Thursday, February 13, 2020
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My Uncle Ken was a fascinating figure to me as a child and I will deeply miss him. And while in adult life we didn’t have as much time together my Uncle Ken was a major player in my life in the most important time, when I was young, impressionable, learning, curious and innocent. I was enamored of his command of so many subjects from architecture to flowers, from history to religion.
He was so fun to listen too. Uncle Ken had an extremely curious mind, which is clearly evident from his wide variety of interests and his capacity for focus and digging into particular areas which is probably why he became a physician and saved so many people.
As a pre teen visiting from the far left coast, Uncle Ken used to drive me around the farming country in his green LTD and we’d race 100mph down straight country roads just to try it - flying forever through the sweep of countryside, a couple of guys amazed at the smoothness and fun of speed. That was the first time I ever sped down a country road.
We went to movies, in fact I always remember laughing uproariously with him while we watched Mel Brookes Blazing Saddles’, especially the campfire bean eating scene. OMG we laughed at that one.
He listened to my records with me on his console stereo record player in the grey room in the Byron House. I still listen to Elton John’s Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy and it always reminds me of the time listening with Ken. It is still a favorite album as I listen to it now forever connected. He loved music and it’s sad we never played together now that I am a musician, I would have liked that.
Uncle Ken knew everything. He wasn’t afraid to have an opinion. As I grew, I began to engage in debate with him mostly about religion, politics, and all the things you aren’t supposed to talk about at the dinner table. He was always respectful of my crazy teenage ideas and lifestyle and my ambitions, having patience with me and being a good debater.
Years later when my daughter India was being the active equestrian and jumping in competitions it always reminded me of Uncle Ken when we went to see him show in London once. You could see it in him how much he loved horses and riding in a hunt or through the fields on the farm. I always felt it a shame that India couldn’t have spent time at the farm with him riding together. They both have the same stubborn focus. It would have been interesting to watch that dynamic play out.
My Auntie Diane of course has always been precious to me all my life and I am very sorry Diane that this time has arrived and that cancer has taken Uncle Ken from us all and from you. It is heart breaking and I am virtually hugging you.
I remember being maybe 6 or 7 and visiting Ken and Diane on the Queen Charlotte Islands with my mom. We hung out at some government wharf, walked the beaches looking for glass balls, walked out to a tidal island and fished for bullheads off the dock. I remember small things like going to the store to pick up milk, or being fascinated with and playing with his stethoscope all the while hearing about the Haida and salal berries.... It always seemed like summer and that’s how I will remember him. Summer time fun.
He also gave me my first taste of a whiskey sour after which I had virgin ones while we sat in the extreme humidity of the summer in Byron, dipping in the wading pool and sitting at the round table in the side yard.
I loved introducing Uncle Ken to my family when he and Diane came to visit us in our little house Victoria. Sitting around our blue kitchen table drinking wine, bantering to get to know about our lives. I will miss him.
I send my love and hugs to my cousins, Jill-Anne, Caroline, and Lisa and share my tears with you. We will all miss him, but are blessed because we knew his heart. I know you are sad and it is painful to the core, but we all loved him and he loved everyone back.
One of the last times I saw Uncle Ken was when Kerry and I were on our way to Europe and we stopped to spend a little time at the farm for my grandma's 100th birthday. Ken and Diane lent us their bedroom and I remember how beautiful it was to see the farm through the balcony window being lit by the morning glow. A beautiful vision he and Diane created in their renovations of the farm house, not a smooth process and down right frustrating from what I remember, but in the end - beauty.
I always felt I could go to the farm anytime and be welcomed and loved. I have felt that all my life.
So my Uncle Ken, you’ve moved on to the peaceful realm you believed in. And we will all join you, but in the meantime you remain alive and with us in our hearts and memories.
Peace and Love Christopher
