I cannot ease your aching heart,
Nor take your pain away,
But let me stay and take your hand
And walk with you today.

I'll listen when you need to talk,
I'll wipe away your tears,
I'll share your worries when they come,
I'll help you face your fears.

I'm here and I will stand by you,
Each hill you have to climb.
So take my hand, let's face the world
Live one day at a time.

You're not alone, for I'm still here...
I'll go that extra mile.
And when your grief is easier,
I'll help you learn to smile!

-- Author Unknown

Kayz... that explains enough :) Love you to death, my best friend, my sister.

Alright gang. I've been home for 5 days, although it seems like SO much longer. I miss those fun filled days of laughter and the sounds of birds and boats ringing in my ears. Although I thank God every day that I'm able to have a paradise on Earth such as Minaki, but sometimes I think, Why can't I be selfish, why can't I live there, why did I have to move to Saskatoon? If I thought like this hour after hour, I'd be a depressed person. I keep forgetting everything I have here, everything and everyone that means the world to me. Perhaps theres such a thing as having two paradises, to share and enjoy throughout the year. Could I be that lucky? Why did God bless me with TWO places I long to be? I must have done something good in life. I've been pondering my life for a few days now. Not in a bad way, but wondering why events in my life happened, and trying to figure the outcomes. Such as, what if I had of stayed in Winnipeg, gone to Vincent Massy. Would I have been friends with Chelsea or Sean? Would I have been someone they looked down upon? Would my summers mean that much more? What if Great Grandma hadn't passed away when she did, would we never have gotten to say our farewells to Lou? What brought my Minaki friends together, when we are all so different. Why were my Saskatoon friends introduced into my life. You know... those kinds of questions, that later on I'll find out for my own. Reading Kaylas blog the otherday kinda started this whole, thought process. I mean wow... God must have had a reason that my parents and I chose Saskatoon. We were going to move to Toronto. What reason did God have leading us here. Was it the people, was it the challenges, was it to make our lives happier and make our paradise seem that much better when we went. I don't know, and some of these I'll never know. Boggles my mind frankly.

So when I got home, had the sleepover with Kayla and went to church the next morning. It was a total blast seeing her again. I forgot what fun I have with my Saskatoon friends. Makes leaving Minaki that tiny bit easier. We've been hanging out, cruising and whatnot. It's been great, and school starts in a week. I'm actually really excited. Here go my questions again. Am I going to graduate? Will I get an award for something? Should I go to prom? Who would I go with? Who would I go with to Grad? What happens after? What happens in the real world?
I really want to take a year off before going to University. I just don't feel old enough to be going yet. Not yet. I'm still a kid right...

Got a letter from Sean today saying I'll get the videos in October. CAN'T WAIT! YAYS! Apparently things are going well for him and Holly, and Allie and she have been hassling the hell out of Sean, so it's probably a good thing I'm not there lol. I also found Seans James Bond song, I cannot help but laugh every time I hear it.

I have to go eat supper then get ready to go out with Tanys, Kayz, Amanda, and this Evan kid that Kayla and I have never met lol.

Later Days,
James xxoo

Wow. What a truly incredible summer it has been. And as a favourite person of mine said "It's been one interesting journey". As I sat down to write this long chronicle about the last two months, I was prepared to unleash everything that was horrible about the summer and then some. Complain, wail, and totally make it like this summer was by far the worst ever. Now, as I sit here, I have decided to write the opposite. I have decided to forget the bad things of the past, and reflect on the good things of this summer. I certainly don't want to look back at this and feel awful and let down by this summer. So I'm going to some up these past 2 months in a nutshell, so bare with me.


We watched A LOT of movies down there, because the weather wasn't great, a lot of rain and a lot of cold days. We watched movies such as Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Austin Powers I, Underworld, Jurassic Park, The Rundown, Bad Boys II, Spaceballs, Mrs. Doubtfire, Finding Nemo, and Night At The Roxbury (that's right Aaron). These were mostly watched over at Pat Burrows' place, Sarah's Grandmas boathouse or at my place (because they just found out we had satellite lol)


Then we had the entire array of music that we listened to. We had the old, classic rock, to the newer hard rock (Note, no country was involved as Sarah planned, thank God lol) We listened to such classics as Taking Care of Business, Paradise City, The Music Of Eric Clapton and Cream, Pretty Fly For A White Guy, Aint No Sunshine, and Ina Gadda Da Vita. However, there are four songs that are going to clearly stick out this summer, which are the following. Layla, by the amazing artist Eric Clapton was an easy choice for the summer song... I mean come on... it's amazing! I'm planning on naming my little girl after that song (if I HAVE a little girl) The second is Cat's In The Cradle by Harry Chapin and Guns & Roses. The only reason I agree with the choice of summer song, was because of the intricate dance that Sean, Sarah, and Allie created. A sight to be seen I assure you. Now the next two are more personal. First is just a funny one, because I haven't laughed that hard, for that long. Sean came by to pick me up one afternoon and as we were pulling out of the dock (Note, I was having a bad day that day) and this, James Bond theme comes on. Sean, being the actor he is (He was happy when I called him an 'Actor') started, performing like James Bond. Shooting things, accelerating the boat, dodging bullets, the whole nine yards. It was incredible. So much so, I made him perform it for Chelsea as well, except this time we were the Bond Girls and he asked us to hide in the hood so we wouldn't get shot. Secondly is another personal song between Sean and I. As we were driving in the boat, he stopped it as this song came on and we silently listened to it, and at the same time (after it was over) we both said it was one of our favourite songs. The song was Wonderful Tonight, by yet again, Eric Clapton. It's such a romantic song, a real tearjerker.


Now, I think I'll write about how I felt about the people of the lake, the connections that were made and those who were brought closer together.


Simon --> Simon is a great kid, and he and I became closer this year (more before Sarah showed up and got their relationship going). He and I had some good talks, and we helped each other out, and hassled each other as MUCH as we could possible. Although he was very persistent about me wakeboarding, he's still a sweet person and would make a great older brother lmao.


Sarah --> My cousin Sarah was the instigator of all problems at the lake. Though we grew closure, we didn't talk much, she was always with Simon. I can't say much else about her, I love her to pieces, but that's about it.


Allie --> Allie and I had some really good heart to heart talks this year, because a lot was bothering her this year, more or less Sarah and Simon. I adore her to pieces and reminds me SO much of Kayla it's not even funny. She and I stuck together through the rough times, and although she left me a few times for the drink... she was the first to apologize and feel bad, and to care about how I felt.


Booie & Doug --> One sentence, if I had younger siblings, I would hope they would be just like them. I promise next year I'll wakeboard for them. PROMISE!


Ashleigh --> Didn't talk to her much this year, except I noticed she's becoming a lot like Sarah. Sweet girl, great cousin, but it's scaring me.


Chelsea --> Wow, she and I became inseparable this year. We got super close, and although she made some... wrong choices... I won't hold it against her. She's an amazing girl and I'm going to miss her and Sean most. We had like... a wavelength her and I it was incredible! We talked all the time and it was SO much fun. Good thing I get to see her in October for my Papas 90th birthday, and for one of her swim meets! Yay!


Sean --> Save the best for last I always say. Well, although Sean and I hit a rough patch this year, I can honestly say he is one of my most favourite people in the world. No matter how bad I felt or bad my day was going, it was him who made my world shine. Yes, this does sound sappy, but it's true, and I hope someday you'll all understand. He and I shared a lot of heart to hearts and became really close this year (Saskatoon People, it's not what you think lol) I hope he is able to come out to Saskatoon like he planned, so he and I can do our little road trip to the town that starts with an F lol.


Now we met some new people this year. Sarah Chaster came in from Vancouver, a friend of Allie and she and I got real close, we were the dynamic duo of tubing lol we FLEW on that thing! Go Us! Next were Luke and Kat from Toronto. Kats a long time friend of Al, hadn't seen her in 4 years and Luke is a National gymnast and well... very good-looking lol. Last are Mitch and Holly. Mitch the wannabe baller is a good kid haha funny too. Holly is 3 years younger then me but we are so alike. We're both serious klutz's. Sean is real fond of her and it's sweet.


So what else did I do this summer? Well, we had numerous sleepovers, all of which were at Sean's place in his room with the bunk beds. It was a blast lemme tell you! I also learned to drive the big boat, which wasn't as hard as I had originally thought, its actually quote fun to drive. I also went into the Lodge and got a bunch of souvenirs such as tiling from the pool, melted glass and whatnot. It was so sad to see I assure you, I started to tear up when we saw it. We played soccer in the fields which was amazing (we totally kicked ass lol) Went to Paradise for milkshakes, hung at the Marina, and just generally cruised. Grandma was a little annoying this year, but SO much better then last year. Awe I love her to pieces! She even played Cranium one day with us, her, Mom, Helen Restall and Allie, Sarah Chaster and I. It was SO much fun.


So now I'm going to tell you about my sentimental last day. Because obviously, it's the most fresh in my mind:

So I woke up that morning, and the sky was just, black. It was about 5 degrees, raining and just... gloomy! I was SO mad at that point, disappointed that my last day was going to be aweful. Of course, Sarah was with Simon all day, so I didn't see them till later in the day. I packed and cleaned all day, went and said my goodbyes to the kid's lol and that was about it. So finally after supper rolls around, and it's getting later and later when I hear Chelsea come through the door. Sean had dropped her off and gone to get everyone else so we could all play Cranium together one last time. Apparently however, my Dad had seen Chelsea running up the path and scared the SHIT out of her because well.. it was really dark out and she flung herself to the ground like a scared dog lmao awe. Anyways, so everyone gets there and we play an amazing game of Cranium, Sarah Sean and I versus Holly Chelsea and Simon. We kicked ass of course. As a matter of fact, I'll never forget the other line that Sean did. He had to act the Hulk out, so he growled and pretended to rip off his shirt lol it was HILARIOUS. (Note) About 1/2 of this night was video taped. So after the game finally wrapped up, we all piled back to Seans when they got the idea to do an interview with me, because Seans going to put together a little... summer cd. So I answered all the questions, with Simon shoving the damn microphone in my face lol. Anyways so I took a bunch of pictures, but after they'd all asked their questions, Sean came last, and said the line I'll never forget. "Jamie, my Mom says your the best thing that's ever happened to me, don't leave me! I'll miss you Jamie! Don't leave! I love you Jamie, I'll see you soon!" I was literally on the floor laughing because he did it with that, retarded, kid voice... If you really want to know what it sounds like.. just ask me. Anywho after that it was time to go home, and I had to say cya to Sean and Chelsea (beacause we were at their house). Chelsea wouldn't let me go lol she was so upset poor girl. Then I hugged Sean and he told me he's really going to try and make a road trip out here sometime soon.. so thats good too!! Anywho, we dropped Sarah off first, said cya to her cuz I'll also see her on the way back to Edmonton. Then cya to Holly, then lastly Simon when he said I should go out and visit him and Allie this year, which I am also planning to do. So that was my last day... and I cried and cried. It was such a good year and everyone got so much closer.

I don't want to wash my clothes... they smell of the lake, the bonfires and the forest :(

Much Love,
Jamie xxoo