My sister-in-law Ruth Brooks is in town for week’s visit. She came by train from Brockville, Ontario. The visit of a relative always provides us with the excuse of a family dinner. This time it was at our younger daughter’s house in Burnaby. It was a splendid occasion to celebrate 3 mothers' day.

I packed a portable lighting system in the trunk hoping to lure my two granddaughters, Lauren, 16, and Rebecca, 21 to pose after a group family photograph. I crossed my fingers and in the end the two did pose for me.

These family gatherings, as small as they may be bring me memories of gatherings in Buenos Aires with that ancillary branch of my father’s, the O’Reilys. There are lots of them and Rosemary and I are made welcome.

The two of us and our two cats in Kitsilano can be isolating sometimes.

Our Burnaby dinner was just right and driving home I felt glad that the granddaughters did consent to a few pictures.