For Mel and Taye

Hi, I'm Kristin -- my friend Mel called me Tally, Tallness, Tall One and sometimes Tallest of the Tall. She was the person who ignited my love of travel, taught me about resilience -- and is the only friend I have who could mysteriously get me ito any bar or exclusive event on the planet. She was deeply, sometimes mystifyingly capable and *actually* could light up a room with her transparent eyes and contagious laugh. She worked at the legendary Rose and Crown in Calgary for many years, and impacted everyone who worked with her -- and so many of the regulars and customers too.

Some words that have been used to describe Mel: huge hearted, tenacious, adventure driven. She was a force of nature in every sense, and though Mel could be provocative in her relentless determination and mind boggling resourcefulness in every kind of muck — one thing that was crystal clear and perfectly agreed by everyone who knew her: she loved her son Taye with every inch of her giant heart.

Taye is just 14, and will be forever heartbroken by the sudden loss of his beautiful Mom. Because they lived in recent years in Summerland outside of Calgary where most of Mel’s core friendships were born - Taye might not yet realize how beloved, rare, and important his Mom was to so many people from so many walks of life. Her death was sudden and a little will go a long way in providing stability and logistics paved for Mel's son who is by all accounts a kind, talented, beautiful reflection of all the best parts of Mel..

This fundraiser is to raise funds for Mel’s Mom Susan (aka Chicken, aka second Mom to dozens of us) for Mel’s memorial — and for Taye, who loves sports and will need the support and strength of the strong community of people who loved our Mel, Smelly, Melons for so many years. For too short a time.