FROM THE EDITOR: With all the negative news surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, we have decided to turn the Beefs & Bouquets page into a Bouquets Only feature. We are offering the opportunity for our readers to lift each other up, with positive thoughts and messages. Please send your bouquets, and positive thoughts to bandb@comoxvalleyrecord.com Please keep submissions within 150 words. We can resume publishing beefs once a sense of normalcy returns. For now, let’s partake in positive reinforcement.
A BOUQUET TO ALL the professional truck drivers. Because of you we have access to goods that we use and need – food, drink, face masks, soap, paper products, gasoline to name some, and now my online shopping orders. As the saying goes, “If you bought it a trucker brought it.” I can only imagine how difficult it is for you during these unusual times—the quick break spots are no longer available for a sit-down meal, nor is the washroom available in which to freshen up. Thank you for being there for all of us. You and the work you do is greatly appreciated. You too, are heroes.
A BOUQUET TO THE local businesses - in particular, those with shopping carts - who are providing sanitizer wipes so customers can disinfect the carts. A giant bouquet to the grocer who has been providing such wipes since the day you opened—your customer service has always been there.
DID YOU REALIZE you can “dine out” at “home” - take a break from cooking? A shout out to Plates Catering for supplying superb take out and reheat roast beef dinner- excellent quality and simply the largest Yorkshires ever! Well done! Let’s support these local businesses at every opportunity.
A SPECIAL THANK YOU to Ginette Matthews, her family and staff at the Local Refillery in Courtenay for delivering zero-waste, organic foods, health-care and other products to our community in creative and safe ways. I see how weary they are, and still continuing to serve.
ON GOOD FRIDAY my bike was stolen out of our gated backyard. I was heartbroken as it was my only source of transportation. On April 19th I received a call from the police. They had found my bike. I was speechless and so very happy. With everything that is going on nowadays, they found my bike. Thank you, thank you, thank you to all involved. Stay safe… stay healthy… stay strong… be well.
WHILE MANY OF US might find the current precautions inconvenient and uncomfortable and perhaps a bit tedious, the basic public health services that we take for granted continue being provided as always. Clean water comes from our taps, garbage gets picked up each week, sewage continues to flush away and be treated, like magic. A big bouquet of thanks to all workers providing these essential local government services!
THANK YOU TO the school board and superintendent Tom Demeo for putting the health of staff, students and families in the forefront of going back to school. Despite this nasty bug that is showing itself to be one of the worst we have ever seen, “school” is back in with teachers, principals and support staff making contact with students and families. Nothing looks the same right now but what we know is that kids and families want and need contact with their teachers and their schools. Education is a constant in any country through any disaster.
For parents who are doing as much as they can, take a breath, spend time with your kids. Thank you to the custodians who are being extra vigilant to clean our schools. But especially, thank you to the students who miss their friends, their structure, their school communities; this isolation is the hardest on them.
I WANTED TO SAY a super big thank you to a lady named Linda at Quality Foods in Comox. She’s the head cashier there, as well as wearing many other hats. She’s been taking my order over the phone now for about one month….working her butt off, always pleasant, helpful and great attitude during this crazy time! I’ve never met her in person, but so appreciate what she and Quality Foods are doing for me and the community.
A GRATEFUL BOUQUET TO Robert S. for your selfless good deed to help complete strangers. A chance meeting in the grocery store parking lot asking if you knew who I could call to help with a leaking hot water tank, only to find out you too had a similar problem. Thank you for offering to come to our home to investigate the problem, then to immediately proceeding to pick up and install the needed part. Your selfless good deed to retired seniors will not be forgotten. We are forever thankful.
TWO BIG BOUQUETS! One for Joanne Hronowski from our Comox Valley MS Self Help group (the Day Trippers) for organizing speakers from Grow Wise Health in Courtenay. They get the second bouquet for prescribing the perfect amount of CBD oil to relieve my nerve pain from trigeminal neuralgia. Wow, it’s a total game-changer for my life.
THE ART ROCK “rocks” along the trails in the Northeast Woods. What is always a lovely walk is even more delightful these days with small, creatively coloured rocks - some with cheery words - along the paths.
BOUQUETS ON BEHALF OF all my colleagues at Comox Valley North Island Hospital, we would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the businesses that have donated food and beverage to us! We also would like to thank all the people that have provided homemade non-medical cloth face masks, ear savers and head caps for us! We are in this together! We will not forget your unconditional support!
A CONTRACTORS BOUQUET to Heath McFarlen, of New Standard Carpentry Services. Heath completed my renovations in a timely manner with respect to my needs and budget. Heath worked with my special needs and constant changes and without any complaints. I am so happy with my changes. Anyone would be lucky to have Heath as their contractor. And to know that he is fair and respectful of needs and budget.
TO THE STAFF AT STAPLES, a very huge thank you for being open at these times, and an even bigger bouquet of flowers to all of you, my daughter’s computer stopped working and needed a replacement to do homeschooling. You helped me choose the right product with friendly advice. Stay safe and healthy.
WE WOULD LIKE TO raise a large glass of scotch to our wonderful neighbour who every evening for the last two weeks has serenaded our condo from the lawn. (From Amazing Grace, It’s a wonderful world, to Singing in the Rain.) It is a beautiful way of keeping in touch and spreading good cheer to all of us in self-isolation.
A HUGE BOUQUET of fresh spring flowers and gratitude to Alli of Crossfit Dodge City who has been very generous in loaning out workout equipment and offering daily workouts via Zoom. Her dedication to healthy movement has enabled a number of us to continue working out with her daily during the COVID crisis. It has helped me a lot with my physical and mental well being during this time. Thanks Alli, you are a great role model and community leader!
WE (PETER AND ANN) WOULD LIKE TO thank all our family & friends for all their support during Peter’s illness. All the phone calls, emails, cards, flowers & visits to the hospital. I would especially like to thank our friend Judi for calling every day. Thank you to all the medical people for their wonderful care. We love you all thank you again. You really know who your friends are at a time like this.
TO ALL THE essential services workers in our community and throughout the world: the health-care staff (thank you Danita & Susie); food services; delivery people and all volunteers.