Happy Birthday Johanna!
Who’s ready for a story? Anyone who has spent time with me, knows that I like to tell stories! I think stories are important, as they allow us all to relive those moments & keep them alive with each telling of the story. Some people (my Kids), have even suggested that some of my stories might be not be 100% factual..! With that said, I would like to share a few stories about Johanna, I promise all true 
Johanna is the love of my life, there is no question about that!
Johanna & I first met at Dr. Hawkins School (Junior High Grade 7-8). We were friends, not sure how we met, but just friends. Most day’s at lunch hour, a bunch of us would head downtown to hang out & eat, Johanna was always there. During those 2 years, Johanna & I grew to be great Friends!
During those years, I was cycling pretty seriously & almost every evening would go out on a training ride. It was always a nice surprise to come back from a ride to see Johanna sitting on the front step talking to my Mom. We would hang out for a bit, then my Mom would always tell me how much she liked Johanna & how polite she was! My Dad was still alive back then, he was a man of few words, but I do remember him telling me this about Johanna, “that is the kind of girl I want to see you with”. Well Dad, 20 Years later, I am with that girl!
This brings us to Johanna’s Junior Prom! At this point, Johanna was going to a fancy schmancy private school. She asked me to take her to her Junior Prom, my answer, YES! I wanted to impress her, so I hired a huge stretch limo, picked her up at her house & we arrived in style to her junior prom. The drive to & from the school was about 45 minutes, I still kick myself for not trying to make a move!!
During high school, we didn’t see each other too often, Johanna was going to a private school in Toronto & I was in Port Hope High School & running a crazy busy business in the summer. But, just like in the junior high years, Johanna would surprise me with a visit to our house every so often. These times, she would be driving a car/van. My Mom would respond in the same way, she was so happy to see Johanna & loved how polite she was. I should note that all of our visits were just friends, nothing more than that.
But.. with each visit, I started to miss Johanna & looked forward to seeing her again, I wasn’t sure what was happening, but it felt right.
Everything changed that night when Johanna came over… I don’t know the date, but I do know that my Mom & Carl were on a vacation in Germany. Johanna called me, told me that she was in town & I told her that I would love to see her.
That summer, Johanna & I truly fell in love! Johanna was house-sitting her Mom’s house, it was a huge mansion & a bit of a fairy tale place to fall in love! During the summer Johanna & I talked about our hopes & dreams.
The summer ended & Johanna headed off to Ottawa for University, I stayed in Port Hope to run my business.
I visited Johanna every weekend in Ottawa, looking back at that, not sure if that was such a good idea, but we were in love!
During our visits, we would discuss our lives, her’s filled with school & not very happy. Mine with the business & not very happy. We would then throw around amazing adventure ideas… Those adventure ideas were discussed more & more & became more real each time we discussed them.
For those that don’t know, here are the two ideas we agreed on.
1. A year in the Northern Ontario Wilderness.
2. Start a new life in British Columbia
Common sense prevailed & we decided on British Columbia.
Now, that was easy, the hard part was telling our Families.
Fast forward to the departure, I’m 19 & Johanna is 18, we pack up all of our belongings into my pickup & start off on our first big adventure. Our thoughts at the time were, you have to live, you have to adventure, you have to try. We could alway’s come back home. Did I mention that we crossed Canada & the Canadian Rockies in December….adventure.
We arrived in Nanaimo, safe & sound. Looking back, we were crazy, but we found jobs, an apartment & a new life in Nanaimo. We quickly fell in love with Nanaimo, bought a house & had Kids! Our time in Nanaimo was amazing, I love that place!
Again, we ended up running a business that allowed us to work together. During those together times, we agreed that we would head out on a new adventure, this one even crazier than the first.
We would sell our house, our truck, our belongings, EVERYTHING, take the kids out of school & buy a boat in Mexico. There we would homeschool, sail, dock, hang out & figure it out as it happened!
As I write this from a dock in Mazatlan, Mexico, I can tell you that we made that adventure a reality!
This brings me current, where we are in our 4th year of hanging out in Mexico.
My job over the last 4 years has been easy. Not so much for Johanna, she is Mom & Teacher, a very fine line.
Everyday, I’m amazed by her patience, persistence & love for the Kids. As a note, I would have killed both of them by now.
I can honestly say that home schooling your Kids on a 38FT sailboat is one of the most difficult things a Mom can do. I love Johanna for this & I know that the Kids will love her for this.
Now, most Ladies don’t want you to reveal their age. I am proud to announce that Johanna is celebrating her 38th Birthday, her life has been full of adventure, she has taken risks, never a dull moment
So, on Jan. 18, I take my hat off to you Johanna, you’re an amazing Woman, the Love of my Life & my Key to all of our adventures.
I promise that our lives will always be an adventure, ever changing & never boring!
Happy Birthday!
Love,
Steve
Today I woke up to get the sad news that my Grandma Thomas had passed away. A couple of months ago she went through a tough time & we thought she would leave us then, but, not surprisingly, she bounced back in good spirits! Oh yeah, did I mention that she was 96 Years Old, one tough old Lady!
It’s been a strange day for me, waking up to hear that someone who was with us yesterday, is not here today, it’s a tough way to start the day! With that said, Grandma Thomas was 96, she lived a good long life & I spent my day relieved that she didn’t suffer in her last days. But, I spent the day with an empty feeling.
I spent my morning at my “office by the sea”, like I do most mornings. It’s always a special place for me, but today it felt therapeutic. As always, the Pacific Ocean was full of life, above & under, it’s song was loud & clear. A strong reminder that life continues, the cycle of life & the song that life should be enjoyed.
So, this morning, with the help of the Pacific Ocean, I said Goodbye to my Grandma Thomas.
This brings me back to goodbye, a few months ago, when I first heard that Grandma Thomas wasn’t doing well, I sent her a note.
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