Canada Visit
I just spent the last 8 days with my sister and her family in Kitchener. Doing this is something I would have thought as close as a year ago would not be possible. And it was wonderful, harmonious, peaceful, healing and full of laughter. With mutual respect and tentative trust, my sister and I are stepping closer together.
Her children are incredible – smart, loving, creative, inquisitive, full of giggles and squeals. Of course, there are the grumpier moments, and tantrums are regular, but my sister seems to handle it all quite well. I’m proud of her, of the life she’s made, of her family and her generous heart.
Also got to put to bed some lingering ghosts in my psyche. I left with no small measure of terror to struggle with. To be in the same house my mother lives in was at first startling, but it faded with Olivia’s shrieking laughter and Sam’s chortling. We drove up to Gilford, Bradford, Newmarket and through Toronto. We took pix of some of the many places we lived in.
The houses of my nightmares seemed rather insignificant. Paler shades of bright memories burned into my brain. It was good to see them with my sister, to share our different perspectives on the past, to correct or confirm, to sort and realign our mutual memory banks. Her husband Larry was a sweetheart the entire visit, and I truly appreciate how he opened his home and his heart to me. And I got to know my sister through the prism of her friends. A great, rowdy bunch of ladies, who care for her deeply. Hanging out around backyard fire pits and kitchen tables was a trip for sure. Canadian humor is so fucking hilarious. I’d love to make a short just about their banter and wit. My stomach hurt from laughing at their wicked humor.
A bonus was a night spent with my childhood friend Laurel. She too has a wee one, and our visit post-Bradford included Elliot and Sam sharing the best of StrongBad. Trogdor rocks! It was wonderful to re-connect, continue the conversation started decades ago, and laugh. Gord and I shared Garage Band mixes. Next day, spent an hour documenting some of the hottest Toronto graf in an alley running parallel to Queen Street.
Great visit. Building towards more, slowly. LIfe is good.
:) melissa
