Homebodies - Not a goodbye, but a thank you

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Published on Sunday, July 24, 2016

By Rita Friesen

Neepawa Banner

It has been almost 27 years now that I have shared with you my life journey. The column has always been ‘Homebodies’ though it has included detailed reviews of my holidays to Great Britain, Australia, Thailand, Malaysia, Russia, France, Holland and all across Canada. My ramblings began as two hundred and fifty word reflections of every day living, and through the consent of the owners/publishers, I now ramble almost twice that long. My writings have recorded the marriages of my children, the births of my grandchildren and the joyous recording of the great-grands.

You, the readers, have walked with me through my yards and gardens, the marvel and mystery of night skies and the wonder of fireflies. There was a short time many years ago, when a season of dark despair in my soul stopped my writing. Your kind words of encouragement gave me courage to buck up, pick up the pen and carry on. Thank you. I enjoy sharing time each week with all of you. More changes came. I took courses from home and away from home. I honed my skills in caring for and about people. You supported me here with comments and musings of your own. I appreciate that. My journey to the empty nest cycle, re-filling our home with love and laughter of another generation, and back to a quiet home were all recorded. The move from the farm to the acreage, the house Ed bought and always loved provided many words for sharing. ‘We’ walked through the tough times of sickness and dying, though I tried never to bring gloom and despair to my public writings, you sensed my sadness and loss. Thank you.

There is another, major for me, change in process. By the time you read these words, I will no longer live in the country. The sign at the end of the lane proudly sports a ‘sold’ sign. And a smaller house and lovely yard in Neepawa will be home for Hoover, Miss Daisy and me. I rest comfortable in the knowledge that the new owners here will love the place as it has been loved for the last almost 19 years. And the littler house in town will be loved equally well. For years, I expressed a desire to move to town and have a run at being mayor. Friends laughingly inferred that was the reason Ed did not want to move. It’s all good. Now that I will be an official townie, I no longer harbour that insane desire. And for that, I give God thanks! My calling and work is solid. I love people, believe strongly in my faith in the Divine and aim to walk in teaching of my faith (no surprise to anyone there!) 

This is not a farewell column; I would miss speaking to all of you. It is another column recording the changes and events in my life. Thank you to Chris and Ken for the invitation so many years ago to try writing, and thank you for reading and commenting on my musings