Finished

Finished, a photo by gibsonsgolfer on Flickr.

It was nine months ago this week that I had two strokes that knocked me out physically and mentally. I felt I was in fairly good condition at the time and even today there is no final answer on what caused the strokes, only that they were located in my brain stem.

I had been doing some training at the time for the Vancouver Sun Run, an event I had often planned to enter, but only seldom had I made the trip to Vancouver to do the run. On December 10, two days before the first stroke, I completed a 5.41km run in 46:57, an 8:41 pace. Two days later, my ability to run was gone.

Since getting out of the hospital I have found a new interest in walking / shuffling. I set myself a goal to do a 10K and on June 26, I achieved that goal, albeit slowly. I went 10.57km in 1:42:48, an average pace of 9:43 and according to my GPS map, I did the first 5km in 47:45.

Today I ran with my daughter, Chelsea, in memory of my son-in-law Elias who passed away 2 years ago from brain cancer. She has become an advocate for other widows - helping herself along the way - and was running today in support of the Liz Logelin Foundation, a positive support group for widows in need. I set up the course for her and we did a touch over 5km - 5.05km - in a time of 44:49, not as fast as pre-stroke, but I was very pleased with the result.

Will I try the 10km in Vancouver next year? We'll see.

One year

It has been a day of thought.

One year ago today, I lost not only a good friend, but also a son-in-law, to cancer. Elias Minatsis was a young man and a wonderful husband and father. He left behind my daughter and two beautiful youngsters who are now 5 and 2 years old.

The last year has, of course, been a difficult one for Chelsea. She has kept an online journal of the events of the year in her blog, Letters to Elias. Many commenters talk about how meaningful her words are, sharing her experiences. And that, is a good thing.

I know that it is often said in a joking manner by many in-laws that their son's or daughter's spouse is not the person they think lives up to the parent's expectations. Sometimes it is not a joke. But, I can truly say that Elias and I had a good relationship and that I felt our limited time together was special to me. Whether it was the time he was so patient teaching me to cook, or the time I tried patiently to golf with him... it was always a good time.

I miss you my friend, but I also thank you for the sunshine today, the gusts of wind, the wisps of clouds, and the many happy memories I have of you and Chelsea in better days.

Please continue to watch over us from up there, eh!

To close in the way Chelsea does with you in her letters,

P.S. I love you,

~Bob

Elias Minatsis Memorial Bursary

How could I be any prouder than of my daughter, Chelsea.

It was a difficult task, but she did it.

Tonight the Chatelech Secondary School students celebrated their graduation ceremony. An exciting time for grade 12's, some of whom were there to receive awards beyond their school leaving certificates. Students received scholarships and bursarys. One of the bursarys, donated by a local business, the BlackFish Pub, was to recognize a student taking the ACE-IT Culinary Arts program, an apprenticeship program offered district wide for students enrolled who will come to Elphinstone Secondary to take the classes.

My son-in-law, Elias, was the teacher of that program. Up until September of 2008, that is. That is when he had to stop teaching to focus in on trying to beat the cancerous tumour in his brain. He fought hard, but passed away on April 22, two months ago. It has been very hard for many of us family members, but nothing compared to the grief being experienced by Chelsea. She has hardly been out in public since.

The Blackfish wanted to recognize Elias for his work by arranging for the bursary and Chelsea was asked if she was willing to make the presentation ... come on stage, shake a student's hand, walk off stage.

As we found out, though, she had to say at least the name of the student, so she decided to speak a bit, albeit somewhat broken up and with tears in her eyes. She thanked the donor, announced the student (one who Elias had a good feeling about) and hugged him rather than simply shake his hand. They both cried a bit.

At the end of the evening, Matthew (the student) and his mom sought us out and hugged us both, telling a bit of a story about how Elias had strongly encouraged Matthew to go on past graduation... go to post secondary, write a book, and become a teacher.

How proud can a dad be?

Dance for a Cause

Elias holds on to Eibhlin as he judges the dance contest.

A student holds Caia, while watching the dancers do their thing.

Students from Gibsons Elementary School (where I first taught in 1974!) held a benefit dance for my son-in-law, Elias, as he battles the cancer in his brain.

Gibsons Elementary Principal, Mark Heidebrecht, reported on this event in his blog. Thanks to the students from Gibsons and their guests from Langdale, Cedar Grove, and Roberts Creek for making this event a great success. 

Tomorrow (Tuesday, December 2), Elias has his next MRI. Here is praying it is a good one!

Photo credit... my daughter Chelsea who loves photography almost as much as I do!