Morning Coffee at 'Chez Jessie'
Mike, Katy & I spent this past weekend up in Canada and as always it was a busy but fun weekend. We stayed at Jessica's house in her 'Guest Suite' - very comfy. She has turned the Master Bedroom into the Family / Guest room and it works out so well. As a guest, you are treated to a private bedroom & bathroom, a large sitting area and of course, your own TV and Wii. Top Notch! Thanks again, Jessica & Aidan.
Every morning I had coffee out on the patio and although the weather was not as sunny & bright as it has been - it was still pretty warm.
There is just something about patio's, birds chirping and morning coffee that is an undeniably wonderful combination ...
Doug & Kathryn were also over for the weekend to visit Dad and they invited Dad, Katy, Mike & I to go out to lunch on Saturday with them & Kathryn's Mom & Dad. Dad treated everyone to a great lunch at Character's restaurant (Thanks Dad!) and we all had a very relaxing & lovely time visiting each other.
Kathryn's Dad, Al, has just recently bought himself a scooter and since Character's is just a 'scoot' away from both of them - they made plans to meet up there for lunch one day.
It was definitely the 'Weekend of Meals' because on Saturday night we all met up at Cathy & Wayne's place for some birthday pizza & catch-up! Happy Belated Birthday Wayne!
Sunday morning Mike treated (Thanks Mike!) Doug, Kathryn, Katy, Jessica, Dad & myself to breakfast at Ricky's,
After breakfast we all headed out to Cloverdale to take flowers to Mom's grave and visit her for awhile.
It was a cool but clear morning and while it was hard to visit her there - it was strangely comforting at the same time. I know that she is with me all the time but being so near to her brought me peace.
It makes my heart feel good to know that she is resting in such a beautiful spot - a spot that she picked out because it brought her home ... home to the farm, to the house & home that she loved so much.
It was nice.
Cheung's Corner Store - a Surrey Center Landmark!
On the way to the cemetery we passed by Cheung's Cornerstore!
Think Willy Wonka! Think Penny Candy! Mojo's, Bazooka Bubble Gum, Pixie Stix's!
Think 2 for a penny or 3 for a nickel! Think Sugar Rush! Think White Gold - refined sugar! That's what I think of when I think of Cheung's ...
While little else at the top of hill in Surrey Center has remained the same - there still sits Cheung's - the same little ratty-tatty store - nestled amid the bazillion new houses that have overtaken the wooded lots and empty fields of my childhood. But still, as soon as I saw it ...it felt like coming home.
It really is amazing how LITTLE it has changed in the last 25 -30 years! I have no idea if the Cheung family still owns it but I love the fact that the name is still the same.
I think it should be registered as a Historic Landmark. Let's start a petition before someone buys it and tears it down.
Since I was feeling all sentimental & nostalgic, I asked Mike to head down to the border crossing via 168th Street so I could catch a glimpse of my childhood, my heritage - our family farm.
And no, I don't live physically live there anymore - I haven't for a long, long time but it is still where my childhood lives.
Someone else may now live in that house and plow those fields but it will always be my Home Sweet Home.
While I can't remember what I had for breakfast yesterday or the last movie I went to ... I can still recall my life on that farm in vivid detail. I love this farm and as sat on the side of the road and looked into the sun-porch (or fish bowl as we often called it) I could literally see us all out there - having lunch together. Dirty fingernails, sun-burnt faces and all ...
That sun-room, over time, replaced the nook to became the 'heart' of our home, our 'war room', our gathering place - our family touchstone! Yep, we ate many a meal out there, shared many a laugh & probably even cried a few tears out there, but, much to my Mother's chagrin - we N.E.V.E.R EVER celebrated a family Christmas out there.
What can I say ... sometimes majority DOES rule (LOL) !!!
But, more than almost anything else - it is these two beautiful old historic trees that hold my childhood - cradling it gently within their branches.
I know that these trees hold the memories of those that lived here long before me as well as those that lived here with me, and even those who will come to live here years from now.
I love that I share this tree with so many - I cherish this thought because I know that that each year these trees live they will continue to grow a little bigger and a little stronger and their branches will reach out a little further - enabling them to hold even more memories.
I am part of these trees & they are a part of me.
Strong, silent & solid, planted deep within their old & tangled roots live all my childhood memories, secrets & dreams and through these roots - I am still a part of this land.
These roots are my farm - these trees are my family trees.
If what I say resonates with
you, it is merely
because we are both branches on the same tree.
- W.. B . Yeats
