My Cousin Denny

DENNIS KEITH TAKAHASHI passed away on Friday, November 27, 2009 at the age of 53 years.
He is survived by one brother Gary (Jocelyn) Takahashi of Red Deer.
He was predeceased by his parents Chiyoko (Chuck) and Hideo (Ed) Takahashi.
A memorial service will be held on Tuesday December 1, 2009 at 2:00 pm at Christensen Salmon Funeral Home with Bishop Doug Takahashi officiating. Interment to follow in the Mountain View cemetery. (From the Lethbridge Herald)

The cover of the program from the service.

Yesterday I conducted my first funeral. I would have never guessed that my first funeral as a bishop would be for one of my cousins.

The news of his passing came as a shock to me. It all happened so quickly.

On Wednesday Dennis called some friends and asked that they take him to the hospital because he wasn't feeling well. On Thursday my dad got a call from the hospital informing him that Dennis was not doing well (He had listed my dad as the next-of-kin). Mom and Dad went into Lethbridge to see him but by the time they got there he was in a coma. Early Friday morning my dad got a call from the hospital informing him that Dennis passed away.
Gary came down and started making funeral arrangements with some of Denny's friends. He asked if I would conduct the service and I was happy to do it. To be frank, I was worried about what I would say - but I talked to my Stake President and he said that it was an opportunity to comfort and to teach about our Saviour Jesus Christ. So that was my plan.

Much of the program was put together by Denny's friends.

The program went well. The funeral home was packed. There was standing room only. He had a large circle of friends.

I grew up spending a lot of time with Denny (as we knew him) and his brother Gary. They lived in Lethbridge and we lived in Picture Butte. I remember going to visit them lots when we would go into town. What I regret is that over the last 25 or 30 years I really haven't seen Denny that much. I mentioned that in my talk. I asked that the people there not do that - but keep in touch with family and friends. I told a few stories about my memories of Denny. I always remember him with a smile on his face. I thought it was funny that they called him "Tak" because that is what I was called growing up. I mentioned that in my talk. I also said that I knew him as "Denny". I added that by that side of the the family I was (and still am) know as "Dougie". I talked about my favorite movie - It's a Wonderful Life and how the the main character "George Bailey" wishes that he was never born. He got the chance to see what the world would be like if was never born and it was a very different place. The point is that every person's life touches so many others in good ways. I said that Denny was like that that - he touched many people for good - as displayed by the overflow crowd. "No man is a failure who has friends" - a quote from the movie.

His memory will live on in our hearts and in our memories but I also told the audience that I knew that his spirit lives on. From there I talked about what I believe regarding life and death. You can read more about my beliefs at www.mormon.org.

It was nice to be there and to meet Denny's friends and to get reacquainted with family.

I'm so glad that this life is not the end and that we will see these loved ones again.

Dennis - God be with you till we meet again.

For Angie!

Happy Birthday Angie!

I wrote my memories of your birth as "I remembered them" (so they may not have actually happened this way - but why ruin a good story with facts?)

I wanted a catchy and original title so I called it:

"My Memories of Angie's birth as I Remembered Them"

You came a few weeks early while we were down in Southern Alberta for Sharon and Darren's wedding. It was a cold weekend. Around -30 C. We drove down to Picture Butte on the Friday. The day of the wedding we drove to Cardston. My memories of the actual wedding ceremony and other wedding related activities are sketchy at best. I think its because of the other things that were on my mind – ie baby. I do remember going to Cobblestone Manor for a family dinner after. But the next real vivid memory was back in Picture Butte and my mom and dad’s place. Judy was by the sink cutting “fruit” (my “vivid” memory had her cutting “vegetables” but I was corrected). She had to stop cutting and leaned on the counter and that was when she knew she had to do something. Auntie Helen Ikebuchi was there and she told her. I remember being anxious about this not really knowing what to do. I do remember telling my dad (the doctor) expecting him to give me some suggestions as to what to do. His response was simply a smile and something to the effect of “I guess we’re going to have a baby”. As for doctor coverage we were pretty good. My dad of course was there. Darren was a doctor and his brother Kevin was in town and he was a doctor. And Dr. Leishman, one of the town doctors was invited to the reception as well. But they didn’t deliver babies at the Picture Butte hospital any more. You had to go to Lethbridge. Judy decided that she would rather go to Raymond hospital. I figured it out that that would be the better way to go logistically as well. It was about 25 minutes to the hospital in Lethbridge but 40 or so to Raymond. But it we went cross-country Coaldale was about 20 minutes away and it had a hospital. It would be half way to Raymond so I figured the furthest we would be from a hospital (or doctors) would be 10 minutes.

Although it was very cold the roads were clear and we made it to Raymond in good time. I’m sure that I drove faster than I normally do. We went straight to the hospital and went in. Judy said that she was having a baby. The nurse didn’t seem too alarmed and said something like “okay, let check things out” but I’m sure she was thinking “sure you are”. The thing to point out here is that Judy did not look over 8 months pregnant. When she had her coat on you could barely tell.

The nurse did an examination and all of a sudden had a shocked look on her face. All of sudden she took Judy seriously. The baby was coming. She called the doctor to get over as soon as possible. I don’t remember much after this than we weren’t at the hospital very long when Angie arrived. Fortunately the doctor did arrive shortly before Angie. The reason I don’t remember is probably because I’m not good at hospitals even if I’m just visiting. I think I could be one of those dad’s who need medical attention when his wife has a baby. For me getting through without getting queasy or passing out is an accomplishment (Fortunately I got through it with all 6 daughters). I remember being overwhelmed by everything.

Everything seemed to happen so quickly. I wanted to help Judy but there wasn’t much I could do but be there. She did great. And what a wonderful blessing to have our new addition. I remember holding the new baby and feeling excited and scared at the same time. I guess it was more of an overwhelmed scared.

To be honest, the next thing I really remember is making the phone call to tell everyone about the new arrival. The neat thing was that most of both of our families were at the same place – Sharon and Darren’s wedding reception at the high school. Judy’s mom and dad were invited so they were there and Judy’s sisters were singing so they were there. And of course my family was all there. This was before the day of cell phones so I had to call the hall phone at the high school. When I called I just about couldn’t get past the person who answered the phone. When I asked for my dad, the person said that Dr. Takahashi was busy with his daughter’s wedding reception and wasn’t taking calls. I said that he’ll take my call because I was his son, but that wasn’t good enough. I had to explain the entire story before he would get my dad. I did get my dad on the after a few minute wait and I told him the news. The nice thing about having everyone together was that I didn’t have to make a lot of calls and I didn’t have to decide who I should call first (or second or third or . . .). After he got off the call the baby’s arrival was announced at the reception so all of my family and most of Judy’s family found out at the same time.

It was an exciting weekend to say the least. 

Here are some pictures of a young Angie.

Somewhere a car is missing a windshield.

Does this picture remind anyone else of Brylie and Tyken?

Wish we were there with you.

Hope you have a good one.

Oh yeah - Happy Anniversary Sharon and Darren.

 

Remembrance Day

Today was Remembrance Day (Veterans Day in the USA). Its the day we remember the sacrifices made in times of war. I remember as a young Cub Scout putting on my uniform and marching down the streets of Picture Butte with the veterans to the cenotaph to place the wreaths and to observe a moment of silence at 11 am. I remember being taught that World War I ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. That's why we did it on that day and at that time. I remember being taught the poem "In Flanders Fields.


In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.


For some reason this year I felt especially grateful for all of those that served our country in the armed services. On Tuesday they had an program at Jenelle's school. Jenelle was in a group that sang a song. While they sang the song they showed the pictures of those Canadian soldiers who have died in Afghanistan. Seeing those pictures made it so much more real. What made it more real was that on that same day in Calgary was the funeral services for Sapper Steven Marshall who was killed while on patrol in Afghanistan. When I was young it was people from the past that we remembered on this day - now its people much younger than me who are serving now.

I had a strong desire to go the Military Museums today. On Sunday said a few words about my Grandpa Shimbashi at the end of Sacrament meeting. He fought for Canada in WWI. They have his picture up at the museum and I just wanted to go and see if it was still there.

So this afternoon Alana, Jamie and Jenelle went with me to check it out.

The Military Museums

I'll bet a lot of you didn't know that there was a battalion of Japanese Canadians in WW I.

My grandpa Shimbashi was one of those who enlisted and fought for his new country. He ended up in France and was involved in the Battle of Vimy Ridge in 1917. Many historians and writers consider the Canadian victory at Vimy a defining moment for Canada, when the country emerged from under the shadow of Britain and felt capable of greatness. Canadian troops also earned a reputation as formidable, effective troops because of the stunning success. But it was a victory at a terrible cost, with 3598 killed and over 7000 wounded.

This is the picture of Grandpa Shimbashi at the museum.

I'm grateful for his legacy.

The girls by the picture of their great grandfather.

Why are the pictures and words so small?

I think the girls enjoyed the museum

They had to pose with the manikins

On the bridge with a lifesize Jeff Salmon doll.

Catching Up!

I'll try to catch up with some of the things that have been going on over the past 2 months.

For a back to school youth activity we had a Roll-your-own-sushi party at our house.

 I dressed for the event.

Everyone made their own.  Not bad.

We had a great turnout.  Quite a few youth from other wards in the stake showed up.

(One of those youth borrowed my outfit and wore it to the Halloween dance on the weekend - he told everyone he was Papahashi)

The first weekend in September we went down to Southern Alberta.   Judy and I went to the temple and then we went to PB to visit grandma and grandpa T.   We drove out to Barnwell to pick some corn.

I could barely lift the sack of corn.

So I had Judy do it.

Grandpa was eating it as fast as we could pick it.

We also dug some potatoes.

We drove around Raymond to visit Grandma A.

The next weekend I did something new.   I went paintballing with the Young Men in the ward.

Judy was asking if this was really a Young Men's activity or a leader's activity.   We had 2 young men there and 4 leaders.  (2 is actually a pretty good turn out).

We participated in the city-wide food drive again.  Its sponsored by the Church.   Last year we made it into the Guiness Book of World.  This year we didn't break the record but we were close.

Thanksgiving Weekend (Canadian) we had a ward youth temple trip on Friday evening.

Here's the young women.  Those same 2 young men who went paintballing came later.

The YW stayed over night in Cardston.  One of their leaders moved to Cardston in the summer and invited them down for a sleepover.   Jamie and Jenelle stayed for that while Judy and I went Raymond for the night.   Alana was also down but she had a car so she did her own thing.   The next morning we headed back to the temple.   After the temple we picked up Jamie and Jenelle and headed back to Raymond to attend the funeral of Judy's uncle Gordon C.

Sunday we headed for PB and on Monday we had thanksgiving dinner with Grandma and Grandpa T.

Grandma took the picture.

Last Friday Alana came home from work with 2 tickets to the Calgary Stampeders vs the Edmonton Eskimos football game for Judy and I.

Stamps won 30 - 7.

We thought it might be cold so we bundled up but it was a very pleasant night.   Not like the next morning.

It was really coming down.

Oh yeah - on Friday there was a big first for Jenelle as well.

She had her first Big Mac ever.  Is that a "congratulations"?

More to come.