Message From Grandpa

(I originally wrote this almost 4 years ago. Found it and it brought back a lot of memories.)

Grandpa Leonard

Grandpa back in his baseball days. (Picture art by my cousin Brandy Sarapuk)

 

I do believe there is a Heaven and my Grandpa Leonard is the reason why. Some people say that God has talked to them, but he (or she) has never talked to me, at least that I am aware. But someone from Heaven made contact with me and that was my Grandpa Leonard.

 

My Grandpa Leonard passed away when I was 17 years old. He had a massive stroke and was laying hospitalized for 5 days before he passed away. The day he died we all said our goodbyes to him knowing that he was going to pass away, but I wasn't sure that Grandpa was able to hear me because he was basically in a coma at that point. Grandpa passed away and for months after that day not one day went by that I didn't think about him. I felt guilty not knowing if Grandpa heard me that day saying goodbye to him and that I loved him. It consumed me with guilt and regret and not one day passed when I didn't feel that.

 

One night while sleeping, in my dream Grandpa came to me. In my dream I walked into our living room and Grandpa was sitting on the chair watching a Boxing match on the TV, which he did almost every Tuesday the last few years of his life. I realized in my dream that I was asleep and Grandpa was gone. I sat down next to Grandpa as he sat there watching the TV. I knew I was sleeping but this dream was different, I knew this was my Grandpa in my dream and not a figment of my imagination. I looked at him and he looked at me and I said "Grandpa, I love you and I miss you so much!". He held my hand and said "I know Chris and I love you, now and forever". And that was when I awoke, and I cried. I cannot explain what I felt that day but I know without a doubt that that was my Grandpa. From Heaven he saw my pain and suffering following his death and he took away that pain and suffering. I know it was him and I know he came to me from a better place. I never truly believed in Heaven before that day but now I know there is more out there, thanks to my Grandpa

Blog #38: Old Stores in Barrhead

Remember the second store in the Fort Assiniboine? Guess if your not from that are you have no clue what the hell I am talking about. Sorry for that, this blog entry is geared towards people who lived and grew up in the Fort Assiniboine-Barrhead area. Anyway That was Ainsfort store which was where the Fort Post Office is currently located. I believe it closed in 1989 or 1990 I'm not quite sure. My Mom worked at Ainsfort store for a time. I remember they had the best ice cream, best candies, they had arcade games and they sold He-Man colouring books and other stuff that kids loved to buy. It was a great store and it sucked when it closed but it was a sign of the times. The Fort was just too small of a community to support 2 general stores, plus Barrhead was only 20 minutes away and had 3 larger stores there.

Another store I used to love shopping at was the old "Tom-Boy" here in Barrhead. It was located where the Barrhead FCSS is currently located. They turned in Extra Foods in the late 90's and closed in the late 90's..98 or 99 I cannot remember for certain I only remember that I was out of school at that point. They just couldn't compete with CO-OP and the new IGA.

Remember the "MET" store in Barrhead. The best way to describe it is to say it was like a small version of Wal-Mart. They had everything that you needed and then some. They were located where the Mall and Servus Credit Union are now. I loved shopping there and that is where I used to buy most of my He-Man toys and later my Ninja Turtle toys. They had the biggest store in town. I remember one time when shopping with my Granny Lockhart, Aunt Elaine and cousin Irene in Westlock. My Granny had bought me a toy there and later we went to Barrhead and the Met store. I unwisely took my new toy bought in Westlock into the Met. Anyway I was in the toy department when a punk looking guy, who was listening to metal music on a Walkman, grabbed me by the arm and accused me of stealing. He told me he was an undercover store security guard, now looking back he might have just been a paedophile...who knows? My cousin Irene seen him grab me by the arm and told him that my toy was in fact bought in Westlock so he let me go...thanks Irene for saving me from that dude. If he was a weirdo paedophile she may have saved me from something very bad!! But the Met, especially in the 80's was a huge store for a small town so it is possible that they had security. They too closed in the mid 90's.

 

Those were the days...man I sound old. But the 80's and 90's were such simple times for me, I really miss sometimes how things used to be. Granted things are pretty good now, but back then things were just simpler, guess cause my biggest concern was getting up at 7am on a Saturday to watch He-Man on channel 12. 

 

Need to build myself a time machine...

Antique Car Rally 2012: Pt II

Heres some more pics from the Antique car rally which started in Fort Assiniboine and ended with the street display in Barrhead. It was a beautiful Saturday event.

Chris and nephew Damien

Antique Car Rally 2012

Heres a few pics from the Antique Car Rally which starts in Fort Assiniboine, my former hometown and ends in my current hometown of Barrhead. Some very cool cars here. Will post more photos later.

Chris with nephew Damien in front of his favourite car: a Ford Mustang