Lisa Matthewson

All the best for this next phase Doug! I hope it’s spectacular. Don’t be a stranger!

There are so many memories from the 34 years I’ve known you so far …

I’ve enjoyed many parties at your house with delicious food and great atmosphere. I remember in particular Nike’s defence party; somebody had a drum and was talking with it using tones.

Speaking of tones, I am grateful to have learnt from you about them. And about other phonology things. It was fun. Even though you gave me the lowest grades of my PhD career and I was a bit annoyed about that at the time. But I have forgiven you.

Thanks for hiring me at UBC! I remember talking to you from a phone booth in Dunedin, New Zealand during the Christmas holidays and asking you for a delay in coming so I could spend another year at U. Mass. I told you that if you agreed to the delay, I would accept the position and this would all be sorted. Isn’t it crazy that we used to talk using phone booths?

When Merlin was a baby and he was waking me up 10-12 times a night and I was like a zombie and a bit desperate, you and Anne-Marie came to visit and brought some much-needed smiles and joy.

I will never forget your constant help and support, and your wise advice, during the year I was Acting Head. Thank you for the large number of phone conversations that year. I could not have done it without you.

As a colleague you are the one who can always find a positive spin, who brings a grin, a chuckle and a twinkling eye. You’re also not afraid to speak hard truths. Your energy and your integrity have made the department a better place to work.

I appreciate and honour your passionate commitment to students from Africa and languages of Africa. You’ve transformed our department, our university, and our field with your advocacy and through your own inspirational work.

Most recently we became co-authors! That was really enjoyable.

Remembering these things has made me even sadder that you’re retiring. I’m really happy for you, though. You deserve every good thing and I wish you and your family all the best.