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Born
Born with a twin brother to a family of my mom and dad and older brother. -
First day of school
This, of course, was a significant event in my life because going to school is a huge deal (if you’re a five year old). For the first time in my life, I was spending a few hours each day away from my parents and house. For the first time, I was surrounded by children my own age and it was time to start making friends. -
First Public Speaking
There was a talent show at my school and I signed up to sing “Five Little Monkeys” in front of one hundred people. This was the first time I spoke/sang in front of a large number of people and I placed second. Now I feel very proud of my little self, for I would never sing in front of hardly anyone now. -
Move from Enderby to the Chilcotin—Eagle Lake Ranch!
This was a complete life change for me and my family. From living in Enderby, which is the Okanogan—one of the most populated places in British Columbia—to living in the Chilcotin—one of the most sparsely populated places in British Columbia. The ranch we moved to was not only very remote, but completely off grid and in need of lots of work. Moving there I learned how to work hard, love the natural outdoors, and appreciate ani -
First Time Attending Tatla Lake Gymkhana
This is significant to me because when I started practicing for the gymkhana with my twin brother. A gymkhana is a horse event, and so I was riding horses all day every day for the first time in my life. I started really getting ‘in’ to riding horses and have really loved it ever since. -
First Guest Comes to our Ranch
This was really exciting, for the first guest had come to our ranch—and all the way from Japan! It was very exciting to find out a little bit about their culture, as they learned about ours. -
We get a Puppy
For anyone to get a puppy it is exciting, and for my ten year old self it was no expectation when we picked up a collie/blue/red healer/who knows what else mutt. Reece and I discussed the names, and I chose ‘Pirky’ (ten year olds don’t have the best ideas of names) and it stuck. -
We get Another Puppy
We did not intend to get this puppy—whose name is Tammy—but we did. We were taking a trip to the Okanogan one January and stopped at a gas bar along the way. There the most adorable, friendly, little puppy came up and said ‘hi’ to us. The owners saw that we were petting it, and drove away—abandoning the poor puppy. We decided to take her, as when we found her again she was sitting under a pay phone booth, looking very lonely and cold. -
Starting Grade Eight
This was big for me. It was a whole change in my schooling; I had been homeschooling since grade five and even though I was still homeschooling, it was now on the computer with real teachers at the other end. Also, the program that I was in (Rural Secondary), had lots of tournaments where all of the schools who participated in it went to and there I made lots of new friends. -
My Grandmother Is Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s
My mom’s mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and it was very hard for my family, of course. Eventually, when she could no longer take care of herself, she was moved to a home. Visiting her was extremely heart breaking because we saw how she was slowly but surely losing her wits, and with it her knowledge of whom we are. -
Going to Arizona
I have a friend who lives in Wickenburg, Arizona. I went to visit her (by myself!) over March break in 2010. It was my first time travelling out of British Columbia other then when I was a young child, and the first time spending a long period of time away from my family. The dessert was beautiful and it was a wonderful trip. -
Family Dog Passed Away
Libby, the dog who had been in our family ever since I could remember, passed away. This was the first time that I experienced real remorse in my life and I missed (miss) her so much for many days. Dogs are like members of the family, when they are gone you still expect them to be lying in their ‘spot’ or going with you for a walk. -
San Deigo
This was a week trip to San Deigo, and it was super fun and now I love California and the West Coast! We explored the city a little, went to Sea World, San Deigo Zoo, and walked into Mexico. We drove North to a few small towns and tried out surfing. -
Bella Coola Field Trip
This was one of the most fun times of my life. It was a school field trip to Bella Coola (I was registered in Tatla Lake School at the time) and a couple of my good friends were on it. The road trip to and from Bella Coola was very fun, and the time there we went on a boat on the ocean and went to natural hot springs. -
Move to Williams Lake for Grade 10
Moving to Williams Lake and going to a high school of 600 kids from homeschooling has so far been one of the most difficult and exciting things of my life. It was difficult to get used to living in a city, and to get ‘in’ the peer groups. But once I made new friends and accustomed to living in Williams Lake (though I still like the country better) I liked it and it was a good, needed change. The classes with teachers who I c
