Wednesday, December 27, 2023
Donna was best friend for 58 years. We met on my 10th birthday on my first day at her school. That Saturday my brother Laurie and I were playing in the mountains of top soil in our new home’s yard when Donna just appeared and joined right in. Unbeknownst to me, she lived down the alley. We were friends ever since. We had everything in common but looks, her, tall, blond, blue eyed, me short, dark, brown eyed. We were Tom boys through and through and our motto might as well have been, anything boys can do, we can do better. The neighborhood boys started a Dare Devil Club in the new houses being built. We were the only girls who wanted in and we were just as fearless as any of the boys. We did crazy dangerous stuff but what a rush. We caught a gopher cause the boys were doing it, we let it go. We played football with the neighbourhood boys. Me and Donna and her brother Gary against all the boys. We went from Tom boys to boy crazy. When I got interested in theatre, Donna right away got involved doing hair and make up. When she was taking beauty culture in school, I was her willing Guinea pig. Without her I probably wouldn’t have learned to swim or pitch a tent. It was a different time back then but we were pretty fearless. We started hutch hiking everywhere when we were about 13. We’d hitch hike down town on a Sunday, pan handle to buy fries and gravy at the Wales Hotel. When we were 17 we bought a small 2 man tent and took an all night greyhound to penticton. That was the start of many camping trips out there. When we were teen Ager’s her parents bought a cabin in Bragg Creek. I spent many wonderful week ends there. We were pretty inseparable, our homes and families interchangeable. We stayed friends through thick or thin. Since she passed, all I can do is relive memories and thank goodness I have a never ending supply. Donna, I will always miss you, you will always hold a special place in my heart just for you. And I know you are reading this in Heaven and saying Denise can always make me cry. ♥️
