Hi everyone, To borrow a leaf from Jill Newton, I haven’t achieved anything significant lately either. But today I was feeling a little nostalgic, so I took a look at David’s Vienna ID site…it has been a long time. I enjoyed catching up on all the news and looking at the lovely pictures. I had Sunday brunch with Steve Hutton and Joan Rempel a week ago, and I guess that’s what got me thinking about our Vienna group again. (We had a small Toronto reunion, if you like.)

My father passed away in January 2002 and my mother in October 2004. Before I could adjust to being footloose again, someone moved the goalposts on me. Another member of my original family had developed issues while I was busy taking care of our parents and not paying attention. In attempting to help, I learned the true meaning of “you can take a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink”. So I’m finally learning to develop a laissez-faire attitude…boy is it hard.

In 2003, I got elected for a 3-year voluntary term on the Board of Directors of the condominium building in which I live…and learned a lot about the work that goes into maintaining a high-rise. I even put a small down-payment on three separate 1-bedroom condos here. The rent just pays the mortgage and expenses for now. But, like Ian says, better to have steady tenants at a lower rent than have constant turnover. And I’m hoping this property will sustain me financially later in my old age.

In 2005, after an 11-year absence, I began dipping a toe in the waters of the job market. Slowly I started working at temporary office jobs. At the moment, I’m doing Data Entry at a charitable organization that provides services to the blind.

I would have loved to join you at the Vienna ID reunion. Perhaps next time.

Best wishes and good health to all.

Rose Giglio