I have more than a few regrets. Would I have done some things differently? Of course, but learned a long ago that you don't agonize over things you have no control over.
I had a wife, Pauline. She was an amazing woman and we hung in together for over 50 years. I have two wonderful kids (Jacqueline and Stephen) who married very well (Scott and Larissa) and who have given me three grandchildren, Michael, Sarah and Isla who I love unreservedly and am so proud of. My mum is still alive and kicking and with my dad brought up my brother and me in a very working class environment. Neil (Jan) and I are still married to the women we originally married and, quite frankly have done pretty well. I never felt jealous of my brother’s brains (I was a lazy bugger anyhow) but I did envy him when he walked out at Wembley Stadium to play football for Oxford University.
Not too many regrets about my working life- never had a job I didn't like. Steve Merrill was one the best people I ever worked for. HMECU was a great end to my banking career -the perfect job for me. Special thanks to Colleen who helped me through a difficult 2009! Doug Mann was one of the smartest men I ever worked for and to Charlie Collura who provided inspired leadership. Lesley Anne Lawson is a very smart and hardworking lady who always tried to make me look good.
My best friend, Dave Maylor died in 2006 and that was tough to handle but his two friends who grew up with him in Liverpool Dave Henry and Keith Barton have been my buddies for over 30 years. Jim and Mary McCall have been our traveling companions and best friends for decades and I love them like family. If I miss anyone from the following list, it's my feeble memory but Vince and Sandy, Art and Sharon, Sally and Sam, Dianne, Frances, Louise, Barb and Fred, Pat and Mick and Peter and Jane plus friends from the Credit Union, friends and family from England and Maureen in Canada. Our friends have never ceased to be a joy.
The lunatic and often inebriated baseball guys. Great trips, great memories and way too many laughs. And then, as a bonus, we met the wonderful group at Harbor Club especially Wayne and Trev and the Mollies pair Bob and Ivan. Friends like Pam and John Salmons from England have been close since we lived there and social media has kept us in touch with Ian Winslade, Julia Williams and the bridesmaid from our wedding Brenda Shepherd, as well as Hank and Gwen Kulesa from Kalamazoo, Michigan.
One last request. I want my ashes to be scattered in Wastwater Lake in England- a beautiful and peaceful place close to where I was born. My daughter has threatened to take my ashes to Hamilton Bay and dump them there saying "He'll never know"!! She must be stopped!!
No visitation, no funeral. Just a quick and cheap cremation- I want to be cooked "medium well". A memorial party would be OK provided there is alcohol and laughter. And, I have chosen the background music!!
Lang may yer lum reek!
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