Since the post in 2007 many things have happened. Some good, some bad, of course.
To start I was sentenced to 1.5 yrs conditional sentence including 6 months of it on house arrest. Plus 2 yrs probation and $15 000 restitution.I finished this with good standing. Finished the payments in 2015. Eligible for a record suspension in 2025.
During this time John continued to stay on base during the week while I stayed in Renfrew. I was hired with Teletech and continued driving school bus with Renfrew County Bus Lines.
We moved from Harry St to Jennet St in 2008. This was a large home and we filled it with lots of people, dogs, birds, chinchillas, and a ferret. Even saved a wild bird. Tried to have Guinea pigs and a love bird upstairs but the air was bad and they died. I was ill often there. Cellulitis (staff skin infections) was on IV bag of antibiotics for 10 days.
John retired from the military as a corporal in 2010. He dropped the rank because he didn’t take the course to keep it. He got a job with Canadian Tire shortly after.
2012 we decided enough was enough and moved to our current home on Pinnacle Rd.
I had a few jobs on the go during these years many overlapping. Paper route plus contract work for a marketing company that we hired sign walkers to liquidate stores. One of these contracts I was in charge of 6 stores with 4 walkers at each location. It was an amazing experience. This was still while I was with Teletech and as always the bus.
I had 6 weeks off due to a bulged disc and then I went back to work as a bus monitor on a special needs bus for a while. Then as I healed I went back to driving again. Eventually my Dr told me that I would need to quit driving bus or have surgery. I continued on the full size bus till I lost feeling in my right leg for a few seconds. Then I took a couple weeks off and was moved to a driver of a small special needs bus. I loved this run.
This led to the past few years of me staying with the small buses but not always special needs. I truly love my job and the kids are what makes my days.
So that is my work life caught up I think…
John has been going through a lot since he has been retired. He left Canadian Tire for Abell Pest Control where he had a large area and was leaving very early in the morning to late at night. He was let go after 2 yrs. He then got his AZ licence and went to BC to work with Jay. After less than a year he finally acknowledged he had PTSD and went and got help. This started a 3 yr long process for him to come home. During that time he moved in with his father and started the 2 yr therapy program. When that was completed he was still not ready to come home.
27 April 2017 Nadene passed away. Mom and I went to Lethbridge for the funeral and John met me there. It was during this week that he found he was going to be ok enough to come home and the plans were forming for his return, finally. It was a very long tiring time without him but we both grew from this and the communication was always priority.
Steven moved out of Papa D’s into a house with a group of friends. He got hired on at the airport doing the flight cargo. He has moved to a different home and company but is still doing well. This Aug he came home for 1 week for the first visit in 9 years. I miss him so much, but again we are good with communication.
Daryon is doing well he is apprenticed with Canadian Tire and currently doing his level II Automotive Service Technician course. He has one more level and the final exam to do then he will be a fully licensed mechanic. He is doing very well in this endeavour.
Daryon is living common law with Taylor and they have been together for 7 yrs now. I am happy she is a part of our lives. We get along well. I am lucky that way.
Health wise I have a few ailments but they are managed most of the time now through regularly taking my medications. I know when I miss taking them as my pains come back horribly. I have degenerative disc disease, diabetes (pre-diabetes), high blood pressure, high cholesterol, chronic depression anxiety disorder, arthritis, IBS, not sure if I’m missing something but that gives you a hint. Mostly it is the depression and the DDD that are my biggest issues. I just had surgery in July due to severe periods. I had a D&C, Thermablation, and the meridian IUS inserted. Since then after the healing I have felt so much better. I believe the hormones really are what I was missing as my skin is back to it’s normal. I have energy and my mood is up. I love that my periods are gone now. I have a lot of weight to lose but I actually get full when I’m eating so that will help.
I am not sure what I’ve skipped but I know that there are things I want to record such as Nadenes passing. Moms ailments and how she is faring. Dad and how our relationship has fallen apart and how I want it to heal but I’m not strong enough emotionally for that. Grandma and how she is doing at 93 years old this year. She is one of three left out of the ten.
Finding this and doing the memorial stuff really makes me feel the need to keep better records of our lives as we don’t know when our life is going to end, and how it is good for the ones you love to have that knowledge of you and your life. How you felt, lived, and grew.
This past bit has been hard. I’ve lost Nadene, George (birthday twin sister) Bachmier, Pat Savage-Kent (Alison’s Mom) and others. Just been a very trying couple of years.
However with all the negatives listed many positive changes have happened.
I have developed some real roots here and finally feel like I have a home. I have people that are family to me and this feels great. When I need help I finally have that knowledge that someone can be here.
I am doing well enough that mental health will be discharging me soon. This is a little nervous but good as well.
Our finances are finally in the right direction. We have savings and our credit scores are getting better every month. We hope to purchase this house in the next few years.
Ydonos Page 