A Brief Exposé of My Nefarious Past

This is mostly for the friends who recently looked me up after a 20 year hiatus. FASS folks (Faculty, Alumni, Staff and Students of U of Waterloo), thanks for influencing my life so positively. I have had many amazing people grace my life.

HIGHLIGHTS of the past two decades.

Late 1980's

• DISSOLUTION OF MY 1st MARRIAGE: took 10 years. While definitely not a highlight, this was a pivotal point in my life. From having the Mennonite community ostracize me to examining every belief I held about the universe and my role in it, it was a harsh learning experience. I still respect Tim Isaac, as both a person and an artist. We have both moved on to follow our callings. I believe that would not have been possible if our marriage had continued.
• SOLO: During the time I was evaluating the viability of my 1st marriage, I went on a month-long solo in Algonquin Park. I was a complete neophyte at the beginning but an original surveyor of the park tested me near the end of that journey and remarked: "I could drop you from a plane into the middle of this territory with a knife and a compass and you'd survive." The epiphany for me was about the healing powers of the wilderness. Note: On my birthday I always do something new I've never done before. On this birthday, after I gave them a last supper of peanut butter, I ate 24 slugs.

1990's

• SOUTH AMERICA: I travelled by myself (though I had family in Santiago) for three months through South America: Argentina, Chile, Peru, Bolivia and Brazil. Extraordinary experiences included: rafting down the whitewater of the Bio Bio (which is surrounded by lava that's frozen in position from when it hit the cold water; moonscape. There's a rapid down there named after me - one that I travelled in underwater while counting tiny bubbles); Puerto Maldonado - Amazon rain forest experience that included eating piranha, using bullet ants to suture a wound and fending off the amorous intentions of a 400 lb. tapir named "Romeo"; changing money on the black market; climbing up Machu Picchu and watching the sunrise with reverence.
• SOCIAL/CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY (U of Toronto): Anthropology appeared to be the convergence of my interests and ethics. I did a Qualifying year (since my B.A. majors were Psychology, English Literature and Comparative Religions) and then the majority of my Masters course work. I quit (which was excruciatingly difficult) for two reasons. 1. Politics: the department was trying to be a hard science in order to receive funding (from parties who were interested in info that would give them the upper hand over 3rd world countries). The department did this by disassociating from some of what I believe are the unmeasurable fundamentals of culture such as belief systems, art and unspoken social rules. 2. I found my true calling - to work as an experiential educator.
• OUTWARD BOUND: A not-for-profit organization that would become my home, passion and workplace for the next 14 years. I became an experiential/adventure educator and a course director, and eventually a manager/developer of community programs, corporate programs and base camps. The main aims were to assist people (age 13 - 88) in achieving their full potential. Transferable skills included: self-confidence, compassion, listening and leadership. Physical skills included: physical fitness, white-water kayaking/canoeing, sea kayaking, rock climbing, mountaineering, low impact camping, dog-sledding. The vehicles for achieving these skills included: experiential learning, mentorship, new social and physical environments and natural consequences. I worked with many inspiring staff and students in the phenomenal wilds of northern Ontario, the Florida Everglades, Vancouver and the Coast Mountains of B.C., and the jungles/mountains of Costa Rica. It was amazing and meaningful.
• TRIPS: Climbing trip to France where I had my heart broken. Travel around the U.S. with the same guy - silly me. Lived in Ottawa with him too!
• TRUE LOVE - 1998: I met a Yorkshire man in karate/kickboxing in Vancouver. He said, "Do you have a date on Friday night?" I said, "No, but I never have trouble getting one when I want one." He lifted his gaze from my bosom to my face, "Confident aren't we ..." I smiled. "And talented too." We've never looked back.
• BACK SURGERY - 1998: I am missing three discs, L4 L5 and one in my neck. My first one went in 1995. In 1998, three weeks after I met Colin, I stopped being able to walk. My leg was atrophying on my body and I was in such terrible pain that I couldn't finish a sentence - I couldn't concentrate that long. Colin wouldn't leave, even though we didn't know if I would recover. Bone spurs in my spine were herniating soft tissue (like discs), wrapping around and choking my sciatic nerve. After surgery I re-learned how to walk with a walker, a cane and then how to walk and talk at the same time (and turn my head without falling over). It took seven months for me to learn to sit, nine to go up on my toe, and two years before I could carry a pack.

2000+

• MARRIAGE AND A FOUR-MONTH HONEYMOON: Colin asked me to marry him while we were hiking the West Coast Trail. After a beach wedding with a magical in-the-woods celebration we went on a four month honeymoon to seven countries. Of particular note was scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef, river sledging down a seven meter waterfall in New Zealand, the flood we witnessed in Malaysia and how four cultural groups worked together to rise above it, visiting Angkor Wat and 40 sq. miles of Khmer temples in Cambodia, the honesty of Laos, the tranquility of Thailand and the intensity of India.
• SETTLING DOWN?: When we returned to Vancouver Colin continued to work with the family business (AUTOGLYM) while I took on various management positions involving quality, training and personnel. My employers varied from 7 - 11 to a call center provider for Nextel. We bought a house, tried for a family and did urban things like raise chickens and fix the roof. After a couple of years we opted to spend a year at Outward Bound in Ontario. It was a magical intense year - summer outdoor adventures, fall colours, winter @ -40 living in a cabin by the lake and a spring of being very pregnant.
• CALLUM/Moving to VICTORIA - June 2004: A few days after I arrived in Victoria (and a few hours after Colin did - he drove and I flew) Callum was born (nearly six weeks early). We had to live with my folks for 11 days because we didn't even have a place to live yet. Callum has continued to keep us on our toes. He is a curious, observant, outgoing, hilarious, and ebullient child who fulfills Curious George's mandate of treating the city like his jungle gym.

Present

• DAYCARE OWNER/OPERATOR: Since Callum was born I've been the owner/operator of a daycare. I met my clients when they were about six weeks old by becoming friends with their parents. Since then life has been full of wonder and stickiness.
• WRITER: I've been writing purposefully since Callum was almost one. Romantic suspense novels, a young adult suspense novel and erotic short stories.
• CHRISTMAS POSTING: For more information about where we're at now read my Christmas posting, which will be the next one I add to this blog.
• WHAT I HAVEN'T SAID: I haven't touched on so many adventures or any of the people I love, the community I'm a part of, or what's up with our families, but I know your time is precious and patience is limited. I am not the bellybutton of your world. Hopefully the highlights have been entertaining though.
• VICTORIA: Last comment: Victoria truly is paradise. WE LOVE LIVING IN VICTORIA and wish that all the people we love could live here too. The beaches, the amenities, the art scene, the closeness of the wilderness, the pace, the people, what is there not to love? It's a great place for Callum to grow up, I get the wide-open vistas that a prairie girl requires and Colin gets some of the English sensibilities that he craves (i.e. English sweets, stone walls, good local brew).
• LOOK US UP if you're in town.

With love and joy,

Ramona

Friend-filled Surprize

There are some surprizes in life which wait, patiently, persistently looking for the right time. I was recently surprized like that. Some old friends, which is not to say they are chronilogically old, although I think we're all approaching the age where we know what we want and know how to get it, tracked me down. Despite location change, name change and hurtling forward at the speed of a distracted three-year-old with a melting popsicle, they FOUND me!

I was thrilled, am thrilled, like crazy. Suzanne Langdon, Brad Templeton, Steve Rappaport, Dave Shipley and whoever else was looking, thank you SOOOO much. How terribly cool and wonderful to hear from you after all this time. We met in the 80's, but you contribute to who I am every dramatic day of my life.

Next blog will be a thumbnail of my life since we last met in person.

Cheers to wholesome, playful and rich friendships,

Ramona

Crazy Daze

I used to think that having children forced one to stop and smell the flowers. It actually forces you to talk about colours and photosythesis, wash grass and petal stains out of your clothes, wipe mud off wee faces and prevent little independent minds from stomping or peeing on the flowers. And do all of it with joy. In any case, here's a quick update of what's going on for us.

Update on Callum:

He's asking the most interesting questions at this point:
"Why don't my hands melt?"
"Do slugs have legs?"
"What does blood do?"
And what he most wants for Christmas, besides every Transformer, Spiderman Figure and Lunar Jim, is a dog. A green dog.

This weekend we started sleep training Callum, finally ousted him from the King-size bed and "abandoned" him (screaming 'til his voice was hoarse) to his big boy tent (much more magical than a regular bed - don't you think?). Currently he is accompanied each night by Lunar Jim, Godzilla and a Gorilla. His new flashlight from Grandma and Grandpa Loewen illuminates his tear-stained face as he cries out, "But I want to sleep with YOU!" And who can blame him. What could be cozier/safer than being tucked between mom and dad. Anyways, bleary -eyed from numerous wake-ups during the night, I greet the dawn with the aches and pains of one not well rested. But he's happy and proud and we know we're on the right track.

Update on Colin:
After only 7 months at Schneider as Technical Support, Colin has been promoted to Premium Support. This involved account management of premium customers. He is also mentoring a new hire.

Regarding Jujitsu, Colin is aiming to test for his black belt in January or February 2008. In the meantime he is trying to attend more often and continues to teach on Thursday nights. Recently his Sensei was approached by a Hollywood contingency regarding having an excellent website. They wanted to know if Sensei Ari and a few of his "boys" would be available for a movie in the future. While this is very much up in the air, it's exciting! Colin - the new Hollywood sex symbol. Seymour Butt step aside.

Update on Ramona:
Callum's preschool has been actively fund-raising selling Christmas trees, plus I'm on the Executive (Secretary) and have Duty Mom days, so it's pretty involved. Awesome people and it's a good place for Callum right now - sets boundaries without squashing his spirit. Callum is attending with his friends Millie and Owen. I still take care of Owen three-five days a week, but no longer have other wee wonders in my charge. Owen and Callum act like brothers and we're chuffed to have him in our lives.

I'm on the Executive (Secretary) of the Vancouver Island Chapter of the Romance Writer's of America. While there's not a lot happening for December, we presented a fantastic workshop with Margie Lawson in November. Every time I do a writing workshop my writing improves exponentially. I finished my second novel in June (TIME OUT - a young adult suspense set in the wilds of Northern Ontario), am working on my third novel (working title is "Long Hot Night" - a romantic suspense set in the Amazon Rainforest).

I've also managed to submit an article to Island Parent this month - it's about inventions for parents who have no time: i.e. a solar powered stroller that jiggles the child while the parent stops to have coffee. I also submitted an erotic short story recently to Scarlet Magazine - it's the premier erotic U.K. magazine for women. Their short story section is called "Cliterature." I thought that was brilliant.

Health:
I'm not quite on track with my health goals, but since walking the Victoria Half Marathon I'm still managing to walk 2-3 times a week ... once a week with my gal pals where we do 10 - 20 km. We intending to do the Vancouver Marathon in the spring, and then THE GREAT WALK after that, which is 63.5 kilometers up and down along logging roads ... in 1 day. That will be a milestone for sure.

Callum and my mother both had pneumonia over the last few weeks, which was very distressing. My mother also has an infection in a disc in her neck, and some blocking of vision in her right eye. It's a mystery to the medical profession as to what exactly is going on. Some speculation that she's had a couple of mini-strokes. Mom's cancer doctor, regular doctor and opthamologist are all trying to unravel the mystery. Very stressful for my parents.

Other Family News:
Colin's sister Angie had her 40th birthday this weekend and she, George, Grandma Gilly and Grandpa Tim celebrated by going to Budapest. There were other celebrations in Leeds and Glasgow with family and friends.

My long-standing friend Linda came for a visit in October. What a joy to see her. It's awesome to hang out with a friend who has been through ups and downs with you for 25 years. Puts things in perspective and is so comfortable.

My friend Kelly is coming to visit briefly at Christmas time. I'm thrilled about that also. Callum is looking forward to spending time with her two sons Takiah and Couper, whom he got to know at a cabin in Lake of the Woods this summer.

That's all my news for now.

Christmas blog will contain highlights from the year, like our (Callum and me) cross-Canada train trip across Canada to see the land, family and friends, and our trip to England and Scotland (to see family, friends, the Lake District and other international delights).

May you stay healthy and feel loved,

Ramona

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