Flo
A little strangely, Flo does not seem to appear as a character in the old ERC/CEBA stories (Environmental Resource Centre/Centre for Environmental Business and Advocacy) of this blog. She was a pillar of the the organizations that made those places go. A book-keeper by trade, and Treasurer of the Tomorrow Foundation for a Sustainable Future for many years. And, most significantly, the rep for TF on more than one bingo association. Flo helped keep the lights on for most of the south Edmonton environmental organizations.
My cell-phone rang near the end of the work day, July 3. The caller was not in my phone contacts so only a phone number appeared. When I answered and heard, "Hey Myles," I recognize the voice of Flo's son.
"Hey," I replied. "I'm sorry man, but I'm afraid you're going to tell me bad news."
"We lost mom last night."
I expressed my sadness and condolences and asked to be kept informed about memorial services.
Later, while departing Aquarius (that is the fake blog name of my cubicle at work), I stopped at the entrance to SMF's cubicle. He has been my neighbor for maybe a year now. I mentioned to him that one of my old friends had died. I did not say "another friend" had died though I thought it.
"It's such subtle thing about getting older," I said. "We think getting older is about aches and energy and diminishing eyesight. But no one ever told me about when death changes. When we're younger and a friend dies, it is tragic. But somewhere along the line, the tragedy stops and all you have is sadness."
The Toxics Watch Bingo Crew
This weekend I searched my archives for this picture taken by the sign of the old Argyll Bingo hall which used to stand near where the Argyll Casino is today. It's a strange feeling to look at a picture from your own photo album and notice that almost half of the people in it are no longer with us.
I think that I will post a link to this entry on my FaceBook page and tag some people to say that while we may not be in touch, I still tell myself good stories about you.