Colby Friesen

COLBY FRIESEN

In August 2001, my boyfriend Bruce and I planned a cycling trip around Lac St-Jean in Quebec. I boarded the train in Vancouver with my bike and stayed a few days in Winnipeg before continuing on to hook up with Bruce in Toronto and on to the Saguenay region by train. It was during this layover in Winnipeg that Pauline announced to me, secretly, that she was pregnant. It was hard to contain my excitement, but because no one in the family knew yet, I had to keep it under wraps. I wasn’t able to make it out to Manitoba when Colby was born in March 2002. I did, however, make it out that summer, when he was just a few months old. Unfortunately, 2002 was a big year for cutbacks in the Public Education System in BC. Along with thousands of other teachers, I found myself without a job. Life circumstances led me towards a teaching position in London, England. Because I had no idea what the future held for me, I moved all of my possessions back to mom’s house in Manitoba, and spent a couple weeks with my family. I was allowed to babysit while Pauline and Reg went out for supper one evening. All I remember, is holding him, and singing “Leaving on a Jet Plane” to him over and over, and feeling that same sadness that I felt when leaving baby Bobby that first time. My experience in England is the subject of a different blog. One thing I do remember though, is finding the most adorable onesie in London. It had the symbol for the Tube on it, and the back hatch had the “Exit” logo on it.

That wasn’t my first gift to Colby. But it’s the first one I remember. The second one was a miniature hockey “ticks” a year later, which he played with relentlessly in the hallway of their little house.One of my favorite memories of Colby is watching him at the bank, when his mom brought him to deposit money he had received for his birthday. He wasn't even in Kindergarten yet, but he was proudly telling the bank tellers that he was saving up for "Uvinersity". Needless to say all the bank tellers thought it was the most adorable thing, as did I.

Colby is one of the most helpful people I have ever met. He is hard working and resp

onsible. And funny. That kid cracks me up with his random one-liners.

Colby is a handsome young man, starting Junior High this year. He claims he doesn't have a girlfriend, but I have a hard time believing that. Despite how many years go by, he will always have pinchable cheeks.