Introducing...



The newest member of our household - Jacques! He's a Betta fish and I think he's so pretty. Plus, he won't bite our hands or chew our boots or our Dad's drywall in his brand new house, or make total fools of us as he races around the yard while four grown adults chase him aimlessly. We don't have to buy him fresh veggies or chew toys or cry when he grunts and attacks us with sharp little teeth when all we're trying to do is love him.

So we can't cuddle him or watch TV with him curled up on our laps but, you know, TOTALLY COOL WITH THAT.

Still in recovery mode

As we have done every year for the past seven years, a bunch of chicks gathered last weekend for the annual May Run Girls weekend. It was an amazing weekend as always. Here's a peek at the craziness that ensued when seven girls from Toronto, one from Timmins, one from Ottawa, and one from Cochrane showed up at Nellie Lake.

Make sure you watch the video in Fullscreen mode.

Soundtrack is the Star Wars Theme and Get Lucky by Daft Punk.

Love you forever

 

When I was little, one of my favourite stories was "Love You Forever" by Robert Munsch. My mom used to read it to me, but instead of just straight reading it, she would always sing the chorus.

 

"I'll love you forever,

I'll like you for always,

As long as you're living,

My baby you'll be."

 

I loved that book because it was poignant and and moving, and, even as a kid, I loved a great story.

 

The story goes through the life of a mom and her son; as he grows up, his mom can't help herself, and sneaks into his room to rock him and sing to him.

 

"I'll love you forever,

I'll like you for always,

As long as I'm living,

My baby you'll be."

 

It's the story about a particular mom and her son, but it's also the story of many, many mothers and their children. The story of maternal bonds that can't be broken by age, distance, illness, or even death.

 

 

When my mom used to read the story to me, her beautiful voice singing the famous chorus, I knew she was speaking about our relationship. I knew she was speaking directly to me.

 

It's the ending that always brought, and still brings, tears to my eyes. The mama was old and sick, and the son that she'd cradled woke up, drove across town, went to his mom, held her, rocked her and sang:

 

"I'll love you forever,

I'll like you for always,

As long as I'm living,

My mommy you'll be."

 

Things didn't exactly work out for me the way they did in the book. I won't get to take care of my mom the way the son in the book took care of his when she got old and sick. Although I'll never get to repay her for those bedtime stories, those lullabies, that amazing childhood, I know one thing: as long as I'm living, my mommy she'll be.

 

Tonight, before your son or daughter goes to bed or your mom leaves from the amazing dinner you made her, read the story. But instead of just reading the chorus, sing it.

 

I promise, it'll stay with you a long time. Maybe forever.

 

Happy Mother's Day.

Can you see me now?



We caught this little guy trying to eavesdrop on our conversation at the lake this weekend. If it weren't for the shock of red on his head and breast, no one would have been the wiser. 

Buddies

Ever since I can remember, my Dad's buddy Dave has been in the picture. He's been around for every major event in our lives and he's been my Dad's right hand man since they were kids. We were joking around last weekend about how on earth they were both going to walk me down the aisle at our wedding this Fall.

This photo was taken just after we saw a bald eagle soaring overhead, and, after 30 years of watching my Dad stand like that, hand in pocket, eyebrows raised ever so slightly, weight shifted a little to the left, I can tell he's probably giving a speech about bald eagles. He's probably reciting all of the facts he read in an article in National Geographic in 1974 and he would probably offer to show you the article if you asked because he has a collection of every issue ever published. One day, someone is going to stumble upon that collection and be rich riddled with 5,789 issues of National Geographic that they're going to feel really guilty throwing out. Good luck with that, sis!

And the way that Dave's standing is so familiar to me too. From 30 years of hearing my Dad's speeches about everything from beavers to partridge to forest fires and farm animals, this is the stance we have learned to adopt to help us through these trying times. Arms crossed, mouth slanting down into a slight frown, eyes glazed over. Probably mumbling something like "oh yeah," "is that right?" "wow, I didn't know that," all the while thinking "what am I going to wear tonight?" "I'm all out of shampoo," or, in Dave's case "God I need another beer." 

After almost 50 years of speeches, Dave's still around and sees my Dad almost every day.

That's what I call friendship. And a little bit of mutual weirdness. But mostly, friendship.