My greatest gift!

My greatest gift!

In late May 1980 I hopped on a 40-minute flight from San Jose, Calif. to Seattle, Wash. to attend a Summer Institute of Linguistics 8-week post-grad training in applied linguistics and translation focusing on the the global indigenous languages of the world. This was a contract studies program linked with the U of W, Seattle and we attended classes and dormed at a Christian college/retreat centre across the Floating Bridge in Kirkland, 5 miles away. I had just graduated from San Jose State University in English Literature, Philosophy and Languages and was “testing the waters” into indigenous language studies based on a friend’s challenge: “Why study dead languages like Latin and Greek? Why not consider serving the 2,000+ illiterate people groups?” So off I went: Penniless and timorous but with great expectations (pun intended!).

What I encountered surprised me. Dozens of professionals who had gracefully dedicated their lives to living within their means and focused on transcribing oral folklore as well as translating the Bible into other languages. Their hope was that, if the people could only read and understand the sacred text , they could “decide for themselves”. This group was, officially, committed to service without proselytizing cultures (although some in the group had other motives).

There were approximately 30 university grads studying alongside me. One of these was Linda Orr, a Canadian ESL teacher working at the College of New Caledonia in Prince George, north-central BC. She travelled 500 miles south whereas I travelled 500 miles north for studies so we met “halfway in between”.

We spent long hours chatting, studying, and, eventually falling in love. We left that summer tentatively engaged to be married, each committed to confirming this one way or another. Through the following year of sending many cassette tapes by mail and visiting each others’ family, we announced our engagement, when Linda’s Mum then suggested, “Get married as quickly as you can; don’t hesitate.” This was quite the joyful surprise because her Mum was a thoughful and prayerful person. We married in Prince George with members of both of our families attending.

Now that was 44 years ago. Over the years I have seen Linda blossom and mature into an incredible woman, professional, mother and now grandmother. Her intuitions, joy, inner peace, wit, and sense of humour have been what I wake up to each day. I’ve seen her in many social and cross-cultural settings and she has through the years learned much wisdom, empathy, and discretion.

Today I honour the love of my life for being all that she is… MAGNIFICENT!

Happy birthday, honey!