I am blessed to be included in this Thanksgiving Day and Dinner, my brother, Ron, and sister - in - law, Adell, created in their Hay Bay home. They’ve been living here now a single year.
Canada’s thanksgiving has been a national holiday since 1879. In 1957 a proclamation stated that Thanksgiving was to be “A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest for which Canada has been blessed.” Thank you Almighty God. Thank you Canada. Apparently the first celebration of thanksgiving in Canada was in 1579 by Martin Frobisher when searching for the Northwest Passage.
My nephew Allan was here. We’d gone for hair cuts in honour of the occasion. But mostly because both of us seem so busy that we rarely have time for things like haircuts. He’s a psychologist and I’m a psychiatrist. We have a lot to talk about.
Velma and Melvin are Adell’s closest relatives here, both retired, one a former librarian and the other formerly with child protection services. I like them a lot. Educated intelligent ladies with lots of wisdom and that challenging Christian pleasant politeness and good manners. They remind me a lot of my beloved deceased Aunt Sally, my favourite Baptist Bible.
My nephew Graeme arrived with Elysse. Graeme is a chemical engineer now working in a nuclear energy plant. He’s also a photographer, moving maker and astronomer. Thanks to his telescope I’d get to see a close up view of Andromeda. Pretty exciting stuff for an old guy who grew up on Space flights, Star Trek, Dr. Who and NASA. Ellysse is a teacher. My sister in law Adell taught but retired a Principal. Allan was marking psychology papers this weekend. There was considerable talk of school related topics.
My nephew Andrew arrived with his wife Tanya. Andrew is now working on his masters and Tanya is doing advanced computer studies. It only seems yesterday that I was at their wedding wearing a Hunting Hay Tartan Kilt.
Gilbert and Eva had a marvellously exciting little dog bark fest and jump up and down a lot time as each visitor arrived.
Ron played guitar some. The young people played a couple of card games. Adell and the ladies ‘worked’ in the kitchen on an off. Melvin and Velma and I had some good books on the go. We discussed politics. We had a lot of negative things to say collectively about the Niqab and face coverings in Canada. No one liked the Troudeau pot smoking platform but some liked the Liberal Party. The NDP and Conservative pros and cons were laid out. One of my nephews wasn’t too keen on Canadian military spending. Quebec corruption was a topic. Aboriginal chiefs million and welfare fraud upset people. Everyone in the family is hard working. Everyone is going to vote. Mostly people were voting in self defence.
Adell’s Thanksgiving dinner was magnificent. Velma’s grace was a great prayer of thanksgiving. With Ron well I was fairly ecstatic. We had a close call earlier this year and every visit I find him healthier and well. It’s a miracle really. I’m so thankful tor the time we have together as a family. His children are so amazing. His wife is a joy. He started learning guitar a short while ago. Now with each visit he’s progresses light years. That’s my brother. If he puts his mind to something he succeeds. He had Allan and I digging dirt for him. Now that’s another miracle. Both Allan and I are desk jockeys but there we were slinging dirt in the wheel barrel.
I love the turkey. We had Elizabeth and Phil’s BC Cranberries too. We’d been to the Bath Market and I got pickled beets which always remind me of my Mother who always made these. I didn’t particularly like them as a kid but because of her and my fond memories of her I’ve grown to love them today.
Showing posts with label Ron and Adell. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ron and Adell. Show all posts
Thursday, October 29, 2015
Monday, October 20, 2014
Hay Bay Home
My brother, Ron and Sister in Law, Adell have bought a second home near Nappanee on Hay Bay. I confess, I love that family are living on a place called Hay Bay. Driving through the Ontario country side with fall colours of red and orange and yellow we see a sign Hay Bay Women’s Society. I don’t think it’s narcissism to appreciate the location by name but a sense of deep belonging. Next year I’m hoping to get back to Scotland to the Aberdeen area from whence grandad came, where a Hay is apparently a dime a dozen. One of my brother’s realtors was a Hay too. Makes it feel all sort of right in an odd way.
Last time I was here I was attending my nephew Andrew and his bride Tanya’s wedding at the Canada Club wearing the blue Hay Hunting kilt.
When I flew into Ottawa to attend the Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine Conference my brother met me and Gilbert my cockapoo at the Ottawa Airport. Great to be with family. Nephew Allan , just completed undergrad psychology waiting to begin masters program. Over delicious Italian at Poccopazzo family owned restaurant I got to catch up on the latest doings of chemical engineer movie making nephew Graeme and geologist nephew Andrew and his beautiful publisher wife Tanya. Graeme’s horror movie Ragnarock Cabin has opening to coincide with Halloween this year. Tanya and Andrew were on a pumpkin hunt in preparation for a Halloween party. It all seems so civilized. I feel like I’ve descended from alien planet out in the wild west when I come home to this happy normalcy. My brother and sister in law are both retired so we no longer commiserate over the challenges of work with all it’s attendant frustrations. My stories only serve to remind them of their past. Ron continues his investing from home while I’ve never seen my high school principal Adell not bustling about with home making. Her primary student this visit is Eva, Allan’s little brown Chewy the wooky looking cockapoo.
Having just bought another house, all the talk is about landscaping and decorating. They’d just moved the weekend before. When my conference finished Adell and Allan picked me up with Gilbert already on board and we drove the two hours from the city to their new rural retreat. I loved seeing the quaint hobby farms along the river. The red barns of Ontario are so picturesque with the red leaves of autumn sumac. Cattle and horses were interspersed with hay fields and corn. Graeme and Andrew have seen deer in the forest on the way here. Adell pointed to the white swans in the marsh nearby.
The house isn’t visible from the road. Nearly 5 acres of waterfront. Down a short road between spruce and pine is the garage at the first level. The roof of the large two level home sits next to the parking at the lower level. We entered through the great veranda on the second floor. “I hope to screen this all in next year, “ Adell said as she showed me the upper rooms, a regular Marriott guest suite where I’d be staying. Bamboo hardwood floors throughout the upper guest area. Down the bamboo stairs is the music room. Adell sings soprano with several choirs still. When I told her about attending Carmen recently she said, “I love singing opera but don’t much like attending it anymore.” I’ll always remember her as the beautiful young girl solo in the church whose voice touched the heavens. Ron’s veritable collection of guitars was in the music room. The great living room had a heated cement floor and large fireplace. Dining room and kitchen were part of the pattern with the glass panel doorway looking out on the huge expanse of front yard opening onto the lake. From there I saw Gilbert and Eva running wide circles about the property at breakneck cockapoo speed. Everything is large, large walk in pantry, large cupboards. “There’s no basement ,” said Adell . Of course that explains the need for the storage spaces. Ron has a couple of sheds in addition to his garage. The master suite is beyond the large two person whirlpool tub. It has lots of walk in cupboards and another elegant bathroom. It opens onto a a patio where no doubt the Lord and Lady of the house can take afternoon tea and contemplate their apple tree orchard.
Allan and I bought day fishing licenses at the Napanee Canadian Tire. With Ron’s kevlar canoe and fishing gear, fishing rods, an Adell packed picnic and Gilbert in a life jacket in the middle of the boat, Allan and I, like countless coer de bois before us, set out on the great fishing adventure. Ron had taken a break from driving his tractor pulling his rotor tiller through his planned potato garden to push out his wheeled aluminum Fendock. We pushed off from shore before he figured how to lay down the wood flooring.
Allan paddled in the bow while I j stroked in the stern. For a guy who at his age was white water canoeing the Winnipeg River, I couldn’t recall the last time I’d paddled. The technique is never lost but the muscles sure weren’t happy. Neighbours further along the shore waved and spoke to us as we passed. They were all out doing yard work, burning leaves in fires, chatting on lakeside decks.
“How far are we going, Allen?"
“Getting tired already, Uncle,”
“No just wondering,” I lied.
“There’s a marsh a long the shore up ahead, where mom sees the swans,"
At last we stopped paddling and Allan put a Canadian Wiggler on my line. I began casting. “This was dad’s favourite lure, “ I told him and then went on to tell about Dad taking Ron and I fishing in Northern Saskatchewan, catching pickerel and cooking the fillets over a driftwood fire on the shore. We casted either side only once tangling lines and the wind pushed us along the outside of marsh. Allan told me about his research interests in early child education. He’d applied for research grants and was waiting to hear.
When the wind picked up and it looked like we’d be blown too far away we paddled back into the lee of the point coming aground in the weeds.
“My hands are freezing from the water, “ said Allen.
“I put my gloves on an hour ago,” I said.
Gilbert was sleeping in the middle of the boat. I was enjoying the cup of thermos coffee and sandwich Adell had packed. A flock of Canada Geese rose up from the marsh and flew back to Vancouver British Columbia. That’s where all the Canada Geese from all over the world congregate for seminars on how to avoid being shot by hunters in the rest of Canada.
We talked some more. Allan changed my lure from the Canadian wiggler to the Red Devil. "I always catch a jack whenever I fish with a red devil,” i told him then cast. Immediately a large fish caught the hook and tugged. I watched the disturbance on the surface. “I’ve caught one, “ i shouted. “It’s just a rock,” Allan said. Gilbert rose to the excitement.
Sure enough I pulled in a large northern pike alongside the canoe shouting at Allan to get the net. Untangling the net from Gilbert’s feet doing twisting pretzel contortions behind him Allan had the net and put it under the fish. “It’s too big for the net,” he said. He couldn’t get it under the body but the head and hook got caught in the top of the net. Gilbert was looking the fish right in it’s glassy eyes threatening to jump overboard then suddenly the hook was free in the net and the fish was lying across the opening.. “Quck grab the gils, “ I said.
“I’m not putting my fingers near those teeth, “ said Allen as Gilbert whined and the fished impatient took a massive flick of it’s whale sized tail to Jonah into the reaches of Hay Bay.
“I wanted to eat that fish. “ I said to Allen, “I never knew you were a catch and release sort of Eastern guy.”
“You didn’t pull it up beside me where I could get the net under it. I should have just used the camera to show it wasn’t all that big.”
“Admit it, you’re too weak to lift such a mighty fish."
With all that excitement and all following casts catching weeds we paddled back to the dock. Ron had again left his tractor and rotor tilling to stand on his now decked dock with Eva waiting for the return of the Canadian couer de bois. Eva and Gilbert were ecstatic with the reunion and yet another excuse to run wild circles all over the property. Exhausted I collapsed in Ron’s great leather chair and watched pink finch and blue jays avail themselves of the feeder outside the main window. I love looking out on the lake between the wedge of forest. Every once in a while Ron came by on his mini orange Scots by John Deere tractor to deposit wood by the door. Allan collected it and stacked it by the fireplace. I enjoyed the warmth while Adell made a roast beef dinner which we all enjoyed later at the dining table.
That night we drove to Kingston a half hour or so away to watch Judge the movie my friend Dr. George Chalmers emailed a recommendations for. We both love Robert Downey Jr and Duvall. Their performances in this incredible drama of family and small town America should get Downey at least an Oscar. It was incredible acting that had me in tears at one point. My brother took care of my elderly father at times and the compassion the movie showed of son caring for dying father was very much like the sensitivity that had been shown in On Golden Pond.
Back home Adell handed me pumpkin pie for a snack,. After that I collapsed in bed with Gilbert the cockapoo climbing up to lie on a pillow beside my head. This morning it’s raining. Adell made us all bacon and eggs.
Next Ron called out that we’re all going for a drive in the country side. Adell and he were discussing earlier that they’d not explored their neighbour hood and wanted to see what’s on the other side of the lake. By the time I caught up with the plans Ron was in the Suburu with Allan, Gilbert and Eva. Adell was waiting to lock the door behind me as I slipped on my shoes. There was a drizzling Vancouver rain till we got to a ferry which took us across to higher land. There we drove up to Lake on a Mountain where the dogs had a jolly time on leash exploring this ancient mysterious lake. What they call here a mountain though wouldn’t cut muster in BC. There was a great view of the waterways and I saw where Lake Ontario became the Reach.
Picton was the town and harbour we landed in. A quaint little place with old stone houses here and there with the red brick two stories. Pretty little tourist site. We drove on from there to Desronto in the Mohawk territory then on to Napanee, the little town I really liked. It’s 20 minutes from their home but we’d gone all around the backside of Hay Bay to get there from the other side. We stopped for burgers and fries at Shoeless Joe’s Napanee. Great food and great service. Ron and Allan were happy with the sports scores on the telly at each booth.
I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had such a fine cheese burger with mushrooms remembering times I’d taken Dad for burgers, something he really enjoyed in his last years. Of course, Cheeseburger in Paradise by Jimmy Buffet will always be a favourite sailor song of mine. Gilbert and Eva shared a charbroil barbecued burger paddy between them and just wanted more.
After a couple of shopping stops, Cartronicpowersports for Honda 3000eu generator and Marks for socks, we got back home where the dogs ran the length of the yard and back, glad to be free. Ron’s been playing Four Strong Winds on the guitar with Adell singing. I’ve just finished an after burger nap in the guest room. It’s so relaxing in the country. I love this house and family. The dogs are simply the best little characters happy as can be with each other and their surroundings.
Last time I was here I was attending my nephew Andrew and his bride Tanya’s wedding at the Canada Club wearing the blue Hay Hunting kilt.
When I flew into Ottawa to attend the Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine Conference my brother met me and Gilbert my cockapoo at the Ottawa Airport. Great to be with family. Nephew Allan , just completed undergrad psychology waiting to begin masters program. Over delicious Italian at Poccopazzo family owned restaurant I got to catch up on the latest doings of chemical engineer movie making nephew Graeme and geologist nephew Andrew and his beautiful publisher wife Tanya. Graeme’s horror movie Ragnarock Cabin has opening to coincide with Halloween this year. Tanya and Andrew were on a pumpkin hunt in preparation for a Halloween party. It all seems so civilized. I feel like I’ve descended from alien planet out in the wild west when I come home to this happy normalcy. My brother and sister in law are both retired so we no longer commiserate over the challenges of work with all it’s attendant frustrations. My stories only serve to remind them of their past. Ron continues his investing from home while I’ve never seen my high school principal Adell not bustling about with home making. Her primary student this visit is Eva, Allan’s little brown Chewy the wooky looking cockapoo.
Having just bought another house, all the talk is about landscaping and decorating. They’d just moved the weekend before. When my conference finished Adell and Allan picked me up with Gilbert already on board and we drove the two hours from the city to their new rural retreat. I loved seeing the quaint hobby farms along the river. The red barns of Ontario are so picturesque with the red leaves of autumn sumac. Cattle and horses were interspersed with hay fields and corn. Graeme and Andrew have seen deer in the forest on the way here. Adell pointed to the white swans in the marsh nearby.
The house isn’t visible from the road. Nearly 5 acres of waterfront. Down a short road between spruce and pine is the garage at the first level. The roof of the large two level home sits next to the parking at the lower level. We entered through the great veranda on the second floor. “I hope to screen this all in next year, “ Adell said as she showed me the upper rooms, a regular Marriott guest suite where I’d be staying. Bamboo hardwood floors throughout the upper guest area. Down the bamboo stairs is the music room. Adell sings soprano with several choirs still. When I told her about attending Carmen recently she said, “I love singing opera but don’t much like attending it anymore.” I’ll always remember her as the beautiful young girl solo in the church whose voice touched the heavens. Ron’s veritable collection of guitars was in the music room. The great living room had a heated cement floor and large fireplace. Dining room and kitchen were part of the pattern with the glass panel doorway looking out on the huge expanse of front yard opening onto the lake. From there I saw Gilbert and Eva running wide circles about the property at breakneck cockapoo speed. Everything is large, large walk in pantry, large cupboards. “There’s no basement ,” said Adell . Of course that explains the need for the storage spaces. Ron has a couple of sheds in addition to his garage. The master suite is beyond the large two person whirlpool tub. It has lots of walk in cupboards and another elegant bathroom. It opens onto a a patio where no doubt the Lord and Lady of the house can take afternoon tea and contemplate their apple tree orchard.
Allan and I bought day fishing licenses at the Napanee Canadian Tire. With Ron’s kevlar canoe and fishing gear, fishing rods, an Adell packed picnic and Gilbert in a life jacket in the middle of the boat, Allan and I, like countless coer de bois before us, set out on the great fishing adventure. Ron had taken a break from driving his tractor pulling his rotor tiller through his planned potato garden to push out his wheeled aluminum Fendock. We pushed off from shore before he figured how to lay down the wood flooring.
Allan paddled in the bow while I j stroked in the stern. For a guy who at his age was white water canoeing the Winnipeg River, I couldn’t recall the last time I’d paddled. The technique is never lost but the muscles sure weren’t happy. Neighbours further along the shore waved and spoke to us as we passed. They were all out doing yard work, burning leaves in fires, chatting on lakeside decks.
“How far are we going, Allen?"
“Getting tired already, Uncle,”
“No just wondering,” I lied.
“There’s a marsh a long the shore up ahead, where mom sees the swans,"
At last we stopped paddling and Allan put a Canadian Wiggler on my line. I began casting. “This was dad’s favourite lure, “ I told him and then went on to tell about Dad taking Ron and I fishing in Northern Saskatchewan, catching pickerel and cooking the fillets over a driftwood fire on the shore. We casted either side only once tangling lines and the wind pushed us along the outside of marsh. Allan told me about his research interests in early child education. He’d applied for research grants and was waiting to hear.
When the wind picked up and it looked like we’d be blown too far away we paddled back into the lee of the point coming aground in the weeds.
“My hands are freezing from the water, “ said Allen.
“I put my gloves on an hour ago,” I said.
Gilbert was sleeping in the middle of the boat. I was enjoying the cup of thermos coffee and sandwich Adell had packed. A flock of Canada Geese rose up from the marsh and flew back to Vancouver British Columbia. That’s where all the Canada Geese from all over the world congregate for seminars on how to avoid being shot by hunters in the rest of Canada.
We talked some more. Allan changed my lure from the Canadian wiggler to the Red Devil. "I always catch a jack whenever I fish with a red devil,” i told him then cast. Immediately a large fish caught the hook and tugged. I watched the disturbance on the surface. “I’ve caught one, “ i shouted. “It’s just a rock,” Allan said. Gilbert rose to the excitement.
Sure enough I pulled in a large northern pike alongside the canoe shouting at Allan to get the net. Untangling the net from Gilbert’s feet doing twisting pretzel contortions behind him Allan had the net and put it under the fish. “It’s too big for the net,” he said. He couldn’t get it under the body but the head and hook got caught in the top of the net. Gilbert was looking the fish right in it’s glassy eyes threatening to jump overboard then suddenly the hook was free in the net and the fish was lying across the opening.. “Quck grab the gils, “ I said.
“I’m not putting my fingers near those teeth, “ said Allen as Gilbert whined and the fished impatient took a massive flick of it’s whale sized tail to Jonah into the reaches of Hay Bay.
“I wanted to eat that fish. “ I said to Allen, “I never knew you were a catch and release sort of Eastern guy.”
“You didn’t pull it up beside me where I could get the net under it. I should have just used the camera to show it wasn’t all that big.”
“Admit it, you’re too weak to lift such a mighty fish."
With all that excitement and all following casts catching weeds we paddled back to the dock. Ron had again left his tractor and rotor tilling to stand on his now decked dock with Eva waiting for the return of the Canadian couer de bois. Eva and Gilbert were ecstatic with the reunion and yet another excuse to run wild circles all over the property. Exhausted I collapsed in Ron’s great leather chair and watched pink finch and blue jays avail themselves of the feeder outside the main window. I love looking out on the lake between the wedge of forest. Every once in a while Ron came by on his mini orange Scots by John Deere tractor to deposit wood by the door. Allan collected it and stacked it by the fireplace. I enjoyed the warmth while Adell made a roast beef dinner which we all enjoyed later at the dining table.
That night we drove to Kingston a half hour or so away to watch Judge the movie my friend Dr. George Chalmers emailed a recommendations for. We both love Robert Downey Jr and Duvall. Their performances in this incredible drama of family and small town America should get Downey at least an Oscar. It was incredible acting that had me in tears at one point. My brother took care of my elderly father at times and the compassion the movie showed of son caring for dying father was very much like the sensitivity that had been shown in On Golden Pond.
Back home Adell handed me pumpkin pie for a snack,. After that I collapsed in bed with Gilbert the cockapoo climbing up to lie on a pillow beside my head. This morning it’s raining. Adell made us all bacon and eggs.
Next Ron called out that we’re all going for a drive in the country side. Adell and he were discussing earlier that they’d not explored their neighbour hood and wanted to see what’s on the other side of the lake. By the time I caught up with the plans Ron was in the Suburu with Allan, Gilbert and Eva. Adell was waiting to lock the door behind me as I slipped on my shoes. There was a drizzling Vancouver rain till we got to a ferry which took us across to higher land. There we drove up to Lake on a Mountain where the dogs had a jolly time on leash exploring this ancient mysterious lake. What they call here a mountain though wouldn’t cut muster in BC. There was a great view of the waterways and I saw where Lake Ontario became the Reach.
Picton was the town and harbour we landed in. A quaint little place with old stone houses here and there with the red brick two stories. Pretty little tourist site. We drove on from there to Desronto in the Mohawk territory then on to Napanee, the little town I really liked. It’s 20 minutes from their home but we’d gone all around the backside of Hay Bay to get there from the other side. We stopped for burgers and fries at Shoeless Joe’s Napanee. Great food and great service. Ron and Allan were happy with the sports scores on the telly at each booth.
I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had such a fine cheese burger with mushrooms remembering times I’d taken Dad for burgers, something he really enjoyed in his last years. Of course, Cheeseburger in Paradise by Jimmy Buffet will always be a favourite sailor song of mine. Gilbert and Eva shared a charbroil barbecued burger paddy between them and just wanted more.
After a couple of shopping stops, Cartronicpowersports for Honda 3000eu generator and Marks for socks, we got back home where the dogs ran the length of the yard and back, glad to be free. Ron’s been playing Four Strong Winds on the guitar with Adell singing. I’ve just finished an after burger nap in the guest room. It’s so relaxing in the country. I love this house and family. The dogs are simply the best little characters happy as can be with each other and their surroundings.
Sunday, May 18, 2014
Andrew and Tanya Hay Wedding
Andrew Hay is my 30 year old nephew who last night married Tanya Duthie. I remember when he and his older brother were the size of the youngest nephew, Alan’s, new 2 month old cockapoo Eva. Eva and my cockapoo, Gilbert are ‘hanging’ with Natasha, Alan’s roommate. Both dogs would have had no end of joy riding Tanya's wedding dress train.
My brother and his beautiful wife were in Winnipeg when the older boys enriched our lives. I was a family physician at the time. My mom and dad were so enchanted with the boys. They loved their grandchildren. I was so busy with my work I rarely saw them. A regret today. Indeed the next time I remember them well they were boys, then they were young men. Graeme is an engineer, Andrew a geologist and Allan the youngest now completing his undergraduate in psychology.
Now, Andrew is married. Where did the time go? It seems these days to be speeding up. All the seeds of distant past blossoming. The songs about times passing ringing true.
Andrews' gorgeous, intuitive, big hearted, sensitive and humour loving wife, Tanya, is now Mrs. Hay. I called her that last night. And missed my mom, my first Mrs. Hay, the one who made the mould for that glorious title. Adell, my brother’s wife is Mrs. Hay, but I knew her first as Adell. Then she was the prettiest brightest girl my brilliant older brother brought home, in the days when he was riding motorcycles and I was still bicycling.
But the wedding! Nostalgia does that to me. Tears in my eyes. Like when my big brother, Ron, stood up to give the toast. He’s funny. But mostly I know him as strong. His sons are such a product of the finest of parents. Tanya and her sisters and the nieces and nephews are also a product of Tanya’s parents, Brent and Lois. Brent is a fisherman just like Dad. I really liked them. Salt of the earth.
But the wedding! I digress. Tears in my eyes remembering how handsome Andrew looked beside his radiant bride. He wore the Hunting Hay tartan kilt. To get the Hunting Hay tartan, he specifically wanted, with blues and greens rather than the red and greens of the Royal Hay, the family had to order it direct from the weaver in Scotland. Despite months ahead preparation the material only arrived a couple of weeks ago.The kilt makers in a flurry of love worked overtime so all the Hay men could be dressed akin for this most important of occasions. Tanya’s dress was quite as exquisite. She and her brides maids were truly stunning. They had to be, for the Handsome Hay's and Mike, showing our naked knees were a sight to behold.
Tanya is the youngest of four sisters. The mother’s eyes and beauty are so in the genetics of them all while the Father’s hilarious toast suggests the source of the humour loving gene. I loved the little children, Tanya’s nieces and nephews running around. Adell's cousins, Velma and Melvine, were my companions. Mike was a fabulous best man. Andrew and he met at Queen’s. Mike’s a fine young man, son of a psychiatrist. It made me appreciate him even more.
I’d be wrong to try and mention all the 60 or more I'd met through the rehearsal and day and night of wedding. Just too many. Lovely people here for a lovely occasion. All of them inspiring and uplifting. Gathered as we were, to celebrate the love of Tanya for Andrew, Andrew for Tanya. Three, maybe, four generations were represented. Gaming themes, monopoly and star wars. Fireworks and dancing. The music for the couples dance, and father and bride dance was divine.
Later in the night some of the music, techno rap or something, I confess sounded very much like what my mother called ‘young people’s’ music. Aging I find myself, in the changing world, appreciating more my father's wisdom. He thought 'young people's music" or rather anything that came after Gene Autry and Frank Sinatra , ‘god awful’. Now here I was thankful, these young people had included some of that 'god awful' Beatles music. I had to admit though their own music had everyone in a frenzy of fast dancing.
When a slow ballad came around, Adell and I danced. We did a cowboy fox trot I remembered Mom teaching me to dance as a child. It was the same dance step she and Dad did for 55 years or more. Later I’d see Ron and Adell dancing those same steps. Andrew and Tanya danced. Tanya and her dad, Brent, danced. Brent and Tanya’s mother, Lois. Then everyone danced. Everyone was so beautiful.
Later, I loved watching Andrew, Alan and Graeme almost blowing themselves up with fireworks shot from the dock. After that Tanya and her sisters danced even more wildly and crazily together to their techno disco music. The only lyrics I remember were' jump' , 'jump', 'jump'. My knees reminded me of these the day after.
The smorgasbord was a feast. I loved the roast. The girl sitting beside me, a personal trainer, had run 40 km that morning. Who runs 40 km in the morning. Her mother a CBC reporter and father a designer were as entertaining as the very bright civil servant and his fetching college professor wife sitting the other side of me. Fearful of strangers, I felt always among family, with these easy going delightful people.
Ron had brought guitars and left them out to play. He’s playing one now. I played yesterday. Paul played Leonard Cohen as if he was the great poet himself. I have to respect the young as they know our history. We’re stretched to catch up with theirs. I didn’t recognize half the references I’ve heard these days. Recent themes. Modern references. References of the young. Alan the youngest of the boys is only 23. His very photogenic girlfriend, Erica, caught Tanya’s tossed bouquet.
The ceremony took place on the outdoor deck . The bride was so resplendent holding her father’s arm. Andrew and Tanya exchanged vows. Loons called across the lake beyond. All around us the Ontario artists of the Group of Seven had painted the woods and lake. I was reminded of our childhoods in Kenora, my brother’s cottage . The breeze was welcome. It blew away rain clouds, black flies and mosquitoes . The Bride and Groom kissed. Voices choked. Tissues appeared. I must have got something in my eye.
The Canada Club on Riddeau Lake, a perfect location.
Norbert Van Der Poll, photographer, and Canada Club proprietor was everywhere helpful, and taking pictures, but discretely...unobtrusive. Only later, seeing the extraordinary breadth of photos and the quality of shots, did I appreciate what a master of human photography this wise older man is. His books of his photographs cover 50 years of professionalism. I loved to see the work of a master, appreciated so well by my brother, award winning nature photographer himself, and my cinematographer, nephew, Graeme. Norbert captured the soul of the wedding. I’ll thank him for ever for catching those special moments of Andrew and Tanya. I even look good in the picture of all of us.
Andrew and Tanya found Norbert, found the Canada Club and planned the wedding in its entirety uniquely specific to their tastes and loves. I was blessed to be present. But then I think everyone felt that.
“I like weddings, like baptisms,” I said to Melvine and she said, “Yes, I know just what you mean.”
These are my pictures. A reminder of being here.
My brother and his beautiful wife were in Winnipeg when the older boys enriched our lives. I was a family physician at the time. My mom and dad were so enchanted with the boys. They loved their grandchildren. I was so busy with my work I rarely saw them. A regret today. Indeed the next time I remember them well they were boys, then they were young men. Graeme is an engineer, Andrew a geologist and Allan the youngest now completing his undergraduate in psychology.
Now, Andrew is married. Where did the time go? It seems these days to be speeding up. All the seeds of distant past blossoming. The songs about times passing ringing true.
Andrews' gorgeous, intuitive, big hearted, sensitive and humour loving wife, Tanya, is now Mrs. Hay. I called her that last night. And missed my mom, my first Mrs. Hay, the one who made the mould for that glorious title. Adell, my brother’s wife is Mrs. Hay, but I knew her first as Adell. Then she was the prettiest brightest girl my brilliant older brother brought home, in the days when he was riding motorcycles and I was still bicycling.
But the wedding! Nostalgia does that to me. Tears in my eyes. Like when my big brother, Ron, stood up to give the toast. He’s funny. But mostly I know him as strong. His sons are such a product of the finest of parents. Tanya and her sisters and the nieces and nephews are also a product of Tanya’s parents, Brent and Lois. Brent is a fisherman just like Dad. I really liked them. Salt of the earth.
But the wedding! I digress. Tears in my eyes remembering how handsome Andrew looked beside his radiant bride. He wore the Hunting Hay tartan kilt. To get the Hunting Hay tartan, he specifically wanted, with blues and greens rather than the red and greens of the Royal Hay, the family had to order it direct from the weaver in Scotland. Despite months ahead preparation the material only arrived a couple of weeks ago.The kilt makers in a flurry of love worked overtime so all the Hay men could be dressed akin for this most important of occasions. Tanya’s dress was quite as exquisite. She and her brides maids were truly stunning. They had to be, for the Handsome Hay's and Mike, showing our naked knees were a sight to behold.
Tanya is the youngest of four sisters. The mother’s eyes and beauty are so in the genetics of them all while the Father’s hilarious toast suggests the source of the humour loving gene. I loved the little children, Tanya’s nieces and nephews running around. Adell's cousins, Velma and Melvine, were my companions. Mike was a fabulous best man. Andrew and he met at Queen’s. Mike’s a fine young man, son of a psychiatrist. It made me appreciate him even more.
I’d be wrong to try and mention all the 60 or more I'd met through the rehearsal and day and night of wedding. Just too many. Lovely people here for a lovely occasion. All of them inspiring and uplifting. Gathered as we were, to celebrate the love of Tanya for Andrew, Andrew for Tanya. Three, maybe, four generations were represented. Gaming themes, monopoly and star wars. Fireworks and dancing. The music for the couples dance, and father and bride dance was divine.
Later in the night some of the music, techno rap or something, I confess sounded very much like what my mother called ‘young people’s’ music. Aging I find myself, in the changing world, appreciating more my father's wisdom. He thought 'young people's music" or rather anything that came after Gene Autry and Frank Sinatra , ‘god awful’. Now here I was thankful, these young people had included some of that 'god awful' Beatles music. I had to admit though their own music had everyone in a frenzy of fast dancing.
When a slow ballad came around, Adell and I danced. We did a cowboy fox trot I remembered Mom teaching me to dance as a child. It was the same dance step she and Dad did for 55 years or more. Later I’d see Ron and Adell dancing those same steps. Andrew and Tanya danced. Tanya and her dad, Brent, danced. Brent and Tanya’s mother, Lois. Then everyone danced. Everyone was so beautiful.
Later, I loved watching Andrew, Alan and Graeme almost blowing themselves up with fireworks shot from the dock. After that Tanya and her sisters danced even more wildly and crazily together to their techno disco music. The only lyrics I remember were' jump' , 'jump', 'jump'. My knees reminded me of these the day after.
The smorgasbord was a feast. I loved the roast. The girl sitting beside me, a personal trainer, had run 40 km that morning. Who runs 40 km in the morning. Her mother a CBC reporter and father a designer were as entertaining as the very bright civil servant and his fetching college professor wife sitting the other side of me. Fearful of strangers, I felt always among family, with these easy going delightful people.
Ron had brought guitars and left them out to play. He’s playing one now. I played yesterday. Paul played Leonard Cohen as if he was the great poet himself. I have to respect the young as they know our history. We’re stretched to catch up with theirs. I didn’t recognize half the references I’ve heard these days. Recent themes. Modern references. References of the young. Alan the youngest of the boys is only 23. His very photogenic girlfriend, Erica, caught Tanya’s tossed bouquet.
The ceremony took place on the outdoor deck . The bride was so resplendent holding her father’s arm. Andrew and Tanya exchanged vows. Loons called across the lake beyond. All around us the Ontario artists of the Group of Seven had painted the woods and lake. I was reminded of our childhoods in Kenora, my brother’s cottage . The breeze was welcome. It blew away rain clouds, black flies and mosquitoes . The Bride and Groom kissed. Voices choked. Tissues appeared. I must have got something in my eye.
The Canada Club on Riddeau Lake, a perfect location.
Norbert Van Der Poll, photographer, and Canada Club proprietor was everywhere helpful, and taking pictures, but discretely...unobtrusive. Only later, seeing the extraordinary breadth of photos and the quality of shots, did I appreciate what a master of human photography this wise older man is. His books of his photographs cover 50 years of professionalism. I loved to see the work of a master, appreciated so well by my brother, award winning nature photographer himself, and my cinematographer, nephew, Graeme. Norbert captured the soul of the wedding. I’ll thank him for ever for catching those special moments of Andrew and Tanya. I even look good in the picture of all of us.
Andrew and Tanya found Norbert, found the Canada Club and planned the wedding in its entirety uniquely specific to their tastes and loves. I was blessed to be present. But then I think everyone felt that.
“I like weddings, like baptisms,” I said to Melvine and she said, “Yes, I know just what you mean.”
These are my pictures. A reminder of being here.
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