Seven years ago I sat with my friend in a doctor's office as she was given the diagnosis of cancer. Today, though, Suzon is more alive than most of us, and is my most colourful friend! Yesterday we stopped in to visit her mom, Suzanne. I cannot tell you how much I marveled at the miracle of genetics, or how much I laughed. It was as though I had walked into the future. Suzon and Suzanne are both incredible artists, and so very "colourful" in everything they do. Suzanne, however, has the advantage of superfluous colour that only age can bring!

In the photos of the latest album you will see some of our adventures together. In one, Suzanne and I are holding a set of 7 Russian stacking dolls which have a very special story. Years ago they were given to me by my mum, in plain wooden form, for me to decorate as I wished. This was an intriguing project that I would have loved to have been able to accomplish, but short of decoupage, I was not capable of the creativity the dolls deserved. Thus I bequeathed the challenge to an accomplished artist, and left them with Suzon. Unbeknownst to me, Suzon also bequeathed the challenge to an accomplished artist, and forwarded the responsibility on to her mother, Suzanne!

Without knowing my dolls were in Montreal and without knowing we would be seeing Suzanne, it was a poignant surprise when she handed me the stacking dolls from my mum. They are immaculately decorated - each with their unique faces, each a different set of colours, but each resembling the other in pattern and design - meticulously painted, one dot at a time! The gift is now that much more precious to me. Thank you mum et merci Mama!

Oh, by the way... when I took the photo of Suzanne on the arms of Tim and Eli, she asked if I would be showing it to Suzon. I assured her I would...

"Good!" she said, "It will make her jealous!"

I miss you Suzon. I thank God for your life and your vitality! Thank you for sharing it with me and for sharing the love of your mama as well. Je t'aime beaucoup.