After a lot of “Logos run” reading this afternoon I decided to get into some Oblivion. None of the NPC characters towns people will talk to me and I can’t get out of stealth mode. But I’m having fun.

Last night I stumbled upon a PDF article on The Windsor hotel/Fraser café that was in downtown New Westminster. This was the place I used to hung out and eat every day 1974-1975. Those were two of my best years. I was 21-22 in those days. I had a small bachelor suite 2 blocks away from my job. Rent was cheap and affordable plus I had dinner out almost every night. Apparently the Fraser café was running right up until 1995 until it met its fate with the wrecking ball in May of 2007. The Bench & Gavel building I used to live in is still there. But I learned a few thins about the Fraser café. In the early 1920’s when my grandfather JJ Johnston was Mayor, the original owner was a freemason/business by the name of Jack Morgan. No doubt my grandfather knew this man. In the 30’s and 40’s the Fraser café would be open 24/7. Morgan sold the café in 1952 and Clayton and Evelyn Stensgaard operated it until 1995.I don’t know if I ever met the owner and I ate mostly by myself. I was a loner back in those days. I saved the article of course.

My family history though is somewhat murky before my mother and father. Sure I met my grandmother many times. The last time I saw my grandmother was when she had total vision loss, in 1966-67, I recall vividly we drove her from our place to her place and being dropped off at the Guilford town mall. I read also that JJ Johnston died in 1966 and this would be consistent with that event when I last saw my grandmother. I have never met my grandfather on my mother’s side JJ. From what she mom told me was that JJ Johnston (her father) was owner of Big Boot shoe store among other things. Was GM’s first name Lottie? It gets even more murky with my fathers side of the family. I’ve met my auntie Eve (my fathers sister) several times in the 1960’s and I think on one or 2 occasions even visited their house as well. My brother Mike has a photo of my dad taken on the street in 1940 downtown Vancouver. Dad would have been 18 at the time way before he met my mother. Dad was 74 when he died. Mom died Sunday December 3rd 2000. Yet I have no information as to my fathers childhood. What I do know is that he was born n El Centro California January 1st 1922. I don’t know his mother nad father’s full names or what they did when dad was born or in his early childhood. I think my father Richard Warren Shannon had a brother. I know he had one sister. Also I heard mom talk about a boating or industrial accident. But what was it that lead Richard to find himself on a street in 1940 at the age of 18 in Vancouver BC?

A few minutes ago I composed a note for my sister in laws inbox regarding some family issues she might know more then me. Maybe she can fill in some missing gaps for me.

Well gang, I didn’t win the big $50M yesterday. This draw was only the 2nd largest sum ever to be issued to lotto 6/49 and 4 people had the same matching numbers. You guessed it, back East. Three winners were from Ontario, and 1 from Quebec. I won $5! Each winner will be entitled to a $12,574,733 share of the $50.3 million prize, Crazy.

Anyway, gang that’s all for now.

e. Jim