I have blogged about Mike Copeland before (See, "The Prince of Ottawa"), but photos that came up as memories conjured up more lovely moments with this wonderful man.
For a number of years, Mike would meet us at Mass every Sunday. He was always dressed to the back teeth and always smelled beautiful. After Mass, he would come to our place with our family for lunch; I suspect it was for the martinis he knew awaited. Nevermind, we loved having him. All this was before he descended into alcoholism and the streets.
Back then, he was such a gentleman and true friend. Even after he had to depart to live in a facility for hopeless drunks, what did he do? Why, he seduced the director of the home and had her eating out of his hand! Of course he did! As I have said, the ladies loved Mike.
One time, between husbands when I must have been crazy, drunk, reckless or desperate, I tried to seduce him. No dice. "Griffy (he always called me "Griffy"), that's a dumb idea because I never want to lose you as a friend. That would wreck everything." Of course, he was right. We stayed best buddies.
The last job he held, before the booze took him, was as bodyguard to Pierre Trudeau. He guarded the PM fiercely. The first thing we had to do when we were travelling, he told me, was to find the nearest Catholic church because the boss always went to Mass every morning. When the new Air Canada Centre opened in Montreal, B and Mike went to the ceremony and sat with Trudeau. After a while, Trudeau said he had to leave. Who escorted and walked him home? Mike, of course. "He's still the boss," he said.
Sadly, he ended his days at the Mission. They found him dead in a snowbank in the street. We still miss our wonderful, unique Mike.
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