Has it been 58 Years? Renewing Friendships

One never knows how much friends effect your life 

until after fifty years they show up again. Anonymous

I first met Tom Bugg on July 10, 1955, at a dance at Atton's Lake, Saskatchewan.

From then we kept in touch. Throughout my Psychiatric training, Saskatchewan Hospital North Battleford; while I worked in Belmont Hospital in England 1959 and Switzerland in 1960.

Before I left North Battleford I had cut a picture his graduation from Advanced Flying School at RCAF Station, Gimli, Man, from the News Optimist. I put it on my wall at my Belmont Residence.

Tom kept me well posted on his successes. His letters are always over flowing with pride and happiness. He was in New Brunswick when he wrote that he was coming over to Europe for 2 years. He wrote that he when he came to England he would take Jacqui & I out on the town. He made $400.00 clear per month and wanted me to help him spend it!!!

Christmas of 1960 he and his wife, Elaine, made a surprise trip from France to see me at the Swiss hospital, where I was working at the time.

In April of 1961, as Jacqui, Marion and I were finishing our European travels, we stopped at  their home just north of Grostenquin, France. Tom Bugg and Elaine had written to say they are going to “Canadian-ize”, slowly at first, as not to shock us! Elaine fed us well and Tom showed off his flying skills. By then they are expecting a “little Bugg”. Tom sounded ever so much like the proud papa!

Marion,  Elaine and Jacqui

We had not kept in touch for many years until recently when I received an email from them.

Randal, Lorraine, Elaine and Tom

While visiting Yuma, AZ this past week Randal and I enjoyed meeting visit with Elaine and Tom

The friendship continues.

Mountains of Arizona

I was especially awed by the rugged rocks

That make up the Arizona mountain ranges

They stand majestically proud over the years

They say to me

“Here I am, I am infinitely strong. Feel the peace in what you see”

Randal and I hiked 2.4 miles on Treasure Loop #56 up the Superstition Mountain in Lost Dutchman State Park, Apache Junction. 

I walked 8026 steps, in 3.483 miles or 5.618 km and burned 220.1 calories.

www.azstateparks.com   “Named after the fabled lost gold mine, Lost Dutchman State Park is located in Apache Junction in the Sonoran Desert, 40 miles east of Phoenix. Several trails lead from the park into the Superstition Wilderness and surrounding Tonto National Forest” From the brochure map

Excerpts from My Autobiography

Over the past few months here in the sunny and warm US south, I have been focusing on writing an Autobiography. It has been a real journey looking into my past of where I've been and what it was like to experience so many things. Thank goodness I was a note taker and kept a journal and so many pictures.  

"Belmont Hospital was a Psychoneurosis Hospital”, using treatment that was geared for those diagnosed with depression, suicidal, anxiety, psycho-somatic and phobic symptoms. It had an open-door policy where the patients coming  and going  freely." 

"We had become 'British Mental Health Nurses'. Our wages would be twenty -five pounds an month, which translated in 1959 to be $100.00 a month."

Lorraine Marion Jacqui

"We took a bus as far as Oxford that night. We were carrying heavy luggage and when we arrive at the Youth Hostel, it was closed. We ending up, with the help of a student, find a quaint place for the night. The next day we sent our luggage on to Edinburgh, carrying only what we needed for our trip. Now we could see some of Oxford without being weighted down and to hitch-hike on to Blackpool". 

"This was the beginning of our hitch-hiking mode of travelling."

My Daughter

One daughter can bring me

so much pride and joy. 

She works hard at everything she does. 

She had become my mentor. 

She shines with her talent.

People around her reflects who she is.

She brings blessings to everyone 

who enters her energy. 

I love her so very much.

We communicate often. 

Here is just one up date in February of her accomplishments. 

OK – sunny & warn is nice We have been having extremes –20 & snow one day then plus 5-10 the next. Chinook city. Well, I gave my first Bars class last Sunday had 5 new people and 1 repeater. I have had lots of interest via the Access Consciousness site that I am now listed on as a Facilitator. Lynne Hilderman Access Consciousness Facilitator  Pretty amazing – I made myself $1000.00 on Sunday should help pay for the girls trip – Thank you for your contribution as well. I am also holding another Bars class here at home on Wednesday next week I had some people that couldn't make Sunday so I added another one. How can it get any better than that????? I am so pleased and so grateful. My practice at work has picked up and I am getting calls for this kind of work. What a blessing is about us...

Talk soon – Kaney and Lexi are back to school for their second term they both did very well in their exams. So grateful.....Love Lynne

Good for you. 

I am so proud of how well you are doing with your endeavors and with your family. 

Only good things will happen!! Love you very much. Mom!!!