Institutionalized: 1940

Annie's Announcement

A little under a week since we saw our friends at the Vancouver Indy, we were just relaxing at home. All of a sudden, the telephone rang. Greg stood up from the couch and walked over to answer the telephone. He answered it with a "Hello" He then said "Hello Annie. " He looked surprised to hear from his sister. I heard him say "What is your good news?" then I hear him congratulate his sister on her pregnancy. He then said "We will be there for the delivery of your baby" which will be this upcoming winter as she tells Greg that she is due on January 14.

As soon as Greg hung up the telephone, he could not contain his joy about becoming an uncle. In that case, that would make me an aunt, which I would never thought would happen because I would have never thought of being married, which I am proud to say I am to a wonderful man.

A few weeks after the surprise telephone call from Annie, we have been eagerly waiting for more information from Annie. Greg then started to talking to me about what he could show our new niece or nephew. The number one thing on his list was to show him or her the Greg Moore Gallery at the BC Sports Hall of Fame and Museum at BC Place. I thought that was a great idea because it shows our new niece or nephew what Greg's life was like before the war.

A few months later, Greg went to the mailbox as usual. When he returned, he had some mail from Annie. Greg opened the envelope and took out a photo of her baby bump. It has been nearly three months since she announced her pregnancy in July. Greg showed me the photo. I told him that she was beautiful. Greg agreed. He said that Annie has always been beautiful ever since Ric met her mom.

It has been a few weeks since Annie sent the photo. Thanksgiving is coming soon. We have been invited to Annie's house for thanksgiving dinner on the thirteenth. It will be the first thanksgiving that she and James will make. She has asked Greg and I to help as well. It will be the first thanksgiving the kids have to make.

The day of Thanksgiving has arrived. Instead of Ric and Donna picking us up, Simon picked us up because he told us that they wanted our help with the dinner before Ric and Donna arrive later today.

At Annie and Simon's house, we saw that James and his wife were already there to help with dinner. Annie needs as much help as she can get as her pregnancy gets further along. Greg joined Simon and his brother James to help with the turkey. Annie, James' wife and I prepared the vegetables and stuffing for the men to stuff the bird.

As soon as the vegetables were cut and the stuffing prepared, we left the kitchen, so the men can finish preparing the turkey dinner.

As soon as the turkey was in the oven, the men joined us into the living room. We were all talking about what else needs to get done before Ric and Donna arrive for dinner.

After a few moments of relaxing, there were only a few more things to do before Greg's parents arrive. I helped Annie set the table. We also figured out the seating plan. There were eight of us. We decided that Ric sits at one end of the table and Simonat the other. I sit at the left side of the table beside Greg and near Ric because I told her that I may need help with cutting meat. Donna would sit across from me. Beside her, would sit James' wife then Annie would sit close to Simon. James would sit beside Greg.

Once the table was set and the seating arrangement was done we just had to wait for Ric and Donna to arrive.

A few moments later, we heard a knock at the door. Annie was about to get up to answer it when Simon told her to stay put and he will answer it. He opened the door. It was Ric and Donna for dinner. When Greg's parents arrived, we had some time to visit before dinner.

As soon as the oven timer went off, James and Simon went into the kitchen to carve the turkey, get the vegetables ready, and make gravy. James then called his wife into the kitchen to help them. The rest of us found our spots around the table to wait for the delicious food on the table.

As soon as all the food was on the table, Simon, James, and his wife joined us to eat this meal. All the food gets passed around the table. Ric assisted me by holding the dishes while I helped myself. He was kind enough to put meat on my plate.

Once everyone had food on his or her plate, we raised our glasses to say cheers and Happy Thanksgiving before we started to enjoy this lovely meal. The meal was so delicious that there was hardly any talking.

Once everyone was full of delicious turkey dinner, Annie, James' wife, and Donna helped clear the table. I offered that once they were ready that I could help with a dessert tray. Annie thanked me then told me that was a great idea and a great help.

As the three women did the dishes and cleaned up from dinner, I and the men talked about life and up coming events. The main event that we were all equally excited aboutwas the birth of Annie's baby.

It was not long until Annie called me into the kitchen. I excused myself from the table and joined the women in the kitchen.

Once in the kitchen, Annie showed me where the cookies were. I walked over to the table where the platter was waiting to be filled with cookies. The cookies were also on the table to go on to the platter. I started to arrange each type of cookie on the platter nicely.

Once the platter was full, Donna picked it up and brought it onto the dinning room table for everyone to enjoy. That was the cue to rejoin the men at the table. We talked and enjoyed dessert.

After awhile, Ric and Donna said it was getting late. They offered to drive us home as it was on their way to Maple Ridge. We thanked them for their offer. Ric and Donna got our coats out of the closet. Greg and I put our shoes on and Donna and Ric passed us our coats. We thanked Annie and Simon for the lovely dinner then said good-bye to James and his wife. We then left with Ric and Donna.

Once at our house, we thanked them for driving us home and said good night.

A few weeks later it was our anniversary. Greg went to get the mail as usual. Once he returned, he told me that he received something from Annie. I told him that he might as well open it to find out what it could be.

Once he opened the envalope, he lifted whatever was in it out. To his surprise, it was a photo of his dad, his brother, and himself. I told him that all three of them looked handsome. I asked him if Annie wrote a note about why she was giving this photo to him. He replied by telling me that all she wrote was that she came across the photo and thought that Greg would like it.

As fall turned into winter, it was not long until Annie's baby was due. We had a quiet Christmas and New Year's. All we were looking forward to was to see Annie's baby.

A few weeks after New Year's, we were relaxing at home when the telephone rang. I went to answer it. It was Greg's parents informing me that they were on their way to pick us up to take us to the hospital for the birth of Annie's baby. I told them that we would get ready as fast as we can, so as soon as they arrive we could leave for the hospital.

Once I hung up the telephone, I told Greg to get ready. When he asked for what, I told him that his parents were taking us to the hospital for the birth of Annie's baby.

Not soon after, I hear a knock at the door. It was Greg's parents. I told Greg to hurry up and put his shoes on so we could leave. Once ready, we were on our way to the hospital.

Once there, Simon was there to take us to the room Annie was in, in the maternity ward.

As soon as Annie saw us, she was quite happy. As her labour progressed, she got more uncomfortable. This means that she could give birth soon.

A couple of hours later, Annie was ready to give birth. It felt like forever before she gave birth to a baby boy she named Louis Phillip. He was a big boy at eight pounds, four ounces. The expression on Greg's face was priceless once he saw his nephew for the first time. We both will enjoy watching him grow up.