Bea – in her own words
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Quotes from Bea in her final days…
"It's been a wonderful life."
"Tell everyone I say goodbye."
“It’s amazing how the mind works, especially if it’s your own!”
Sept. 18, 2009
“It’s Important to be a virgin. Were you? …Especially the first three times.” Sept. 18, 2009
“If my cheque flunks, I won’t have far to run!”
Sept. 16, 2009
"I don't know if you necessarily become wiser as you get older."
Sept. 17, 2009
“I have a smile on my face, and a question mark on my forehead.”
Sept. 21, 2009
"Is Yamuna here to send me off?" "Yes, BeaBea."
Elinor: “BeaBea, I’m going to miss our phone conversations.”
Bea: “Me too. But we’ll work out a system.”
Sept. 19, 2009
"Tell everyone how wonderful it's been and how much I love them"
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For Yamuna
Yamuna Yummy
Came from the tummy
The matching verse is always terse
We will have a time
When our verse will rhyme
But first we need the proper time
When we meet the second time
Sept 14, 2009
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Sing me to sleep
The shadows fall
Let me forget
The day and all
Tired is my heart
The whole day long
Please let me sleep
I'll sing a song?
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For Elinor
Namchi and Kai, now Elinor too
Have come to Montreal to see the view
With bicycle and bags and plans “énorme”
She “parles le francais” so true to form.
I welcome my vegetarian and welcome her meal
Our Friday night supper is part of our deal.
Summer, 2007
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Sally & Paul
Away you go
Leaving us
With ice & snow
Sally, Sally
Eighty you say?
Let’s drink a toast
To this special day.
To Sally & Paul
Goodbye to Florida
Have a ball
In sunny Victoria
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Dearest Ron
With choices at CHOICES
You blew our mind
So what can we do
But say thanks in kind!
Let us be the first
To buy food with your paper
At a discount price yet –
What a joyful caper!
So thanks for the excellent room + board,
The pod, the sea, the beach,
Your exquisite girls and friends galore.
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Murkey Turkey
The winter in Turkey
Can be somewhat murkey
But modern technology
Needs no apology
Primitive facilitation
Can strain your abilities
So you cover the seat
And stand on your feet
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Happy Birthday dear Zoë
We want to give part
Of the saddle and straps
Let this be a start!
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Dear Mim
To keep the network open
From Toronto to Montreal
We accept your invitation
To visit one and all
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How to explain what rooted means
Is a generation gap for sure.
You travel the world and live abroad
While I need to feel secure!
So kick up your heals
As you visit each time
And welcome dear Michael
With this little rhyme
And Happy Birthday!
Bea & Bernie
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For Aaron
A young mom’s fancy turns, in spring,
To day dreams soaring high;
Away from books and studies
Away from goals things that money brings
To wistful thoughts and sighs
All too soon the school break ends.
Exams + grades in sight
Back to books and student’s things
Back to goals that good grades bring
We love you Aaron with all our might.
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On your fourth Wedding Anniversary from BeaBea + Dad
August 20, 1978
Comment puis-je décrire
Les bons souvenirs?
Quatre ans de voir Ron épanouir;
Nous embrassons les fleurs
Les plus jolies –
Chère Martine
Et chère Namchi
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Dear Doug
From boy to man early,
Responsibilities to carry
Then meeting Madeline
Whom you decided to marry!
With cars to keep track of
And ventures anew
What can we say
About the likes of you?
Your optimism and charm
Energy and drive
Will carry you forward
We know that you will thrive.
So as we make changes
And start new careers
We will often look back
To all those long years.
We’ll forget the rough parts
Remember only the best
We wish you success
And much happiness
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Dear Andrew
Nothing like wine
And sharing a glass
In the quiet of the evening
With your favourite lass
For your unflappable nature
Our deep appreciation
May your future be bright
With great expectation
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Dear dear Mary
As long as me know you
You have never
Ever been contrary.
Your perky disposition
Has always lent cheer
We hope you continue
To be such a dear.
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January thirtieth,
Nineteen forty-eight
For us that marks
A very special date.
Who is the one
The sun shines on?
Today belongs
To our son Ron!
The forties they say
Is when life begins
So kick up your heels
But protect your shine
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Kaima, you are nine years old
So grown up and so tall
Please send a photograph
To hang upon our wall.
Happy Birthday once again
We love you more each day
We know you’ll have a happy time
On vacation though far away
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Dearest Kaima
Happy, Happy Birthday
As you turn fourteen-
We’ll celebrate tonight
And daily in between
Thank you for the piano.
A kiss will be crafted
I’ll send the _____ to you
The light of the sun too.
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Dear Peter
For a favourite expatriate
Running towards the sun
Can’t say I blame you
When here it’s minus -51˚!
So Happy, Happy Birthday;
Tho’ things don’t seem just right
Dwell not upon the bad times
But look ahead – it’s BRIGHT
Warmest regards,
Bea + Bernie
February, 1995
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To Ron
– Sunday January 12, 1992
Three events to start the year of 1992
With Namchi’s birthday early on
Then Dad’s today, then you.
So times are tough + gloom prevails
What can a person do?
Shift a focus, start afresh
With a brand new point of view.
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To Ron
Sometimes it’s bleak
The snow is grey
It seems like a week
But it’s only a day.
Think of the good times
The things yet to do
The people you love
And those who love you
Shout to the wind
That’s it’s ‘ninety-five!”
The best time of all
To be alive.
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For Kaima’s walkathon.
Ten kilometers?
Hard to beat.
You earned this money
For your tired feet.
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To Ron – January 30, 1996
A family reunion?
Impossible I thought.
But your management skills
Proved my worries were naught.
We beamed with fair pride
As bonds were renewed.
Our sons became brothers,
Our grand daughters imbued
With giggles and laughs
And secrets to share
Their plans for the future
Show that they care.
We celebrated birthdays
Of Zaidi, Namchi and Ron;
We partied all day
And the kids did till dawn!
We saw all the sights
While they skied and they hiked;
We walked and we snooped
In the shops that we liked
When we saw “Show Boat”
We were filled with awe
And that tops the list
Of all that we saw!
You said it would rain
But the sun shone bright.
We gloried in the view
Of your snow-peaked sight.
So thank you for helping
Our spirits to bloom.
We’re snapped out of our post –
Referendum gloom.
Now after two weeks
Of extraordinary delight
We’re heading for home
On an Air Canada flight
May your happy, happy birthday coincide with the dream
Of a special success
With PAINT ‘N CLEAN!
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Cheryl
To a hot climate you go
While here we have snow.
I suppose it’s likely your first,
There will be flowers + bees
And leaves on the trees
While here we’ll have winter at its worst!
Rob-
This is a special occasion
Really a double celebration
That brings us here today;
A Chanukah party
Where we’ll all eat hearty
And wish Rob a Happy Birthday!
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For Arnold on his 70th
It states in the Talmud
A man must not be
Alone with a woman
More than minutes three;
Otherwise it’s assumed
That they had a quickie
So this egg-timer
Will protect your dickie!
Your Auntie Beatrice and Uncle Bernie
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Phyllis
A flat in London
A township retreat.
A condo in Spain
Hey, ain’t that neat?
So happy landings
Phyllis dear.
May your Northcliffe home
Be full of cheer.
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Dearest Annie
What can we say?
So you’re chalking up
Another sweet day.
As long as we’re here
To wish you well
We’ll celebrate with you
And raise all hell.
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Dearest Kaima
Eleven you say?
Have a wonderful time
On your own special day.
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Peter, Peter, pure food eater,
Sells his wares by gram or litre
He puts them in the malls to call
And there he does do very well.
Peter, Peter, what can I say
On this your very own special day?
So behind these lines of laity
We wish you much longevity.
Happy birthday.
April 3, 1989
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Roma
While Ron + Rob
Are way up skiing,
You and the girls
Have fun teaing
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For Ron
This is my
magic nickel;
Lady luck will
Not be fickle
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Many more events this year
Mary celebrations
Happy Birthday our son Ron,
More congratulations.
“There has to be a brighter side”
Let that be your motto
Work + play + forge ahead
But share with us the lots!
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To Rob
What do you know
A great day ended
Our family is now
Through You extended.
On your birthday
It gives us pleasure
To give you both
A special treat.
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To Len + Nancy – My Dad’s Violin
T’was a night to remember
Those fifteen years ago;
We hand these down
To you
With love, but no bow.
Mom + Dad + Vancouver Gang
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A rap for Rhea + Milton
Thanks for letting us
Party with you
We’re happy to be
In the family too
We celebrate mitzvahs-
Who feels old
When Rhea + Milton
Are pullin’ in gold?
Fifty is short, friends
Can’t you see?
We’ve been there before you
From Bernie and Bea.
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Dear Aaron
May 31st is here again.
It makes you one year more.
We jumped a generation
In 1974.
From “Mom and Dad” we then attained
The honored statues of “grand”-
As BeaBea and Zaida all at once
Had a grandson on demand.
You lead the way for others to follow
A role model? – yes, indeed!
The goals you set to achieve in life
You’ll work hard to succeed.
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Halloween ‘88
Squeak, thump, bang, clang
Call the goblins, find the ghosts,
On their broomsticks fly the witch
Over chimneys, trees and posts.
Scary mask or painted face
Fool the neighbours on your street;
But Halloween is lots of fun
As you giggle “trick or treat!”
For Kaima and Zoe and Namchi,
Two dollars each for you.
Share the rest with others
Like Adya and Mico too.
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Seventy-five years is awesome indeed
Of that there is no doubt
Moreover it’s really the reason
This party is all about
Some things may be appropriate
Like concerts and choirs and such
But beyond most things I can think of
We all love you very much
SO – enough of your lists on old paper:
Use coloured sheets instead;
May your lists keep getting longer
While through life you lightly tread.
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Ann, Ann, my activist friend,
Still very stubborn, sometimes can bend;
Ann, Ann, committee galore.
Still on as many as before.
Though younger than you, the decades pass;
Yet here we all are as elders. Alas!
Ann, Ann, you have broken the mold.
Of what it should mean to be deemed old!
So what can I say to you, Ann Bailey?
MANY MORE YEARS of phoning you daily!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Son, Mark Dainow
March 21, 1991
One two three four
What are little babies for?
Cuddle love and hold me tight
Even when they fuss at night.
Now a sister has a brother
And a father and a mother.
Mark Henry Amundsen Dainow
You fit right in because we say so
Join the club of loving ties
May you be healthy happy and wise.
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My face in the mirror
Isn't wrinkled or drawn,
My house isn't dirty
The cobwebs are gone;
My garden looks lovely
And so does my lawn
I think I may never
Put my glasses back on.