Ann Steckles 60th

ANN STECKLES REACHES A MILESTONEOn November 8, 2006: 

ANN STECKLES REACHES A MILESTONE On November 8, 2006 It’s hard to believe that Ann has turned 60!! Today she is celebrating with her sisters and friends and together they share memories from the past. The Merrymen Brought Them Together Viv says Ann is her first and best friend in Canada - a relationship which started 37 years ago when she and her husband met Ann and Gary at a Merrymen's dance at the St. Lawrence market in November 1969. It all Happened at Eglinton Park Ann remembers meeting Ann at Tennis Lessons at Eglinton Park in the early 80’s – Andre was about five at the time! – we both thought we were going to show the world how to play tennis – that never happened but a true and long lasting friendship did. Eglinton Park was also the venue of another long and lasting relationship for Ann because that’s where she met Lucien – taking in some rays outside the Swimming Pool. 1986 – A Very Special Year Pauline first met Ann in 1986 - she is a rocking hot chick (this is what my daughter Julie calls her) those were the days when she lived on Highbourne. Memories from Lascelles Blvd. Viv tells of a memorable first dinner date at their apartment in Lascelles Blvd....We had had a wonderful and elegant dinner together and had sat around chatting for quite a while after. I looked at my watch and realized that it was quite late and said: "Oh! It's late. I guess we should be going" to which our gracious hostess replied: "Yes. I guess so!!!" I was shocked and embarrassed. So we left. Years later when we got to know each other better we learned that Ann was as horrified about her reply as we were! Later Ann and Andre moved into another apartment on Lascelles Blvd and that is where Ann met Julie. Ann’s Love of Music We’ve all shared in Ann’s love of music and have memories associated with Ann and the Merrymen – along one of their hits – Ann will always be an Island Girl and a Bajan Woman. Ann also loves to dance - Hot Hot Hot and Big Bamboo turn her on but the Limbo is her specialty and after a few rum and whatevers Ann is in full form. Julie shares a story that always brings a smile to her face: “I didn’t know Ann when this happened but I have heard her version of the story enough times that I hope I can do it poetic justice ! Forgive me Ann if I don’t get it quite right!” Shortly after Ann & Gary were married, they moved from Calgary to Montreal. They lived in Hampstead, a very nice English-speaking area, and soon got to know their neighbors. They met one couple in particular whom they liked although the couple did seem a bit prim & proper. One night Ann & Gary had a Caribbean style party at their house. As the evening progressed and after lottsa rum & coca cola, someone suggested doing the limbo. Ann scurried upstairs to change into a short skirt to enable her to execute the limbo with ease. Meanwhile, Gary called the prim & proper couple from across the street to see if they could come over and join the party. They accepted and as they were coming through the front door, Ann was maneuvering the lower rung of the limbo, which, as it happened, was facing the front door! It was only then that Ann realized, in her haste to change her clothes, she had forgotten to put on under panties !

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Ann’s Hospitality Ann loves to entertain – she is a wonderful hostess and we’ve all shared her culinary delights. Viv says we've spent lots of time together just dropping in to visit each other in the old days of young children or no children. It was lots of fun. Buying our second house: Both couples realized that we were house hunting so we shared information about which developments we had seen and on the recommendation of Ann and Gary we went out to Burlington to look at some houses. We were impressed and both decided to buy in Burlington. We decided that we would make our choices of options etc without letting the other know which house we had purchased. It turned out to be a great home. We lived five doors away from each other for 10 years..... and we're still best friends!! This one goes back many, many years when Ann and Gary and Andre lived in Burlington. As was quite the norm back in those carefree days, there was always a party going on or people coming by for a drink or dinner. Erlene and Joe were invited over on this particular occasion and they had arrived early. Absolutely perfect timing as far as Joe was concerned!! Now you have to imagine the layout of their house in Burlington. The front door was opposite the main bedroom --- the house was a split level. Well, so going back to Joe’s luck - he opens the front door not having a clue that what would fill his view - Ann walking pass the open bedroom door butt naked. Well, Ann shrieked when she realized Joe had seen her naked and Joe, being the gentleman that he is, tried to contain his excitement. A Sandra Memory Ann remembers the fun times on Highbourne – being introduced to Caribbean food – Macaroni Cheese with Christmas Dinner and the true introduction Brunch at the Atlantis in Bathsheba. And I can’t forget the time that Judy had a policeman collecting towels and helping mop up Ann’s kitchen floor after Andre had a mishap with the dishwasher. Viv remembers - I smoked my first and last joint at one of Ann's wild dinner parties in Burlington! And the Wild parties! And more wild parties! The 70's were a great time for parties and when Ann and Gary put on a party, boy it was great!!! Oh! the good old days! Ann remembers Seafood Fondue on New Year’s Eve and sharing roti from Kitchen 1.Ann also recalls the story when one Christmas Eve Ann suddenly realized that one of her male Christmas Dinner guests didn’t have a gift under the tree. As the stores would soon be closing, Ann rushed to a local men’s store and exclaimed “I need a sweater for the most boring man you can imagine” – the shop assistant replied “I hope he isn’t your husband!!” In Search of Men and Other Things Ann remembers The Brunch – Yes Ann and I recruited a number of ladies and placed an ad in the Personals in the Globe and Mail – we were Professional Ladies in our 30s and 40s who loved to participate in sports, travel and socialize and were looking for men of a similar age with similar interests. Wow we got a great response – Ann and I spent many an evening laughing over the replies. The response was so good we followed the brunch with a Wine and Cheese – it was all good clean fun although a few of our male guests were rather creative with respect to their age!! Ann also remembers sharing the bar scene with Ann. We always had fun when introducing ourselves as Ann and Ann – Charlie’s on Eglinton, The Bamboo on Queen and the Windsor Arms were a few of our haunts. One time we were staying with Erlene in St. Catherines and we all piled into Ann’s car and went to the Red Umbrella Inn in New York State for Happy Hour. Ann and I share a love for the ballet and have spent many a happy evening in the O’Keefe/Hummingbird Centre. I still also remember seeing the musical – Evita – Don’t Cry for me Argentina!!

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Pauline has fond memories of our weekends at the cottage or at Five Pines and our annual jaunt to the Toronto University Gospel Choir at Christmas. Sandra remembers when maybe a scant year or two ago when Ann had her eye on the security guard in her building. She wanted to spread some good cheer, as after-all, it was Christmas time, if you know what I mean ? wink, wink, nudge, nudge say no more. I thought we had come up with some very creative ideas as to how to entice him to her condo but alas she chickened out but we did have a few giggles while scheming. Anyone have a clue why Ann was so taken with this handsome man? Give up? He reminded her of Lucian. Ann the Civil Servant One story than always brings a smile to Ann’s face is when Ann discovered a mouse in her Queen’s Park Office. She ran like her life depended on it through the main office with the mouse in hot pursuit!! Lucifer Erlene still laughs when she remembers this story!. It was in the days of Burlington. Ann and Gary had a cat called Lucifer. Well, one morning Ann went down to the family room only to see Lucifer’s tail hanging down in the fireplace. Naturally she thought the poor kitty had got stuck in the fireplace and, yes he had gone to meet his maker. That being said, Ann called the Animal Rights folks who arrive and proceed to remove the dead cat; however, upon touching Lucifer he drops into the fireplace covered in soot and takes off, the man has the scare of his life, jumps back and screams and the bird Lucifer was stalking flies out and into the living. Ann who was hiding in the bedroom because she didn’t want to see her dead kitty being taken away, comes out only to be chased around the house by a frantic bird wanting to escape. Ann remembers the story of how Gary had steak and lobster tail laid out on the kitchen counter – he wanted to have a nice surprise ready for Ann when she got home from work (those were the days my friend). Just before Ann was due to arrive Gary went into the kitchen – alas the steak and lobster tail had vanished and there was Lucifer asleep on the couch with his legs in the air - he almost went to cat heaven that day!! Some Things She May Simply Choose to Forget!! Here’s a story (Courtesy of Sandra) Ann told us that happened to her not long ago in the Loblaws parking lot at Queens Quay. It was winter, She had done her shopping, the buggy was full and she had already paid for the groceries when there was an urgent need to go to the bathroom. Well, she was in a quandary, leave the basket with the shopping in it that was paid for or take a chance, put the groceries in the car and make a dash for home ? she decided on the later. She got outside and a cold blast of air hit her which made the need for a washroom even the more urgent!! Anyway she toddled off to her car put the groceries in the car and then it happened ? the flood gates opened and there she was standing in a little puddle when she saw a man approach her looking to use her buggy which was now empty. She was caught; luckily it was winter and she had on her winter coat to cover up any clues that she had had an accident. Erlene remembers when Ann was at a get together at Sandra and Gordon and could not make it to the washroom in time so she had an accident, then came back outside in a pair of Sandra’s Capri pants. We didn’t now why until later!! Erlene also remembers when we were at church one Xmas and Ann put Canadian Tire money in the collection plate thinking it was a five dollar bill, and had to retrieve it quickly before the plate was passed on.

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Beautiful Barbados Viv talks about her first visit to Barbados in 1975. Encouraged by Ann, we stayed with her sister, Norma for two or three weeks. We saw a side of Barbados we would never have seen had we gone there on our own. Ann invited us to all the family parties. We partied day and night! One night we went to Claude's house and ended up dancing on the driveway under the beautiful Barbados stars, to the sounds of Fausto Peppetti! It was one of my best holidays and one which has left a wonderful taste for Barbados with me. Thanks Ann Sandra recalls every year when we were very, very young we spent a month of our summer holidays at a seaside resort in Barbados called Bathsheba. We were always encouraged to invite a friend up to spend some time. Now, you have to remember that Ann had a crush on a young man who occupied the house next door with his family. She was quite taken with him, he was tall, had a great body and looked especially good in his swimsuit and his name was Winston. Well, one night she and her girlfriends got to asking each other if they had ever seen a naked man and I remember Ann saying no but she had an idea of what ‘it’ would look like and went on to share her thoughts with her girlfriends only to preface it by saying if she ever saw one - meaning a man’s penis - in real life, she thought she would run as it would be so ugly. You have to remember I was just a wee little thing back then and you can imagine what that conversation did to my poor innocent little ears. Memories Most of all, Ann has always been there for me and especially for Camilla. For that I will always be grateful. You are a compassionate and caring friend and I thank you for all the years of our friendship. Thanks also for including me in this special celebration tonight. I love you always! Your forever friend Viv I remember when you sat beside me on the 401 in an endeavor to teach me how to drive on the highway. I remember you helping out when I broke my leg. I remember you dragging through stores helping me select pictures, a rug etc. when I first bought the house. I remember you being there when I was down. I remember the laughs, I remember the tears. Thank you for all the memories, thank you for being such a wonderful friend and most of all thank you for being you. Ann For me Ann is one of my most loyal friends - never judgmental always supportive and never takes sides or gossips about anyone - a true friend. Once upon a time Ann saved my life, something I will always be eternally grateful for. I am truly blessed to have her as my friend, Thank you Ann for being my friend, Pauline True testament to Ann is when my other friends meet her for the first time and want to become her friend as well! You are indeed unique, my friend. Thank you for always being there for me, we’ve been thru’ a lot together! Much Love, Julie Ann, we all love you, we all think you’re amazing and we wish you a full life filled with health, peace and happiness. A Very Happy Birthday Julie, Pauline, Viv, Ann, Sandra and Erlene