I think this was up Apex Mountain and we went with Barb Lock and her girls Gena and Jessica. Gena was a BFF for many years even after we moved to Kelowna. Barb and I went to Mothers Morning Out – this was where we could leave the kids with some kindly grandmotherly sorts and attend different lectures, speaker meetings etc. The only problem was that only a thin divider wall lay between us and small children who didn’t always get along, who cried, and generally acted (loudly) like children. I especially remember the time Tera was bitten by “that kid who always bites”. It was hard to just sit there and listen to that – so, of course I went over as did the rest of the moms and the rest of the hour was spent trying to bring some peace to the situation. But even with the constant distractions, I loved Mom’s Morning Out. It was a different world back then. No social media, no internet or anything on TV really, and in our small town – only CBC and a country music station. I was eager to connect with other mothers and like minded souls. I can see how important community institutions such as Church, the Legion, our Food Co-op and Oddfellows, etc. were in bygone days. When I think of it we were a tight little community and we had good friends and neighbours who relied on each other in so many ways – for entertainment, child-minding, lending and borrowing numerous things – from tools to flour. The world is different now. Although there is nostalgia for those days, I love that Alma sends me text messages and Braeden Facetimes me!! Gone are the days when I would eagerly wait for mail delivery at the Post Office to see if any of my old friends had written me a letter.