January 22 is a very, very, very special day for me. It is the birthday for three of my favourite people in the whole wide world. Here they are, in no particular order:
Debbi
I met this amazing person back in 1984 back in Edmonton. I was working for a chain of pet stores. She came in to help the Edmonton locations transition into more exotic pets – yup! Snakes, Lizards, Scorpions, Tarantulas and the like. She came in and started training all the staff on how to effectively sell these scaly critters.
Her partner was one of the owners of the chain. One day, shortly after she and Cliff arrived, I got a phone call from Cliff advising me that he had to fly back to Vancouver and would I mind hanging out with Debbi as she didn’t know a soul in Edmonton. So, being a good company man, I agreed.
I called up Debbi and invited her out to a movie. The movie: Out of Africa.
We bonded over that film that very night. I knew then and there that she was going to be in my life FOREVER. It was shortly after that memorable night, I got the call that the Edmonton locations of the chain were being sold. Debbi was the one to break the news to me and told me that I should come to Vancouver as they needed managers like me to run their BC locations.
It took me two nights to make the decision and by the middle of February 1986, I was in Vancouver.
Debbi has been my rock, my confidante, my partner in crime, my boss and most importantly, my friend. She was “Best Man” at my wedding and I couldn’t have asked for better.
So, Happy Birthday, my friend, my partner-in-crime, my confidante. Every part of my life that is good can be tied directly to you! Thank you for EVERYTHING.
Sharon
Sharon has been a friend since I was in high school. While we drifted apart after I moved to BC in 1986, she has always held a special place in my heart.
Sharon was my first and best friend from my youth. She made me laugh, she made me cry, she made me stretch my wings and become the person I am today. The world needs more people like this woman and her family that I am fortunate enough to be an honorary member of.
Kathie
Kathie is the only child of my sister, Anna. I am so fortunate to be her uncle. She is strong, fierce, funny, brave, passionate, focused and a force to be reckoned with.
She has been one of my staunchest supporters and I love her more than she will ever know.
Kathie has definitely been one of the most resilient people I have ever been fortunate enough to be related to. I have never known another soul to be strong willed enough to stand up for what she knows to be right and true. I wish I had her strength.
Happy Birthday to you all! You make my life complete!
Al Zylstra 