This weekend in Canada is our Thanksgiving weekend. While our American friends celebrate Thanksgiving at the end of November, we typically celebrate the second weekend of October.
The Monday of the weekend is a statutory holiday (yay long weekend!) and traditionally there’s a feast of turkey dinner and other traditional treats depending on where you live or what your family enjoys.
It’s been so humid today that it’s reminding me of a recent sighting weeks ago while strolling in downtown St. John’s.
On Sunday, my cousin Megan is getting married. We’re all pretty excited because on my mom’s side of the family, there are only six “kids/grandchildren” amongst my mom and her two sisters. My grandparents are very proud of all of us and seeing a granddaughter get married is definitely on the list of proud moments for a grandparent.
I didn’t realize it until today, but the last time we were all at a wedding was mine six years ago! I also realize that I don’t have a photo with my cousins from my wedding, but I am happy to say that we started taking a group photo with my grandparents the following year at Christmas (and I’ll share that some other day perhaps).
I think we’re celebrating Nanny’s birthday in 1989.
L-R: Me, Nanny, Laura, Adam, Steven, and Megan. Standing in the back: Keith.
Growing up, the six of us were primarily in the St. John’s surrounding area and therefore saw each other on a regular basis (and very frequently in the spring when we have a lot of birthdays in the span of about three weeks… I’m not one to get tired of birthday cake but you probably would have if you were hanging out with us back then since everyone usually had their own cake!
Yes, we’re all growing up and because I’m the second eldest of the cousins (my brother being the most senior), I’m really feeling that my years are starting to stack up. My little cousins aren’t so little anymore. It’s really quite shocking at times. But I’m really proud of them all.
Unfortunately not all of us will be here for the wedding on Sunday, but it doesn’t mean we won’t all be together in spirit.
That’s how our family rolls – no matter where you are or how far away it may seem, you’re still with us during the important times and we’re always thinking of you. :)
As I mentioned last week, it was 14 years ago that I went on a Guiding trip that allowed me to stay at two of the four World Centres of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS).
Stacey and I posing at Stonehenge, Aug. 1999
Even though we were in the United Kingdom (and primarily London) for barely three days, we did manage to get a lot done. We saw the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace (which by the way was amazing to see up close and behind the gates!), we saw the musical Rent!, ran around London seeing lots of regular touristy things like London Bridge, Big Ben, etc.
We also made a special trip to Stonehenge.
I have to say, it was amazing and I’m so glad we went there! It’s definitely a big tourist attraction for the area and rightfully so. The entire area has a different feel and you can sense the history; the land simply breathes it. To see it in person was fantastic and I hope to go there again someday with Matt (and kids too if we make it a family trip).
London, Aug. 1999
I can’t believe it’s been about 14 years since I went on a Guiding trip to the United Kingdom and Switzerland. It was a trip first planned during our last year of Pathfinders and the trip itself was in the summer of 1999 as some of us were finishing up as Rangers.
Stacey, one of my best friends, was amongst our small group of that consisted of four girls and two adult leaders. We went to London for just a few days and stayed at Pax Lodge as a hostel. We then flew to Switzerland and stayed at Our Chalet for a full week.
I remember being amazed at the size of London and how many people that were constantly coming and going. Yes I had been to come big cities like Toronto, but this was a completely different experience.
Although our time in London was very short, there are some great memories from those couple of days, including an epic search for a specific theatre so that us four young ladies could go see the musical Rent! Our leaders, Joan and Liz had other things they wanted to do so we set off on our own in the very big city. We ended up getting a little lost and even had our map start to fall apart. Ha ha. But we made it to the show on time and without any major problems. To this day, Rent! is still my favourite musical.
It was an amazing trip and I’m very thankful to have had the opportunity to go when I was only 18. My parents had a lot of faith in me and obviously were the reason I could financially pull it off. Thanks again Mom and Dad!
Next week, a photo from this same trip, but when we visited Stonehenge for the day.