Letters from Corner Brook Week 18

All of a sudden the days seem to be going so fast, it’s not possible to keep up. Always happens. Of course, the anniversary trip begins Thursday 31st - and there are so many things to be done ahead.

Couldn't resist putting in one more picture of the Blomidon Mountains - just such a spectacular view......

Well, first, the jeweller called to say the wedding ring was done, the diamond resetting almost done, and one more resetting to finish. So the wedding band which was cut off for surgery five years ago is now back in one piece again.....

Then, got lots of little odds and ends done, planning services for the Easter season. All services are planned, and little by little the pieces come together.

Wednesday I met a friend for lunch, and tried a new restaurant - Gitano’s - hidden away in a strip mall near the mill. Their chicken curry crepe special was to die for - and real rice! Not Uncle Ben’s or minute rice, but real basmati. Impressive. Another place to remember.

Wednesday evening a home visit was scheduled, to meet with a family about baptism. They have been associated with the church on and off, and talked quite frankly about not being great attenders, but then asking the church to do something like a wedding or a baptism. But they also said church is important even if they aren’t there every week. I think sometimes in our cynicism we forget that even if people are not always right there, it doesn’t mean it isn’t important. We need to remember that everyone has needs, on many levels. It was a wonderful visit; the 3-year old wasn’t shy at all, and the little girl we are baptising is the sweetest tiny thing. When they found out I’d never tried moose sausage, out came several packs from the freezer. So Fran’s freezer now holds two packs of English bangers, two Oktoberfest, and one Wild Game. Had one for breakfast Thursday morning, and they are really, really good.

After the office Thursday morning, went to the hairdresser for the pre-cruise update. The hairdresser is a member of the congregation. Colour job over, we went upstairs for dinner (dinner here is at noon). Fish and Brewis - the real Newfie variety with salt cod, potatoes and ship’s biscuit boiled (that’s the brewis) - and nice fried onions all over the top - plus incredible dessert. Went straight to the track for a 45-minute walk....

Tonight another parishioner called - he was on his way by and had some fresh trout. This gentleman goes into the woods every Sunday night to the cabin, and does hunting or fishing - comes back on Wednesday. I teased him about the trout, and the response was “You loikes trout?” “Yis,b’y” says I “I loikes trout!” Well, late evening snack - delivered right to the door - two fillets of fresh trout cooked with herbs and lemon juice...after the huge noon dinner, wasn’t very hungry, so some nice trout just hit the spot. Mmmmmm.

Friday spent the day running more errands, and baking cookies to take on the ship. The usual cookie-baking..Friday evening - yes, more food. Out with my two colleagues to the local pub for dinner - ribs and wings, and a pint of beer. It was good to just kick back and talk about everything but church. Not that church isn’t good, it’s just that we clergy can fall into the trap of talking about it all the time....

Saturday - Earth Hour! Corner Brook did well - looking out the window, other than the necessary street lights (and it was snowing so they were really needed) Corner Brook was pretty dark. Had some friends in, and it was lovely to sit with candles for a couple of hours and talk. Lots of fun.

Sunday - baptism in church, and the dedication of prayer shawls. These have been made by the women of the church, and are going to the cancer unit in the hospital. So the last picture here is the amazing and beautiful collection of shawls.

As of Thursday this week, the long-awaited anniversary trip - two years in the making - begins. There may be periodic updates, but for sure there will be something upon our return. Easter in Portugal! This will be a new experience......

Letters from Corner Brook Week 17

Well, what a week! And what a roller coaster ride. As the news of the point 9 earthquake and subsequent tsunami in Japan spread, life almost came to a standstill here as well. Norio in Toronto spent a couple of days trying to reach his mother. I was able to reach our son, and be assured that they got a good shaking but little more. On top of emails, worrying about students over there, friends and family, he was called for interviews - and had a hectic and tiring week. Not to mention depressing and emotional.

Now, technically I know that both Dennis and Mother would be OK. They live several hundred kilometres from the centre of the devastation, but there is concern nonetheless. Plus there were friends in Sendai, and in the town of Hachinohe, not far from there. The pictures of the tsunami were so horrifying that one could be forgiven for believing the whole town was gone. Indeed many of the smaller villages are gone. The train line goes right along the coast beside the ocean. But in actual fact, much of Sendai is well back from the water - albeit on a small strip of land between sea and mountains, and there are alternate routes for travel. So our friends report that the homes are damaged but standing, no heat, little food; Tohoku University in Sendai was seriously damaged by the quake.

Over the week, both Norio and I received numerous phone calls, emails and messages from friends all over the world who were concerned. It was helpful to know that so many people made contact. By Thursday Norio heard from the last friends we had tried to contact, as well as some of his former students living there. They are well, if a little cold and hungry, and some are on their way home.

Monday I went for a long walk around the pond and the stream trail in Corner Brook, Tuesday walking at the Pepsi Centre, and Tuesday afternoon completely crashed and burned. Finally decided it was low blood sugar, from not keeping up eating properly, combined with the underlying anxiety.
By Wednesday things were back to normal, and I went out to dinner and to a movie with a friend - went to see “Rango”, and if you haven’t seen it, do. It’s funny but there is also a strong underlying theme about co-existence, collaboration, and the interdependence of everything. Most enjoyable.

Life in the church goes on, and this particular week also had its serious lows, requiring some rethinking about relationships with colleagues, and drawing some different boundaries. The stress of Japan didn’t help, for sure. Life is one long learning experience.

So there is little to say this week, except thank you all for your expressions of concern and caring. It has meant a lot.

Norio and I are off April 1, to Miami, and from there pick up the Liberty of the Seas - sailing to Nassau, Tenerife, Malaga, Seville and Valencia before docking in Barcelona. We’ve rented a car, and will be driving to Moncarapacho in Portugal, near the sea - and renting a house from the “Singing Captain”, former Royal Caribbean captain Kent Ringborn and his wife Inge. We are looking forward to being on the ocean, in the sun and sand, seeing some different places, and celebrating 40 years together. So likely this particular blog won’t appear until the beginning of May. However, as we have access to internet I will keep you up to date on the travels, and yet more new experiences.

...and since we celebrated St. Patrick’s Day this week - Slainte!

Letters from Corner Brook Week 16

I can’t keep up with how the time goes! Just a blink, another week gone by, and the beginning of Lent!

I left off last Saturday with a friend dropping in - and this is really a typical snapshot of Newfoundland. So let me back up. My colleague Myles Vardy was a mechanic and welder before entering ministry, and had already offered to see if he could repair that big piece of plastic which fell off my car. Saturday morning, a message - couldn’t find the house on Friday. So After emailing directions, I thought “I bet anything he’s going to come on his way back from skiing.” So, got dressed, made the bed, vacuumed, cleaned the kitchen and bathroom, and then sat down to finish the sermon. Got up to go put my face on, and the doorbell rang....good thing I’d got dressed! He “could probably fix the car”. I’d made an appointment for Monday with the garage, I said. “I could take the car to his garage”- because he didn’t want me getting soaked by some unscrupulous repair shop just to put a plastic piece back on. Well, maybe I am too much of a worry wart, but I had visions of the jack buckling and him being flattened by my car - something for which I could never forgive myself. Don’t want to maim - or worse - lose a good friend and colleague only four short months into this ministry! I also have these same worries whenever Norio or my sons get under a car....nothing ever happens, but there it is. A worry wart....

But, this is *such* a typical Newfoundland story. People grew up here in tiny and remote communities where everyone just naturally helped everyone else. By and large, that hasn’t changed. If someone can do something for you they will. It’s just the way - and it’s one of the things I love about Newfoundland and living here.

Remember I also said it would probably be a good idea do my face and be dressed even when home larking about???? Note to self: first thing up in the morning, face goes on. While I don’t look bad for 65, there is a heck of a lot to be said for makeup.

Sunday news: “Flat Stanley” is coming to one of my parishioners - so we’re going to take him around Corner Brook and take pics. Stay tuned!!!!! Boy, photo op with Leif the Lucky, and now Flat Stanley!

Monday the car went in to the “car doctor”. I have been lucky to find a really good place to take the car, - well, they were recommended by several people, I didn’t find them myself. Left the car, and Nancy, our church administrator, picked me up as it’s right on the way to the church. Morning in the office cleaning up the desk, and starting to set up the new computer. We wonder if I might be able to use the tower from the old computer with a little upgrading and a new monitor....but I think probably not without a fair bit of upgrading...not worth it.

Then, back to the car doctor, to find that they repaired the piece and reattached it to the car, and charged $46.50 parts and labour. Just a couple of minutes from there, is a member of the congregation who just turned 90 - had a broken hip and just got home from hospital. That’s the next stop. I know she wanted a longer visit, but she’s just tired enough yet that I didn’t want to wear her out. That’s one which will need regular visits. She’s lived in that house for 65 years! Worked in Toronto for awhile, then back to Corner Brook to raise a family. Amazing!

Tuesday morning, for some reason I am awake *before* the crack of dawn - as in 6 am. The alarm is set for 6:30, as I am meeting friends for breakfast at St. John the Evangelist downtown; breakfast to raise funds to support the homeless. I whip to the office with Sunday’s bulletin all done and some music for Sunday, then downtown again by 7:15. Wait close to 15 minutes, friends don’t arrive so I decide to go in and start. Sure enough, just as I sit down to eat, they come in. Great breakfast of pancakes and sausages, juice, coffee and yogurt for $5.00. At 7: 3o there aren’t many people there - by the time we leave at 8:30 the place is packed. Good to see.

Then we are on up to the Pepsi Centre to walk the track - I do 5 km, which is not bad considering I am normally not even conscious at that time of the morning.

Corner Brook weather never ceases to amaze - it’s been warm and raining, water flowing down the hill streets in sheets and rivulets. As I arrive home, snow is starting, alternating with sunny periods....but spring is in the air, and there were patches of green grass in one or two places.

Well, this was supposed to be a “reading week” to prepare services for the Lent-Easter season, since Norio and I are off on a trip. Coincidentally I have a sore tonsil and stuffy nose, so staying in by the fire is a good idea. The warm weather has disappeared, and it’s now decidedly brisk outside again. Wednesday and Thursday are really focused work days, with six services prepared. The only remaining ones are the Tuesday evening in Holy Week, and a joint Good Friday service.

Since we aren't doing an Ash Wednesday service here, I've decided to do ashes on Sunday morning. One problem - can't find my ashes. Dash to the Anglican Book Room. No ashes but they know that the priest has some left from last year. Run upstairs to his office, and yes indeed he does have ashes and is glad to share. Whew! One more thing out of the way.....and the breakfast to raise funds for homeless care here in Corner Brook fed more than 400 people. I am sure some people popped in more than $5, so they have done really well. Once again, I am amazed by how people just turn out to support any of these things - no matter when or where.

Saturday: temps make it up to the double digits and it’s really warm and beautiful. Water once again rolling down the streets, and a good half the snow is gone. First stop is the jewellers. Five years ago my gold wedding ring had to be cut off for surgery, and I just never got around to getting it resized. There is also a diamond ring Norio bought in 1973 in Viet Nam, which a couple of years ago went through the washing machine in the pocket of the housecoat of Yrs. Truly. Diamond was fine but the setting got flattened and cracked. So the wedding ring is being resized, and the diamond set in gold to match; the other setting will have a moonstone put in. Then it’s up to Wal Mart for a photo for international driver’s licence, which requires passport quality photos. Well, these are passport quality all right! They turn out so bad they are scary....look like someone just released from prison, and no I won’t put them out here!!!!!

The afternoon is spent relaxing - the “girls” get together .....good thing most of the sermon is done. Pea soup or turkey soup with dumplings, quiche, fruit salad, cake and cookies. Just a small afternoon nosh. - and a photo of the “girls” - Christine, Madonna, Donna, Pauline and Diane.

Way back I remember saying I’d get a photo of a beautiful cat with big blue eyes - remembered to do that. So the cat's photo opens this week - he is a gorgeous big boy.



...oh yes! Flat Stanley, who is visiting Donna this week. He’ll be in church tomorrow, and we’ll be sure to get a pic of Stanley there.

So ends Week 16.....

Letter from Corner Brook Week 15

Looking over the blog, I realise the numbering got mixed up....so that’s been fixed and *this* is really Week 15.

Saturday morning when this left off, the wonderful weather in the Maritimes had gone from pouring rain to a driving blizzard in five minutes flat. The breakfast at First United which has been on my schedule, is no longer on the schedule - not even trying to drive in that weather. Oh, they went ahead, and 100 hardy people came out, but there are some things I am not going to try, and one is getting back up this hill. Good thing too, as the plow came around and left a pile of mushy wet snow which immediately froze solid. Discretion being the better part of driving, I decide to stay in for the day.

One of the last Winter Carnival activities, “Shave for the Brave”, a fundraiser for young women with cancer, is rescheduled from Saturday afternoon to Sunday afternoon. Of course, Humber United has its Annual Congregational meeting after church, so although one of my congregation is brave enough to shave, I can’t get there.

Excellent morning service, although a smaller group than the week before. Some are more than likely snowed in again - it’s the way things are here. Nevertheless, an enthusiastic crowd who stay for a great potluck and the Annual Meeting. It’s also a great meeting, some of the key vacancies filled, and predictions of a good year.

However, I am exhausted after the day, and fade off to bed by 9:30.

So Monday is a new day, and mercifully not snowing. The giant snowblower comes around, and presto! We have a larger heap of snow in front of the house again. The mailbox which now resides IN the snowbank across the road gets buried, and then reappears. I’m sure the postal delivery workers are used to it - but it’s just funny....

So it’s a day of shopping, errands, and then home to do some work. Still getting used to a system where the choir rehearses on Tuesday and the administrator isn’t in Friday - so bulletin has to be done early in the week.

Since Monday was a provincial holiday, I was told to take Tuesday off. I did :-) - and it was a good thing because it was a terrible day. Nice day to be in by the fire.

Good news!!! The church authorised funds to buy a new computer - and on Wednesday we bought one. It sits in the office now - waiting to be assembled and booted. Wireless internet access in the office - finally! There will be a “passing out” ceremony for the old dinosaur, a good burial, and Humber United will enter the 21st century - there will even be a website.

So Thursday turns out to be another one of those snowy stormy days. The plow comes by twice, so that when it’s time to go out for Session meeting, there is a heap of stuff - wet, slushy, gooey, heavy snow. Nevertheless, Yrs. Truly shovels out and gets to the meeting.

Coming back home, more shovelling and clearing. I get the driveway nicely done, good smooth surface, no lumps or bumps. Turn to back in, whip the car around, and ....

KATHUNK!!

Oh (thinks Yrs. Truly) that big chunk of ice finally fell off. Get out to look and THERE’S A WHOLE PIECE OF THE CAR LYING THERE!!!! Oh goodie! Now, I am ‘au courant’ with cars enough to know that this is not a critical piece of car, in terms of daily functioning. Nevertheless, it’s pretty obvious that driving through the sand/salt/snow mush on the road for a long period would not be good, either.

Meanwhile, I’ve made an appointment for Friday evening with an old acquaintance who is in town for meetings - to have coffee and maybe supper - before going to the World Day of Prayer service. Then there’s the Men’s Club Friday soup lunch as well, which I don’t want to miss. But the car can’t be fixed Friday, and the less it’s driven the better. Now what? So, first regretfully leave a message for my friend that the evening appointment is off.

This is Newfoundland and I already have great friends here. Pauline to the rescue, and a ride to lunch at the church. This time the men have: pea soup with dumplings, chicken, turkey, and moose (all made by the men): and a choice of lemon, coconut cream, or strawberry rhubarb pie (made by the wives) with tea and coffee, for the tiny price of $6.00. I decide to try the moose soup - and what a choice! Chock full of rich meat and veggies - literally the best soup I’ve eaten in my life. - and followed by two pieces of lemon meringue pie. I am told that it all depends on how old the moose is. Well, this had to be a really good moose.....

World Day of Prayer service was well attended, with a good choir of women. My colleague, Myles, did a quick pinch-hit, since the requested speaker apparently never got back to the organisers at all. Nevertheless, it’s a good service and good sermon.

...and so it’s Saturday again. House is clean, sermon is done by noon (well, mainly because I recycled one), a friend drops in - and the afternoon is done.

So ends week 15 -