Happy Birthday, Spanky!

from

and

Today (in home country time, which is 15 hours ahead of Camp Grayloft), Spanky turns 8. Spanky has been around just slightly longer than Zexiv and Puff have been married. He is the first grandchild in the family, that is, Zexiv's parents' grandchild.

Zexiv remembers that when Spanky was born he (Zexiv) was always out of the house, perhaps trying to make the most of his last few months of bachelorhood. Although he knew that his middle sister was due to give birth any day he remembers wondering where everyone in the family was one day, and getting the shock of his life when he was called to the phone in the morning by one of the helpers and heard middle sister asking in an amused tone, "Did you know I just gave birth?"

It was exciting to be an uncle for the first time. Zexiv has fond memories dating back to when Spanky was just a baby, for instance:

1. The morning of Zexiv's wedding, Zexiv's mother (Oma to Spanky) combing Spanky's fine baby's hair and speaking for Spanky, "Uncle Jack, you want me to look good for your wedding, right?"

2. Zexiv dropping by the house one afternoon (he and Puff rented an apartment after they got married) and finding Spanky sitting quietly and patiently (and with very good posture) on the bottom step of the wooden staircase all by himself, looking straight ahead, and apparently lost in deep thought. Zexiv wasn't quite sure at that time if Spanky could recognize him yet.

3. The whole family going out for lunch one day, spotting Zexiv walking near his former office, and calling out for Zexiv to join them. Spanky was looking out the window of the car at Zexiv with a big smile on his face (which made Zexiv realize happily that his little nephew did know who he was!).

4. Zexiv teaching Spanky how to pour a can of coke for his uncle, which Spanky quickly learned to do and would repeat whenever he saw his uncle with a can of coke.

And many more instances.

Spanky also came at the right time, about a year or so before Zexiv's father underwent knee replacement surgery on both legs. The family seems to agree that Spanky's many visits to see Grumpa in the hospital were really the best medicine.

After Spanky was born, a nephew and 2 nieces followed one after another, and the family dinner was never the same again. Of course, Zexiv and Puff are fond of all of them, and they are all unique and likeable in their own special ways. Cheers though to the leader of the pack!

Happy birthday, Spanky, from your pals in Vancouver! We wish we could be with you to celebrate your special day.

All the best,

Uncle Jack (Zexiv), Tita Puff, and Comrade Stingray :)

Another Great Rock Legend Passes On

A few days ago, Zexiv and I were sad to see on the news that the lead singer of Boston, Brad Delp, had died, at age 56 in New Hampshire. Brad was born in Danvers, Massachussets and joined the band in 1970. He contributed his vocals to a number of the band's hits and also played keyboards, guitar and harmonica.

You realize you are indeed getting on with age when a lot of members of bands or singers whose music you grew up with start passing on in shorter intervals one by one. Zexiv remembers buying the single 45 rpm "Don't Look Back" many years ago, and playing it with Inverbras over and over again at full blast in their room they shared in Redbrick. They had a weight set and bench in their room and this became one of their favorite workout songs. They also liked another well known hit of the band, "More than a Feeling". "More than a Feeling" was one of those great Saturday morning "wake up" songs that was played a lot by a popular local FM radio station; the perfect song to celebrate the start of a weekend, summer vacation, the end of exams, or some significant milestone. It became a favorite as well with Zexiv and his gym buddies, not just in the gym but also for the times when they would gather in each others' houses for a few beers. It is indeed the end of an era.

Here from YouTube is the video of "Don't Look Back", from the album of the same name. According to Wikipedia, the song reached number 4 in 1978 in Billboard Hot 100. It is a great song ...

Rest in peace, Brad Delp ...

A Rainbow Over Grayloft

While working on the computer today trying to get started on some assignments, Zexiv happened to glance out the window and noticed this rainbow over Camp Grayloft. He pointed this out to Puff and then ran out with his camera to take a few shots. It was that time of the day when the sun is just setting and everything is bathed in a beautiful warm and golden light. It was a wonderful sight. It seems that whenever Zexiv and I happen to see a rainbow, we never have a camera between us. This was a lucky break.

Daylight Saving Time begins this Sunday, with Spring beginning a few weeks after. After a long, cold and rainy winter, all of us in camp are looking forward to warmer weather, longer days, and flowers blooming again. A great time for nature photography! Definitely something to look forward to ...

Depending on how you look at it, I imagine the pot of gold must be somewhere north or south ...