blog
There it was, an unusual surprise call from sister Marian on
a cold winter night here in Canada. She is asking me if by chance
I would like to have an old table and chairs that Mom and Dad
had probably purchased about l940. Sure, how could I refuse,
being a bit of a pack rat and also liking older collectibles this
sounded like a great idea. And it meant having something special.
The table and chairs stayed with our family until Dad passed on
and Mom moved into a seniors facility. She decided a smaller set would suffice. By some coincidence a cousin of Marians
husband was in dire need of a table and chairs. So this gent (Jim)
used the set about 3 years then passed on. His wife married an
older man and did not need the table and chairs but their daughter Cathy sure did so it went over to Cathy until about
the Christmas of 2009 at which time she phoned Marian and
inquired about returning the table and chairs and said they were
still in excellent shape. And then again, the phone call to me...
So off in the dodge half ton (badly in need of a wash) to pick up
a table and four chairs. And in the process of picking these up
memories were also collected just driving through the old
neighborhood. The Avalon Threatre and Prins Electric are gone.
Dirt roads paved and a neighborhood transformed. I thought
about walking to school and cooking corn cobs in the autumn,
watching brother Ted rehearse with his band and sister Doris
smooching with a handsome fellow who wore an Air Force uniform. And watching myself grow up. And now, years later
here I am driving back in the neighborhood to pick up a table
and chairs that have surely stood the test of time. Still in fine
shape. Whats that expression: "Where does time go?"
Well, sister Marian and her husband Mike raised four lovely
daughters and remained in the same area, likewise with brother
Ted and Doris married the handsome fellow in the Air Force
uniform and they spent time in Germany and now live in
Saskatchewan. Everyone in the family (except this cowboy)
are in their seventies now or close to. And I realize time is
moving on and that we shall all end up in someones picture
collection someday. Memories for most families are
bittersweet but as someone said, all is good.
Now if I can be in as good shape as that old table and chairs
I suppose I shall not complain. And there it is, just a story of
some old chairs and a table. Perhaps it just means we must
not lose sight of the past and be caring and sharing people,
learning and loving and sometimes even forgiving. Life is
a journey through time and together we can make it
special and the good Lord willing, life can take us places
and bring us back, like the old table and chairs.