I have just returned from 12 days in Alberta visiting my daughter Sabrina and her husband Ben. Sabrina and I canoed down the stunning Maligne River, we hiked up glorious mountain trials and looked down on glaciers, we camped out, we slept in, we ate great food, and frequently laughed until we hurt. It was an amazing trip that I will cherish.

During the canoe trip we met a lady who very recently lost her mother suddenly and unexpectedly. By the campfire we listened to stories of adventures that she shared with her mother. I was painfully aware of how bittersweet it must have been for her to watch Sabrina and I. Wiping away tears, she implored us to savour every moment together. And I do. I really, truly do.