If There Are Looms in Heaven....

Then this dear man is already seated and throwing a shuttle....

Rev Wayne Nicholson (Padre Wayne) July 31st 1948- June 10th 2019

I first met Wayne on a social media group called Ravelry, and in particular, a forum called Warped Weavers. We simply started chatting and sharing our love for weaving.  He called himself an (over) eager novice and had asked for some advise on a draft and we took off as friends.  He had that way of drawing you in and next thing you knew, you were enjoying life with him.

In 2014, he and his spouse Harry were taking a summer sabbatical from their parish in Mt Pleasant, Michigan and coming out to the PNW or Pacific Northwest, and he declared that they intended to come up island and visit us.  We were thrilled that they would take such a large detour to come and see us. I was waiting on both hip and knee replacements so with that understanding of my limited capabilities it was on!

We had a marvellous time with them: visited The Loom at Whippletree Junction south of Duncan, and also Leola's Studio. Yarn purchases made at each stop of course.    Dinner at the Rock Cod Cafe in Cowichan Bay and a walk on the Maritime pier after dinner.  (I also heard that visits in Victoria included Knotty by Nature and BeeHive)

It turned out to be a very special time for them as they had married while in Port Townsend !  We were part of their honeymoon tour...

They came back again the following summer and we had another few days of visiting and sharing. Wayne discovered the joys of the 20+ tie up assist on my loom (which he subsequently bought with Harry's urging and loved it) 

We each had a loom or wheel to play with and had a great time and wonderful conversation.     In 2016 we moved here to Campbell River and so we missed their annual visit, but in 2017 we were all set to host them again. It was not to be as Wayne had forgotten his passport in his locked car in Detroit and so issues crossing the border prevented the visit from happening.   This past summer in 2018, Wayne retired and they moved from Michigan to their new home in Bay St Louis on the Gulf Coast.

They were in their car when it was struck from behind at a high rate of speed on June 3rd. Broken bones for both, but Wayne soon was in a coma and then the prayers started flowing in for a miracle.  His wounds were too great and he was taken off of life support today.  

What has happened is what I like to think of as the "Wayne effect"..... people are discovering just how many lives these two people touched. On Ravelry or FaceBook, everyone has a story to tell and share with others.  Wayne helping others as they grieve, or in poor health and / or hospitalized, feeding the homeless,  sermons of hope and love,  and so much more. He was a supporter of women and marched proudly with a pink pussy hat, marched for BLM (Black Lives Matter), LGBTQ rights.......he was all about people simply being who they are and being equal.  

In the weaving world: he always had an encouraging comment, suggestion or willing to share. Many weavers have a towel he gifted them or hot pads (I have some too). He and I did sample exchanges  and so there was always one for me and one for Wayne with every project that came off my loom.

Padre Wayne would so flustered by all the attention and prayers sent his way in these past few days.  His husband Harry will be healing and grieving.... but hopefully all the love sent his way will help ease the pain.

Harry wearing one of Wayne's scarves at Notre Dame Cathedral

Wayne was a great support when my father was dying in 2015. It took seven months and there was a lot to deal with, and Wayne helped me along the inevitable way.  He was also quick with support as I had my joint replacement challenges, and again when Bruce dealt with his bladder cancer last year.  He literally shared his compassion everywhere and if you weren't religious, not a biblical word passed his lips. He was one of those very special people who can reach everyone with empathy.  

We would use FaceTime and walk around showing each other what was on the loom and catch up on news and plans.  Ah, they had such plans......    

I'm sure that someone will finish his project on the loom for him. I know if I lived closer, I would would do that for him.... as he would have done for me.

Rest easy my friend.

Calli : our Girl has gone

Calli: April 11th, 2010 - June 23rd, 2018

Calli was doing just fine. She was enjoying the back yard and would ask to go out and lay in the sun. There were birds to chase, deer to keep an eye out for and someone would come and throw the ball. She loved the new home and yard!   

She had experienced some digestive issues with diarrhea but we had a treatment plan / diet all worked out with our vet. Then there was the soft mass tumour that was successfully removed last July.   At eight years old, she was sleeping a bit more and sometimes a bit slower to get up.... but she was energetic when it came to a ball game, playing chase or going out in the car.   

This past week she wouldn't eat her dinner and had diarrhea. So we weren't too concerned as this has happened before. She was drinking large amounts of fresh water and active.  We rest her for a day and then re-introduce foods (rice and chicken).... but she continued to refuse food.  

Then she quit drinking water. We tried her with everything she loved to eat but no luck.   Now Calli had Cushings disease which is a form of  hyper aldosteronism so we were worried it had progressed, or the cancerous tumour had come back somewhere in her body.   The extensive lab tests came back and no cancer,  Cushings Disease had progressed a bit but nothing serious..... but her creatinine levels were right off the charts in the red.  So high that they had to dilute the urine sample so the machine could read the results!  The diagnosis of end stage kidney failure caught all of us by surprise.   Sadly it was too far advanced for treatment, so we made a hard decision that was in her best interests.

Our house is so still and quiet without her. We gathered all her toys and beds but there are still little surprises we find and  that start the tears all over again.    She was a very gentle soul and simply loved to be with us where ever we went.  She loved car rides.   She also loved us both equally and spent time each day with both of us.  With me, she'd have her afternoon nap near my loom as I wove. 

This is going to take a long time......

Calli at age 10 months with her cute helicopter tail 

Also at age 10-11 months: its a very Airedale thing to cross their feet like this.

Always ready with a toy.

She loved to sleep on her back.....

And she loved to play in the snow. Great fun!

At our last home and property she loved to wander the acreage and sometimes walk in the creek (a bath always followed that trick)

After we moved in 2016 she found this spot at the front door while we unpacked and its was a daily favourite to watch the neighbours, paperboy, school kids and dog walkers going by.

Wearing her onesie after her cancer surgery last July.

Ready to play again two weeks after surgery!

She'd run out ahead of us onto the lawn and get ready with her latest favourite ball!

Playing in the snow this past December...

Car rides....

yes, I know I'm in your seat.... so?

Father's day card June 2018

I'll close with this picture my late father made of Calli using a picture he took of her and applied an art filter to create a painted effect.    She was our treasure and we miss her terribly.....

Edit: June 25th 2018

Bruce and I want to share a special comment that came from a new friend. Tal was at our home just before we had to leave for the vets this past Saturday morning. He met Calli briefly as we lifted her into the car. He wrote to us after learning she had passed away. With his permission I share his message to us: 

I am so sad to hear about your loss. I lost my dearest friend when I was twenty, he was a Labrador Retriever cross with White Wolf dog, and had been with me ever since I was five years old, so I understand how much this hurts. I was struck by Calli, she looked so strong, so full of joy and life, despite having not been eating and drinking for so long, so I can only imagine what a pleasure and sheer force of Life she was for this family. The only solace we can find when we face such loss is in knowing that we have done our best, and that being small, finite humans, sometimes even our best is not enough to save those whom we love. Yet still, I believe that in knowing that we have given them our everything while we could, there is peace to be found, and even beauty in the midst of such pain. I hope that when the time will be right, when this grief will have run its course, you will make another dog very happy, and he or she you--for as I am sure that you and Susan know, we need our dog friends much more than they need us. They remind us of this primal Life that we human beings with our decorum, moralities, and stories so easily forget; they remind us that there is a truth to love and togetherness that a hundred million dollars could never replace; and most importantly, they remind us that despite all of our human madness, that despite all this strange complications that we introduce into our world, Life is profoundly simple.