Frances Bickerstaff:
CLASS OF 1964
Billings High SchoolClass of 1964
Chateauguay, QC
Simon Fraser UniversityClass of 1995
Burnaby, BC
Resurrection of Our Lord High SchoolClass of 1964
Lachine, QC
Frances's Story
I worked at a variety of jobs after high school while continuing to take evening courses - mutual funds, personnel agency, dental assistant. In 1971, I moved to Vancouver from Quebec, more because of the winters than the language issues. I worked as a bookkeeper for a small office for years, while taking evening courses. I met my husband, Bill, here and we have been together since 1980.
In 1983, we bought a house with a ground floor basement suite and Mother came to live there. We all have our privacy and we get along well, enjoying the mutual benefits of collective living without a lot of the disadvantages.
In 1990, I was able to complete my degree as a full time student at Simon Fraser University ( BA majoring in English, minoring in Psychology, and a Diploma in ESL Linguistics qualifying me to teach English as a second language). Although I wanted my degree for the satisfaction it gave me and the pleasure of studying, it did lead me into the work from which I retired two years ago. Instead of teaching ESL, I went to work with a government appeal tribunal, first as a member of a three person panel, later as a vice-chair. It was a wonderful experience both from the point of job satisfaction and money. I wrote decisions incessantly (I wanted to write, be careful what you wish for) but I enjoyed every minute...Expand for more
of it. I took early retirement in June 2006. Mother is 84 and in quite good shape and Bill is 73 and I wanted to be able to enjoy outings together or just sitting in the sun in the garden over afternoon coffee, while we are all still able to enjoy it in relatively good health. No amount of money can buy more time.
My sister, Gretchen, also attended university as an adult and obtained her PhD in Criminal Psychology at NYU. She lives in New York with her husband and we keep in regular touch.
No children. I never wanted any and Bill had three daughters from his first marriage, then ranging from 18-22 and now each of them are married with children of their own. (No, I wasn't a particularly grandmotherly type, either. I was not a babysitter, bake brownies together type, but I was pleasant enough).
I still get nostalgic sometimes for life in Montreal/Chateauguay, mostly in the spring and autumn; however, it's likely for a way of life that cannot be anymore, for a return to some carefree period when life stretched out far ahead, full of possibilities. In any case, I am happy with what I have and grateful that I have people I love and friends with whom to share life.
I'd love to hear from anyone who feels like writing and will write back. I have become a much better correspondent than I was in the halcyon days.
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