Hannah Jongenelen, 1945 - 2009

Today, I would like to tell the dear readers about Hannah Jongenelen, my stepmother, who passed away on Thursday after a courageous struggle with cancer.

Hannah was one of the most vibrant, strongly optimistic, and independent people I have known. She raised 3 beautiful children on her own, in a time when that just wasn't done. She instilled in them the quality of her character that made them who they are. She was fiercely creative, and her house was filled with color, and with art.

Hannah had an indomitable spirit that inspired the people around her. She made friends easily and quickly, and had a genuine interest in others. Everyone I know who knew her respected her. She accepted me as her 4th child, and we got along very well. She was not afraid to tell me when I was wrong, and also to tell me when I was right.


I credit Hannah for bringing my dad and I closer together. When they were dating, she asked him many questions about his life, and his family, and he realized that he didn't really know that much about me. Since then, we have made efforts to get to know one another better.

There were only two people present when my dad and Hannah were married; myself and her son Guido. Hannah loved Canada, and its wide open spaces; she loved travelling through Jasper National Park, and up to Alaska. She also loved Holland, and enjoyed showing my wife and I the most beautiful parts of Maastricht. She encouraged us to see the city as the locals do, not as tourists but as travellers.

To me, Hannah was an embodiment of that creativity that speaks to those who have the courage to look for it. She was not afraid to say, "This is who I am!" and she lived her life accordingly. She was genuine in all that she did. And I feel richer for having known her.

"Love looks not with the eyes but with the mind." - Shakespeare

Today, on Single's Awareness Day, I wish to reflect on my wife Tania. Since meeting her 3 1/2 years ago, my life has changed completely, and for the better. She has an amazing presence, and this is known to all who know her. I consider myself to be very, very fortunate to have married her, for she inspires me in so many ways, I can't count. Here's to Tania!



Whether or not you celebrate Valentine's Day, and all the Hallmark connotations it entails, take some time today to recognize someone you know; acknowledge the effect they've had in your life.

Back to basics

A few images of Abby for your enjoyment, dear reader. If you're interested, these were taken with my favorite lens, my trusty 50mm f/1.8 Canon. Such a versatile lens, it is a mystery to me why more people don't use it, and more importantly, why more people don't recognize its value. I prefer this fast, crisp, sharp lens with its inexpensive build quality than a sluggish zoom with more range and $600 more money any day. If you don't have one already, it's not too late. Go to the store!

A profound thought

I read a profound thought yesterday, from Paulo Coelho's excellent blog. I encourage you to visit his site, www.paulocoelhoblog.com, but if you don't, here it is:

A reader asked:

We know your messages from your books, but can you summarize with your own words, what’s are the most important things of a human life ?

Not to be paralysed by fear in the path of our dreams.

That is the key, isn't it? I know that my lack of successes are not a result of trial and failure, but paralysis. We are inspired by bold action; our movie heroes and their fearless adventures through trials that would freeze most of us like a rabbit with its ears back. We are inspired, but do we move? Do we leave the theatre thinking, I will ask for a raise (or quit my job); I will apply for that transfer; I will ask for extra sauce on my burger; I will ask that girl out (or to marry me).

That is my question to you: Do you ask? Or do you slide back into the wagon rut and wait for the sequel? What inspires you to take action?

Paradise found.

Sometimes, I forget that Summerland is an area so breathtakingly beautiful that people from around the world come to visit. Other times, I remember. All of these images were taken within a five minute drive from my house, this week.

The Okanagan is a playground year-round, not just during the summer months.

A Tale of Understanding

A mechanic was driving outside a small village when he came up on a man parked on the side of the road, looking into a field. From his clothing, the mechanic knew that he wasn't from the village, and he pulled over to see if he could help. He got out of his car and by the time he got to the man, he knew what was wrong. He must have a broken fan belt! Why else would someone be parked there? Excitedly, he told the man how to change the fan belt; what nuts to loosen, how to stretch the new belt when he put it on, and how to remove the old belt, but the man just smiled and said nothing.

A farmer was walking up the road, and he asked what the problem was. The mechanic told the farmer that his car was broken, that the fan belt was broken, and that the man was refusing to change it. The farmer looked at the man and thought, it's not his fan belt, he's wishing he had a horse, and excitedly he began to tell the man about his horse for sale, how high it stood, how it rode through the tall grass, how it liked to eat carrots with its lips, and how it could pull a cart. The man smiled and said nothing.

A realtor saw the men standing there, and thought Fantastic! Someone wants to buy the property I have listed! So he came up to the man and began talking louder than the mechanic and the farmer, describing the property, how many bedrooms were on the main floor, how the deer grazed in the front yard, and how quiet the neighbors were in the evenings. The man just smiled and said nothing.

A doctor saw the people gathering and thought, someone must be hurt. So he ran over and saw everyone gathered talking about the man, and said Stand back! This man needs medicine! He has a headache, and that is why he is parked here! And he ripped out his doctor's kit and gave him a bottle of pills. The man smiled and said nothing.

A sage was walking down the road when he saw a crowd gathering around a man, parked just past a bridge. From where he stood, he could see that underneath the bridge, two boys were running back to the car, holding a big fish. The two boys came back to the car and showed the man the fish, babbling excitedly in a foreign language. The man exclaimed something back, smiled and put the fish and the boy's fishing rods in the trunk, and drove off with the two boys, leaving the townspeople standing there.

The moral of the story is that until you understand the situation, you cannot help, and by trying to help without knowing, you look like a fool. Perhaps you know someone out of work in the Great Depression of 2009. Before offering wisdom on how to fix their situation, ask them how they are doing. An age old adage, Seek first to understand, then to be understood, applies here. It is wonderful to point out that bills need to be paid, and that the person has a mortgage swinging around their neck like an albatross, but the chances are that the person already knows that. It is wonderful to suggest that someone you know is working at two dead-end jobs to make ends meet, and that the person should go out and do that, but the person may have already been applying to dozens of jobs and had no calls back. It is wonderful to tell someone to work as a janitor or at the coffee shop for twelve hours per week instead of following their own well-thought out plan for getting back on track, but before you do that, ask how things are going, and listen to the answer. If you want to help someone, asking "How can I be of service?" goes much further than mindlessly bleating like a frightened goat.

A few thoughts about Christmas

Hello all,
Well, Christmas is come and gone, and I now have time to work on images from the holidays. Apart from not working, it was a good Christmas, and the first Christmas as a married couple. To enhance the experience, Tania and I invited the relatives over for a big dinner on Boxing Day. Sadly, there were no photographs of this momentous occasion.

I have included some of our favorites for your enjoyment! Merry Christmas, and may your 2009 be blessed.