Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to heed Mr. Miltenberger's advice and send a special Valentine wish to the two women in my life. First of all I would like to send a happy Valentine to the woman who has put up with my shenanigans for many years, my mother. Of course, it started around 47 years ago when I would not wait to see the world and she was forced to give birth in a tent frame in Ndilo in a cold month of February. Mr. Speaker, our mother has had to put up with a lot and did a lot things for me, from getting me out of bed to go to school, putting up with all mine and my brothers and sisters' endeavours, getting us ready for hockey, boxing, baseball, putting up with my teasing of my younger brothers and sisters. I would like to thank her and, of course, my dad for putting special emphasis on certain things like respect for elders, being honest, hard work, getting an education and many other things. I would also like to thank my
mother for making many fine traditional clothing for myself and my other brothers and sisters, such as slippers and this fine vest that I am wearing today.
Mr. Speaker, the other special woman in my life is my wife. I would also like to send Valentine wishes to her. She has also put up with me for many years, since shortly after high school. Through those years we have gone through lots, too many to get into here, of course, but most recently it was the building of our house. Many people told us if we could go through that without getting a divorce, we would probably be together for life. I am happy to say we are still together and we have moved in.