Birthdays

Another birthday is rolling around for me. My, a year goes by so quickly! A year ago we were basking in the sun in another country. The scenery changes but the family calendar still marks March 1st as Mom's birthday. Tommy,who is nine, probably wishes that the year would go by faster and his birthday in April would come sooner. Jake is looking forward to being a teenager. Jordie,who plays hockey with a team of older players,is wishing he wasn't the rookie. Devon,at nineteen,wouldn't want to be referred to as a teenager and our Lisa ,in her twenties,is watching the years start to speed up. Our youngest daughter Jenn is nearing the end of her thirties and Scott has a big 50 just ahead of him. Wow! where are those little kids who sat around the kitchen table,laughing, teasing, who had their likes and dislikes of food? My baby sister probably doesn't want her age published, but she's about to become a grandmother. Mom (Nanny) is ninety three and so we hope we carry some of those great aging genes within us. So! I'm going to get away from it all! Next Sunday, I'll sit on the open deck of the Orchestra, sipping the drink of the day, and glide through the Caribbean. It can't be so bad turning 74. Better than turning 75! So, Happy Birthday Helen and here's to many more!

We've Gone to the Dogs

We have been planning to go to the dog races for the last 3 weeks. Poor health and cool weather kept us postponing the day. Yesterday was picked as our outing to the races. Four couples drove to Bonita Springs to the track.Sunny and breezy,just right for a day of fun,laughter and friendship. First of all--feed our faces.Hot dogs piled with sauerkraut and a cold drink. Now we are ready for the races.Check our programs,pick our dogs and place our $2. bets.(Big gamblers !) The dogs are paraded before us.Have we made the right choices? Male,female,large,small,past history of times and races. Decisions,decisions! The bugle sounds post time and here comes Sparky! The mechanical rabbit screeches toward the starting gate and THEN they're off. Aku Bovill loved to say,"Here comes the bunny, there goes my money." Those beautiful greyhounds race their hearts out trying to be first to the finish line.The fans are cheering for their favourite dog. Winners wave their tickets in the air, losers throw their paper bets to the floor. Oh boy, a win of $2.80. On to the next race. Now for a little fun. Let's pool our money and place a bigger bet with the chance of winning a little more. Four couples,four dogs to choose and the excitement heightens. This method continues through the afternoon. Four couples pick; four women pick;four fellows pick;etc. The girls pick just right. Oh, we're in for the big money! Sorry! You didn't read the fine print. You have to pick winners in 2 races for the big winnings. Oh well,$50. sounds pretty good. The next big gamble paid much better.Three gals,plus Bob hit a $331. pot. Now there's lots of cheers and smiles. Are we having fun? You bet your sweet bippy! All in all,you win some,you lose some. By late afternoon we are ready to move on to a lovely dinner at a special Italian eatery. Candlelight, a glass of wine,a plate of pasta,a mellow ending to the day. This is just one afternoon out of the many wonderful experiences we have here with our friends in Naples.

AKU/AKUTOO

Bob has been asked many times why he is called Aku. So here is the history of Aku.

When son Scott was just a little gaffer,his grandfather Bruce Bovill,delighted in taking Scott to the cottage. We would pack a little suitcase with a change of clothes and night wear. The two of them would go to Monetville for a couple of days of fishing and camping.

From the very beginning Margaret was called Nanny and it was easy for Scott to say. But the word Grandpa or Grandad didn't come so easily. In baby talk Scott referred to his grandfather as Aku. Remember,he was less than a year old at the time. He also called his little suitcase Aku because he related this word with going to camp with his grandfather.

As Scott got a little older and began to enlarge his vocabulary,the baby talk of favourite words were lost. But his grandfather was so pleased with the name Aku,he encouraged Scott to continue with this familiar word. Nanny and Aku Boville was established.

This endearment continued on with all five children. The originating of the name was repeated to friends many times.

Time marches on and within a blink of an eye Bob and I were grandparents to Lisa Trencs.Without any thought we knew what we wanted to be called by our grandchildren.Tradition had been established!

As our five children grew older and left the nest, Bob and I realized we could now fulfill one of our dreams. We bought our first RV to travel in. A Winnebago Chieftain came to sit in the yard in Carlisle. Bob was working at the School for the Deaf with a talented faculty. One of the teachers painted a tire cover for the spare tire on the back of the RV. Now we had graduated to a new term. AKUTOO.

Now it's time for Bob to retire from teaching. We threw a small party of family and friends. Silly little, appropriate gifts were presented on this momentous occasion. Our kids knew what their Dad would love to have. A personalized licence plate reflecting his name. AKUTOO.

They couldn't have thought of a better gift to give him. A lifetime gift!

Speaking of lifetime!! Bob will now carry the word Aku on his upper arm in the form of a tattoo.

Now our grandchildren are growing up and they have no problem introducing their grandfather to friends as Aku. But the explanations never stop. We don't mind,we love to tell the history.

The Way

These words were fitting 10 years ago at our 40th Wedding Anniversary. Family and friended gathered and sang these words to us. This song is still relevant as we have now celebrated 50 years of marriage and continued "on the road".

They made up their minds

And they started packing,

They left before the sun came up that day;

An exit to eternal summer slacking

But,where were they going

Without ever knowing the way?

Anyone could see the road that they walked on

is paved with gold

And it's always summer

They'll never get cold,

They'll never get hungry

They'll never get old and gray;

You can see the shadows

Wandering off somewhere.

They won't make home

but they don't care,

They wanted the highway

They're happier there today.

The children woke up

and they couldn't find 'em

They left before the sun came up that day;

They just drove off and left it all behind them

But, where were they going

Without ever knowing the way.