of Friday.

Having a barbecue at work, off early, shopping at the mall and winning movie passes.

WOW.

I am so grateful for every single thing that I have ….. from the tip of my toes to the roof of my house.

It is mine and I am proud and grateful and happy.

Sipping on a hot cup of perked coffee and I am truly on top of the world.

Next a nice relaxing shower – get ready – working at the store.

I have a short shift today – Noon till 4:30.

I am okay with that …… means I will get home earlier.

So that will be nice.

I always look forward to my Sundays at the store …..

I work with the best people on the planet alongside my family and friends, of course.

This is a happy, grateful, thankful, positive, smily, hopeful day ….

It is a great day.

So polish off that SMILE ….. get out there and enjoy the moment.

Take your SMILE and present it to your family, friends, strangers ….. just get it out there.

Be kind …… do something nice for someone.

It can be anything really ….. from opening the door to mowing a elderly neighbour’s lawn to taking a friend who is feeling low out for lunch or coffee.

Just do something nice ….. also you could go into your neighbourhood and pick up the trash.

That is a big thing for me…… seems like so many people like to leave things behind ….. I guess to show that they were there but still really people ……

I picked up several items on my walk this morning with Alvin ….. hands full with keys, poop bags and dog on leash.

So you can do it.

Take care and see you tomorrow……

Special Hello to: MOTHER NATURE …… THANK YOU.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day….

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday the 6th day of February, 2014.

Can you believe it?

Thursday again ….. didn’t we just have one.

Isn’t it great that we keep getting Thursdays.

I love Thursdays.

It might be my favourite day of the week.

Although I do love Saturdays …. for different reasons.

Do you love Sundays because you can perhaps relax and enjoy a day at home?

Do you love Mondays because it is the “first” day of the week?

Do you love Tuesdays just because you can?

Do you love Wednesdays because it is the middle of the week?

Do you love Fridays because it is the start of the weekend?

Do you love Saturdays because it is the weekend?

Well lots of reasons to enjoy each day of the week.

Whether it is for work or play …..

Each day of the week is always a good thing.

Enjoy your Thursday ….. I am certain that I will.

Special Hello to: my family back in Regina ….. miss you all ….. there are some special birthdays just around the corner ….. 🙂

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day…..

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 2nd of February, 2014.

Bright sunny morning here in Edmonton.

I hope that the sun is shining wherever you are and that you are having a FANTASTIC morning.

Just on my way to work at the store.

Sundays are always interesting at the store.

Sometimes the mall is busy and sometimes not.

But most times, yes.

It is funny that on Sundays most people are not “approachable.”

They seem to just want to come in and grab some items and go.

No greetings … no chit chat …. just grab and go.

Now that is not the case with everyone, thank goodness.

I love meeting people and am always happy to answer questions and engage in small talk.

How are you at “small talk?”

Some people love it and others do not.

Well time to relax for five and enjoy this cup of brewed goodness (my coffee).

Have a great day and enjoy whatever the day brings.

Special Hello to: all those folks who work at a mall ….. and to the shoppers who go there.

Always, Carol and Alvin