Monthly Archives: May 2026

When Mom was close to retirement, she used all of her accumulated sick leave to come visit me while I was working in California. Little did I know that first visit would turn her into quite the traveler.

She once took a five-day bus trip from Edmonton to Atlanta to visit me. 

She visited several other cities where I worked, including throughout Southern California, Las Vegas, Nashville, Myrtle Beach, Acapulco, and Mexico City. 

She loved to explore and spend my money while on expenses! 😇

She made 16 trips from Edmonton to Yuma as a snowbird, The above picture I posted was her last year.  I wish I knew that when I posted it.

Every year I would ask, “Do you want to take the bus or fly to Yuma?” She would always reply, “Take the bus… but if there’s a cheap flight.”

I knew exactly what that meant: book the flight and don’t forget to request a wheelchair. 

She didn’t really need a wheelchair, but it escorted to her next gate and helped with her luggage to get to me waiting. I always asked if she pushed the wheelchair. 

So many more stories I can tell …

When I moved to the United States, I dated a flight attendant who was able to get my Mom on flights for next to nothing. I still laugh when I think about her getting upgraded to First Class and acting like such a big shot. 

She was convinced everyone sitting up there was famous. She would ask for first class everytime going forward. 

I could tell stories about her for days—and someday I probably will.

There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think about her. The hardest time of year is late Spring. The six-week stretch right now between Mother’s Day, her birthday on June 2nd, and the anniversary of her passing on July 1st.