Reagan Friesen

In March 2003, I was back in Manitoba, visiting, before yet another big life change. I was on my way to teach in Japan. Before leaving, Pauline told me a big secret. Again. She was pregnant with her second child, and I was not allowed to tell anyone yet. Of course I was excited for her. I was also getting very good at keeping her secrets. I didn’t get to meet Reagan until February 2004, when he was already almost 5 months old. They came to greet me at the airport. After the big hugs, tiny little Reagan just looked at me, with his sleepy little eyes, took my hand, and brought it to his mouth, where he appeared to kiss it. (He was probably just trying to eat it). It was the sweetest thing I ever saw.

One of the things I love about Reagan is his self-confidence. That kid can do anything he sets his mind to. He isn't afraid of anything, even when he should be. Besides dutifully eating wasabi after I dared him, he also begged me to let him try my dog's new shock collar. He kept daring ME to increase the shock intensity while HE was wearing it. I refused to shock him beyond level 3. Though I am sure he would have loved it, I didn't want to deal with getting in trouble from his parents :-)

Besides trying to drive a car when he was 2, Reagan has developped talents such as playing hockey and the piano. I love him to bits, but I worry about all of the grey hair he will cause my sister and brother in law when he is a teenager.