Fran Becker:  

At this writing I am coming up on my 73birthday and awaiting the publication of my book of artwork over 100 pieces for this current edition. This follows on the heels of two difficult years of grief and loss. Two years ago my oldest child died of pharmaceutical complications relative to Epilepsy she had struggled with since age 16. My 36 year old son with Down's syndrome moved into independent living with an assisted living room-mate, my husband moved into an extendicare facility for medical reasons and my beloved father passed away at the age of 96. So I find myself coming to terms with living alone for the first time in my life which, coming from a family of five children, is an interesting time. Husband Bob and I ran an Environmental engineering business together until he retired at age 70 ten years ago. Prior to that in the 70's, I worked as an engineering designer doing water and sewer design for new subdivisions in the Edmonton area where we lived for ten years. When son Julian was born 36 years ago my life spun on its head as I entered the world of Down's syndrome and did not work outside the home after that, rather choosing to run the business from home so I could tend...Expand for more