Dear Uncle Lou, It was just two weeks ago, a crisp day, the smell of fall was in the air, I was admiring the brilliant colors of the leaves set against a cobalt, blue bird sky. I mentioned to a close friend that it was a carbon copy of the October day that you, Dad and I spent on Dragon lake in Quesnel. It was a magical day, no wind stirred and like one of Aunty Sylvia’s beautiful paintings, the fall colors reflected on the calm surface of the lake, the trout were hungry and rose to the surface easily. We caught and released many large rainbow trout and each and every one of them put up a terrific fight, it was the perfect day. The next few days we spent moose hunting in the Nazko area and you had a terrific chance at a very large bull moose, unfortunately a tree got in the way but it did’nt matter, we were all together making wonderful memories. It’s hard to believe that trip was 25 years ago, it seems like only yesterday. There were many good trips before and after that but this one always stands out in my memory. Thank you for the stories of your early hunting and fishing trips up north in the Cassiar and Terrace districts and in the Six mile and Sullivan Valley areas around Kamloops when growing up with Dad, Uncle John and Uncle Ed. These stories always caught my attention and filled my young mind with dreams of one day going to these far off places and living similar adventures, which I was eventually able to do, thanks to your inspiration. Uncle Lou, you lived well and earned your rest. I’m sure that raising five young children on your own was not easy and will be an automatic ticket through those Pearly Gates. It makes me happy to think of you at peace and free of pain, once again in the arms of your true love, Aunty Carol. I like to imagine you meeting up with her and hoisting her up on your shoulder and carrying her around showing her off, just like in that early photo of you two in Terrace. The thought of it makes me smile. I will miss you but you will live on in my memory and in the telling of the stories and in the memories of all those you touched over the years . Never will a brilliant fall day pass without reminding me of you. Keep the campfire burning, until we meet again. Love, Joey