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It's been a long while since I poked in here. Sad to see some long time friends are now gone.
I got a second chance at life this year and am truly grateful. I went in for a routine heart stress test at the end of March and came out of the hospital twenty-seven days later after an open heart operation and a six bypass. It was a shocker for us as we had no idea there were problems. Thankfully, recovery was quick and I was back up to full speed in less than three months.
We continue to keep busy, with son Peter now the owner of Imagination Corporation for the last six years. I have no intention of retiring as I am having too much fun each day. Business is incredibly good with amazing projects and clients already lined up for most of next year. I love working with my kids and the grand kids are also around almost every day.
We have four wonderful and talented employees who help us with our projects.
These days I do most of the design work and the required travel to visit customers across Canada and the USA, consult and oversee installations. That involves up to a dozen short trips each year which I thoroughly enjoy. I also help out with the fabrication in the shop as I can. I still love to get my hands dirty whenever I can.
Janis & I are still thoroughly enjoying life together and will be celebrating our fiftieth anniversary this coming June.
Life is good!
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8783 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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I'm still doing it too. It seems like an exercise to keep it fun sometimes though. The creativity I once knew has turned more into just doing variations of the past. I find delight playing with my lathe and making fun things from found and discarded wood scraps. It's been many years since my open heart surgery and our fiftieth anniversary. I find most of the joy in pleasing customers that have interesting challenges. I'm liking the jobs that can be done in a month, rather than three months or three hours. We work four hours a day in the shop now and prefer vacations to be at home. Should your travels ever get you our way, we'd love a visit. I still have a couple of your squiggly line brushes. Hey, I typed this and it sounds rather depressing, but we're still happy and on top of our game.
-------------------- The SignShop Mendocino, California
Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 7065 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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We are very semi retired. I haven’t made a carved sign in 3 years. I mainly provide vinyl lettering and decals to a school bus distributor and canoe manufacturer, and laser engrave plastic tags for another sign shop. I have as much/little work as I want. Ernie bought a sawmill last fall. We have 30 acres of spruce/pine trees that Ernie, his Dad and Greandpa planted in the early 60’s (60,000). There are a lot of dead ones standing and on the ground. We have made a bunch of boards and made 7 park benches and some picnic tables. We are not going to sell the boards (not the best quality). Anybody that helps us mill the wood can have what they want. It is better than a gym membership. Great way to get our outdoor fix and Vit D exposure. Ernie is having some health issues. I had rotator cuff surgery earlier this year. We are both happy and having fun. February 2024 will be our 48th anniversary.
-------------------- Balch Signs 1045 Raymond Rd Malta, NY 12020 518 885-9899 signs@balchsigns.com http://www.balchsigns.com Posts: 1747 | From: MaltaNY | Registered: Jan 2000
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Still around too! Smaller jobs but keeping busy.
-------------------- Mario G. Lafreniere (Fergie) J&N Signs Winter did show up! Posts: 1258 | From: Chapleau, Ontario | Registered: Jun 1999
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A few weeks ago, your name popped up in my head while having a conversation with a friend- I went on web hunt for photos of your house and your creative projects- it was a fun trip down memory lane- it was good to see some of your new stuff too. Glad you are doing well
-------------------- Michael Clanton Clanton Graphics/ Blackberry 19 Studio 1933 Blackberry Conway AR 72034 501-505-6794 clantongraphics@yahoo.com Posts: 1743 | From: Conway Arkansas | Registered: Oct 2001
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Dan, we recently had a visit from a couple of your countrymen, Kelly Thorsen and her husband Jim. We met Kelley working on your mural in Lodi. From our house they went to Lodi and saw the murals again. By now they're in Mexico.
-------------------- The SignShop Mendocino, California
Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 7065 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Hi ya doing Dan? Glad to hear you are doing good. Any type of "Body Work" is anyways dangerous. I'm still here doing my thing and here is the proof,,, https://youtu.be/w4nO3YQxQ3U?si=3gD9a_WNsQnPCCrQ Maybe one day I might drive up to pay you all a visit.
-------------------- Signs by Alicia Jennings (Mudflap Girl) Tacoma, WA Since 1987 Have Lipstick, will travel. Posts: 4118 | From: Tacoma, WA. U.S.A. | Registered: Dec 1999
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Now that Magoo has just left the building... it's great to see you well, Dan. You're still a tremendous inspiration to many of us: thanks a lot!
-------------------- "Stewey" on chat
"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7034 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
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I'm still kicking... and working... but not as hard as I used to. Collecting Social Security makes a difference. Sophie and I have been spending quite a bit of time in a public ministry activity.
I've also been section hiking the Appalachian Trail with some friends. We get together a couple times a year and hike 100-150 miles at a time and have made it from Georgia to northern Rocksylvania. Maybe I'll get to Katahdin before I'm 80! Some other friends and I plan an extended Grand Canyon hike in late spring.
-------------------- David Harding A Sign of Excellence Carrollton, TX Posts: 5140 | From: Carrollton, TX, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Bob, sorry I didn't check the BB sooner. I'd love to visit you. I enjoyed all our jet engine discussions at Sawatzky's. "Wiggly" won't work on turbines, but I'm sure Dan's got a wiggly jet on one of his projects! If I get to the 'Daks, I'll do so.
-------------------- David Harding A Sign of Excellence Carrollton, TX Posts: 5140 | From: Carrollton, TX, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Dave, we just sat in the path of totality for the eclipse. I got some great shots of the eclipse as a series of photos. We had the telescope out, the grandkids were here and it was a great time. Hopefully you had a view of it in your neck of the woods.
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