The Squamidian Report – Aug. 14 / 04
For the ‘ON LINE’ version of this newsletter, go to:
http://www.members.shaw.ca/doug_b2/report.htm
Also in this issue:
Nova Scotia Get-Together
The Ontarion
Hi All,
Done with Whistler. Finally. My last day commuting up to that place of arrogance and opulence was Tuesday. I sure won’t miss it or the drive. The morning drive wasn’t so bad but the drive home was hell. It was a mix of grumpy workers like me that just wanted to get home and gawking tourists that just wanted to wander all over the road. It was a mix of people who wanted to drive at 115 km and those who wanted to drive at 50 km. We are now working on a project here in town where we are installing the underground services for a new subdivision. This job site is only 5 minutes from home.
And hoe-key-toot, is it hot here again! The whole week has been one long sunny sizzle with no relief in sight. In fact, last evening at just past 7 it was still about 36C, which is around 97F on our deck. And we are up above the valley floor where it gets hotter. The saving grace is that there is no humidity here. Unlike many other parts of the country where the humidity will make a 30 degree day feel like it’s over 40, here a 30 degree day feels like 30 degrees. And at night it will cool right down to the low teens so it is survivable.
*
For all you who are interested in wild life, there was a cougar sighted in Brackendale this week. Brackendale is part of the ‘greater Squamish area’ the same way our Garibaldi Highlands are. While it is very common to see bears around here, cougars are not so easy to see. There are lots of them but they tend to be much more illusive and stealthy. Every summer we have the occasional family pet taken by one. There have even been cases where a cougar has taken a small dog as the owner was walking it on its leash. That would be scary.
*
Sue had a strange one this week. She was doing a ‘local’ audit in North Van so that meant she was driving home each evening. One evening she found herself behind an out of province car that was heading up the Sea to Sky highway. This car was putting along at half the speed everyone else wanted to travel and was weaving all over the road. As Sue watched the vehicle she realized that the drive was taking pictures out the window. This is a dangerous, unforgiving and challenging highway to drive at the best of times. She could not believe that anyone could be that stupid and careless. And to make it worse, when they got to the next passing lane area this driver floored it, rather than let the long line of steaming drivers behind get by.
It is easy to see where road rage comes from. I have never see Sue so angry and frustrated in my life. If she could have gotten hold of this nut she would have strangled her. She still might if she ever finds out who this person is. So if any of you living back in our old home province run into someone who is showing off pictures of Howe Sound that they took while drive at the same time, perhaps steering with their knees or elbows, strangle her for Sue. She will thank you. Ironically, that person did not bother to stop at any of the pull-offs that are made for picture taking tourist.
Don’t get me wrong; I have nothing against most of the tourist, just the idiots. We were tourists here many times ourselves. Tourism is the lifeblood of areas like this. Most you don’t even notice, but that small percentage that have no sense of what they are doing or what is happening around them are dangerous and should be put out of our misery.
*
And lastly, I managed to see a few of the meteors this week. I woke up one night about 2AM and simply looked out my window. It faces north and the Milky Way, Big Dipper and all the usual northern view stars are nice and bright. There were some nice meteor streaks across the sky as well as the usual satellites. Makes me wish I could sit out on the deck all night and just star gaze.
****
In July Ed & I, along with siblings and spouses, traveled to Nova Scotia to visit with our brother Howard. A family reunion was long overdue since we hadn’t been together for about 9 years. We called it a 70’s gathering since, for a short while this year, the five of us have all reached our 7th decade. Our mom was very busy having 5 children in less then 10 years. It, somehow, was easier for the 8 of us to travel to N.S. to visit Howard then to coax him to come back to Kitchener for a visit. Boy! We’re sure not getting any younger! Fortunately we all enjoy reasonably decent health, except for our aches and pains and the many foibles that time and nature has descended upon us.. As an example; this write-up would have been about 2 weeks earlier except Ed and I came down with a lung infection 2 days after arriving back home. We have been doctoring on antibiotics, feeling like hell.
Oh well, back to the good times! Wayne (youngest brother) and his wife Sylvia had left a few days before us motoring through the States to visit friends. On July 8th Sharon, our daughter, dutifully drove the rest of us in her van down to Hamilton airport. Russell (next youngest brother) was so comfortable he suggested that Sharon should just keep driving the 6 of us all the way to Nova Scotia. The day was sunny and the trip smooth. Ed and I had the front row seats of the plane, almost like first class, I think, having never had the opportunity to travel in that mode. When we arrived in Halifax the rain started. We got our directions mixed up somehow and ended up taking the scenic route in the pouring rain.
Russell, Barb (his wife), Lorne, Vivyan, Ed and I stayed with Susie & Peter (whom the Squamidian readers know from the Nova Scotia news Sus some times gives us). Despite their busy schedule, they tolerated this invasion of their territory. Wayne & Sylvia stayed with Howard, only a short walk through a woodlot from Sus & Peter’s home. Chris (Ward’s son and nephew to Wildwood Warren & Sus, & Howard’s grandson) was on holidays so he took the opportunity to come home. He is a chef in Banff. He seemed to enjoy cooking many times for us on the huge stone barbeque situated in the woodlot. Howard built the barbeque many years ago. It is somewhat ingenious. In these days of propane barbequing, where you push a button and use your automatic lighter, suddenly – WOOSH! You tend to forget that a wood burning fire, at exactly the right temperature to do your cooking, is getting to be a lost art. The first day we were treated to Salmon Steaks, mushrooms and brochettes.
Next day, we visited Ward & Mae’s home and enjoyed a lobster dinner, steamed outdoors in a cast iron pot. The kettle was hung from a tee-pee or crossbar. There home is unique. No hydro, except for a small solar panel, no running water but a pump is situated in the kitchen area. I could go on describing their home but it would be a report in itself. They built it completely themselves and it would be considered primitive by many of today’s standards. Actually it is comfy, roomy, with many innovative ideas that seem to work for them. As a thunderstorm was approaching we moved indoors for the evening. Wayne, Ward & Ward’s friend Bob sang and played guitars. I hadn’t heard Wayne play guitar in years but he still has the touch for the instrument. Ward’s voice is better then most professional country performers. We sat around in a circle with 3 lanterns and lightening providing the ambience for a very enjoyable evening.
It rained the next 2 days so they were spent mostly indoors. We played board and card games, having an old fashioned good time. Taught Wayne and Sylvia how to play “Oh Hell” – a favourite game of our uncle Willard. Sometimes as we sat around kibitzing, playing cards, etc. the men folk sounded like young boys again. Zane, Susie & Peter’s “little brother” joined us in the games. At 14 I wonder what he thought of us “old fogies”.
Russell & Barb took off for an overnight trip to P.E.I. on the Monday. Lorne, Vivyan, Susie, Ed & I went over to P.E.I. for the day. Guess what! There is sunshine in the Maritimes occasionally. Eight years ago, on a 6-week camping trip to the east coast we had seen the Confederation Bridge under construction. We were on the ferry and came very close to the building activity. We enjoyed our day in Charlottetown, travelling the Sunshine trail. We passed through little towns; saw several sheep farms, surprised to see a lot of Canola growing in the fields. As we drove along we spotted a car museum. We enjoyed seeing the old restored cars and remembered many of the models from when they were first manufactured. Lorne actually remembered driving a few of them. There was a lot of old farm machinery too. Vivyan and I didn’t like the sign, readily displayed, claiming that a lot of this machinery was so easy to run, all it took was “wife power”. We pictured some poor farm woman guiding the plough, carrying a child on her hip and probably ready to give birth to another wee one. We walked through a “time machine” museum; a narrative about the confederation. It was an interesting “refresher” course on the founding of our country. Took the ferry back to Pictou, it had stayed clear and sunny the whole day.
Wow, another day of sunshine, perfect day for sailing. Lorne, Ed and I sailed on Peter’s boat for a few hours with dolphins following behind us. Tried to take pictures of them but they moved so quickly that we didn’t succeed. Peter has started a business taking passengers out for a few hours of enjoyable sailing. This summer’s rainy weather has put “a damper” on the business. We again enjoyed a seafood barbeque with a “hootenanny” in the woodlot. Chris was headed for home early the next morning. It was so good to see him again. Last time we had seen him he was 19 and now he is 29. Hope it won’t be another 10 years before we see him again.
Barb, Russell, Vivyan, Ed and I visited the Crombie Estate. It belongs to the Sobey Family. Their food business began in this area. Ward and Mae had done work on the property, clearing trails, planting shrubs & perennials around the vast grounds. The landscaping was quite beautiful, overlooking the causeway and the bay The house tour took about 45 minutes displaying a wonderful collection of art, including the Group of Seven, Emily Carr and many other Canadian artists. That evening Ed was the chef. He used his expertise to grill steaks to perfection. Hugh Cameron had been working in New Glasgow and was heading for Antigunish the next day to judge some Highland Games. I’m sure he enjoyed the “goings on” too. We said our good-byes as most of us were heading home the next day.
We drove to the airport in heavy rain and fog but we all agreed that it had been a very successful week. I have never seen Howard with such a broad grin on his face. Many times during the week he kept saying “I think I’m dreaming”. So in all it turned out to be a wonderful time, a lot of fun, with teasing and reminiscing. Sometimes as I was glancing around at everyone I felt that we were kids again. I know that all of us were thankful and grateful that we had this special time together. Ed and I stayed down East another week, traveling and visiting a cousin in Sydney and joining his sister in Yarmouth.
****
THE ONTARION REPORT
August 14, 2004
Hello my fellow
Squamidian’s!
It’s been a mixed bag of thoughts that have been
going through my head this week, everything from the weather changes that the
world is experiencing these past few years to the Olympics being held in their
original surroundings! Not being an historian I know little of the workings of
the Olympics but I do know this, the first Olympic games were held in Greece in
776 BC in the city of Olympia. It is interesting to note that the Olympic Games
of 2004 are now in full swing in their original home but somehow, I can’t help
feeling totally removed from the whole process this time. I guess it’s because
of the great distance we are from the venue. Not being a sports enthusiast
myself, I’ve always taken some interest in the Olympics but this year I just
can’t bring myself to make an effort to find the channel. I guess they’ll have
to get by without my audience participation. I figure I pay for at least one
Canadian athlete’s trip to the Olympics by purchasing Petro-Canada gas. Ya
can’t say I’m not patriotic now can ya!
*************
I received an e-mail from a friend this week that
I’d like to share with all of you. It has to do with LIFE and it’s eventual
end. Check this out and I’m sure you’ll all feel as I do that it’s unfortunate
that we all can’t or won’t be able to finish our journey in this manner. Here
it is!
LIFE’S MISSION
LIFE’S MISSION IS
NOT TO ARRIVE AT THE GRAVE SAFELY IN A WELL PRESERVED BODY, BUT RATHER TO SKID
IN SIDEWAYS, TOTALLY WORN OUT,
SHOUTING….
“HOLY
SHIT”…..”WHAT A RIDE”!
Author Unknown.
Although few of us ever experience excitement and
thrills on a daily basis, I do believe that we all have the right to claim a
special ride of our own with respect to life. I know we can’t all be Sir Edmund
Hillary or John Lennon or Bill Gates but each of us in his or her own special
way has achieved success just by making it as far as we have in life. If you
have lived a decent honest and relatively moral life, you have been successful
in your mission. Just the miracle of life itself is something to have
experienced! The younger members of our Squamidian group will in the years to
come affect the lives of people around them as the more mature members already
have. Hopefully in a positive way! The love and caring shown in the togetherness
and support the Brubacher Clan displays is proof that success and the thrill of
“Life’s Ride” are not evident only by the amount of fame one achieves or the
bundle of cash one accumulates but also in the loyalty of one’s family members
and loved ones. I congratulate you all for staying true to your roots and being
members of what I call a “real family”.
**************
Every week I sit at this keyboard and wonder what’s
going to come out of my fingers. I never know until I read the final draft and
this week is no exception. How the heck did I get from the Olympics to the
Brubacher Clan? You certainly aren’t of Greek extraction! Oh well, I guess
we’re all connected somewhere down the line.
**************
To change the subject a little, we are in need of a
rebuild on our chimney. The clay bricks that this house was built with back in
the late 70’s are starting to fall apart. I guess the water settles into the
bricks and when it freezes, the faces of the brick pops off. From the roof
level up has seen it’s last winter I think. I had an acquaintance of mine from
the late 60’s drop over last week to give me an estimate on rebuilding the
chimney. He told me that he can shorten the chimney by about 2 feet since it’s
no longer used for wood burning. We now have a natural gas fireplace that is
vented through this structure. While talking to this individual I asked where
he’d been for the past 35 years and he told me that he moved to BC in 69. He
told much the same story of weather, surroundings and economy that Doug has
enlightened us with. When I asked why he returned to Kitchener, he said he had
the opportunity to purchase his great grandfather’s original house on Courtland
Ave. His great grandfather had built it by hand back in 1885 and Harold wanted
to keep it in the family. It occurred to me that someone in the Squamidian
group may know this guy since he is an original KW-ite and lived in the Eastern
end of the city. His name is Harold Assmussen. Of course that family name is
synonymous with the construction trades in this area and Harold is no
exception. He is a brick layer by trade.
He hasn’t gotten back to me with a price for the
work yet but we’ll soon see if our relationship of 35 years ago (we used to go
hunting groundhogs in the Forest Heights area) will have any affect on the
quote. Hopefully he’ll be gentle! Anyway, I just thought I’d throw a little
nostalgia in for thought this week. Now that I’ve said all this, none of you
probably know this guy but it was worth a try. It’s a small world and I just thought
his name might ring a bell.
It’s time to let you all go for this week so I’ll
say goodbye for now. Talk to you all again next week and thanks for tuning in!
GREG.
PS: Something to
Think About>
Be nice to people
on your way up, you may meet them again on your way down!
PPS: Carole and I
join Carol in wishing Karin a “Happy 40th Birthday”!
****
For low speed dial-up connections, just the basics:
http://members.shaw.ca/doug_b2/
For high-speed connections, a little more fancy:
http://members.shaw.ca/doug_b/
Please submit any articles that you may wish included in a given weeks Squamidian by 9 PM Fridays evening EST to give me time to assemble the issue.
Have a good one..
the
doug