This is a letter I just had to write as soon as I saw the result of Pet of the Year. I want to express my thoughts and feeling upon opening the September issue of your amazing read every time I get my issue in the mail. This issue was extra special for me as I have been a subscriber for quite a few years. I was by chance invited to a family reunion in Twillingate for the Stucklesses about 18 years ago and fell completely in love with your province and the people that live there from that day. Overwhelmed so much that my wife and I fancied a place that we inquired about when we returned home and could not say to no to this purchase and the rest is self-explanatory. We have been going out there at least once a year, sometimes twice every year. It’s my happy place. I can’t stay away and hope to soon move out to see the rest of your beautiful island and stay months instead of weeks.

Anyway, my wife and my dog and myself were out there this past August, but before we left home in Ontario to drive out for our annual trek to our cabin, I grabbed the mail in our mailbox as we headed east. We knew that this would be a sad visit this time out because my buddy who asked us to come out all those years ago has been battling dementia and in the last couple of years has gone downhill fast. It made me so sad to see a shell of a buddy that always made me laugh, and think ‘he doesn’t know me after 35 years of being best buds.’ It’s so heartbreaking to see how fast this horrible disease can rob a completely healthy person of what should be a longer and better life; I would like to say healthy, but for most of us into our 60s and 70 that’s very rare today. I’ve also seen how life for the spouses and caregivers that are obligated to do this stressful task has completely changed from their lack of sleep, weight loss, constantly watching, worrying 24/7 because of lack of space of facility that can better handle this situation. I can only sympathize with all of the people that are in the same position. Every day I was an observer to something I had never been around before and learned a lot in the four weeks I was there. Something I heard about dementia is ‘all you can do it wait.’ Not fair at all, not fair.

So back to the reason for this letter. After a few days at the cabin, I got to open my Downhome read, kind of anxious to find if a winner was picked for Pet of the Year, so I skipped right to it and glanced at the winner (congrats to the horse) and skimmed to the next page but noticed the first letters of my name ‘Cla’ and then looked at the pet’s picture with the star around him, then it really hit me, that my dog was Runner Up. My heart started pumping hard and yes, I had tears of joy as I called to my wife who was upstairs, “You’ll never guess who is runner up for Pet of the Year!”  She came down and started reading it, as I had never told her that I had entered Pete in this contest. I can’t thank you enough. For the people involved in selecting Pete, I can’t tell you the emotions I felt instantly, so happy and proud, and it couldn’t have happened at a better time, in Newfoundland with our best friends in Botwood. And to whoever else who cared to listen, if I knew them or not, and carried my copy of Downhome to show them and so proud to do so. It’s something I’ll treasure. It sure was uplifting for me and I think for those who know me and my awesome four-legged buddy Pete. Thank you so much.

This letter was halted for a few weeks after we returned from our trip, as we received a call from our close friend Rhona, Paul’s spouse, that he had a seizure and was taken to GF hospital. Once there they had to put restraints on Paul because he couldn’t sit still from his sickness; he was always walking around the house or down the road in Botwood, but almost always would return or we would call or go bring him back. After a few days in the hospital, Rhona called and said that they’ve done tests and bloodwork but his health is failing fast and they don’t know why. Rhona requested that he be transferred to Botwood hospital after they told her that he needed to go to palliative care. He was transferred on October 22/25 at 7:30pm. Rhona was with him for a few hours and had to go home as she hadn’t slept much at all. She got a call at 3:00am from the hospital to say she better get here because Paul was in distress. Sadly, my best buddy passed away at 4:45am, Thursday, October 23/25. Cause of death: still don’t know.

It was a gut punch like I felt with my brother. When we left to go back home on Wednesday, September 24, aside from his progressive disease, he was a fit and healthy man, just turned 69 years old. We were just there for a month and once he was admitted he just went downhill. I am fully aware of the issues facing your province, as is the same across Canada, health care in general and big time lack of help. I’m hoping the new premier will follow through with his objective if he gets in. But this is not the purpose of this letter. I just had to get this off my chest. I’m completely floored and so sad from my best friend’s passing. He who got me out here all those years ago, he who showed and told me so much about his hometown, Botwood. He lived right beside one of the many murals and I watched him on many occasions pass out brochures he would get from the town to tourists when he saw them taking pictures. They were surprised and I’m sure so grateful for that. I said a few times to him, you are a silent ambassador for Botwood that nobody knows about. I’ve always looked forward to my annual trips there – Paul and Rhona are our best friends. Now we’re short one awesome buddy who loved to dance, sing and make new friends like he knew them already. The shock and sadness are very fresh and I suppose will be for quite a while. His favourite song, ‘Hotel California’ will be at the top of my songs to play. After all the laughs, fun and things we’ve done in those 35-40 years I can still go to my memory bank and can recall a lot of them. They make me smile. Thank you, me buddy, and I hope you have the best room at Hotel California. Make sure you reserve one for me. You were certainly one of a kind, Paul Wells. I sure wish we could have done half the things that we put on our bucket list: Brimstone and George Street festivals, travelling around NL, starting a business; we had a few ideas of what we might do when I moved there. My buddy loved to dance, sing and wanted people to have a good time in his presence, and they did, except for my runner-up winner dog. Every time Paul would get his dancing feet banging, Pete would attack his feet like they were two sheep, as if to tell Paul, ‘You dancing here is not happening on my watch!’. That always had me in tears watching the action. That’s locked in my mind. Now Pete will do what he’s done since I’ve had him, always be by my side to comfort me through this next major loss in my life.

A big part of my life is changed for ever. Thank you so much, Paul Eugene Wells, for being in my life and showing me the Newfoundland way.  Finally, the picture enclosed was taken on a sunny Sunday with the Eagles DVD Farewell Tour playing and Paul doing his air guitar as I videoed him. It seems fitting that this was also his farewell to us. I will truly miss you and all that you showed and gave to me. Till we meet again at Hotel California – I love you and will dearly miss you.

One last thank you to everybody who had a part in this surprise for me. Feel free to let anybody read this letter about the two best friends in my life.

Thank you,

Claude Archer
Tiny, ON