Fasten your seatbelts, it's been a bumpy ride

July 16/12.

It's sometimes difficult to write when life is filled with heavy drama and emotion. A lot of this past week and a half has been taken up with visits to hospitals to see Aunt Ettie (my Mum-in-law's sister), and Auntie Ray (my late Mum's sister and our "surrogate Mother").

Sadly, Ettie Pelchovitz passed away on Sunday July 8th.

I went to Sunnybrook to visit her and her two daughters, Linda and Sharon that afternoon. Just four hours later, we learned she had died. I'm glad I got to say goodbye. She was a lovely lady and I have many fond memories to look back on over the 30 years I knew her. We'll all miss you Auntie Ettie. I'm sending good thoughts to my mother-in-law, Jean Bornstein, who loved Ettie so much.

Have also been visiting Auntie Ray as often as I can 

at Toronto Western Hospital. 

She is such a special part of our family. (left to right, Carrie Loring, Kevan Staples, Ray Staples and me).

A few days before Ettie's passing, we invited Mum and Dad B over for a barbeque dinner. It was fun to have them pay us a visit on a hot summer day. That's my son, Max, greeting them on the sidewalk.

Sam cooked up quite a feast for his parents, (and all of us), barbequing ribs, hotdogs, burgers, chicken, salmon and corn on the cob!

My Dad-in-law, Ben Bornstein enjoyed the ribs, but liked dessert better!

Max and Kate provided the entertainment (here with their significant others, Robyn and Damian). They played The Beatles' Should Have Known Better and their version of Stop This Train, which I love, but it always makes me cry.

Kate also performed her Bubie's favourite original Kate Sloan song, Normal People, (at her special request).

Another day, I visited the Eaton Centre for two great sales.

Hit up The Body Shop for their half price July deal,

to get bottles of my vanilla-scented cream for $6 a bottle instead of $12! Bought three, (which was all they had left!)

Then over to La Senza (where else?) for their semi annual clearance - $3 panties and $6.99 bras!

Didn't expect to run into Max and his girlfriend, Robyn! She happened to be looking for deals at exactly the same time I was. We both walked away with a couple of pretty, lacey/racy items.

Later in the week, my lifelong friend, Joanne, (right) flew in from L.A. for a visit. She wanted to head directly to The Friendly Greek, as always, for a fabulous fresh Greek salad lunch. That's Joanne's sister, Valerie on the left. We've all known each other since we were young teens.

We were also joined by another old friend, Karen (right), who lives blocks from The Friendly Greek. We're all huge fans of their salads! Joanne has taken off for a while to help a pal move from Moncton back home to Toronto, but I'll see her again soon, when she returns later this week.

My week wrapped up with a trip past the old Ontario Place property,

 - so pretty,

and over to the Molson Amphitheatre

to see Alice Cooper in concert. We got there early and had great seats in Row F.

An old high school friend of mine (who prefers to remain anonymous), has known Alice for many years and got an all-access pass. (fun to wear!) This was taken just after 7 p.m. so seats weren't filled up yet, but by 7:30, the place was jammed!

At age 64, Alice still puts on a fabulous, dynamic & exciting show.

He was opening for Iron Maiden,

performing a 50 minute set jammed with everything an Alice fan could ever want!

the infamous snake,

the guillotine and beheading,

giant Frankenstein,

and of course, SCHOOL'S OUT!!!! It's impossible not to sing along! 

SCHOOL'S OUT FOREVER!!

After the show, it was a blast to have the chance to go backstage.

I loved the table cloths made to look like spiders webs!

And the red roses were real.

Alice grabbed a quick shower and changed into red plaid pants and black t-shirt to meet some fans,

including me! I've had the opportunity to interview him several times over the years, but hadn't seen him since the late '90s, so it was beyond great to catch up with him again. He is SO nice. He posed for pics

and signed autographs and couldn't have been any friendlier.  When he signed my son's CD, he asked me, "Is he a musician?" I told him, "Yes, a drummer." He quipped back, "Oh, so he's NOT a musician!"  Ha ha! Max laughed when I repeated the joke for him.

We watched Iron Maiden too, but it was Alice we really went to see!

Thanks to my very private friend for taking me along to the show and allowing me to shoot the pics & use them on the blog. It was a terrific evening and I won't forget it!

Lost in thought

May 19/11

Today marks 7 months since the day Mum died. Really hard to believe. We still haven't been able to put her house on the market due to the interruptions caused by my cancer. Hopefully one of these days. In the meantime, glad the house is there. Makes it feel like she's still around.

So much on my mind today, decided to take a walk to Withrow Park. Sat on a bench to think for a while. (My new young friend, Cooper, who happened by, snapped the shot).

Trying to keep it together

Really did feel lost in thought. Let's see. What was I thinking about...The Past. - (too much, I know). Those days of youth seemed so happy, carefree, exciting and filled with promise. I've never been good at letting go or dealing with loss. (Had a LOT of loss this past year). And goodbyes? - Fuhgettaboutit! They've always been my WORST thing. In fact, right at this moment, I'm feeling there's not much of ANYTHING I'm good at! (except, maybe whining and kvetching in this blog!)

The Present. - I'm trying harder to live in the moment, because that may be all we have. Right now though, my present is kinda scary.

And The Future? (yikes, I'm starting to sound like Ebenezer Scrooge!), well, that remains a mystery. No one can predict it. (Except, perhaps next week, when the Medical Oncologist will TRY to predict what my odds are!)

When my beloved Uncle Ev passed away this past December, my husband, Sam, made a speech about him at his Celebration of Life, commenting that he admired Ev's ability to always embrace the future (even at 97!) When he was on his deathbed, my sister, Carrie, brought him a ball of wool to hold in his hand. As a diehard knitter, who loved creating new projects, he lay there, tubes coming out of everywhere, rolled the ball of wool in his fingers and whispered to Carrie, "Imagine the possibilities." Even at that moment, he was looking ahead.

For me, it seems one minute I'm on a high and the next, way down. Anything and everything can bring it on.

A friend of mine who survived breast cancer told me months ago the one thing the doctors don't seem to be able to deal with along this journey is the emotional devastation of it all. She was in a much worse situation that I am, but I understand what she means.

My Mother-in-law (who has also seen her share of ups and downs with her health), told me today, in a very upbeat manner, "Things change for you. You have to roll with it!" How is it some people seem to be able to do that so easily?

My old high school pal, Jeffrey Morgan, is another who's been through huge upheaval and survived it all. (Torontonians may remember his father, the late, great newsman, Joe Morgan of CKEY Radio).

As a teen, Jeffrey ran for student council president on a Groucho Marx platform, and won! He's always been brilliantly funny, and a fabulous writer, artist and photographer. (He's even friends with Alice Cooper, has written liner notes for his albums and is going to see him perform at Casino Rama on Friday night!) Alice rules!

Jeffrey has a long-standing theory that loud rock 'n' roll retards the aging process. I think I'm going to start listening to Alice tonight and see if I can work on that. I interviewed Alice several times. One of the most fantastic performers on the planet to speak to in person! On one occasion, I wore a black leather dress and asked him what kind of woman he REALLY likes. I always remembered his answer. "A little bit of leather, a little bit of lace. A little bit of honey, a little bit of rawhide!" Hot stuff that Alice. And I always envied his eyeliner!

Alice and his fab eyeliner!

You may have seen on the blog a few days back, Jeffrey forwarded me a digitally restored and colour corrected photo he took of me at the 1980 Northern Secondary School reunion. (30 years ago, gak!)

Jeffrey usually likes to remain in the shadows, but last night, he sent me the photo I took of HIM at that reunion (again, updated and colour corrected), and gave me permission to use it. I've always loved the shot because it shows his personality. While the rest of us entered at the door marked for US - (the kids of the '70s), HE chose "the door less taken." Made me laugh. He always had the cutest, cleanest hair in the whole school!

Jeffrey going his own way

In typical Jeffrey fashion, he asked me to pass along this following message.

"Please let your faithful readers know that I have more than lived up to my long-haired, denim-clad youth by becoming Canada's most accomplished rock critic, as evidenced by my website which can be read here":

JeffreyMorgan.info

Thanks Jeffrey! You've managed to lift my spirits for another day.