05-08-21 FAMILY!
Today I awoke fully aware that on this exact day, a Saturday in May, sandwiched between my Mom’s birthday and Mother’s Day, the sole remaining member of my ‘core’ family crashed his float plane and died. What I have come to realize over time is that family has a deeper meaning than DNA connections. My ‘Mom’ who’s birthday was yesterday day is the extraordinary woman who took on the raising of a 2 year old Aries child. She married the man who set the standard in my life for adventure and huggery. My Dad taught me to laugh and love and work and hug with deep passion. Whether it was genes or environment one can only look at our lives led to see that I am his daughter. We approached it differently but both sought to get the most out of this life leant to us. I wonder often if it is due to the losses suffered.. the death of my mom and sister impacted both of our lives, his to process and stow away the pain and move on, mine to experience and not process until I was much older. On this day I honour his life and am grateful to be here and his daughter. I wish I could hug my (half) (FULL) brother and share the moment we are both experiencing in these remembery days. Even my ‘Mom’ (MOM) texted today to see if I had toasted my Dad with a scotch yet as is my custom.
I pushed all of this aside to go to the theatre today and strip the tech booth. Amy had asked Sanjay to join us to do the strike and catalogue. he requested we meet at 10:30 so he could be there but never did show up or let us know why and that is the rub right there. If you forgot and made another plan, just acknowledge it, don’t leave us hanging. As it was the two of us were there for 3 hours and got it all done, worked well together and learned more about each other. I was grateful for that time, masked and distant, getting it done. I created a system to label all cords so as to put it all back together and it seems to have worked well. Amy and I had some great conversations and got to know each better. She is new to the board and directing the show that will occur first when we reopen. We share the same frustration with many things and yearn to just make art on stage. I am in her debt for showing up and assisting, we got soooo much done.
I must admit I had a moment that left my younger self thrilled. We were talking about neither of us being techies and I laughed that I was, once upon a time, having run sound for ‘The Belle of Amherst” at Granville Island’s Arts Club. It was part of my training at Studio 58, Langara. I was the youngest person accepted there and parts of me regret only doing half my degree. I would not have the huge family that I do now though if I hadn’t met Bill and decided not to go back so that is the way. It was then that she told me she did not know I had gone to theatre school and had auditioned twice for that school as it was her dream to go there but she didn’t get in. I wish I had thought to say it must have been a very competitive year. I wanted to make her feel better but my brain was not there, I just let it ride and later realized what a compliment that was. I went to her dream school.
When I left the theatre I stopped to see Rae-Anne and we sat out int he yard and had a good visit. she gave me a huge stack of puzzles to do that are her favorites, based on the promise I give them back. She also gave me a puzzle she got at a garage sale for the Girl Scouts, a lily plant, a wooden animal puzzle, a comedy book, and a KICKASS sticker for Mother’s Day. There was also a box of KD to prove that it has gone back to the original recipe as the last couple times I have had it, I was not impressed… Rae is very good at thoughtful gifts. Jake has sent something in the mail and Ashlée has a plan for us next Friday night that I look forward to.
Rae, Sawyer and I walked down to Pharmasave on Baker and then over to the Mission Thrift store which I had not been in before and it was wonderful. Such good prices! Was fun to hang with them and she wanted to go to have something to eat on a patio but I am still not up for that so I said no and came home. I thoroughly enjoyed my leftovers from Diane. It wasn’t long before Roger got home from getting wood and called to see if I would like to come over and watch a movie with the family and have our traditional scotch together in honour of my Dad. I was picked up so I wouldn’t have to worry about driving home. We had such a great evening. It is the first time in 14.5 months that I have sat on the couch between my family and watched a movie, 6 on the couch and one on the floor curled up with the dog on his bed. There were bevies, and popcorn and cuddles and a fabulous movie, The Mitchells and the Machines. Highly recommend it!!!
Sawyer asked if I would come put them to bed and I did. With such pride I learned the boys listen to the Vinyl Café with Stuart McLean to fall asleep. Apparently the 3 oldest love it but Sawyer, at 6, is not as interested. It makes me so happy to share this love with them.
Once the boys were settled I joined Rae and Rog to play Mario Cart on XBox. Holy crow, has that game improved, I had so much fun! We played a few rounds and then decided Rae would drive me as she had skipped the margarita round. I mentioned I was interested in the stick bugs and ended up coming home with them. Rae thinks there are around 75 of them! I think I will find a nice tank for them and take them to the office. They should keep everyone entertained.
This was a lovely Mother’s Day in advance as I finally got to feel normal with the loves of my life, the next two generations
triumphgal 