My blogging world has lost an important friend

This announcement appeared on the Nain Bay blog one month ago:  “It is with great sadness, that the family of Brian announces his passing on July 25, 2013.   Brian was diagnosed with cancer in May, and received radiation therapy in St. John's. He was then sent to the Labrador Grenfell Health facility in Happy Valley Goose Bay for care. This is where Brian spent his remaining days. He was surrounded by family and friends at the time of his passing.”

Brian’s blogging friends had noticed the drop off in his posts over the last few months but I’m not sure any of us realized how ill he was.

Here’s how he explained his online absence back in mid-April: “I am receiving inquiries why the dearth of postings of late.  It is mainly due to some health issues that have popped up making life painful and miserable for the most part, and I just don’t have the inclination to get onto the internet that much.”

Brian, a transplanted Australian, did more than anyone else to educate me about coastal Labrador and the challenges faced by people living there.  This is how he described himself, “Born in Brisbane Qld. Australia. Moved to suburb of Sydney N.S.W. at early age. Left Australia in 1978. Traveled in Canada and Europe for several years before choosing Nain Labrador as the place to settle. Happily married, love this place, people, land. Like most things there is good and bad in people as in life’s experiences.”

There’s no question but that family was the biggest part of Brian’s life.  He wrote lovingly of his wife Fran and of his grandchildren, Carter-bear and Mia.  You could always count on at least one or two new pictures each week of his little bear buddy in whom he took great pride.  His world and his love grew even more this year when little Mia arrived.  Here’s a picture of the two grandchildren with their father who is a pilot with Air Labrador.

 

One of the fun things about Brian’s blog was that at least once or twice a week, he would post pictures of meals he had prepared.  He took great pride in his cooking ability and in sharing recipes,  his interest in trying new ideas and experimenting with the food that is available in coastal Labrador.  I jokingly asked him one time if I could hire him to cook for me. His response?  As long as I moved to Nain, it might work out!  J

At one point a few years ago, I actually was contemplating such a move and wrote to Brian to seek his advice.  He told me about the challenges I would face, but also shared with me his great love for his adopted homeland.  He offered to give me the grand tour from the back of his four-wheeler.  Regrettably, that’s a tour I won’t be able to take.

I miss Brian’s presence in my blogosphere.  RIP my cyber-friend.