The husband and I are up near Ottawa visiting my family. Both by brothers and their kids are in town.
Until this trip, I've visited my parents rather tactically-- get in, spend a few days, leave. I've never explored the place since I moved away 30 years ago.
I didn't have fond memories of my home town. It wasn't a bad place. It wasn't my place. Now that I'm playing tour guide to the husband, I see it through different eyes.
There are many small lakes with small beaches. The water is very swimmable. This is a big contrast t to Seattle where there are few large beaches and the water is on the cold side.
The rivers and the rapids are sight to behold. We spent an afternoon walking along some of the larger rapids.
The local cuisine is based on fries and gravy. There are fry trucks everywhere. Each selling their own variation of poutine. At restaurants you can order sandwiches "hot"-- with gravy. So a hot hamburger sandwich is a hamburger patty, between two slices of bread, smothered with gravy. It will come with a side of fries and gravy of course.
It's good to spend time with my brothers and their wives and kids. When I travel here alone, I feel obligated to spend a lot of time with my parents. There is no break. With the whole family around, it's easy to move from room to room, from conversation to conversation. Spend a little time with some of the wives, then chat with my parents, then chat with a brother, then hang out with the kids who will ignore me why they listen to music or play games.
Both my brothers have lippy know-it-all moments. I wonder where that came from. I wonder how much that is in me.
At the end of the day, I'm really enjoying myself here.
Until this trip, I've visited my parents rather tactically-- get in, spend a few days, leave. I've never explored the place since I moved away 30 years ago.
I didn't have fond memories of my home town. It wasn't a bad place. It wasn't my place. Now that I'm playing tour guide to the husband, I see it through different eyes.
There are many small lakes with small beaches. The water is very swimmable. This is a big contrast t to Seattle where there are few large beaches and the water is on the cold side.
The rivers and the rapids are sight to behold. We spent an afternoon walking along some of the larger rapids.
The local cuisine is based on fries and gravy. There are fry trucks everywhere. Each selling their own variation of poutine. At restaurants you can order sandwiches "hot"-- with gravy. So a hot hamburger sandwich is a hamburger patty, between two slices of bread, smothered with gravy. It will come with a side of fries and gravy of course.
It's good to spend time with my brothers and their wives and kids. When I travel here alone, I feel obligated to spend a lot of time with my parents. There is no break. With the whole family around, it's easy to move from room to room, from conversation to conversation. Spend a little time with some of the wives, then chat with my parents, then chat with a brother, then hang out with the kids who will ignore me why they listen to music or play games.
Both my brothers have lippy know-it-all moments. I wonder where that came from. I wonder how much that is in me.
At the end of the day, I'm really enjoying myself here.
1 comment:
What a great time..... and to have parents still alive... with siblings and spouses, nieces and nephews... and a Husband in tow....
You my Friend are So Very Blessed....!!!!
Enjoy the small Moments.... !!!
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