FROM ELMER & MARILYN VERIGIN
Marilyn and Elmer awake suddenly and we are now a three quarter century old. Really! Did any of you get older?
Now an update as best I can remember (Hoooh, I am 75 you know)
• Let us start with Marilyn. We had challenges this year in Saskatoon but with the excellent Care that Saskatchewan has, she is still with us. I was able to retain my job as chauffeur with a 100% increase in pay. Those Cabbies in Toronto do not know how to negotiate!
• Of course we travelled to Saskatchewan. Involuntarily in February to bid adieu to our friend Keith Tarasoff. We just had too many happy times to recall but parting was still difficult.
• We went back in September to celebrate 60 years of the Saskatoon Doukhobor Prayer Home. Marilyn and I locked eyes at this Hall in 1958 and remain mesmerized ever since. It was great to meet those of the Saskatoon Doukhobor Youth that were able to make it with much hugging and just trying to recognize each other. Where did all those years go?
• We also spent time n Benito visiting with sister Mary and family on that trip in September. We followed this up with visiting all our friends and relatives in the Saskatoon area. Alex Derkachenko fries the best potatoes and Mitch drinks the best Scotch. We are still looking for Donna Hunchak’s chicken receipe.
• Whatshan Lake Retreat remains our most active volunteer passion. This year many younger members are undertaking a feasibility study to launch programs and events into a new dimension along with retaining the site for much of the former programming. Go to http://www.Whatshan.com and have a look. We did lose our most faithful fan,
• Aunty Flo Markin passed on in late October. Not to be forgotten she booked 3 cabins, for her family outing, as usual, on the 2nd week of July 2016. She expects to attend in spirit. What a lady and my last Aunt!
• The Doukhobor Cultural Association has completed its objective to distribute all its assets and now exists as a social club that recalls the 45 years of working together.
• We are still struggling to get our Grandview project back on track and at this time there is little to report. Watch Elmer’s blog for an update on status.
• Marilyn is very much into her Grandview Ladies Circle and Hospice Organizations. Oh yes, there is the “occasional” Flea Market and Garage Sale and at times the slot machines command her attention.
• Elmer is still in the Kootenay Mens Choir and desperately trying to learn how to Curl with this stupid stick that throws the rocks off line. He is still trying to gather more stories for his blog.
• In retirement, Marilyn and I have slowed down a great deal as I will demonstrate in this one month from the end of October to the last week in November
o Attend Aunt Flo’s funeral in Calgary
o Spend a work weekend in Whatshan dealing with dangerous trees and “bucking” them into firewood
o Attending Tamara’s Master’s graduation in Victoria
o Visiting with Marilyn’s brother Allan and wife Leah in Nanaimo. Witnessing Allan taking his cat for a walk was well worth the trip
o Taking my appointment with a Hearing Surgeon for a possible implant in Vancouver. He was very encouraging and said that my chances for success are the same as a “Hail Mary” in Football.
o Visiting with Peter and Elsie Rezansoff and enjoying their hospitality
o Attending a 40 year celebration of the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association (ICBA) at the River Rock in Richmond
o Yes we ached for a week or so after returning.
Our children and their partners are enjoying their professional careers in many disciplines. All are happy, healthy and well fed.
We are really enjoying our grandchildren along with their partners. The group is now expanding with our second great grandson. Did I say “great grandsons”? That is definitely our wealth! Our grandchildren are tallied as 3 College and Diploma Grads; 4 attending College; 2 in High School and 1 pursuing a professional Golf Career, There is no quetsion marilyn and I are very proud of them.
As for their parents, grandparents and great grandparents, it is interesting that we lost all three phones for days at a time. Do not despair when we do not answer the phone right away, as we are still looking for them.
Do come and see us! We love you all!
Merry Xmas and a healthy New Year in 2016 and beyond!
Elmer and Marilyn – December 18, 2015

I was a very fortunate parent and privileged to attend the graduation exercises at Royal Roads University in Victoria, B.C., this past November 10, 2015. It was the occasion of my daughter Tamara Louise Verigin-Burk’s graduation with a Master’s degree in Leadership.

The ceremony was awesome and very significant in the life of our daughter but along with the process we were able to personally meet the Chancellor of Royal Roads, Dr. Strandlund. He just casually walked up to our family group and started chatting. It was later in the conversation that he introduced himself after asking Tamara questions as to how she found the professors and the Royal Roads education system. He was very interested in her responses. We were impressed with his simplicity and humility.

It was with great interest, on my part, when I inspected the “tiny” ticket that we were provided with to enter the theatre, when I read the “fine print” to appreciate the message thereon:

AVOID     PRACTICE   WORKS OF MERCY

Anger       Patience       Feed the hungry
Greed       Generosity   Give drink to the thirsty
Gluttony  Moderation Clothe the naked
Jealousy   Confidence  Shelter strangers
Laziness   Diligence     Solace the sick
Lust           Dignity         Minister to prisoners
Pride          Humility      Bury the dead

On the reverse of this ticket is this message:

VIRTUES         PERILS TO HUMANITY

Courage           Commerce without Morality
Justice              Knowledge without character
Prudence         Measure without Conscience
Temperance   Politics without Principle
Faith                 Science without Humanity
Hope                 Wealth without Work
Charity             Worship without Sacrifice

This message was printed on a 7.5 cm x 3.5 cm surface.

My take on this is that the Chancellor had a purpose in so doing as many people have a quick look at a ticket of this nature and find that it is a certain color and usually has little or no message. Once a curious person starts reading this coupon, one realizes that there is a real message. I for one was impressed!

Thank you Chancellor Strandlund!

1. Taken from a “ticket” to the Royal Roads University graduation ceremonies held at the Victoria, B.C., Theatre where my daughter Tamara Verigin-Burk received her Masters Degree in Leadership, November 10, 2015.
Transcribed on December 03, 2015 in my Office at 145 – 4200 Grandview Drive, Castlegar, B.C. 0915 hours by Elmer Verigin