Posts from — January 2020

Well almost hello 202o. At the end of December on the 30th we headed to Vancouver on a Wells Gray Tour to celebrate New Years in Vancouver. We booked this trip in September when we knew that our travel would be restricted due to my heart recovery. So in addition to using this as a chance to get away for a short bit we are also testing it out to see if we are ready for this type of retirement travel.

We had a full bus load and everything was very well organized. We drove to Vancouver with a stop for lunch in Chilliwack, then out for a play that evening (Miss Bennett  – Christmas at Pemberly) at Granville Island.

New Years Eve Day we had a tour at the Vancouver Art Gallery – Emily Carr Exhibit and then out to Richmond for Joseph’s Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat. After getting back to the hotel just before midnight we went to the Wedgwood Hotel to have a drink and ended up in the lounge/piano bar. The piano player was outstanding, he played a wide variety and took requests from the audience; it was a special way to bring in 2020.

On New Years Day it was off to the Orpheum Theatre for A Salute To Vienna with a guest conductor and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra – what an amazing show. Then home on January 2nd.

We were definitely the youngest couple on the tour, so I had to take my “patience pills” each morning with how people would move, block door entrances and just in general not listen or pay attention to instructions from the tour director.

Stay tuned for more updates in 2020

So, here it is the middle of January 2020 and I am just getting around to updating our web page. 2019 was a very busy, hectic, exciting year. So, here is a summary of 2019.

As you read in the last post we started by heading to Hawaii for a month. Waikiki is not for everyone, but it certainly has what we enjoy.

We got back from Hawaii in mid February and thought winter would be over, but oh no it gave us another cold blast to remind us what we missed when we were away in a warm sunny climate.

Then on March 4th, 2019 Murray passed away. It was a sad day for the family however for Murray he was finally at rest. His passing was not unexpected however it is always a shock when it happens. Murrays’ memorial was on March 23rd and he would have been smiling and laughing along with everyone else who attended. The City of Kamloops Rube Band was there to play a few numbers as people were arriving. Ken Hoshowski Band President said a few words on behalf of the band and then the Rubes played a couple tunes; it was the closest thing to a New Orleans Jazz Funeral this town has ever seen. How many people do you know have had a complete brass band play at their memorial? Murray was definitely smiling looking down. Dean, Judy, Brenda and I did the Eulogy and then there was a luncheon following where old friends reconnected and shared stories thanks to Murray.

Murray Frederick Mason
Born January 26th, 1923 in Nelson B.C. and passed away March 4th, 2019 in Kamloops, B.C.
“A Life Well Lived”.

Also in March we had our annual Family Ski Vacation. This year we were back to Sun Peaks and a stay at the Sun Peaks Grand Hotel. They have pet friendly rooms which is great for the Princeton family that has 2 dogs.

At the beginning of June we were off to Harrison Mills for our annual reunion with our good friends. Then the rest of the spring and into early summer saw us getting ready for a trip with the Rube Band to St. John’s Newfoundland for St. John’s Days. 2019 was the 70th Anniversary of the City of Kamloops Rube Band and it was also the 70th Anniversary of Newfoundland and Labrador joining Canada in Confederation. We had a blast for the week in St. John’s.

After St. John’s Brenda and I headed to Nova Scotia with the plan to drive around Cape Breton and enjoy the scenery and the culture. We had an amazing week in Cape Breton, did lots of hikes and made lots of new discoveries.

Once we returned from back east I went to the Doctor as I had been having some funny sensations around my throat. Anyways, after seeing the Doctor and getting referred for testing the Cardiologist scheduled me for a routine angiogram in Kelowna. Well my heart couldn’t wait for Interior Health or the Catheter Lab in Kelowna to have an opening so it speeded up the process and I had a myocardial infarction (heart attack) around 1:30 a.m. on July 27th. I was given the best care possible and since my heart was in good shape to start with plus our other good health/lifestyle choices I am on the road to recovery and the last Cardiology Doctor that I saw diagnosed no damage to my heart. So as you can imagine all of our activities have been focused around my recovery and so we have been staying pretty close to home. Through all this Brenda has been a “trooper” and so supportive I am so fortunate to have her as my wife.

Our regular retired life is about the same. Brenda keeps herself in amazing shape by exercising at the YWCA on regular daily basis through the week. Then on the weekend we are always doing something outdoors as a physical activity, biking, hiking, walking, gardening (I am allowed to help in the garden but only under strict adult supervision).

I still have my little Country/Bluegrass group (Kamloops City Strummers) going and in fact this year we added a couple new members so we are now a quintet.

We managed to fit in a few trips to see the grand kids and their parents, plus a trip to Vancouver to see my brother George and sister Maureen and her husband Art.

That was just a quick “flyover” of 2019, but it gives you some idea of what went on.