Pubdate: Wed, 27 Jan 2010 Source: Revelstoke Times Review (CN BC) Copyright: 2010 Black Press Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/EZOeBibj Website: http://drugsense.org/url/ujMTHNZu Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2139 Author: Jim Pecora Jr. GROW OP BRINGS BACK PAINFUL MEMORIES Re: Chilly weather outs substantial marijuana grow operation, News, Jan. 13. To the residents of Nichol Road, I thought I was finished shedding tears over my late father's home. Emotions were again dredged up this past week when I was told that some parasites of society had turned our last home into a marijuana grow-op. Dad took great pride in maintaining his home and yard. It was a home that he built. It was a gathering place for us where we as a family shared birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, special holidays, and as life goes, even funerals. This was not an episode of 'Flip This House' for me. This was our family home. Emptying and selling the house when dad passed away was the hardest thing I have ever been tasked to do. Without the help of some very good friends of mine and my father's, I don't know how I would have done it. It was not like an addition was added or that the house was repainted. The house was destroyed by a criminal element. So it is heartbreaking and personal to me. Our family and dad's friends will have pictures and memories of being there and visiting, maybe listening to one of dad's many railroad stories, or being with him downstairs in his woodworking shop. The memories are ours to keep but the situation still saddens me. Some of you on Nichol Road may remember two little markers dad had on his front lawn years ago. One read, 'Here lies the last dog to #$%! on my lawn', the other, "Here lies his friend the cat'. If dad was here today, I just know he could come up with a third marker. To dad's old neighbours, unfortunately your new neighbour turned out to be a detrimental neighbour rather than someone you could chat with or call upon if needed. Jim Pecora Jr., Golden, B.C. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom