This is one of my most favourite family photos. That’s Rosie Beaucoup and the Beaucoup children exploring Whale Cove in 1981. My dad took the photo.

I turned in my studio keys yesterday; the curtain lowers on twenty-four years of sweat, laughter and tears. Bill Beaucoup is retiring in two weeks, and my sister is leaving her job to write full time. Endings are unavoidable – heck, we’ve been muddling through for several months now. But those inescapable transitions also provide the opportunity for new adventures. And ulcers, I suppose.

The other day I woke to a message from a friend. It read simply:

Quick. Write something on your blog. I need a laugh. We all need a laugh.

Obviously, I’m going to have to up my game.

2.0 and I have a huge project to tell you about – it’s not pornography so don’t get excited. (Jesus, it’s not a baby either.) And I’m planning to hang out here a little more, which I’m hoping will stop some of you from emailing me to ask for more goddamned posts. I HAVE THREE CATS TO LOOK AFTER.

So here’s to The Explorers – all of us with knots in our tummies and fresh starts on our minds! And here’s to four out of five Beaucoups being unemployed!

(Don’t worry: 2.0 will be in charge of buying all Beaucoup socks and underwear until we get ourselves sorted.)

Is it summer? Is it winter? WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE?

movita: So, you just wrapped up a bunch of shit from the shed and put it under the tree?

Haddy: Yup! Don’t tell Mom!

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He was the perfect addition to our family – blended right in.

This photo was taken right after Haddy and I told Adopamop that our parents wouldn’t be coming back for us. Ever.

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