emails, travels, scuba diver, hats, radio

The boys were loaded into Gord's car on Friday afternoon in North Battleford and I sped back to Saskatoon on the Yellowhead highway. There was plenty of traffic going both ways and I was almost in two accidents caused by 1) stupid mr speedy and 2) picking-something-up-off-floor person. They were miraculous avoidances, which I suppose they all must seem to be when it happens to you. I say there might well be an angel on my side. That or I have a horseshoe up my ass. Which would you prefer, if it were you?

I often get my words mixed up. Sometimes I even do it on purpose; it gets the boys going. When dropping them off I said "Don't forget to remind Email to send me an Emil." Everett thought that was the funniest thing he ever heard.

Saturday night

Hi Mom,
 I nearly forgot to email you today. Poppa did something kind of stupid today. He was messing around with stuff and walking around when he walked on his satellite remote. There was an ear wrenching cruch. He swore so much because he broke the green chip thingy. Now we have to change channels using the buttons on the receiver.
 Everett
 And now some stuff from Email!!!!!!!
 
Hi mom We saw uncle Russ today.  We saw Cameron today.    from Emil

Hi my sweeties,

Scott and I just got home from Kelvington. We had supper at Tanya's and afterward I went to see Grandma and take her some flowers. Before we came home we went to Golden Grain Farm to get some wood, and almost got stuck in the driveway. Good thing Scott was driving.

Lynn is here (staying at Pat and Ivan's) with Ryan, Brenda and their kids - Ryley, Mia and Sofia. Laurel and Devon are down from Denare Beach; they're staying at Tanya's. Randall is there too. Stephen is home this weekend also.

Sorry to hear about the satellite remote; that sucks.

What do you think of Uncle Bum's long hair? Does he really look like Dog the Bounty Hunter?

Well I haven't had Scott all to myself since getting home late this afternoon so I think I'll go downstairs, open up a bag of potato chips and watch a little TV with him if he's not snoring yet.

Love,
Mom

ps Gord has a picture of Jordan's new puppy.

***
Sunday morning
On this side of Quill Lake I saw a man in the ditch, walking, wearing a scuba suit and face mask. Is this a little strange to see alongside a country road in Saskatchewan? Yes. However, this is one of our neighbours who is obsessed with swimming through culverts. Someone should tell him about the people who explore water-filled caves and fit themselves through tiny openings. The idea of it scares the hell out of me, but I bet it would be right up this guy’s alley.

~
Does anyone remember those little “hats” we girls used to wear in the wintertime, back in the sixties? As I recall, they were about one foot long and three inches wide, and tied under your chin. They kept your ears warm. I have not seen one of those for 40 years. Does anyone know what they were called? And I wonder why little girls don’t wear them anymore; they’d work like the dickens.

~

Did you know that ice cubes kept in a paper bag do not stick together? (thankyou little kath, lab whiz)

~

I listen to CBC radio and hear all kinds of fascinating things. On the local show, Blue Sky, there was this:

- a book to look up, The Staircase Letters

- a website created by palliative care worker Stephen Jenkins, http://www.orphanwisdom.com

- The Three-Man Factor, about that unseen person with you when you find yourself in dangerous situations; many people have experienced this presence.

After the author was interviewed, listeners phoned in to tell their own stories. I had just arrived at the Co-op store parking lot but there was no way I was missing this. I took off my jacket and picked up all the papers from the floor of the van. Then I tidied up a little more before sitting down in the shady back with my feet resting on the front armrests  in the warm sunshine, and watched people coming and going in the parking lot. It was fascinating to hear what has happened to people. Remind me to tell you the story about the gosling ... better yet, I am sure they are replaying the program today between one and two o'clock. You could listen to it on CBC Radio 540 but does anyone ever do the online radio thing? I can't because of my dialup.

~ I was surprised that so many people are still using plastic bags.

~ The graveyard photo above is one of Aunt Alma's. Everett and I took my boxes of photos and albums over to GG Farm so I can't find it and see if she wrote anything on the back. I'd guess it's taken in the Yukon. There is a similar graveyard at the Batoche historic site.