| Wishes: |
Thelma, I have lots of memories of our time together. One of my favourites is watching you dance the night away with Bill Bedard of the US Forest Service in a bar at State Line Idaho during a Forest Insect Work Conference. Another is of the two of us lying flat on our bellies on suitcases in the luggage compartment of a bus, trying to retrieve our baggage so we could catch a Frontier Airlines plane waiting for us in Grand Junction, Colorado. But most of all, I remember dropping into your office to gather any wisdom and insight that came to your mind that day. One time, I had heard that there was a new Program Manager coming to the Pacific Forestry Centre. His name was Windy Miller (I can use his name now, because he's long departed). Knowing that I would have to work with him, and having learned that he served at the Bellville lab with you, I came seeking your opinion. Now, one of the things that I liked about you was that you always tried to see the best in people, and I was expecting the same to occur in this instance. So I asked you what you knew about Windy Miller. There was an uncommonly long duration of silence, while you thought over what you were going to say. Finally, you pronounced, "John, about the only good thing I can tell you about Windy Miller is that he is fat." You were right, and it was some of the best information I ever received. Thank you for being my friend and colleague, and a very happy birthday. John |
