Frank Morrison Gorst

Today I want to say goodbye to a dear friend who will be missed by a great number of people. Frank Gorst passed away this past Tuesday, August 21. He was a warm, caring and charming man. He was a wonderful husband to Edith. A great father to Ian and Barry. A welcoming father-in-law to Jean and Lana. A loving and devoted grandfather to Courtney, Tanner, Breckin, Madeline, Hayden and Avery.

What I think, and most of Frank's friends, will miss is his wonderful cheeky sense of humour. He was always able to make everyone in a room laugh whether he was just commenting on something, telling you a joke, or even having a laugh at you.

I've known Frank and his family since I was 14. Each of them has always made me feel a part of the family. There are so many stories and so many memories that I don't know what to say. He was a great friend to me and one of those fathers of a friend that becomes a bit of a father figure to you as well.

I'll miss you terribly Frank...."know wha' I mean?".

Mini Vacation with Family

My mother, brother, sister and I went on a mini vacation this past weekend to Birch Run, Michigan. I thought the "shining" moment of the trip was seeing the inside of Bronner's - The World's Largest Christmas Store.

But it truly came when I saw the look on my brother's face when I told him that the only thing I could find for him in the Zehnder's Bakery in Frankenmuth was a little donut.

No trick...it's about a foot across and Santa was about 20 feet tall.

A New Start

I pass by this one house everyday as I walk to work and never seemed to notice the lovely flowers that the gentleman there has along the side of his house. One day this week I thought the weeping flowers succumbing to the heat we've all had to endure the last while really represented the way I was feeling this week, but I didn't have my camera. The next morning on my way to work I made sure I did have my camera. I was in a better mood and now suddenly the dying flowers had some fresh blossoms. It was a new start, a new outlook, a new day, a better day.

Mrs. Mallard and Her Eight Ducklings - Boston

I made sure I did as much wandering as I could do during a business trip to Boston in April. One of my adventures took me to Boston Commons, the oldest public park in the U.S. dating back to 1643. Mrs. Mallard and Her Eight Ducklings is a tribute to Robert McCloskey's classic tale of how Mr.and Mrs. Mallard find a home for their new brood in the middle of the big city.

The Raspberry Trail

I've been riding on this path many times since the spring, and to my surprise last week it was in full bloom with raspberries everywhere. I ate tons of them until the bugs bit me one too many times.