Day 54 – The best days

It’s when the storm passes that I notice the beauty in the natural world.
It’s after a bad day when I notice just how amazing it is to be alive.

How beautiful it is to look up into the early evening sky.
I know that the golden rimmed clouds shine for all to see
but not everyone looks and of those who notice,
not everyone is able to perceive their beauty.

In this rare moment, when I am outside, blissfully alone,
I look up at the sky amid the calm after the storm and I know
the best days are yet to come.

Day 53 – I like corn

The photo is of our house on the left, and our neighbour’s house on the right. It’s there behind all those beautiful trees. They’ve grown substantially in the ten and a half years that we’ve been living here. We moved in a year or two after they did. When we first moved in Seldon was almost four and Savanna was seven.

Our neighbours were on their way out for a walk last night and we were sitting on the front porch enjoying a beverage, so they stopped for a chat. It was fun to reminisce about how things have changed over the last decade. This led to remembering a Seldon story, one that will be told at his wedding one day, if he ever marries.

One evening Glenn was working out in the yard and Seldon was outside playing. Glenn went to look for him and couldn’t find it so he starting calling out his name. After third and loudest shout, Seldon rounds the back corner of our neighbour’s house with corn all over his face. “What?”

“What were you doing?” Glenn asked.

“I was eatin’.” Seldon replied with tone that suggested that Glenn shouldn’t even be asking such a question.

“Eating? Where?” Glenn inquired.

“At my buddy Murray’s.” Seldon had taken a liking to Murray and whenever he’d see Murray out in the yard, he’d go talk to him. One day Murray was raking his grass and Seldon brought over his toy rake and helped. To this day, Seldon can converse with adults as well or better than his peers.

“SELDON! Come on, let’s go inside.”

We found out later that he walked up on their back deck while they were having supper and said, “I like corn!”

This is just one of the funny ‘Seldon stories’ that we’re saving for an opportune time.

Day 52 – One time, at band camp

What a week to have to cross the bridges in Fredericton. The camp didn’t start until 9:00, so getting there wasn’t really a big deal, but crossing over to the north side at 4:00PM wasn’t fun.

Seldon went to band camp at UNB this week. He’s been playing the trumpet now for four years. It was a small group, so he got lots of good practice and one-on-one attention. He says that he learned new things, not that I’d know the difference. He had an hour a day of what was called Masters Class. The class was about posture, breathing, and blowing. Apparently he was breathing and blowing into his trumpet all wrong.

Of the seven hours a day, they had two hours that they were not playing their instruments, lunch hour and an activity period. He came home Tuesday with a big patch of nasty road rash on the side of his leg from sliding on the hot artificial turf while playing soccer. Leave it to Seldon.

I’m really glad that Seldon has stuck with the trumpet and still enjoys playing in the band. I can see major improvements and playing in the school band really does enrich his educational experience. This afternoon we went to his final concert. They performed a bunch of classical songs and some chamber music, and one recognizable song. That’s the one I recorded. Watch and see if you can identify the tune.

 

Day 51 – Just a few more days

Here I am, three weeks before classes start, struggling to find a topic for my blog. How am I going to inspire students to write, write, write when I feel like I’m scraping the bottom of the barrel myself? Sometimes it feels SO narcissistic to constantly write about myself and on days like today it would just seem pathetic, not because I didn’t do anything, I did. It’s just the mundane stuff of my day isn’t worth writing about.

I briefly thought about writing about the shale gas debate and Premier David Alward’s The Speech video, but oy vey. Besides, a topic like that takes more energy and enthusiasm than I have right now.

I think, seeing as it has taken me almost 90 minutes to write just over a hundred words, it’s time for a nap. Maybe you could give me some good ideas for writing topics in the comments so we can avoid this Seinfeldish blog post about nothing in the future.

There are only 10 more days left of my blogging challenge. I’m looking forward to the end because I feel like I’m running out of ideas. I do love to write and will endeavor to continue to post to my blog more regularly than I did in the past. However, the 10 days I have left in my self-induced blogging challenge also represents the last 10 days of my summer. While I am looking forward to getting back into my classroom, I wish that summer was just a little bit longer. I’m sure it could be weeks or months longer than it is and I’d still wish for just a few more days.

 

Day 50 – Where to next year?

“It’s been my experience that you can nearly always enjoy things if you make up your mind firmly that you will.”
― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

I didn’t have to make up my mind to enjoy our trip to the PEI, it was a given. Three days with my mom, time to walk and talk, exploring the Green Gables property and the Anne of Green Gables Musical was a recipe for a successful trip. We enjoyed our time, right down to the drive home. During which, I changed both of our facebook profile photos. My aunt commented on mom’s, “Nice photo, lol.” Mom says she thinks ‘lol’ means lots of love. This led to me reading ‘when parents text’ aloud. We had a good laugh.

“Life is worth living as long as there’s a laugh in it.”
― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

I have to admit that my mom really surprised me. Most of you know that the last few years have been a bit difficult for her health wise and that she was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. When she picked me up to go, I asked her if she wanted me to drive. She didn’t, not right away anyhow. She ended up driving everywhere. Not only that, but over the course of a day and a half we walked at least 5 kilometers of trails. I was worried about her at first, but she enjoyed it just as much as I did. I hope that I have her energy and zest for life when I’m her age.

“She makes me love her and I like people who make me love them. It saves me so much trouble making myself love them.”
― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

On our walk yesterday, mom turned to me and asked, “So where are we going to go next year?” We haven’t decided yet, but we know it won’t be a shopping trip. The only way it could come close to an equal experience as seeing our beloved Anne would be going to Stratford-Upon-Avon or to Amsterdam to see the Anne Frank house or something. If anyone has a good idea, we’d love to hear it.

“I’ve had a splendid time,” she concluded happily, “and I feel that it marks an epoch in my life. But the best of it all was the coming home.”  ― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

Day 49 – An Anne with an ‘e’ excursion

We started our day today with a trip to the Anne of Green Gables house in Cavendish. Did you know that in 2004 it was designated as a National Historic Site and is operated by Parks Canada? I didn’t until today. That was not the case the last time that we made this trip. I was twelve and it was with the men in our family and I’m sure they were less than patient. Today we spent a few hours on the property which included a barn, cafe, two separate hiking trails and the Anne of Green Gables house. Thirty years ago, it was only the house.

After we bought our tickets, we went into a small theatre to watch a seven minute film outlining the history of the property and L.M. Montgomery, the author. Think low-budget Disney-esque. It was quaint. Then we hiked through the Haunted Wood that you access through the backyard of the house. It was completely charming and not the least bit haunted. We stopped for a few photo opportunities along the way. Then, we hiked the 1.2 km trail and ended up back in the spot we started. The house itself was like any late 19th early 20th century home. It gave me the feeling that I was touring a home at King’s Landing.

We ate lunch at Green Gables. We sat in the sun with a chicken salad sandwich from the Butter Churn Cafe. Then we hiked a second wooded trail on the property, which included lovers’ lane. With different, and a whole lot less, company I’m sure it would have been quite romantic. Either way it was part of a fantastic day full of new memories made with my mother. Then we went down the road to the site of the author’s ruined homestead. My mother and I both expected to tour the L.M. Montgomery home, but it was nothing but the ruins, a roped off rock foundation.

It was mid-afternoon as we headed back toward Charlottetown. We stopped at The Prince Edward Island Preserve Company so I could buy water at their take-out window. First we went inside the store. It reminded me a lot of Stonewall Kitchen, only smaller. You could watch, looking down from a large plexiglass window as they were making the preserves. As we started to browse I realized that this was the company that Glenn and I had bought some cherry salsa from back in the fall at a craft market in Fredericton. Mom and I both bought a jar.

Once back in Charlottetown, we parked down by the wharf, then walked back up the hill a couple of blocks to St. Dunstan’s Basilica. I just love exploring old churches. Mom was skeptical, but I think the experience won her over. She won’t admit it though. Then we went back down by the waterfront where the free 70 Day Festival was going on to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the 1864 Charlottetown Conference. Today and tomorrow the Mi’kmaq First Nations were having their Pow Wow there. We strolled through, enjoying the drumming, singing and dancing.

This evening we had a great meal at The Gahan House before going to the Confederation Centre of the Arts to see Anne of Green Gables. The show was fabulous. I couldn’t have asked for a better day to spend with mom. I think it is safe to say my mother and I are kindred spirits!

Day 48 – Road trip with Mama

Today mom and I travelled to Charlottetown. Getting here was half the fun. It is the longest time we’ve spent alone, just the two of us in years. There was lots to talk about. We reminisced.

After we checked into the hotel we went exploring. We decided to walk along the boardwalk, which starts just four short blocks from our hotel. We walked the entire length of the 1.2 kilometer wooden boardwalk that runs along the water. I stopped along the way to take the above panorama. The way the coastline runs, you can’t see much of the boardwalk at once because of its twists and turn. It seemed like forever to get to the end, but when we turned around and walked back we both commented that it seemed so much shorter. It was the perfect, breezy late summer day to stroll along the water. We passed lots of other tourists and a few runners along the way.

Before supper we walked around the down town area for a bit and went in a few stores and looked at a few menus. After getting recommendations from three separate sources, we decided to dine at The Merchantman on Queen Street. What a neat spot with great atmosphere. It was a good place for a quiet dinner and conversation. I’d definitely return (and order something other than what I had.) After supper we walked back to our hotel, stopping at Cows for a small cone of ice cream along the way.

As I read back over my account of the day, I’m struck by how utterly ordinary it seems for a day spent travelling. What you cannot know by reading this is how this day will be engraved in my memory for a very long time. This trip is allowing me to realize something. Although we don’t have to get away from home to spend time together, getting away from everyone else and the comforts of home forces us to spend more quality time together. It’s one-on-one time that we rarely get in such quantity. I have so much to be grateful about, and I am.

 

Day 47 – Late night ferry ride

Getting to Belleisle Bay yesterday meant we had to take two different car ferries. Neither Sadie nor Seldon enjoy ferries, but they did okay. I was the only one to get out of the car. On the way there, once we got off the Evandale ferry, `the drive through the countryside was just beautiful; on the way back it was a bit scary. The road was narrow, winding, bumpy and there were no lines and no lights. However, the ferry ride back in dark was nice. It was neat to watch our GPS system show our car crossing the water at the rate of 13 km/hr.

When you have three seniors, two middle-aged parents and a 15 year-old in a car for a road trip, there’s always an interesting story to tell. Here’s a fairly accurate account of our Evandale ferry crossing last night at 10:30PM.

“We just missed it,” I commented as the ferry pulled away. Everyone was tired, sitting in the dark car wearing our blue and red glow necklaces, remnants of the party we had just left.

Dad asked from the backseat, “Did you pull up too far? I’m not sure they’ll get around you.”

“I think I’m fine,” Glenn said loud enough for me, but not Dad, to hear.

Then we noticed a group of people waiting to walk on the ferry. “I didn’t know you could walk on the Evandale ferry.” I said to anyone in the car who is listening. “Look, that guy has a Tim Horton’s cup. I wonder where there’s a Tim Hortons in the middle of nowhere.”

“Where would they be coming from?” someone asked from the back seat.

“Who knows? It’s just a bunch of kids having a good time.” I said as I noticed that everyone was holding a drink and they all seemed to be leaning on one another for support. It’s clear that they were feeling no pain.

“They aren’t kids,” Glenn said, “That guy in the red hoodie has grey hair.”

We were the only car waiting to get on the ferry, six of us in the car. There were at least six people waiting to walk on.

Before long, the ferry was back. “Don’t go yet, wait for the signal,” I reminded Glenn as I felt his ‘I’ve got this covered’ look across the darkness of the front seat. Poor Glenn had to contend with unfamiliar dark country roads and five too familiar backseat drivers.

We pulled all the way up to the front of the ferry and it started to cross the river almost before we got the vehicle in park. The group who had walked on the ferry met up with three more women who were curiously already on the ferry. Why they were just riding the ferry? I wondered aloud, “Is that a thing? Do people just ride the Evandale ferry for fun?” 

We were almost to the other side when Glenn suggested, “We should give them our glow necklaces.”

“That’s a great idea,” I said as I started to collect them.

“Hurry up,” Glenn said, “the ferry is going to dock soon.”

I rolled the window down and held them out. “You look like you need these more than we do.” I shouted out the window, interrupting their rowdy celebration.

Everyone in the group turned to look at the car and it took them a minute to catch on to what I was saying. “Are you sure?” the youngest female of the group asked as she walked over to take them.

“Yes! We’re just going home to bed.” I assured her as she took them from me.

“Thank-you!” she yelled over her shoulder as she walked back and started handing them out to the others.

“Thank-you!” several people in the group repeated as I rolled up the window. As Glenn started the car, we returned several waves and thumbs up.

They were thrilled to get our glow stick necklaces and we had fun seeing how much fun they were having.

We had a fantastic day and it was fun to end it on such a high note.

Day 46 – Dave and Bea

Today was dedicated to celebrating my dad’s cousin’s 50th Wedding Anniversary. I’ve been looking forward to this day since we got the invitation a couple of months ago! They renewed their vows at a quaint community Baptist church. We had a BBQ at the church afterward, then went back to their house on the Belleisle Bay for a bonfire and fireworks.

 There was a memory book floating around. We were supposed to write our memories of our times spent with the happy couple. I saw it once and then it was gone. Bea said she reads my blog sometimes, so I thought I’d write my memory here and let them print it and put it into the book.

I have many fond memories of summers with the Hoyts at Lake George. My grandparents cottage was where I remember spending every summer of life until I was 12. When I was in the second grade, the Hoyts moved back to Marysville, and Cathy was in my class at school. Sometime soon after they moved back, they bought the cottage at Lake George next to my grandparents cottage. I remember spending time with Cathy, Trudi and Stephanie Kitchen. We’d swim in the lake, jump off the raft, canoe and catch frogs. We’d play cards and colour and hang out in the tent trailer behind the Hoyts cottage listening to the sound of the rain on the canvas roof. We’d walk barefoot to Joyce’s Canteen along the road to Harvey and buy penny candy and freezies.

I remember when Candy was getting ready to go to the Peace Corps. I remember cheering her on the summer she swam across the lake. I remember having our own Sunday School at the Hoyts cottage. We’d invite people from neighbouring cottages. Eventually the Hoyts sold their cottage at Lake George and built one at Beulah. Soon after, my parents bought their cottage at Beulah and then we were teenagers. I remember many late night games of rook around the kitchen table. You could always find someone who was up for a game of cards at the Hoyts house. There are so many good memories of summers spent with the Hoyts and today we made another good memory. Happy anniversary Dave & Bea!

Thank you for your hospitality today. It was such an enjoyable day and we really had fun celebrating with you!

Day 45 – Please stop the suffering

It feels petty to write about what I had planned (the pottery I bought last weekend) in the light of the life and death situation going on overseas. This morning, my friend Jillian posted the following status update on facebook and I’ve been thinking about it ever since:
My heart is heavy as I realize in the same world where I worry about if the sun is shining, when school starts, what’s for supper, my brothers and sisters in Russia, Ukraine, Iraq, Syria, Africa are fighting for their lives on so many levels. My prayers are with these and Lord, remove the scales from my eyes so my situations don’t blind me from the world we live in. I’m thankful for where I live, but that thankfulness should only serve to drive me to my knees even harder.
I am so thankful to have friends with such tender and socially responsible hearts. I couldn’t stop thinking about it because I wholeheartedly agree, but also am left with an overwhelming sense that there is something I should or could be doing that I’m not, but what?

Whether or not you’re a praying person, I’m going to tell you why prayer is vital. When when you pray, you keep that situation you are praying about in the forefront of your mind. Even if you don’t know what you could do besides pray, you are open. If you bury your head in the sand or simply watch the news, shake your head and say “How awful,” then turn the television off and go on to the next thing, you are less likely to realize what it is you can do when faced with it.

Even though I feel helpless to do much, I will stay informed, not only relying on mainstream media. I will promote peace and acceptance of all in my corner of the world. I will pray for health, healing, safety and security for those who are suffering. I will become more active in the politics of my own country, doing what I can to make sure my children and their children don’t suffer from these atrocities that could potentially be prevented.