Costco Family Outing

My friend Warren introduced me to Costco in 1986 when I lived in Marin County. Warren is financially wise and normally well ahead of the trends. Costco had only opened in Kirkland, Washington in 1983.
Now a quarter century and more later I'm still shopping at Costco and loving it. Tom and I provisioned my sailboat, GIRI, in Costco Honolulu when we sailed 34 days back to Vancouver, using a spanish turnkey to jury rig a solution to a broken mast. All our Costco food and supplies were well appreciated when the mast fiasco slowed our progress adding another week to our ocean crossing.
When I stay at the RV park in Burnaby the nearby Costco is often visitted. I outfitted the RV there with sheets, comforters, kitchen accessories and yes I love the fresh salads, and other foods that make for quick meals. Invariably too I fill my fridge freezer with frozen pies and other microwaveables that make for an easy after work dinner. I've bought most of my casual shirts and slacks there as well and even some electronics.
No surprise my financially wise brother loves Costco too. He especially loves the photo department in Kanata Ottawa where, as a photographer, he loves to get prints made of his digital pictures.
What I haven't done at Costco is make it a family outing. In the past I was mostly going alone or with a friend like Tom or Laura. This time though it was a real family outing with my brother, sister in law, their three sons and Andrew's girlfriend, Tanya. Tanya, it turns out had heard from a co worker that she'd got an especially sweet deal on quality cutlery and wanted to check it out. Andrew and Tanya having a tastefully decorated apartment overlooking the Ottawa River are highly selective about what they add to their elegant minimalist urban chic abode. Ron wanted to pick up prints. Graeme was having the family thanksgiving dinner this year so he was searching for seating for his new town house along with food items. Adell an accomplished chef and house party hostess was assisting her son with decision making. I wanted to contribute a pumpkin pie and Alan was mostly along for the ride.
The consequence was much wandering about, lots of family conversation, losing and finding of members and finally using cell phones to arrange a departure rendezvous time and place. It was in the end alot of fun and truly an adult family outing. The last time I was here they'd got me bowling and I confess I liked that too but this Costco Family Outing event I got more alone time talking with my nephews, albeit in the sock or hardware section and my brother and I had some really good family time discussing future plans by the fresh salmon. I was also amused by Graeme's general appearance of being on a mission. I knew he was looking for party chips but he still approached the task as a serious intellectual exercise requiring concentrated effort. I wanted to get two huge pumpkin pies and a huge apple pie while Alan showed restraint. Adell and Ron decided one pumpkin pie would be sufficient as others were bringing deserts too.
Tanya never did get the cutlery which occasioned the expedition. Andrew wanted something heavier and more substantial for the hand. A half dozen of the family contributed to this discussion with unsought opinions, stories about cutlery others had liked and generally a Martha Stewart cutlery moment was had by all. Personally I enjoyed the easy manner in which the young couple respectfully considered each others opinions and tolerated the opinions of family.
Shopping at Costco then was much more than just acquisition. I'd put it right up there with bowling, that's for sure. The pumpkin pie really was terrific too. And thank you Andrew for the delicious ice cream cone.
























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Thanksgiving Dinner with Graeme

Ron and Adell's oldest son, Graeme, just moved to a new townhouse. He's an engineer "but" offered to have the family Thanksgiving dinner this year. He'd just moved in and hadn't acquired a couch. Apparently he'd never used the oven so when he did it hadn't been cleaned properly. The place filled with smoke. Despite this when guests arrived this evening the food was all prepared and there was seating enough for everyone.
Ron and I had walked the dog in the nearby park enjoying the autumn colours, taking pictures along the trail. Gilbert had a great run.
When we returned Gilbert's arrival was a real ice breaker.
Dip and chips and living room conversation was followed by a call to the table. A truly lovely spread. Adell had helped at the last minute. Velma said grace and we all settled into the turkey.
Mel and Asha, Alan's roommates are attending university with him. Very bright young women they spoke about oceans, science and matters ecolological. Graeme and Andrew reminisced about science professors sharing several anecdotes. The conversation was fine despite the distraction of the great food, turkey, yam, devilled eggs, scallop potatoes, stuffing, gravy, salad, the works. After we had fruit and apple and pumpkin pies with tea and coffee. It was the whole shebang and Graeme did well. Andrew was present but we missed Tanya. Erica had come up from the US to visit with Alan
The guests were all a delight . I was a bit glum being controversial about matters of science, reporting and funding, realizing only too late I'd been less than 'thanksgiving'. The young people did play a game of pictograph to uproarious laughter while I discussed Christianity with Velma and sister, Melvine. Velma had been reading about the history of the Tyndale Bible and shared fascinating stuff about King Henry and Anne Bolyn. Earlier Ron and I had a chance to share stories about family.
I guess I missed Dad. Dad and Mom would have loved to have seen Graeme's place and been there for the fine dinner their grandson prepared. I'm grateful I was.

























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Anne E. Brevig

My brother, Ron, gave me an amazing book gift, Nine Years on the Seven Seas, by Anne E. Brevig. This is the story of the extraordinary circumnavigation taken by Anne E. Brevig and Martin Vennesland in their 40 foot fiberglass yacht, NOR SIGLAR. (www.norsiglar.com). Having sailed solo myself to from Vancouver to Hawaii in winter on the 39.9 foot yacht, GIRI, and also, with crew, back from Hawaii and previously Vancouver to Mexico, I relived the joy and terror of blue water sailing through the truly gifted writing of Anne E. Brevig. She is a true story teller. Their circumnavigation made in several stages and totalling twice the circumference of the equator is a story of beauty and adventure. The photography that accompanies this well crafted book make it one of the best coffee table modern day yachting books I've ever seen. I'm not surprised when she tells us how pleased she is to hear from so many young yachtsmen and women that their own blue water adventures were inspired by her stories regularly published in Norway's yachting magazine. What I enjoyed also was learning that she and Martin began their spectacular journey in Vancouver, BC, Canada where they lived after emigrating from Norway before beginning their adventure of a lifetime.


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Apple Store with Alan, Ottawa

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Funeral

Eric was a good man as he spoke kindly with my brother and I about the wishes of my father and my mother.  Thankfully, my older brother, who had a filing cabinet as a boy, had papers collected and adult answers to all the gentle questions. I , meanwhile, fixated on the words, "cremation" and "urn", surrounded by coffins in an elegant room where caring men and women knew their business and helped softly.    

Another day

What will I do when I grow up?
I've asked this question every day of adulthood
And still ask it, verging on senescence.
I once hopped and jumped and ran,
As now I shuffle day to day,
Curious mostly,
Entrenched in patterns of easy recognition,
Known for diversion,
Anchored in family, friends,office, home
Dog and boat.

I'm waiting for a space ship
Always carrying a towel
Since Adams died, or so they say,
The Rapture still a promise
Until reincarnation or the Tibetan bardo,
Pearly gates or a C.S. Lewis' Heaven
With a bit of George Bernard Shaw
And a Mark Twain Twist,
But definitely on the Rock.

I'm still waiting for Godot
In this Kaffkaesque Kierkegardian
Myth of Sisyphus
Asking where is Martin Buber
When I need him?
I and Thou.
But mostly I and It.

The sensual shift of your thigh
In candelight invites distraction
While the world calls in your
Sweet inviting voice.

I am not at all ethereal yet,
But lifted by the dew on the grass.
And rain drops fall as the dog
Sniffs the passing of raccoons,
Or private eyes, who have
Had their way with last nights garbage.

Standing now in barefeet
On wet Ottawa deck
I breathe deeply,
Yet again and ask,
What will I do when I grow up?






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Dad

En route to your sick bed
I had an overwhelming sense
Of my mother's presence,
I felt she'd come to take you home.
And cried because I wanted you to live.

When the plane landed
I learned that was the time you died.
My brother said you were tired,
Winter was coming,
And last years had been hospital hard.
You said you'd missed our mom.

I sat beside your so much thinner paler shell,
Felt the cold still warm pulseless wrist,
And cried some more between prayers;
Thankful to have known you,
A great man, a very great man,
So wise, industrious, reliable and true
My now dead aunt said you were a handsome man.
A gentleman : Military, rugged, northern,
A leader of men and a family man,
Trusted and respected by all
Loved by my mother 60 years and more
My father, our father.

I feel bereft at times, more alone,
Numb and slightly afraid.
I cry discretely but don't know
If it's grief or self pity,
As my brother and I
Pack up your clothing
And few belongings
Last totems of a life;
RCAF hand carved clock,
Sketch of the Fort Garry family home
Photographs of my brother's
Mostly animals and birds,
Cammo Hunting cap, straw hat,
Good Sam cap, big faced watch, radio
Leather wallet with 5 dollar bills,
Flower vase, hearing aid,
Veterans wheelchair,
Lamps and dresser,
The smallness of material memento:
"You can't take it with you!"

Now we stand in the vastness of your love,
Creation, dreams and memories
That were yours to give.

My brother's family gathers for Thanksgiving Dinner,
At the grandson's home,
You loved the family turkey dinners,
And we'll miss you then as we've missed Mom
These last few years you've been apart,
And we've grown closer.

You were always there
And now you're gone.
I'm glad you were ready.
I hope I am.
God be with you






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