(Something I found that I wrote for my mother a long time ago) Happy Birthday to my mom, to my lovely mother; your beauty compares, to no other. Your eyes always glow and twinkle when you smile; I think back at old times and thought for awhile. I’m blessed to have a mom with such a big heart and warm soul; Every day of my life my love for you grows. I miss you all the time, I wish I was near; To give you a birthday kiss; to hold you my dear. Another year as gone by, another year has passed; Some days we have cried some days we have laughed. You’re a special person mother, so giving of yourself; Happiness is all you seek, more than treasures and wealth. You cared for us all, and always there you would be; Whether it was the role of a daughter, or a mom to three. I wrote this today after thinking of you; I thought to myself what can I do? So read these lines and listen to what I say; I want you to celebrate your very special day. And remember birthdays are but a number, just one more trip around the sun; It’s your time now mother so go have some fun. Love Ash
Tag: memories
Home is still home…
I’m just now getting around to posting about our holiday back in Harbour Breton this summer and it was everything that we had anticipated, it was a great trip all around. We took each day as it came and as on the fly as it was we actually got a chance to do everything that we had set out in our minds to do. Our goal was to make sure to see everybody and do a few things that we used to do when we lived there ourselves, simple as that. It’s been about three years since we travelled home so we wanted to make sure to make to the most out of it.
One of the first things that I did was take a quick drive by the home that I grew up in. It feels weird now returning home without my old house to visit, the house although virtually the same had this unknown feeling about it, like my chapter and the chapter of my family there had been finished.
I took a long look across the harbour, so many memories came rushing back, for a moment it felt like I never left, everywhere I looked evoked emotion. The rolling hills with the calm shoreline created the perfect backdrop to my moment of reflection, it was nice and a great way to kick off the visit.
The trip home was a drive and then some so for the first night we mostly just talked, got caught up and enjoyed each others company. Family gatherings are a cliche without trying to be, you all pile into a common room of the house, energy all around you, everybody talking over each other, we were home. Kids tugging at your shirt tales, dogs barking at every thud, food coming from every angle, there was a controlled chaos. We talked until the early morning hours but it was getting late and there was a whole new day before us. We all began to turn in when it came time to delegate rooms, we snagged the room with the superhero sheets, my inner nerd rejoiced.
A highlight of the trip for me was the fact that I did manage to get to borrow a bike and get two bike rides in, I was so happy that worked out, something else that was on my trip home bucket list. The first one was an impromptu ride with my nephews, they loved every second of it and I was glad to have the opportunity. A flood of memories came back as I cruised the streets like I did as a kid, it was surreal, I could almost feel myself back there.
We were’t sure how long we had for this spur of the moment adventure but you know what? I was too busy reliving my childhood to care, with the kids leading the way we were now heading to the beach. I must of went down that dirt road a million times as a kid, it was a great ride down memory lane, the trail was not letting me down, what a ride.
About a quarter of a ways we ran into my uncle in law who is a very talented photographer, we did the stop and talk and he asked for a photo op so we got our picture taken, it’s the one you see below, by the way here’s a link to some of his other work. With a short walk across the beach we were on our way again, there was just one last leg of the ride to go.
Bike ride, check, now we were about to take a boat ride for a boil up. We were feeling quite spoiled as guests and it was only getting better, we all climbed into my brother in laws’s boat and he proceeded to pull away from the dock.
As we sped down the harbour, with smiles all around, I couldn’t help think of the time I would do the same with my grandfather as we ventured out fishing or beach combing the shoreline. The two dogs, Max and Major were loving it, you could tell they really enjoyed getting out in the boat and we were glad to be tagging along.
It was decided due to the wind that day that we would opt for an alternative spot to pull ashore, this gem of a location was second to none, we landed on the north side of Jersey Harbour and right next to the M.V. Home.
I took a walk with my littlest nephew Brandon and we went berry picking, the berries were everywhere. It was like our own personal berry drive thru, blueberries to the right and raspberries to the left. Because of the views all around us, I couldn’t help but to take a moment and reflect upon the fact that people had once lived here some time ago, I was once told that horses once roamed wild and galloped free on the banks of the shoreline, it was indeed a different time, a time I’m sure somebody misses everyday.
We had scallops by the shore, roasted wieners by the fire and marshmallows because come on, you got to have marshmallows. We spent the time combing the beach, exploring the wreckage, and skipping rocks as far as we could.
It was so peaceful there, the ocean was swaying in and out teasing it’s tides and drawing concern the odd moment from the skipper. Time seemed to have stood still, the air was warm and the smell of smoke was therapeutic in a way, it was like the rest of the world was put on pause. Sometimes it’s the small things that give you the most satisfaction in life and it’s unfortunate we don’t take the time to do those things more often.
It was time to pack up and head home, with Brandon assuring that the gas was topped up we began to load up the boat and begin our venture back. The return boat ride was just as beautiful as it was when we left, getting to see the harbour again from that perspective as we steamed along was a moment we surely will not forget, day two proved to be quite rewarding.
What’s one thing that you got to do when you get home? Give up? You got to visit the local “best fries south of everywhere” restaurant. You know, that place with the secret recipe for gravy, no trip home is complete without that. My fiance and I took a seat at a table that was in a place that look exactly like it did when we were teenagers, it was pretty nostalgic. We had the place to ourselves and just talked about our trip up to that point, it was like we were in a time capsule. After taking a look around and while waiting for our food we started to share old stories of the place, so many memories triggered by the smell of chicken fingers dancing around your nose and it smells exactly the same. The food didn’t disappoint and it was just as good as we remembered and now we had the visit to the restaurant checked off our list, so far, so good.
Like I mentioned, I managed to get in two bike rides and the second was by myself, the town was my map and I had no idea where to start. So off I went, I zoomed by the post office, zipped past the bridge that connected both sides of the harbour and decided to head down toward the area where I grew up. I got off the bike for a second and took a picture of my street where I grew up. It looked so small, how could twenty or so kids jam a hockey game in place as tiny as that? The amount of hockey games that took place in the spot pictured below I couldn’t count, but I can certainly recall the Stanley Cup moments we used to relive, good times.
I biked virtually the whole community and if it wasn’t for dark I would have kept going, I knew I wouldn’t get the chance anytime soon so I was getting my fill. It was a beautiful ride and it also proved to be quite the workout as well, there was so much to see and I still didn’t get a chance to see it all.
The bike ride was fun and I got to retrace some of my childhood steps, it was nice to incorporate my current lifestyle into a visit to the small town where I grew up. It has been maybe twenty plus years or more since I was biking the old neighbourhood, I’m happy that I made a point to do it.
On the last night of our trip we went to my brother in law’s cabin, it was about an hour away from the Harbour Breton and for us, it was a hour that we shaved off our trip back to Mount Pearl the following day. The cabin road was modestly marked by two poles that signalled the beginning of the dirt road leading the way to the cabin which was nestled deep in woods overlooking a huge pond, it was a beautiful piece of land. As soon as we pulled up you could notice the abundance of berries that were ready to pick, I took a bunch with my first swipe, how convenient.
As the evening drew near and the sun began to set we started to make a fire, the evening breeze was calm, the flies were staying away and there were s’mores in our future. As mentioned the cabin overlooks a pond that stretches for miles, a loon call in the near distance reminds you that you’re on mother nature’s door step. That night we sang songs and played music with everyone lending their voice to tunes we knew half the words to. The best times are the times that just happen, much like that night, an impromptu song and dance was all we needed to cap off a wonderful retreat.
There was a certain calm about being off the grid, no notifications prompting your attention, no status updates, no city traffic, nothing at all to create stress, just a quiet that was very welcomed…thanks Travis and Juanette.
The morning of the last day of our visit the birds were chirping and the smell of the trees filled my lungs, this was god’s country for sure. I started to imagined throwing it all down and staying in the country forever and living off the land and turning to a life of the bush people, but quickly realised this was me I was referring to. Though, I can’t stress enough the need for experiences like these, we need them, it does wonders for the soul.
We left that cabin that morning feeling happy, a little hungover, but happy. We spent a great night in the woods with our family which had put an great big explanation point our trip home, so with all the goodbyes said, we took to the road and headed back to the city.
When we decided to go home for our vacation this year we had no idea what it would be like, but the one thing is for sure we are so glad we did. The time was spent with family around us, chats of a time gone by and conversations of what’s to come. I used to say that home is relative to where you are, now I stand corrected. Going home to where you were born and raised, you know, there’s a whole familiar feeling that starts to fall over you. Of course you can make happiness anywhere you live in the world but spending a subtle moment to return to where it all began has proven for us that no matter what, home is still home.
A change in the air.
It’s the end of the summer of 2016 and already there is a change in the air, there ‘s a certain nip to the breeze, a indication that fall is around the corner. I took to the bike yesterday and there was a different feel to the evening, it was a good different though for me, I like the fall and a fall in Newfoundland is like no other. The leaves will soon change, the air smells extra clean, fresh and I seem to get the most inspired. I can honestly say that the fall is my best time of the year, I just like the look and feel of everything.
The talk of vacations and travel plans start to dwindle and the Christmas chatter begins to make its way into conversations already with the first person to speak of them to be quickly shunned of course. “It’s too early to talk of those things, didn’t you just get back from summer vacation?”. That may be the case, but you know yourself that time flies and before you know it. Just the other day I received my first Christmas party request for a work function, imagine the first of September and I now thinking about gifts. (Switch topics)
I took a walk just last night and the air was crisp and clean, it made me think of home and growing up, I thought of school nights spent playing with my friends trying to make the best out of the last days of summer that we had left. September was upon us and we’d soon be packing book bags and lining up to get the best seat on the bus, dibs back row. I asked my little nephew Dalton a couple weeks ago about school and before I had the words out of my mouth he goes “don’t even talk about uncle Ash”. I had to laugh because I’ve been there and there no worst feeling than knowing the sands of the summer hour glass were quickly trickling away, I felt for him.
Speaking of school, my daughter is in town for her first year at university, yup, my little girl is about to start a new chapter in her life and she seems to be taking it all in stride. She says she’s excited and I know she will be ok but I can only imagine what must be going through her mind. Ashton, like me, will be coming from a small rural community and I remember it was intimidating to be finally on my own too but I never really felt like I was home sick or never capable of staying the course. I guess with my friends being around and being that some of them were my room mates I felt a sense of security like there were pieces of home with me. She will be rooming with a young lady that is also from her graduating class, so at least she will have a little sense of home with her as well. There’s a lot for her to experience and a time for her to start making her way through life, it will be full of obstacles but she is fully capable of taking care of herself. I can only sit back and watch her become a woman, she will have to learn like we all do, she has a great mind on her shoulders so I confident she’s going to be just fine. This is just another example of this time of year and the changes it brings with it, the fall is synonymous with beginnings from an academic perspective and this is just her’s, stay tuned.
Now if you not worried about school then maybe talks of the breakdown of patio sets or storing of pleasure boats fill the todo lists conversations. I was talking with a coworker the other day who was taking advantage of this last long weekend of the summer to winterise and lock down her cabin, probably the case for a lot this last hurrah of summer. I’m sure there are many families tonight sharing the last of the campfire stories and roasting the final spider wiener with the warm season winding down to an end. I’m glad my family and I had a chance the summer to eat by a fire and take in the beautiful summer night skies, we are lucky to be able to live here.
Nowadays a walk may require a coat, you could very well be rained on more often but this time of year for me is the best, I still like it the most. Summer is cool but this time of year I tend to write more, I usually pick up reading again or at least have more time for it. Summer is busy, it seems like you always have to be doing something when the weather is good. Cue September and something as simple a bbq has lost its luster because for the last three months it seems that’s all we’ve been eating, so I’m glad for the change. Fall is rich in tone, it was my grandfathers favourite season too, he loved it, I remember vividly of the smell of freshly cut trees as he would saw the wood that was needed to fuel the stove for the colds nights to come. The air would cut through me and the saw dust would get in my boots but there was something about that fragrance of autumn that made you feel good that you were alive, I miss my pop, but that moment makes me smile.
So, wrap your plants, school’s in, and I saw Halloween decorations just two days ago, summer may be over but it’s time to embrace the fall. What do you like about the fall of the year, any memories come swarming back?, Any projects on your horizon?, leave a remark in the comments below and share.
That old rocking chair
A whistle from another room, a few words of a song,
I would hear your voice and come running along.
I jump into your lap, frighten you with cheer,
You would simply caress my back and say “oh dear”.
“Where are you going?” you would always ask,
“Don’t know my father I just have time to pass.”
“Be careful and steer clear of trouble he would often warn,
Watching over me from the very day that I was born.
Sleeping as he rocked so many times he did,
I would play fun and steal the hat for his balding head.
Not a word of scorn was ever cast my way,
Not at the beginning, not even your last day.
That rocking chair sits still, how I miss your song,
I feel all alone where do I belong?
I know you wish the best for me to live a happy life and do what I can,
Raise a family of my own and be a good man.
You are my true father as I am your son,
I will continue your wishes your every one.
I will be the man you hoped I’d become,
to honor your name I have already begun.
I am beginning to see that your spirit lives on,
So I will dry my tears and then move on.
I’m not sad anymore I feel your right here,
Singing that song, in that old rocking chair.
Board much??
I did something last night that I haven’t done in quite some time and that was play a board game, I didn’t need batteries, there were no wires, and I certainly didn’t need to be in WiFi range, just some old school board gaming fun. Gaming consoles, computers, and hand-held devices usually take precedent over more tradition forms of family leisure that we’ve forgotten how much fun a simple board game can be. That said, I do know of friends and family members who still make board games a staple in their entertainment arsenal but I bet there are more that don’t. Growing up I would always have a few board games scribbled down on my list for Santa, they usually would come as a secondary gift or maybe that gift from an aunt or uncle, but like a lot of things over time, I just grew out of playing them on a consistent basis.
Whether you still play board games or not, they do have a certain appeal to them, they are nostalgic, reminiscent of Saturday night battles with your parents for household dominance, and of course the bragging rights that usually lasted a couple of days were the icing on the cake. Although it takes a lot sometimes to dig them out of the inner bowels of the dingy part of the basement, or maybe the cobwebbed corners of the attic, but once dusted off and all pieces are accounted for, they can create some of the most fun filled nights with the people you enjoy spending time with. The occasions in which I have spent time playing board games have always been a pleasant experience with friends becoming foes and couples taking jabs at each other all in good fun. Some games require little to no prior experience as they are familiar to most of us but then there are other newer games that may need a dry run or two, each and all with their own degree of challenge.
Board games are great ways to reconnect with friends and/or family that you haven’t spent time with in awhile, there’s no “what time do we show up?”, there’s no perfect outfit to wear, there’s no “what do I need to bring for food?” none of those typical internal debate type scenarios that come with planning a fun night. No, you just need everyone sitting around the kitchen table or claiming a spot on the couch in the living room and once you Google pizza, scratch food off the list. It is that easy, and they make for some of the best nights out and easier on the pocketbook I might add. Because we have so much going on in our everyday lives that a night out is welcomed in most cases, but like I have said, sometimes a night out can also be stressful as to where to go and what to do. Unfortunately, an option that rarely makes that list is to simply stay in, that’s right, pick up a good bottle of wine, make sure you have plenty of snacks and oh yeah, don’t block the scoreboard. My cousin, a game connoisseur, actually makes a point to collect games and from time to time he invites us over for an evening of board game bliss. He picks the titles at random, once situated he helps us with few turns around the board, but then that’s it, we are now supposedly ready to defend, capture or quiz, all on our own.
Yes, some games are simple in concept but there are others that require intellect, strategy and know how. If you are a pop culture fanatic, well that’s huge with some genres, patience is a vital asset when determining when to strike or when to make that game changing move that shakes things up. Consider yourself a trivia buff? Well, you will definitely be a hot commodity in the team picking stage. It’s fun watching as couples use their partners as allies or completely throw them under the bus because they didn’t pay attention to the board and now the other has the upper hand, too bad, now it’s their turn, “no do over’s”.
The contents of the games themselves are for me a fun part of the experience, those little pieces are so cool to play with, your inner child just screaming inside. Elements of the game make the game stand out like play money, meticulously carved game pieces, and the dice, they all give the game character and create that certain type of atmosphere each time you play. Many games are very educational and are best shared with your children, for them leaning becomes fun, and for you a great bonding experience that lasts forever.
The next time you’re scratching your head and racking your brain for something to do, or you just need an excuse to get together, break out the board games. Keeping it simple sometimes can allow for some memorable moments with the people you love, and the people you love to beat. Make sure to stop on the way back from work or school, grab that beverage of choice, leave the wings on the counter to defrost and prepare for a night of “go back two spaces” or “who was Robin Hood’s girlfriend for $400.00”.
Game on!!
Earth To Ash 