Rowan-ish-ness

Rowan.
Reluam (Pronounced 'Ra-loom' for some unknown reason).
Ra-loom-a-loo.
Ra-loomy.
Rowan the Dragon Mauler ('Reluam' is 'Mauler' backwards.  Don't ask.)

Rowan is lovely.  He came to visit the night before Connor's birthday 3 weeks ago and decided to stay. He needed a soft place to land.  We had an extra room.  Makes perfect sense, no?

Rowan is one of Connor's best friends.  He's a remarkable young man; President of the Youth Society, Honour Roll, Student Council, Saxophone Player (piano too) and is just really, really sweet.  He fits right in with us and already in this short amount of time, I can't imagine our family without him.  He thinks he may want to be a lawyer.  I think there's no doubt that he'll achieve whatever he puts his mind to.

Gigi now has yet another brother/quasi-brother (Connor, Jack, Bryce, Adam and now Rowan) and I really think she doesn't have a chance at dating until her mid 20's.  I now have someone who can reach for the r-e-a-l-l-y high things in the cupboards.  Connor and Jack have a built in xbox playing, D&D geeking, homework-doing brother/friend. 

We love our Ra-loom and we're so happy to have him here with us.  He's a bonus to our family and we're better because he's in it.

   Rowan looking dapper and happy.

Rowan and Gigi looking fierce.

Randy 'n Rowan

So y'all have met my friend Randy; he was here for Thanksgiving being a pain in the ass, as per usual. (See Randy?  THIS is how I get the last word in.  Mwah ha ha ha ha!)  This past weekend, Randy decided to come for a visit again... I decided to let him because he was bringing his beautiful, feisty, wonderful daughter, Grace. 

The last time Randy stayed at Shangri-la, he slept in the spare room on an antique bed left here by my sister and her hubby.  Now, I know that 'antique bed' sounds very quaint and refined but apparently that isn't exactly the case.  When Randy found out that Rowan (my new quasi-son....I'll get to that in a minute) was sleeping on the antique bed, he was horrified.  He went on to describe in cringe-worthy detail just how uncomfortable it is to sleep on a bed that has springs poking through the mattress.  He also pointed out that Rowan is 6'4" and it's a double bed which isn't exactly long enough for our Rowan.  I asked Randy if he could pick up a foamy and bring it from Kelowna to make the bed a bit more comfortable.  He completed disregarded my request, being the Ding-Ding that he is. 

He ignored my request by bringing a new Queen-sized bed.  The frame.  The box spring.  The mattress.  Pillows.  Two sets of bedding.  A special Buzz Light Year pillow from Grace.  He also brought clothes (bags of clothes) and a barbeque for me.  Overwhelming.  Really. 

Randy saw a need and simply wanted to help.  His generosity left me speechless which as most of you know is NOT an easy task.  Rowan asked me why Randy, a complete stranger to him, would do something like this.  I told him "Randy wants to make a difference and he believes in your potential."  Then I think I might have smiled and said something like "Don't fuck it up" but I don't remember for sure. :)

I've known Randy for just over a year and he's become one of my best friends which is an elite category when you consider that people like my Barbs and my Seeso currently live there.  I know I say it often but I'm really incredibly lucky to have such amazing friends and family.  I'm not sure I'm worthy of them but I try my best to be.

Randy and Grace. 

Grace is now 14 and a young woman but is every bit as beautiful as she was in this photo.