Feelings about Toronto (April 29 - May 6)

Toronto is my third home, apart from Vancouver and Hong Kong. My husband came from Toronto where he studied senior highschool and university. He would always think that he would work or study grad school in US. However, he seemed to find Vancouver a permanent place for growing his career and family!

It was my second-time to visit Toronto, thus I spent most of my time to relax at home in Mississauga and catch up with friends in North York, Markham, and downtown. My mother-in-law was very kind to me -- she didn't let me to do any housework, but to accompany her for going out to have lunch and dinner treats!! I also took the opportunity to visit Brock University where courses with autism training can be done in Ontario. It's always fun to go on a highway with my husband and just spend a day driving under the sun.

More significantly, we have caught up with many friends. Because all of my husband's friends in Toronto are classmates back in Waterloo, they gathered up and chatted all about engineering! I made so much fun out from Horace for being too logical all the time, as well we were able to see the bride and groom (Candy and Leon) for sharing our growing roots!! I was delighted to meet with Andy & Winnie, Kevin & Vicky, as well as Yat-Loong, for chatting our night away.

When I was on my third day of stay in Toronto, my darling (Charlie) experienced an organ failure and went to heaven on the next day! He suffered from lymphocoma. It was God's grace that he passed away at home. My brother helped me to bring him to the vet for cremation in the evening. When I heard the news from e-mail, I was devastated. I could not sleep for the night, crying to be awake and weeping to sleep. My husband was holding me in his arms for the whole night to share my grief...

Although my heart was broken to live through the news, I set up a scrapbooking station at home to make some pages in memory of Charlie for the next few days. I quietly let my sorrows to be shared on the Sunday, when I saw some church friends and offered my prayer intention for my 'St. Rocco' at the mass in Markham. On the night before Charlie died, Horace and I also said a rosary together at St. Michael's Cathedral. Thanks to our friend, Rovika, for catching up who lives in the neighborhood =) Peace.

We had little time to wind down and missed the opportunity to meet with my husband's uncle, aunt, and cousins for a good Italian buffet. I missed his family in Toronto too, because it certainly felt more like home when I went there again!