Yvonne and I have been friends for almost 30 years; mind you we lost contact for 25 of them. I got married and moved north and she studied and became a nurse. (This, when it comes to Yvonne, seems to be a side-note, although it has been her career, she is so much more than that). We lost contact due to a communication mishap during a turbulent time in both our lives. But as it turned out we were living parallel lives anyway: Bad husbands, raising two kids on our own, a penchant for building things, doing non traditional jobs, professional procrastinators and time wasters. (Yeah Scrabble). When we finally reconnected last year we laughed for three days straight. Yes Vodka was involved…but not needed. The thing that I love most about Yvonne is -well everything - but she is a site to see when she is filled with righteous indignation! On the side of truth, honour and fairness Yvonne would have made a devastating lawyer. Her fact driven, cuss laced tirades have caused many to cower if they thoughtlessly made an un-researched casual remark, especially if it has anything to do with politics. And yet she is the most kind hearted, thoughtful and generous of souls. Yvonne is who I want to talk to everyday, about everything, any time. I am blessed to have her as a friend and I love her deeply.

Maggie's testimonial for Yvonne

I think that I was too lucky to meet Yvonne when I studied in Kamloop Canada in 1999. I like her very much after lived with her in short time. We used to spend a lot of time chatting after I returned from school. We became closer and closer after we know each other deeper and deeper. She is really a person who I am willing to talk about "every thing", good thing or bad thing. Her feedback to me was always positive and helpful, so it made me enjoying talking to her more and more. Yvonne did really make me warm in heart as she is not only a good friend but like my family who really took good care of me. I remember that she prepared a nice dinner for me after I returned from school in the dark evening in cold winter. I was really touched by that. I want to say thank you, Yvonne. After I finished my study, I backed to Taiwan. Although we don't see each other, I keep thinking of her a lot. I even had some dreams that I back to kamloops to see her. I think although we are far in distance, we are close in heart. I really miss her a lot when i think of her. I wish I will go back to Kamloops to see Yvonne one day.

This woman is one of the finest human beings I've been privileged to know. Absolutely no bullshit. Cut to the chase, swearing like a trucker all the way.

It's been 30 years since I first met Yvonne. Even though I am seven years older than her, almost to the day, she totally terrified me for the first few months. I'd lived in and survived tough towns and tough neighbourhoods, but I'd never met anyone like her who didn't want to beat the shit out of me. She seemed to be SUCH a hard-ass.

Because our older sons had been born 10 days apart, and because we had mutual friends, we ended up spending time together, as young mothers do. I started seeing more than the tough surface, down to the emotional generosity and compassion that lies at Yvonne's core.

Together, we have survived tragedies, divorces (one each), living in each others houses, moves, innumerable projects, and various outrageous acts. We even survived a year of refusing to talk to each other - our estrangement lasted just a little less time than the marriage started at the wedding where it all come to a head. I've never in my life laughed as hard as I have with her, too many times and in too many situations to count. I don't think we've ever actually pissed ourselves from laughing (I haven't, anyway), but very, very close.

Thank you, my friend, for adding so much to this life.

Linguaphiliafetishist extraordinaire, with a staggering command of profanity.
Yvonne is one of the few sane players in the online Scrabble world. We hang out there, cuss each other out regularly, laughing the whole way; drawing other raving, laughing, raging lunatics into our wake. We few . . . we happy few . . . we band of . . . linguomaniacs.
I don't know exactly when our Amsterdam Summit is going to happen, only that it must. The world needs a new U.S. President and Pope Laureate, and we are bound to serve. So breathe easy y'all: help is one the way.
A sweet heat. A bright crayon . . . nah: more a hot can of flourescent spraypaint.
You . . . light up my liiiiiiife . . .