Page 87 - Card Photo Flipbook-December 2022

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Places Lived in on a Temporary Basis
Although home base stayed in Saskatoon for Bob and Helen they enjoyed many other temporary
residences over the years including San Rafael, California (1979-80); Burlington, Ontario (1994);
Ottawa, Ontario (2003-04) and Calgary, Alberta (2007-2011).
San Rafael, CA (1979-80) Bob had a sabbatical and the whole family moved for a year – renting a
house at 314 Mountain View Ave. Interestingly, Harry Mielke from the Boston years had now moved
to the SF Bay area and suggested Marin County as a place to live. Never ones to waste money Bob
and Helen furnished the whole house from garage sales and sold it all again at the end. There were
deer and lemon trees in the backyard and lots of interesting times in the USA Public Schools. It was
quite the change in climate! But also quite a different year. Sharon got a grade 11 credit in Sailing!
Helen as usual became very involved in school activities. One notable event occurred at 11 am on
Thursday, Jan 24th, 1980 when Helen and Geoff (who was home from school) heard the clothes
dryer bouncing around and presumed it was off balance only to realize the dryer wasn’t on. It was a
major earthquake. While Bob recalls the UCSF high rise building jumping up and down neither Mike
nor Sharon who were busy at school recall this at all. They should have noticed the other students
diving under their desks! One event missed in March of that year was Rick Folk skipping the last
Saskatchewan curling team to win the Brier. Mount St. Helens erupted on May 18th that spring.
The whole family made the best of the experience and toured widely throughout the California area.
A trip to Disneyland was made in a rainy February and there were no line ups. The Golden Gate
Bridge (that Bob commuted over twice a day) was a favorite. Jack and Pearl and John and Jean
and Mary visited as did other friends and family who took the opportunity to visit. These visits were
accompanied by more sight-seeing.