Both Roxanne and Mark were members of the Royal Canadian Air Cadet program in their youth; Roxanne with 89 Pacific Victoria Squadron, and Mark in 754 Phoenix Squadron, Port Moody. Both were also involved in their respective Squadron's band; Roxanne played trumpet and bugle, while Mark played drums. In the summer of 1980, both attended the Summer Music Program at Vernon Army Cadet Camp. Yes, that's right; Band Camp.

Mark - Okay look, I was shy. Honestly. And there was this really cute trumpet player that I didn't have the nerve to go talk to. But, she certainly caught my eye, and interest. Truth is, I talked more to her sister than I did her, but then Dawn was a fellow drummer. Sure she was cute too, but she wasn't Roxanne. There was just a quality about Rox. A sweetness that I found fascinating and a smile to melt hearts. But then summer ended, we all went home, and I never got the chance to say more than "Ummm..." to her. During that year I made a couple of attempts to find her, but never could. The next summer I waited in Vernon again to see if she came back, but was disappointed. Over the next few years I tried again to locate her, including dropping in at the A&W in Victoria where she worked, but again, always missed her. As the years went by, I gave up looking, but never forgot the girl who caught my imagination.

Roxanne - Strangely enough I was supposed to go to Penticton, BC that summer to be an instructor. But I requested to be sent to Vernon because I spent all year playing trumpet in the school band and the summers were the only time I got to play bugle. So off to Vernon I went… and there he was… he was very quiet, very shy (as was I) but always had a smile on his face and a mischievous twinkle in his eye. He was the kind of guy you wanted to be around because he made you feel welcome and was quick with a joke.  I always seemed to get tongue tied around him and found it easier to just admire him from a distance.  You know girls… when that certain someone looks at you and your stomach jumps to your throat and you know if you try and talk he'll end up with your last meal all over his shoes.  So I never got to say so much as “Hi”.  Then summer was over, I went home and that was that… besides, as a Navy Brat you learn very young not to let people get too close because it's only a matter of time before you never see them again. 

Mark - Time passes. Time does that. One day my maternal grandmother Beth Fairley handed me a book. She was living in Princeton, and had some ties to Vernon through the Royal Canadian Legion. The book was titled "Stand By Your Bunks!", by Jeff Aitken (aka Cordell Cross), and was an account of one young cadet's trip to Vernon and his time there. And although it took place in the 1950's, the experiences just hadn't changed. But it certainly got me to thinking; what was going on up there? Where was everybody now? Enter Francois Arsenault, and the Vernon Army Cadet Camp website. It wasn't easy to find then, but after some serious searching, I was in. Part of the site included a virtual nominal roll; a listing of every cadet who attended VACC. Or at least, everyone for whom they could find records. Former cadets were invited to submit or correct their information, which could include a current email address. I gave Francois my email address to include, although the rest of my info was correct. Then I started looking up people I knew; guys from my Squadron, old friends, people like that. I was excited to find an email address for one "Todd, Roxanne". What had she been up to? Where was she these days... nearly 20 years since Vernon?  I sent off an email at once; "Hi.  Do you remember me?  Mark Hood."

Roxanne - Yes time passes, sometimes quicker than others. Then nearly 20 years since that summer, my twin sister's daughter Jennifer attended camp at Vernon. She came home telling her mother that the camp had a website and was inviting all former cadets to enter their info for the nominal roll. Roseanne, yes that would be my twin, then called me and urged me to add my name and email address. I did and about 3 days later I got an email from HIM! THAT GUY! I was shocked and I'm sure my chin hit my desk as it fell. He asked me if I remembered him…. I didn't even know he knew I existed. The boy that I never spoke to as a girl grew up and as a man became one of my nearest and dearest friends in a matter of moments.

Mark - It was a matter of moments, in truth. We talked a lot over the next couple of years, mostly through email and MSN Messenger. Rox became my closest friend and confidant. She helped me through some very difficult times, and was always there to talk to or provide a virtual shoulder. We knew from the start that we had a lot in common, including bizarre little idiosyncrasies and odd habits. I visited her in Victoria a couple of times; but then one day, we found ourselves each single. With a non-chalant "well, let's see..." (which was tempered by an internal 'YES!') we decided to give a relationship a try. We knew it was going to be difficult - what with her living on the Island and me on the Mainland - but it would be worth it. It was.

Roxanne - Odd habits aside (personally I don’t see Star Trek and first shooter game obsessions as odd but meh… what do I know?),  Idiosyncrasies?  Did he say that?  Well I guess not having the physical fortitude to say that four letter “F” word… you know the one.  But I’m getting off topic.  Yes, he’s right, it was worth it.  For a while it was worth it, and then something terrible happened.  I missed him; no I don’t mean I “missed” him… I mean I MISSED him.  What a terrible feeling it was, not knowing when we’d see each other again, and not feeling like doing stuff because he wasn’t with me.  I stayed with him on the Mainland that summer for a couple of weeks where I got to meet the rest of the Hood Clan… as Ron/Nathanial told me, “a great group of people…run.  You’ll never find a nicer bunch… run.”  I’ve never been a good runner so at first we decided he would move to the island, but as luck had it (if you can call it luck) my job was doing terrible things to my health and my Doctor advised me it would be best to move onto something else.  So I moved on, my house sold in 4 days and my little girl Amanda and I were off to a new life on the Mainland.  It was a true adventure for this island girl.  The first night in our new home was very nice.  Surrounded by boxes the four of us, Mark, his son Bryan, Amanda and I all raised our glasses in a toast to our new family.  Yes I still get misty eyed thinking about it.  Our first Christmas was magical with Bryan bursting into our bedroom wearing a Santa hat, Amanda close behind him and they were bearing stockings and best of all fresh coffee…. Hmmmm.  Then came Allen, Mark’s youngest (actually he’s older than Amanda by a couple of years).  I’ve gotten to know Bryan but Allen was still a mystery.  Allen came for a visit and it was great, so great that when he left there was a definite void in our family and that void is only filled when he comes for another visit.  Bryan and Allen are the most mature and intelligent young men I’ve ever met and I think their parents should be extremely proud of both of them.  I better end this because I’m getting misty again.  Oh and for those of you still wondering, Ron/Nat was right, the Hood Clan are one of the best bunch of people you could ever hope to meet.  They’ve accepted Amanda and me into the fold and I’m truly honoured to be able to consider myself one of them... even though a few of them are probably making the "gag me" symbol right now.

Mark - Um. Ditto.