In 1982, I attended the University of Regina where I obtained a Bachelor of Administration Degree. I went on to obtain both my Chartered Accountant and Certified Managerial Accountant Designations. I became a Catholic in 1984. Also in 1984 I went to South Africa to spend Christmas with Shane and his family. I had a wonderful time and it is a very beautiful country. I particularly enjoyed visiting the wine estates in the Cape and going on a Safari where we got within a 100 yards of a Cheetah that had just killed an Impala (small deer).

While at the University of Regina, I met Lamont. Lamont came from a large family with 10 brothers and sisters and 26 nieces and nephews. We were married in 1990 and separated in 1999. Lamont and I had no children, however I have three Godchildren and a bunch of people calling me Aunt, so I am very blessed.

Lexi, my 8 year old Goddaughter, is one of the great joys in my life. Her mother, a friend of mine, thinks she lucked out when she chose me. Every fall, since 1997, I call Lynn and ask her "What is Lexi involved in this year and what can I drive her to?" For a mother of three those are great questions. For me it is a real joy as it is tough to have a rough day when you are seeing things through the eyes of a child.

In 1997, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I had a mastectomy, so I am half the boob I used to be (bad humour). I also went through chemo and radiation. So, guys I have to tell you, when you loose all of your hair it comes in twice as thick and curly!! A friend of mine told me that I look better than Demi Moore does without hair. It cost me big bucks to have her say that!! One of the disappointments of that year was that we were unable to attend Frederick and Michelle's wedding as it happened three days after I received the news.

For the past five years I have been controller for Sexton Investments Ltd, which owns Kenroc Building Materials (www.kenroc.com) which is a drywall supply company with branches in the four western provinces and Minneapolis. Sexton Investments' also owns a national buying group for the building materials industry, a tool division and we manage a manufacturing facility for a Japanese owner. Our CEO also runs a small charity that donates artwork to the local hospitals. I do all the corporate tax returns plus the personal tax returns for our CEO, President and Vice- Presidents. It is lots of fun keeping on top of the Canadian tax system. As we have locations all over, I do a fair amount of traveling particularly in January, when I travel to many of the locations to do their year end review.

I live in a modest house that was built in 1978, that I am in the process of renovating. My roommate is Max, my 5 year old Bichon and Shih tzu cross puppy, sometimes called a "Benji" dog. When I am not doing yard work, mowing the lawn or shoveling the snow as the case may be, I go to jazzercise three times a week and take the dog on long walks most evenings. This fall I am going to take a class towards my Certified Financial Planner designation on Thursday's and take Lexi to her activity on Tuesday's. Sometimes I manage to get in a game of golf, or at least I go around the golf course. I have figured out what is wrong with my game; I am standing too close to my ball after I have hit it!!!

My favorite memories of the trip were the people. When I got home all I could talk about was the people that I had met and how much fun we all had. I remember going through the dinner line and someone yelling, "What's for dinner?" and us all answering "Meatloaf." It was years before I finally saw the "Rocky Horror Picture Show".
I remember the singsongs when Greg brought out his guitar.

I particularly remember Frederick getting us lost in Paris! What was it we were trying to find anyway??

I also remember Frederick telling a wild story that people in Edmonton live in igloos and someone actually believed him!!

I look forward to seeing all of you at the reunion.

Sonjia Johansen
114 Houston Rd
Regina, Saskatchewan
Canada
S4V 0G4
(306) 584 - 2840
(306) 525 - 1918 (work)
Birth date: October 19 but I am not giving the year!! I think it is 1974!!