Saturday night at McLeish Lake

Sat Aug 8, 2015 (EDT)

by S McKay

Item Type: Note Date: Saturday, 8 Aug 2015

Hi Linnie - thanks for your voice message - so nice to come home to after a long, and somewhat emotional day. We played it twice - so nice to hear your voice.

Ashley, Dave, Sybil and Freddie left this afternoon as planned. Not wanting to experience the kind of rush you faced, we arrived at the airport extra early (about 1:30 pm) and the plane was late again :-(. I caught a glimpse of Ashley’s face in the car window as she and Dave pulled out of the lane - looking sadly at the camp as they pulled away. Amongst the three of you, Ashley has had the longest association with the camp, having spent time here for nearly 40 summers - we purchased the camp when she was 2 yrs. old and she cannot remember a summer that she was not here (except possibly England - I think she forgot those years). She used to visit the camp with her friends in the 2 1/2 years that she lived in T.B. after graduating from Queens. Dave proposed here, and of course, they were married here. She sent a text from Toronto after their plane landed, saying that the kids will enjoy getting back to routine but both she and Dave are feeling a bit sad.

So are we - we have enjoyed 40 years of summers at the lake, many gatherings with family and good friends - all special events to brighten our memory banks as we continue to age. We will miss all of this, and know that it will not be possible to duplicate such events in southern ON. However, it is time to let it go.

Dad and I purchased the camp in part because we both wanted our kids to have memories of summer days at the family cottage. Dad always wished his family had one - envied those who did. My childhood memories frequently centre on family get-togethers at my grandparents Edmonton Beach cottage - west of the city, now apparently a fairly urban area near Stoney Plain, then very much in the country - a long drive on hot summer days. Dad and I are happy that we made the decision we did - at the time we did not think that some day we would need to hand it over to someone else. Who thinks of these things when one is young (35yrs. at the time). We expected that we would live in Thunder Bay for most of our lives, but we have not done so and, as the years have gone by, the distance, the upkeep, and the considerable work involved to keep us comfortable when we are here, has become more onerous. The laundry alone is a huge job - sorting it, transporting it to TB, washing, drying, folding, transporting back to the camp, etc. - we dealt with a mountain of sheets, blankets, towels, clothing, etc. after Ashley and Dave left, which is why I mention it - your sheets and towels were amongst the lot. There are other tasks that are time consuming and more burdensome as time goes on and our energies are waining: looking after the compost toilet (Dad’s job, thankfully), maintaining. the deck (Dad) repairing various items - the shower this year (Dad again). I find cooking a challenge - not having clean running water means paying special attention to washing fruits and vegetables, keeping counters clean, etc.

We will let the camp go knowing that each of our daughters have experienced some wonderful times here - that tales of the lake, the sauna, visiting friends and their children, homemade commercials in the old tv frame, evenings spent playing Chinese Checkers and other games, and, not ever to be forgotten, Dave and Ashley’s wedding - will be shared within the family and with our grandchildren for many years to come. Sybil, Freddy, Vivien and Zoë will have lots of photos to help them imagine what their family camp vacation was like. For these memories we are grateful. They will stay with us forever - part of the many blessings we have enjoyed together and with our family and friends over the years.

Lots of love, Mom

copies to Ashley, Kelsie, Dave and Merwan as I have waxed on for longer than first intended.

ps. I have just read this to Dad. He says “let me get you some more wine”.