Dear Kristine and Fiona, I have been staring at this page for over a week. We are asked to share a memory and I realise I get stuck – how do I do that? She was a part of my growing up, a so constant feature that as a child you take it all for granted. She and Oom Ton were more like second parents (but I could get away with much more!!) than aunt and uncle. I am flooded with memories instead: Friday nights at our house, smoking, the house on Lakeview, Estée Lauder perfume, BBQs in the backyard with that tiny hibachi grill and the lounge chairs, her hair, the Christmas we could not come over because Arne was sick (I was so mad!), elegance, New Year’s Eve, biking over to Lakeview, Mom and Tante G sitting in the backseat of the car while Dad and Oom T were in the front seats (the two perfect hairdos in the back ), the inflatable pillow on the bathtub, Tante G’s smiling and laughing, her rolling “r”s – rrrrreally??? (even in October 2019!), conversations about Quebec separation, conversations about my burgeoning (and failing then!) love life, the blue kitchen, the norwegian cutlery, their love for you - Kristine - plastered all over the house (paintings and drawings), Dad calling Tante G a communist (ha!), Tante G teasing Dad, makeup (she had a lot!), sleeping in her and Oom Ton’s bedroom when parties went late, bringing my friends over (they all knew her!), holidays together in Sicamous or Kelowna. But not just childhood memories, but also memories with my own children, Arne, Brontë, and Liesbeth, who are so lucky to have their own memories of Tante G and Oom T. How lucky are they? How lucky am I? She and I are both Gunhild Hoogensen. I take part of her with me too. Love you both <3.
