Page Six isn’t going to win any investigative reporting awards with my written words, however reflecting what is going on Edmonton streets certainly is a priority of mine.
As such I’m ‘really pissed off’ at the current Edmonton murder rate.
Now my brother Gerry in Calgary and I are proud to have the “Battle of Alberta” on everything from CFL and NHL to ping pong but winning the whacking rate by such a huge margin certainly isn’t pretty for me/us.
My condo in Arizona is under the jurisdiction of a gent by the name of Sherrif Joe Arpaoi – and he is known as the ‘toughest lawman in all of North America.” He’s 83 years old and has no plans to retire in the near future.
He has many claims to fame including putting the prisoners in “pink underwear.” When asked Why his answer is succinct. “Cuz they don’t steal ‘em!”
When people claim he’s racist for arresting a large Mexican population he quickly states – “I understand the concern so lets go to the actual facts. A full 85% of the criminals ‘convicted’ in Arizona are here illegally, and from the border just south of here. So I guess that makes ‘me’ a racist!”
Prisoners are often put on ‘chain gangs’ and go around the county cleaning up along the roads and highways and if you’ve ever been to Phoenix I’m sure you’ll note how incredibly clean it is. These prisoners live mostly in ‘tent city’ – which has ‘no’ air conditioning when it’s plus 100f degrees outside. I doubt if they have room service!
He gives them 'ice' to sit on during these summer heat waves.
My point is “we’re just too damn nice to our criminals here.”
When I hear the people in power in our city say it’s a ‘safe’ city and that their plan to make it even safer is to ‘ban knives’ – I cringe. Do that right after you ban speeding or texting would you?
Next, the young offender act needs some major “go to your room” time. I suggest that “IF your son or daughter does the crime that DAD or MOM does the time.”
Maybe then Pop’s and Mom’s will pay a little more attention to the gang their kids are hanging around with and when they do bed checks at midnight the intent is to see that the little punkin’s are safely at home or playing XBox where they belong instead of breaking into the neighbours home or car.
If Little Johnnie is 23 years old and driving a brand new hopped up Caddy Escalade with “Little Wayne” playing on the sound system so loud that you can hear it 3 blocks away I can pretty well guess that he didn’t make his cash delivering the Sun or working at McDonalds.
C’mon parents – if I hear one more “he’s such a good kid – he just started to hang out with the wrong crowd” I’ll throw up.
And one word for 18 year olds with 3 kids – “condom.”
As Crosby, Stills and Young wrote ‘back when music was good’ – TEACH YOUR CHILDREN!
And ‘half way houses” – close ‘em.
You're either IN the slammer or OUT - not 'half way' in or out - or 'gone.'
If you do your full time in the BIG HOUSE then you get out to go to YOUR house – not a nice comfy spot with a big screen tv, three squares, and a bunch of other ‘really nice fellows’ that you can walk away with because there’s not adequate supervision.
And to our civic leaders who say ‘don’t worry - it’s a safe city' - when there’s a gun battle happening in the parking lot while I’m chowing down on an Earl’s bigger better burger in broad daylight then I’m sorry but I just don’t buy it.
I understand we’re arming up with more Detectives but until we get harder on ALL crime in Edmonton - in Alberta - and in Canada then I think we’ll continue to see the totals gaining at this unprecidented rate.
In Florence, Arizona, just down the road there’s a shop at the end of the property where arts and crafts that are made by the inmates are sold. There’s actually some really nice stuff there. When the prisoner gets out he/she gets the profit from the sale of their stuff to have some money to live on instead of reoffending because you’re broke from being behind bars.
Plus it's a way better use of a knife to carve out a nice statue instead of your 'cell mate.'
There – I feel better. And as you read this I’m in Arizona – buying some famous pink underwear to help support Sherriff Joe!
My Old gig is open! Congrat’s to Astral Media’s Stewart Meyers who is heading back to Calgary to run CJAY - Classic Country - and Virgin Radio there after replacing me a few years back here at The Bear - Virgin - and Team 1260. They are currently hunting for a replacement.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Guest appearance
Here's a quick update on my daughters health situation and a new site she has started to "help others." She's a strong kid and I'm damn proud she continues to focus on helping people understand the magnitude of this strange and debilitating disease!
---
What do rapper Missy Elliot, 41st president George H. W. Bush, famous Italian mobster Sammy Gravano & Rayanne Forbes all have in common?
They were all struck by the cruel “Graves Disease”.
Haven’t heard of it?
Neither did I until 2:07am July 19th of 2010.
My name is Rayanne Forbes & that morning was the beginning of the worst year of my life. After spending a night in the hospital with breathing difficulties, heart palpitations & giving blood; I was diagnosed with Graves Disease.
It strikes the young, the old, the rich, the poor & the unsuspecting. You may have it and not even know it. This disease takes charge of almost every aspect of your body and because there are so many symptoms it is easily confused with other health problems.
The popular "Work It" hit-maker Missy Elliot has recently made public her battle with the Disease saying; "You live with it the rest of your life. I couldn't write because my nervous system was so bad. I couldn't even use a pen."
Elliot was diagnosed with the disease in 2008 and has been receiving radiation treatment to help alleviate symptoms like dizzy spells, lumps in her throat, mood swings, hair loss, and bulging eyes.
Graves Disease is an autoimmune disease where the thyroid is overactive, producing an excessive amount of thyroid hormones. Symptoms of Graves Disease can cause a dramatic neuropsychological and physical signs and symptoms.
Graves Disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism in children and adolescents, and usually presents itself during early adolescence.
It has a powerful hereditary component, affecting up to 2% of the female population, and is between five and ten times as common in females as in males. Symptoms include- but are not limited to- a rapid or irregular heartbeat, tremors of your hands or fingers, anxiety, irritability, difficulty sleeping, fatigue, protruding eyes, an increase in perspiration, sensitivity to heat, weight loss & brittle hair.
Although managed through medicine, radioactive iodine treatment or surgery; once diagnosed, you have Graves Disease forever. If you think you may have this Disease ask your doctor to send you for simple blood work to rule out the possibility.
With such little information available online for newly diagnosed people like me I began blogging about the trials and tribulations I went through for other people to look to for inspiration during this seemingly endless fight.
Countless hospital visits later, 8 months off work, daily handfuls of pills & one thyroid removal surgery later I was feeling overwhelmingly alone in my experience so I recently created the "Edmonton Graves Disease Support Group on Facebook" for other sufferers to meet with each other & discuss their stories.
If you are looking for more information or would like to contribute; please do as I am always updating the page!
---
What do rapper Missy Elliot, 41st president George H. W. Bush, famous Italian mobster Sammy Gravano & Rayanne Forbes all have in common?
They were all struck by the cruel “Graves Disease”.
Haven’t heard of it?
Neither did I until 2:07am July 19th of 2010.
My name is Rayanne Forbes & that morning was the beginning of the worst year of my life. After spending a night in the hospital with breathing difficulties, heart palpitations & giving blood; I was diagnosed with Graves Disease.
It strikes the young, the old, the rich, the poor & the unsuspecting. You may have it and not even know it. This disease takes charge of almost every aspect of your body and because there are so many symptoms it is easily confused with other health problems.
The popular "Work It" hit-maker Missy Elliot has recently made public her battle with the Disease saying; "You live with it the rest of your life. I couldn't write because my nervous system was so bad. I couldn't even use a pen."
Elliot was diagnosed with the disease in 2008 and has been receiving radiation treatment to help alleviate symptoms like dizzy spells, lumps in her throat, mood swings, hair loss, and bulging eyes.
Graves Disease is an autoimmune disease where the thyroid is overactive, producing an excessive amount of thyroid hormones. Symptoms of Graves Disease can cause a dramatic neuropsychological and physical signs and symptoms.
Graves Disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism in children and adolescents, and usually presents itself during early adolescence.
It has a powerful hereditary component, affecting up to 2% of the female population, and is between five and ten times as common in females as in males. Symptoms include- but are not limited to- a rapid or irregular heartbeat, tremors of your hands or fingers, anxiety, irritability, difficulty sleeping, fatigue, protruding eyes, an increase in perspiration, sensitivity to heat, weight loss & brittle hair.
Although managed through medicine, radioactive iodine treatment or surgery; once diagnosed, you have Graves Disease forever. If you think you may have this Disease ask your doctor to send you for simple blood work to rule out the possibility.
With such little information available online for newly diagnosed people like me I began blogging about the trials and tribulations I went through for other people to look to for inspiration during this seemingly endless fight.
Countless hospital visits later, 8 months off work, daily handfuls of pills & one thyroid removal surgery later I was feeling overwhelmingly alone in my experience so I recently created the "Edmonton Graves Disease Support Group on Facebook" for other sufferers to meet with each other & discuss their stories.
If you are looking for more information or would like to contribute; please do as I am always updating the page!
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Vancouver thugs.....
I'm not a big reality tv guy.
OK I do suggest that The Bachelor actually marries The Bachelorette - and that if they make it together as a couple for a year they get the million bucks - but the REAL reality television that we saw at the Vancouver downtown 'riot' has me reflecting on media and how well they handle mind blowing events such as this.
First off major KUDO's go to CTV's Vancouver affiliate who went wall to wall on the riot for about four hours as they fed the National CTV Newsnet from the centre of the action (more on their locale later).
When you get thrown into such a situation, on mere moments notice, you operate seemingly 'on fumes' because the rule book simply doesn't exist on how to handle this type of event when there are drunk or stoned 'thugs' operating mere feet away from you - while you dodge rocks, sticks, hammers, pepper spray, tear gas, and various accelerants - simply doing your job.
To do it with 'composure' is an art unto itself and the CTV crew were simply amazing as they did continous' play by play' of this most horrific event.
CTV reporters were on almost every corner 'hot spot' with live hits complimented by a reporter chiming in from the news helicopter above. The video was as compelling as anything you'll see in a Jason Bourne movie - except that it was all very REAL.
Cars on fire. Guys jumping over the cars while others flung mailboxes and porta potties at them. Glass breaking everywhere - 'hurt' people (kids) on the ground - and all the while the CTV crew were composed and seemingly calm on the outside while, most likely, worried about their personal safety on the inside.
One vibrant female reporter gagged through a report while fighting back tear gas only to be told "please" stop - get to safety inside - and get back to the station. There's an adrenaline that kicks in during these times and often it is 'viewers needs first' that motivate them...it's a very special skill sort.
CBC, mere steps away from the action as well, seemed to struggle and only had a few of their staff on hand while CTV called in their team and sprang to action with exposure from several fronts throughout the night.
Of note a number of former Edmonton media were involved in the telecast. For example, recent arrival in Vancouver, Lynda Steele (formerly of Global) reported from her condo above the fires. Perry Solkowski, another ex ITV (Global) guy was interviewing the Mayor in the heat of the battle. Rob Brown, ex of A Channel (now CITY) was the guy who carried on in the heart of this insanity for over four hours and didn't even flinch once as he held on to his gas mask while standing beside two 'powerless' security guards and his camera man.
As mentioned, this destruction was going on outside the front door of both of these television stations and could 'easily' have had these same thugs throw bricks threw THEIR windows and take over the television station. It's not beyond the realm of possibilities.
The sad part of this event to me was the complete lack of a game plan from the Vancouver Police. Now I don't mean to be cruel to them because they did the best they could under unimaginable conditions but they certainly did NOT have a formal game plan in force to be ready to guide 100,000 people in a safe manner.
To hear that "it was only a few people doing this" was simply disrespectful to Vancouverites.
To say "we have additional help coming from around the mainland" meant RCMP and surrounding Police forces had to travel for 'at least' an hour to just GET to the melee which, to me, was certainly a sign that there was not enough manpower on hand 'at the beginning' of this sad event.
Then to see them standing in the centre of the riot without proper equipment (many just had on the yellow vests - no helmets - no gas masks) - showed that they were really afraid of the "human rights" cry out from the G8 type gatherings and when these goons saw nobody was getting thumped back by Police simply broke into retail outlets like London Drugs, and The Bay, and 'destroyed' the businesses right in front of the Cops standing mere steps away.
Hard to fathom!
Officers on horseback simply 'moved forward' to force the people out of the 'retail areas' issuing a command for them to go home - which was near impossible because the transit system was virtually shut down and these goons were stranded in the downtown core prolonging the damage.
It was almost impossible to get in to douse the fires - and assist the hurt - because Emergency Services (rightfully so) would also have been targets.
In Europe they have special tank type machines that fire cold water with a special red dye in it on the goons which quickly ends the thuggery AND identifies the goofs as the dye is almost impossible to wash off. Show up to work the next day with red skin and bingo you're off to the slammer.
And this was one of the first riots where "social media" had a major impact.
Several FACEBOOK sites have quickly been set up so people can feed pictures of these idiots on line so that Police can identify and arrest them. Hundreds and hundreds of pictures are allready posted.
Beauty!
So - to wrap it up - think of the danger you have to worry about on a day to day basis and compare it to the media who handled this world wide embarrassing night - and I'm sure your respect for these people will climb to the same territory that mine did watching them in action last night.
GREAT broadcasting 'is' reality tv (and radio) and these reporters, anchors, and camera people all deserve our respect and a 'huge raise' for the amazing job they did on covering this event.
Kudos and compliments to those people!
And my thoughts to the 'real' hockey fans and great people from Vancouver who will have to deal with this 'crap' each and every time their sporting teams get to the big show down the road.
OK I do suggest that The Bachelor actually marries The Bachelorette - and that if they make it together as a couple for a year they get the million bucks - but the REAL reality television that we saw at the Vancouver downtown 'riot' has me reflecting on media and how well they handle mind blowing events such as this.
First off major KUDO's go to CTV's Vancouver affiliate who went wall to wall on the riot for about four hours as they fed the National CTV Newsnet from the centre of the action (more on their locale later).
When you get thrown into such a situation, on mere moments notice, you operate seemingly 'on fumes' because the rule book simply doesn't exist on how to handle this type of event when there are drunk or stoned 'thugs' operating mere feet away from you - while you dodge rocks, sticks, hammers, pepper spray, tear gas, and various accelerants - simply doing your job.
To do it with 'composure' is an art unto itself and the CTV crew were simply amazing as they did continous' play by play' of this most horrific event.
CTV reporters were on almost every corner 'hot spot' with live hits complimented by a reporter chiming in from the news helicopter above. The video was as compelling as anything you'll see in a Jason Bourne movie - except that it was all very REAL.
Cars on fire. Guys jumping over the cars while others flung mailboxes and porta potties at them. Glass breaking everywhere - 'hurt' people (kids) on the ground - and all the while the CTV crew were composed and seemingly calm on the outside while, most likely, worried about their personal safety on the inside.
One vibrant female reporter gagged through a report while fighting back tear gas only to be told "please" stop - get to safety inside - and get back to the station. There's an adrenaline that kicks in during these times and often it is 'viewers needs first' that motivate them...it's a very special skill sort.
CBC, mere steps away from the action as well, seemed to struggle and only had a few of their staff on hand while CTV called in their team and sprang to action with exposure from several fronts throughout the night.
Of note a number of former Edmonton media were involved in the telecast. For example, recent arrival in Vancouver, Lynda Steele (formerly of Global) reported from her condo above the fires. Perry Solkowski, another ex ITV (Global) guy was interviewing the Mayor in the heat of the battle. Rob Brown, ex of A Channel (now CITY) was the guy who carried on in the heart of this insanity for over four hours and didn't even flinch once as he held on to his gas mask while standing beside two 'powerless' security guards and his camera man.
As mentioned, this destruction was going on outside the front door of both of these television stations and could 'easily' have had these same thugs throw bricks threw THEIR windows and take over the television station. It's not beyond the realm of possibilities.
The sad part of this event to me was the complete lack of a game plan from the Vancouver Police. Now I don't mean to be cruel to them because they did the best they could under unimaginable conditions but they certainly did NOT have a formal game plan in force to be ready to guide 100,000 people in a safe manner.
To hear that "it was only a few people doing this" was simply disrespectful to Vancouverites.
To say "we have additional help coming from around the mainland" meant RCMP and surrounding Police forces had to travel for 'at least' an hour to just GET to the melee which, to me, was certainly a sign that there was not enough manpower on hand 'at the beginning' of this sad event.
Then to see them standing in the centre of the riot without proper equipment (many just had on the yellow vests - no helmets - no gas masks) - showed that they were really afraid of the "human rights" cry out from the G8 type gatherings and when these goons saw nobody was getting thumped back by Police simply broke into retail outlets like London Drugs, and The Bay, and 'destroyed' the businesses right in front of the Cops standing mere steps away.
Hard to fathom!
Officers on horseback simply 'moved forward' to force the people out of the 'retail areas' issuing a command for them to go home - which was near impossible because the transit system was virtually shut down and these goons were stranded in the downtown core prolonging the damage.
It was almost impossible to get in to douse the fires - and assist the hurt - because Emergency Services (rightfully so) would also have been targets.
In Europe they have special tank type machines that fire cold water with a special red dye in it on the goons which quickly ends the thuggery AND identifies the goofs as the dye is almost impossible to wash off. Show up to work the next day with red skin and bingo you're off to the slammer.
And this was one of the first riots where "social media" had a major impact.
Several FACEBOOK sites have quickly been set up so people can feed pictures of these idiots on line so that Police can identify and arrest them. Hundreds and hundreds of pictures are allready posted.
Beauty!
So - to wrap it up - think of the danger you have to worry about on a day to day basis and compare it to the media who handled this world wide embarrassing night - and I'm sure your respect for these people will climb to the same territory that mine did watching them in action last night.
GREAT broadcasting 'is' reality tv (and radio) and these reporters, anchors, and camera people all deserve our respect and a 'huge raise' for the amazing job they did on covering this event.
Kudos and compliments to those people!
And my thoughts to the 'real' hockey fans and great people from Vancouver who will have to deal with this 'crap' each and every time their sporting teams get to the big show down the road.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Media -Slave Lake
I just want to say a big "thank you" to the Edmonton media for all their thoughtful hard work in regards to the terrible fires in Slave Lake this past week.
First off, my sincere thanks and respect to every radio and television station that quickly rallied around the need to "help" these poor victims of the fire with both fund raising and "filling the 18 wheelers" with essentials.
Big or small it didn't matter - radio "jumped" on the tragedy and provided much needed relief to these families - and it simply is something radio does 'best' at these times of need.
Next another Thank You to the crew of news personnel that quickly got to the scene and gave us such vivid content surrounding the horrible tragedy.
I was out of the country and checking my iPad for updates and it was clear as a bell with information from the media and especially with the over whelming pictures or video.
The US media carried only a snippet of information mainly because they were dealing with severe Mother Nature tragedies of their own with the floods back east.
Of note "social media" was a huge help as people at ground level fed their video to both the media and the web so that viewers could see the 'real' impact that was going on in a community that is simply not 'top of mind' in the big city!
The video was compelling and powerful, to say the least, and certainly made us all realize how horrible this fire was as it raged through their community
When you read industry blogs and related websites it seems all too often the focus is on criticizing media for various reasons - sometimes valid and sometimes just downright stupid - so it's important for me today to say "thank you media" for an amazing job in handling the Slave Lakes event and for the subsequent rescue plans that were put in to place by smart owners; Managers, and Program Directors in Edmonton.
Ditto Editors of the papers; promotion departments and street teams; and to the citizens of Edmonton who donated 'anything' to help the cause.
I hope the Government (both Provincial and Federal) act quickly to help the rebuild. The gift cards were a good step but when you have lost "everything" you are likely going to have to relocate to survive and the Slave Lake area will not only lose good citizens but 'businesses' that are needed to help it thrive and survive down the road.
Now how about a giant media Habitat for Slave Lake building bee to get these people back into homes as quickly as possible?
Lets not forget this area is going to need a massive rebuild quickly because these types of events are quickly forgotten in a busy world - and lord knows the snow will be flying again in mere months adding to the effect of the loss.
First off, my sincere thanks and respect to every radio and television station that quickly rallied around the need to "help" these poor victims of the fire with both fund raising and "filling the 18 wheelers" with essentials.
Big or small it didn't matter - radio "jumped" on the tragedy and provided much needed relief to these families - and it simply is something radio does 'best' at these times of need.
Next another Thank You to the crew of news personnel that quickly got to the scene and gave us such vivid content surrounding the horrible tragedy.
I was out of the country and checking my iPad for updates and it was clear as a bell with information from the media and especially with the over whelming pictures or video.
The US media carried only a snippet of information mainly because they were dealing with severe Mother Nature tragedies of their own with the floods back east.
Of note "social media" was a huge help as people at ground level fed their video to both the media and the web so that viewers could see the 'real' impact that was going on in a community that is simply not 'top of mind' in the big city!
The video was compelling and powerful, to say the least, and certainly made us all realize how horrible this fire was as it raged through their community
When you read industry blogs and related websites it seems all too often the focus is on criticizing media for various reasons - sometimes valid and sometimes just downright stupid - so it's important for me today to say "thank you media" for an amazing job in handling the Slave Lakes event and for the subsequent rescue plans that were put in to place by smart owners; Managers, and Program Directors in Edmonton.
Ditto Editors of the papers; promotion departments and street teams; and to the citizens of Edmonton who donated 'anything' to help the cause.
I hope the Government (both Provincial and Federal) act quickly to help the rebuild. The gift cards were a good step but when you have lost "everything" you are likely going to have to relocate to survive and the Slave Lake area will not only lose good citizens but 'businesses' that are needed to help it thrive and survive down the road.
Now how about a giant media Habitat for Slave Lake building bee to get these people back into homes as quickly as possible?
Lets not forget this area is going to need a massive rebuild quickly because these types of events are quickly forgotten in a busy world - and lord knows the snow will be flying again in mere months adding to the effect of the loss.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
It's all about you Mom!
If anybody ever wants to debate the effect that divorce has on children I'm the guy to debate.
Very simply our lives changed at exactly 1:30 pm on July 15, 1961 when my Mother and Father divorced in Edmonton and the three boys and Mom boarded a flight to Toronto.
Flights were about 6 or 7 hours to the big smoke back then but I will never forget my first taste of 'jet lag' and moving from a really nice house in Parkview with lots of good friends into the basement of my Aunt Isabels house on Donlands Road in Toronto with 'no' friends.
Over the next several years Mom somehow saved enough money to by a condo for us; then we ultimately moved into a nice small house in the Don Mills area; as we started all over in a totally new environment as a single parent family.
It took me many many years to ask my Mother about those days as I was, at age 10, far too young to understand the impact of what was going on - as were my younger brothers, aged 8 and 5.
Child support for the three of us was $150 a month and Mom worked a full time job to support us too.
I guess we were latch key kids because I remember we would walk to schools then return home after classes where Mom would get home just in time to make us all a good meal.
Throughout the next several years we 'lacked for nothing,' somehow, as Mom found enough money to put all of us into sports; music lessons (accordian Mom - what were you thinking?) buy us each a bicycle, and we had a great 'black and white' tv so that we could watch the two Canadian channels we had and the three from Buffalo that came in over the air before cable.
Mom helped us with our school projects all the time, and we 'squeeked by' each year and eventually got into enough trouble (though nothing serious) that kids that don't have a dominant male around can easily get into. The day we got caught breaking into the Double Bubble company to steal gum (?) was a classic.
About 1964 Mom met a great man, Mike Sheehy, and as a guy who served in the Canadian military brought us that discipline that came in real handy later in life - and that was something that we didn't truly understand or appreciate like we should have until we finally 'grew up' many years later.
I don't want to bore you with all the details of our lives because we were extremely fortunate to have a mother like Noreen Sheehy because it was 'all about us' all the time and I just want to say an overdue "thanks Mom."
I know it must have been tough on you especially every summer on the 'last' day of school in Toronto when we would board the plane back to Edmonton to see Dad and every day on the 'last' day of summer when we would return - robbing you of the summer fun that a normal family would enjoy during theschool break as we were out having fun in Alberta with Dad.
We cried when we left you - we cried when you picked us up again upon our return - that I will never forget.
Mom is now 83 years old and each and every time we chat on the phone she makes me laugh. My brother still has her go 'on the air' with him in Calgary and her Stump My Mom contest is a blast.
She has endured strokes, heart attacks, a brain aneurism, broken bones, and several other maladies that would knock down lesser women but each time she somehow comes back stronger and stronger.
She raised the three of us; bore another great son Neil, and has trained dogs that made it all the way to Hollywood films (James Garner/Mary Tyler Moore flick) and continues to be a grandmother to three more 'boys' in Toronto to this day while she trains yet 'another puppy' in the household.
I've written several times publicly how much my late father Jerry Forbes influenced me in my life; ditto the very positive things I learned from my step father Mike Sheehy - but I just realized today that I've never done a 'written' tribute to one very special lady - Noreen Elizabeth Sheehy.
Mom, may you live to be 100 - we need you around until we finally grown up and really appreciate how much of a huge influence you were and are to us as being good 'people' in this world.
Enjoy the flowers - they really can't say enough about how much you mean to Gord (Josh, Joel, Cally) , Gerry, Neil, my daughters Lauren and Rayanne; your three grandchildren in house and of course ME!
Happy Mothers Day!
Very simply our lives changed at exactly 1:30 pm on July 15, 1961 when my Mother and Father divorced in Edmonton and the three boys and Mom boarded a flight to Toronto.
Flights were about 6 or 7 hours to the big smoke back then but I will never forget my first taste of 'jet lag' and moving from a really nice house in Parkview with lots of good friends into the basement of my Aunt Isabels house on Donlands Road in Toronto with 'no' friends.
Over the next several years Mom somehow saved enough money to by a condo for us; then we ultimately moved into a nice small house in the Don Mills area; as we started all over in a totally new environment as a single parent family.
It took me many many years to ask my Mother about those days as I was, at age 10, far too young to understand the impact of what was going on - as were my younger brothers, aged 8 and 5.
Child support for the three of us was $150 a month and Mom worked a full time job to support us too.
I guess we were latch key kids because I remember we would walk to schools then return home after classes where Mom would get home just in time to make us all a good meal.
Throughout the next several years we 'lacked for nothing,' somehow, as Mom found enough money to put all of us into sports; music lessons (accordian Mom - what were you thinking?) buy us each a bicycle, and we had a great 'black and white' tv so that we could watch the two Canadian channels we had and the three from Buffalo that came in over the air before cable.
Mom helped us with our school projects all the time, and we 'squeeked by' each year and eventually got into enough trouble (though nothing serious) that kids that don't have a dominant male around can easily get into. The day we got caught breaking into the Double Bubble company to steal gum (?) was a classic.
About 1964 Mom met a great man, Mike Sheehy, and as a guy who served in the Canadian military brought us that discipline that came in real handy later in life - and that was something that we didn't truly understand or appreciate like we should have until we finally 'grew up' many years later.
I don't want to bore you with all the details of our lives because we were extremely fortunate to have a mother like Noreen Sheehy because it was 'all about us' all the time and I just want to say an overdue "thanks Mom."
I know it must have been tough on you especially every summer on the 'last' day of school in Toronto when we would board the plane back to Edmonton to see Dad and every day on the 'last' day of summer when we would return - robbing you of the summer fun that a normal family would enjoy during theschool break as we were out having fun in Alberta with Dad.
We cried when we left you - we cried when you picked us up again upon our return - that I will never forget.
Mom is now 83 years old and each and every time we chat on the phone she makes me laugh. My brother still has her go 'on the air' with him in Calgary and her Stump My Mom contest is a blast.
She has endured strokes, heart attacks, a brain aneurism, broken bones, and several other maladies that would knock down lesser women but each time she somehow comes back stronger and stronger.
She raised the three of us; bore another great son Neil, and has trained dogs that made it all the way to Hollywood films (James Garner/Mary Tyler Moore flick) and continues to be a grandmother to three more 'boys' in Toronto to this day while she trains yet 'another puppy' in the household.
I've written several times publicly how much my late father Jerry Forbes influenced me in my life; ditto the very positive things I learned from my step father Mike Sheehy - but I just realized today that I've never done a 'written' tribute to one very special lady - Noreen Elizabeth Sheehy.
Mom, may you live to be 100 - we need you around until we finally grown up and really appreciate how much of a huge influence you were and are to us as being good 'people' in this world.
Enjoy the flowers - they really can't say enough about how much you mean to Gord (Josh, Joel, Cally) , Gerry, Neil, my daughters Lauren and Rayanne; your three grandchildren in house and of course ME!
Happy Mothers Day!
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