Spirit of its Own

Updated: Sunday Aug 15th

A SPIRIT OF ITS OWN

So much to talk about, so little time to talk about it. It's Sunday morning, it's warm outside, still summer but the evenings cool off fast, ya just know that fall and winter are just around the corner, but for now lets get back to summer.

Natal day weekend we went camping at a place in Nova Scotia called The Mermaid and the Cow.

This is a very special place. Not only is the campground itself located in a beautiful natural setting in Pictou County, Nova Scotia, but the whole camping experience was beautiful.

Let me explain. This is a campground aimed at the gay community. Now, normally I'm not one for gay this, gay that, but I was drawn to this campground first out of curiosity and secondly out of it's convenient location for a quick trip. I thought about it for a number of years having heard of it through the colourful grapevine but this year we decided to go. I had no real expectations except for a quiet weekend get-away.

Upon arriving we were greeted and personally welcomed by the owner, Jane and introduced to her fiance Sue. Jane explained a bit about the campground's services and the local area and then directed us to the cabin we would be staying in. (We were lucky enough to have reserved the only cabin; I'll talk about that later.) Right from the moment we drove up the little hill into the lane there was a positive vibe. Located on a grassy hill and visible from everywhere at the campround a rainbow flag waved gently in the summer breeze. To our right we saw a barn, and recognized a small rainbow sticker on the tractor parked in the barn, a welcoming and familiar sign. We also noted a unique horse in the field. So homey. To our left we saw an RV, some other campers and array of tents dotting the green land. The place is surrounded by trees creating a sense of privacy or a hugging sensation. (in us more dramatic folks) Right away I knew we had made the right choice.

The cabin is sweet. A camping cabin, so you still feel you are camping, but it has everything you need, a shower, a toilet, a two burner gas stove, a full size fridge, and a very charming functional cooking wood stove. Aside from the stove which helped warm up the mornings and cooked some bacon & eggs, my favorite part was the screened in room that overlooks the campground. There is an amazing view in the distance too, hills and green as far as you can see. It was so relaxing sitting in that porch writing, feeling the breeze, not being bothered by the bugs. It was so quiet and peaceful. The cabin was well worth the fee we paid to stay there.

Something that struck me was the fact that there are no wires going to the cabin, visually this is pleasing but it also gives a sense of not being connected to the world for a moment even though you are. I like that.

Another thing that took me by surprise was the sense of community that I felt here. For a weekend it was a treat to be surrounded by like minded people. Every weekend evening there is a communal fire so you don't feel so awkward showing up and joining in, making it easy to meet new people and possibly make new friends and connections. We happened to be there on a long weekend so as a result there was special events like a dance on the Sat. night with a dj that played great music for a diverse crowd. And if that was not enough already there were fireworks near the end of the dance, and a potluck dinner on Sunday in the screened in gazebo which Jane calls the Gayzebo. Another way to meet people and establish the sense of community which to my own surprise I really liked.

Don't get me wrong, I've lots of community in my life, professional community, my writer's community, local community...this was different though. There was a sense of freedom to just be and do what you what. There was a real feeling of respect in the air, for difference, for individuality, and for sameness if this is possible???

I think that for me this was a wonderful weekend camping experience and that I have since re-entered my normal daily life...but for some others, this unique place might be a very important part of their personal journey. This place might be helping someone feel a real sense of pride that they might not have felt elsewhere, help them feel connected to a community, help them move forward, feel validated and that, I think, is priceless and one of the reasons I feel this little place in the middle of nowhere is so very special.

For me it was a place where I could dance freely and openly with my partner, where we could

walk hand in hand and not think twice about it...things like this, and it's just a great campground aside from all that. (did I mention the swimming pool) So I really applaud Jane and anyone who has or is helping her with this campground. I feel that this place of great importance that has a spirit all of it's own. We do plan to return and I hope you will check it out too if it suits your life.

THE AREA:

There was lots to do in the area too. Nearby there is a maple syrup farm called SugarMoon that also has a restaurant serving hardy and tasty maple products. I can still taste the maple coffee and hot biscuit with maple butter. But what I remember distinctly is the small rainbow sticker on the door. Very welcoming. Then when you leave (or even if you don't go to the restaurant) if you are so inclined you can go for a hike. There is a 6.2 km wilderness trail which we did and enjoyed very much, and there is also a shorter trail for those not so ready for a long hike. I know, I sound like an ad, but I think this experience is worth sharing. the area is so beautiful.

River John is quaint, Tatamagouche is cute, Rushton's beach is nearby. We went there, flew a rainbow kite and hung out for a while. We also visited a lavender farm and had some lavender ice cream and visited a sheep farm.

Yes, we did lots, but I imagine if you just wanted to stay put, that The Mermaid and The Cow is a quiet and peaceful place to do just that. I'm not sure I could do straight camping again. Now there's a sentence I never thought I would print...until next time

REMEMBERING OLYMPIC MANIA

July 10th, 2010 Winter is far from my mind on this beautiful warm & windy day but...

This was originally written in Feb. during the Olympics and I feel its still worthy of posting even though months have passed. CLEARLY I am still working on being a regular blogger. It could happen.

Okay, so last night for the first time in my forty-one years on Earth I watched a hockey game from start to finish. Not only did I know when the hockey game was coming on which is strange enough but I planned my entire evening around the start time, ran to bed during a break and then stayed awake well beyond my normal time to see the end by which I was angered and then could not sleep. Finally I understand what some of my co-workers are all riled up about. I use to think it silly to pay such attention to matters like this, and all the chatter about what should have happened... It's not just hockey though, I have been glued to the TV watching an array of Olympic events. What's wrong with me? For some reason this time around I am paying attention and it's exciting. I'm screaming "common, common!", I'm stressed , I'm having outbursts Of "yes!" moments sitting on the edge of my seat during finals cringing at the falls etc...

It all started the week before Olympics with the tear-inducing commercials and that I Believe song...gets me every time. The innocent looking young gal in the winter white coat, all angelic, calling this country and the world together. Usually I am not much for pop type music and all that goes with that but something about the scenery, the reflective and hopeful nature of the song made me want to watch, made me feel some Canadian pride...and that other commercial with the man of colour waiting at the airport for his family to come from an obviously warm place while holding a fresh Tims in his hand...Gawd! I don't even like Tims, and aside from having worked there for a VERY BRIEF period in 1992 I rarely go there, but this commercial makes me want to. I think I'm going mad. Maybe this entry is a reflection on the power of advertisement rather that the Olympics itself.

I'm all confused because I have such mixed feelings about the Olympics and all the money spent on getting ready. Now, I'm not once of those protesting types but I have wondered if the Olympics were a good thing and imagined all the good that could be done in the world with the money spent...and then I watched the opening ceremonies, you know, the parade of athletes and I understand a bit better. I get a warmish feeling from seeing all these countries represented and under one roof. It does kind of give you a nice feeling. I just wish the nice feeling would last after the Olympics are gone and I am normal again, not watching or knowing anything about hockey.

Its July now and I'm all normal again and have no idea what's happening in the sports world aside from the soccer and I have no choice there. Last night on the National news there was a blurb about how Vancouver is way over the initial budget for the Olympics and I remembered that I had started this entry and didn't post it...today I'm posting it so I can remember that I actually enjoyed the Olympics.

Yuletide tale #3

Soon...I'm working on it.
Guess that post a story daily thing did not go so well...but I'm on it, so stay tuned and sing Oh Christmas Tree to get you in the mood.
ZA x

Yuletide Thoughts #1 SANTA...

It is freezing outside today...I can hear the wind howling through the window...I kind of like it...makes me want to tuck myself in and have some hot chocolate...The crows don't mind the frigid wind it seems. They are in the tree again...three of them. Think they are the same three that always show up in the beautiful naked birch tree outside my window. My mind wanders...back...back...back....STOP! REMEMBER!

(Sigh)

Well, here we are again, Christmas. How did that happen? Seems we just packed up the decorations from last year and had just moved on but here we are again. I am thinking that each day until Christmas if I can be so disciplined I will post a personal Christmas memory, or a memory someone has related to me. (how interesting!) But hey, in the meantime I may prompt another to have a special...or not so special Christmas memory.

I love this time of the year, nothing to do with Christ or with mass. (although I will admit I love a good ritual, a joy-filled choir singing their hearts out, and, well...a good version of Silent Night always makes me cry) We'll get to the Jesus part later...

For me, it has more to do with the feelings surrounding this time of year. The memories...ah the memories wah....

My earliest memory of Christmas involves my mother convincing me that she and my cousin had just seen Santa and his reindeer flying through the sky and then landing on the house next door as they sat in the window watching the snow fall, playing cards and sucking back a Rothmans. All such a comfort as the wood stove in the kitchen warmed us up and baked our bread. This was her way of getting me to bed I guess...She had me so convinced of it that I actually saw them myself. They were real at that moment and it was magic and wonderful. It helped my mother's case that the announcer on VOCM radio was saying that there had just been a sighting of Santa and his reindeer in the St. John's area. I was a bit freaked out, took this all very seriously,ran up the old stairs and jumped right into bed beside my big brother and tried to force myself to fall asleep before him.

I have no memory of the next morning so unfortunately I have to end that part of the story here but lets assume Santa did arrive and I did have a present the next morning. I even had heard the thump when he landed on our roof & fell through the chimney. I still believe I saw Santa and his reindeer that night...I did, real or imagined...I saw them and I will always have my mother to thank for that magical moment whatever her motives might have been. This one my one and only sighting of Santa. I was probably five years old but it seems like yesterday. I remember it as if it was real. My mother was quite skilled in making imagined things become real.

Years later When I was nine I found two garbage bags in my parents closet, both full of toys and Christmas things which I immediately knew were for me, my brother and my new little sister. I knew they were from Santa. At that moment I knew that Santa must not be real, but I carefully placed the bags back in the exact position I found them just in case Santa had just stored them there because he might run out of space or something. I knew not to mention this and although inside I knew it was all a lie, I carried on the next day pretending to believe.

After all, that was the year I received Hugo Man of A thousand Faces, a Makin Faces clown make up kit and a gigantic colouring book almost as big as me, so even if Santa did not exist...well, I still believed in him. Nobody ever told me Santa was not real. I just knew. It was still like magic, I went to bed crayonless, I woke up to find 64 brand new fresh Crayola crayons to compliment my new colouring book. Eventually my Mother told me that we had to pay Santa for the things he brought, so if we got less, it was not because we were "naughty" or that we were on the "bad" list, it was just that they could only pay Santa a certain amount that year. I believed her...sounded reasonable...but the Santa part...I let that go...I knew what she meant.

We were poor but who knew, I didn't.

As an adult I visited Iceland and enjoyed a fine meal of reindeer...felt weird about that!

This weekend....

I will write on my blog....

SHE'S BACK.....

Looking forward...

Yes, I have been away for a period of time because I have been busy and I had a brief moment when I realized someone FROM MY PAST was reading my blog and that felt a little intrusive...but I have since struggled with my intention to stop blogging on this site or continue. I've decided this is MY site and it is out there for whomever wants to read it for whatever reason...enough of that...so ONWARD now WITHOUT SELF-CENSORING!

Where to start...

CLEVER...

Riding my bike to work one morning I passed this sign and had decided that on my way home from work it would be a treat to stop and get a slushie...especially if it was all natural.

I thought about it all day, anticipating the refreshing taste of perhaps enjoying an orange slushie as a little break in my homeward bound journey...then as I approached the sign I looked a little closer...clever I thought, very clever...something about honesty. I passed on the slushie experience.