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| Van Gogh The Immersive Experience in Regina 2023 |
Maps are drawings,
sketches that show the way
around the corner,
out of the city,
over the prairies
to the mountains and
into the surprise of tomorrow
as each step and minute
passes under our feet.
“I learned what every dreaming child needs to know,
that no horizon is so far you cannot get above it or beyond it.”
~ Beryl Markham, author
(1902 ~ 1986)
Excitement rolls with life’s punches,
waiting for a walk in the park,
the latest movie,
the bloom of fireworks
over the prairie.
Why wait?
Because life should be a surprise
spreading across your face
warming your heart.
Excitement rolls with life’s punches,
To ease pains of yesterday and today
To strengthen the soul for tomorrow
To remember the joys of every day.
“For here, I hope, begins our lasting joy.”
~ William Shakespeare
Dreams included ~
No one told me that
dreams would be tucked
inside that cloud of sleep.
I recall whispered ‘sweet dreams’
Did it mean candy and gumdrops?
But dreams included are seldom sweet.
Funny,
bizarre,
frightening,
completely disorganized
but I have never been dropped into
a meadow full of daisies and sunshine with Mary Poppins and Bert
to sing me to a circus.
Wouldn’t that be a sweet surprise!
“A dream itself is but a shadow.”
~ William Shakespeare, Hamlet, c.1600
“I’ve saved some for you, brother dear.” Rusty’s bed was made! And there was a box on the bed. With a note: “I’ve saved some for you, brother dear.” He noticed the made bed first ~ he never made his bed unless his mother insisted, so she must have done it. He held the box up to his nose and took a deep breath. 10 year old Rusty was happy. He’d had a great weekend at his friend’s house. He came home to his room cleaned up and his bed made. And to top it off - there was a box of cookies on his pillow. Now he’d have to figure out what to do for Annabelle. Their mother had started them on it. Every year in December, they exchanged gifts. Not just on Christmas Day, but every day. Taking a big bite out of the first cookie, he looked in his closet for his change jar. He kept it hidden in the far corner on the floor behind his boxes of soldiers. Holding the half eaten cookie in his mouth he dumped the coins on his bed. Crumbs at the corners of his mouth he mumbled to himself “What does Annabelle like to do? It’s getting harder every year to get all these things for her.” She had a whole collection of stuffed animals arranged around her bedroom from the last three years. She’d lost interest in them, so that wouldn’t work anymore. “I can’t get her one of her fancy cookbooks. That would take all my money for one gift! Then what will I do?”
Closing his bedroom door tight, and after eating his way through half of his cookies and hiding the rest in his bottom drawer under his T-shirts, he opened his laptop. The Dollar Store! He looked through all their ads. Cake decorating supplies!! “That’s it!! She’s always wanting mom to get her own supply of baking supplies!” Rusty had found exactly what would get him through to Christmas. He didn’t know what most of the stuff was but he’d talk to the clerks to help him. There were funny little plastic things, and things that looked like folded pieces of paper, and red and green sprinkles and special tools for smearing icing. Lots of stuff!” Now all he had to do was try and get something for tomorrow!
“Christmas is doing little something extra for someone.”
~ Charles M. Schulz
“What’s the big surprise, Samuel? Not much surprises me anymore, you know that.” Elizabeth was pretty curious. Samuel was tightlipped. He was known as a man of few words, that is until he started telling stories or explaining anything about nature. “Nothin’ much, Elizabeth.” What Samuel did know about his friend was her love of celebrity chefs. Not all of them. “Just that fancy new restaurant is all.” Elizabeth felt a thrill of excitement. She’d heard of it, but knew she’d never be inside it, especially with Samuel. He didn’t believe in fancy food and white napkins. “Just give me plain food.” What he didn’t know was that Elizabeth seldom made him any plain food. There was always a certain spice, herb or technique that was different. If it was overdone, he always commented. “Taste buds must be gettin’ old. Didn’t taste right Elizabeth. Good but just not right.” Keeping notes, she adjusted and measured til she was satisfied. Some things she never made for Samuel again.
“What’s this about that ghost you’re always going on about?” He had to change the subject so she wouldn’t start asking too many questions about the restaurant. “You mean Sarah? Didn’t think you wanted any talk about ghosts.” Samuel kept driving, eyes fixed on the road. “Just heard James say something about it.” He could’t bring himself to say ‘her’. “Well, that new fellow - Phillip - wants to be a butler. He wants James to show him what he knows. Worried that the young man would be scared away, he told us that it had all worked out.” It was a short drive into Hartley, but ‘Just Plain Food’ - the fancy new restaurant - was on the other side of town. Taking the bypass, they arrived in short order. “This doesn’t look all that fancy, Samuel.” Elizabeth stifled a laugh. “Well it is. I been in there to find out. I liked the name. All high falutin’ with that maitré fellow at the front.” He opened the heavy oak door to a modest dining room. Aromas of Elizabeth’s grandmother’s kitchen pervaded the room.
“Good evening, sir. So good to see you again.” The maitré de, in perfectly tailored casual suit and tie, nodded to Elizabeth. “Good evening, madam.” Turning to Samuel he introduced their waiter for the evening, a young man in a crisp white shirt and black slacks. He smiled and ushered them to a table in their ‘Verandah’ overlooking groomed lawn and flower garden. Once seated and the waiter gone to get their drinks - water with lemon no ice for Elizabeth and beer for Samuel - the couple examined their menus. “There’s no prices here, Samuel. You know what that means.” He replied “Think I’ll have their Shepherds Pie. Supposed to be pretty good. See if it’s any better than yours.” He did feel awkward. He could feel his collar almost choking him, he wanted to take his sport jacket off and hang it on the back of his chair, but he was trying to be someone he was not. Just for this one night. “Oh my, Samuel.” He heard heard her gasp. “What is it, Elizabeth?!” Her face had gone white. “This is Chef Jamie Oliver’s newest restaurant! That’s your surprise! You old fool. How did you know?!” Her hands were trembling so that she put down her menu. “I noticed all those cookbooks in your kitchen, more of his than anyone else. You didn’t think I paid attention. Talking to Giles, he told me about who owned this place. Most everyone out at the Estate knows.” The waiter was back to take their orders. Elizabeth was so tongue tied, that she just pointed at it on the menu: Roast chicken drumsticks, rice pilaf and root vegetables.
~~~~~
Their meal finished, plates cleared away, the couple had ordered some desserts. Apple pie for Samuel, with vanilla ice cream. A Cremé Brûlée for Elizabeth with a sprig of mint and chocolate shavings. “Oh, Samuel. This has been the best surprise. I love cooking and learning about cooking, but to eat the food of an experienced chef is just plain wonderful.” Samuel beckoned the waiter who nodded and returned to the kitchen. “Not quite all, Elizabeth. Not quite as great as I wanted it but the best I could do. Elizabeth looked up. The waiter was approaching their table with a young woman in an apron, her hair tied loosely on her head. “Mrs. Saunders? My name is Roxanne. I’m head chef here at Just Plain Food. I’m pleased to meet you. I hear that you are a fine chef yourself.” For the first time in her life, Elizabeth was completely gob-smacked! Speechless. “I’m sorry, didn’t Mr. Forrester tell you? Mr. Oliver won’t be here till sometime next year and then only for a brief visit. We do only use his recipes.” Regaining her voice, Elizabeth said “I recognized you from television. We’ve been eating your food! And it was so, so perfect.” Samuel sat back in his chair, very proud himself. ‘Pleased as punch’ his dad would say. He’d not had a chance like this to really surprise Elizabeth. When Giles told him about this restaurant, he knew that chance had come.
The evening wasn’t finished yet. Samuel ordered a second slice of pie, tea for Elizabeth. He dawdled over the pie, kept her talking about Sarah. He was suddenly very interested in Sarah. What was she like, could Elizabeth see her, was she a mean ghost, how old was she, did she look like she was draped in a sheet… after a while he ran out of questions. Elizabeth was still so star struck, she didn’t pay attention to the time. Then Samuel was looking at his watch and back toward the kitchen door. “Samuel, we’re the last people in here! We’d better go.” She gathered herself together and started to stand. Suddenly the waiter was at their table. “We’re on our way, sorry we’ve taken so long.” Samuel did stand then, but not to leave. “Elizabeth we’re not leaving yet. Follow our waiter.” He offered his arm and led her to the kitchen. The waiter opened the doors to the kitchen. “Come in madam. Roxanne will give you a tour of the kitchen. I understand you have an interest. Here’s Roxanne.” Elizabeth didn’t think anything would surprise her again, but there she was. To be in this working, gleaming kitchen, sous chefs cleaning up, the head chef greeting her again, she almost felt faint.
~~~~~
That night, at home and in her bed, her mind still whirled with the fascination of it all. Falling asleep, she saw Samuel across the table from her. A gentle, kind and very devious man. Her last words as she drifted off “The old fool………”
“The surprise is that you continue to be surprised.”
~ Jill A. Davis, Ask Again Later
Romancing A Getaway
Jeremy and Emelina had caught the ferry to the mainland. He wouldn’t tell her where exactly they were going. Actually Jeremy hadn’t even known for sure. Should they fly south from Vancouver? That had only been a fleeting thought. He did have to elicit the help of some of the Estate staff. Emelina was ready to load up her things in Jeremy’s car when he arrived. “We won’t need either of our cars.” On the excuse that the car needed servicing, he had had Giles drive them to the bus depot where they put their luggage on the bus. From there they would have a pleasant ferry trip across the Strait of Georgia to the mainland. They would be staying for a day in Vancouver before going up to Whistler.
Skiing was something Emelina had not done for many years. She and Michael had often gone on ski holidays with Jeremy and his wife Elaine. Michael and Jeremy had been best friends. Both spouses were deceased in the same year but months apart, leaving their spouses devastated. It was as though, when their lives split apart and Covid19 hit, holidays were the last things on either of their minds. Jeremy and Emelina hadn’t found each other until several years lonely years had passed. They both would sometimes recall those happy days with the four of them off on some trip, never knowing what was to come. For Jeremy memories would return on a nightshift at the hospital in a rare quiet moment. For Emelina, when she out walking in an early morning before anyone else had stirred. When their days filled up, those memories slipped away. Neither of them spoke of it to the other because it was another life and with other loves. But they both missed the travels and trips filled with fun and laughter.
Jeremy, a physician at Hartley General Hospital was still working. “Too hard” Emelina often reminded him. He had no plans to retire but since marrying Emelina. He also had no plans to be a driven physician ~ at least until after the Covid19 pandemic admissions slowed. He was, at last, able to take more time off and not be terrified that he would be bringing the virus home with him. Still cautious though, he didn’t come to the Estate until he had showered and changed into fresh clothes at his apartment in town. Just coming off a set of night shifts, when his memories of those times plagued him, he knew it was time. Would surprising Em with a ski trip to one of their old haunts be wise? She had mentioned that the ski hills were reopened since the pandemic closures. And just the night before she talked about the snowpack at Whistler. So he decided to take a chance. Their day in Vancouver would give him a chance to tell her where they were going.
When she knew they were going for a ‘winter holiday’ ~ that’s all Jeremy would tell her ~ Emelina went shopping. She desperately needed new winter clothes and secretly hoped they would at least go to one of the fast receding glaciers. Jeremy had enlisted Digby’s help with the ski equipment. Digby and Martha had found Emelina’s skis and boots lounging in the storage space beneath the stairs. He had the skies waxed and the boots cleaned. With Jeremy’s skis, he had shipped them to the Mountain View Ski Lodge. Fortunately, the owner of the Ski Lodge, a friend and newly retired physician, accepted the equipment in his care. Room reservations made, Jeremey knew he was taking a huge risk in all this subterfuge. He also knew that, should Emelina really be against a ski trip, he could change it all.
They took the earliest bus out of Hartley so they would have a full day in Vancouver as well as part of the next morning. Because it was so early, it was still dark on the water. The moon rode high, thin clouds covering its face. “It’s so cool and lovely this morning, Jeremy. Do you ever think of the ski trips the four of us used to take? I really miss them. I’ll always miss Michael, just as you must miss Elaine. It is so wonderful that you and I found each other again. Two old friends who became lovers ~ and then married!”
Leaning against the rail, he smiled up at the moon. “Sure I do, Em. In my quiet times ~ not that many at the hospital. But it’s like a part of me ~ of us ~ has been cut away and left by the side of a road somewhere.” Emelina brushed his hair out of his eyes. “Just where are we going, Jeremy?” When he told her it was a winter holiday, and her skis were missing from below the stairs, she had been curious. Asking Digby if he’d seen her skis, he had hesitated just a moment too long before saying he didn’t know a thing. Still leaning on the guard rail, Jeremy turned to his wife with a guilty grin on his face. “I wanted it to be a surprise for you. You’re not mad or upset at all?”
“Of course not, Jeremy. I love it!” She pulled him off the rail into a soft embrace. Looking up at him, she said. “And I love you so very much, Dr. Crawford.”
The moon was in its descent as daylight filtered through the clouds and seagulls called. Over the loudspeaker “All passengers please return to your vehicles. We will be docking shortly.” Jeremy and Emelina barely heard them.
“Love will wrap each moment warm around it
And wear a gentle smile upon its face.”
~ John McLeod, Love is Ever
Pelicans!
Soaring, circling
grand slow swoops
showing me the glistening white
of amazing wing spans
An exciting surprise ~ but
my cell phone was in the house!
when I returned ~
the white of their wings was turned away,
but still so very amazing………..!
“,,Nature’s prime favourites were the Pelicans; High-fed, long-lived, and sociable and free.”
~ James Montgomery
Surprised? Oh yes.
The mirror does not lie
only my eyes
until I put my glasses on ~
the muscles beneath
wrinkled and sagging skin
would rather just rest
until I remind them
they are still strong
maybe not as strong
but they still flex
my bones and joints
to carry me forward ~
Only yesterday I was young.
“……so enjoy, endure, survive each moment as it
comes to you in its proper sequence - - a surprise.”
~ Vera Nazarian, The Perpetual Calendar of Inspiration
When Things Slow Down
The unbearable heat of the week just past had eased. The hospital administration had allowed the courtyard be refurnished. Numbers were dropping for admissions to the hospital. There were still positive cases, but slowly, slowly Intensive Care beds were not full of only Covid19 patients. The Covid 19 ward had been closed and was being thoroughly cleaned and sanitized. The trees in the courtyard beautifully shaded the widely spaced tables. Wooden planters frothing with flowers circled the trees and lined the raised flower beds welcomed Dr. Jeremy and Emelina.
“This is so lovely, Jeremy! Are you sure you can be down here? How long do you have for your break? It still must be so busy.”
“We discharged our last patient from the ICU this morning. I’ve got a long break right now.” He looked at the pager clipped to his coat. “If they need me, they’ll page me. Where’s Dez? I thought she’d come along with you.”
Emelina looked troubled. “I’m not sure she’ll come Jeremy. I told her that you had invited her, but in her words - “I don’t see what the big deal is, Em. Why does he want me there?”
It was Jeremy’s turn to look troubled. “She’s actually key to my whole plan. If she doesn’t agree, then I’ll have to figure something else out.” He stood and walked towards the parking lot, searching for any sign of her.
“All right Jeremy. What’s up? You’ve got something planned. I have no idea what it could be that you absolutely need Dez here.” She got up and, meeting him as he was returning to the table, she took his hand. “Jeremy, is something wrong? Do you want Dez here because you have something to tell me?”
He laughed and wrapped his arms around her. “No, everything is right. I just may need more time to tell you all the details. But you’re right, I do have something planned.” Just as they sat down, they heard Dez call to them. “Em! Jeremy! There you are. What’s going on?”
~~~~~
When Jeremy had returned to work after his weekend off with Em, things had changed. The patients remaining in the Intensive Care Unit were off the ventilators. When he received a report from the physicians going off duty, he was told that everyone was stable. Still critical but out of danger and on the mend. At a physician’s staff meeting later that day, the duty rosters had been revised. The previous 10 days off that he was expecting had been extended. Three weeks! He couldn’t believe it. As the meeting came to a close, an idea had begun to form. He would need Dez’ help. If she could stay out at the Estate while they were away………….Cruise ships were still too dangerous, but he didn’t know about train travel. He wasn’t comfortable with flying anywhere just yet. Or maybe they would just drive. He had to make sure that Dez was fully vaccinated. He knew that Em was - they had gone together for theirs.
~~~~~
“……..so that’s my plan. A second honeymoon, Em. What do you think? Dez can stay out at the Estate - that’s if it’s all right Dez. I don’t even know if that’s necessary but…….”
“Jeremy, slow down. What are you talking about? You can’t get anymore time off work. I’ve got some things I’m working on right now that I have to finalize. Those ones with my accountant that I told you about.” Em was concerned. Pleased that her husband was excited, but concerned that he was just a little too excited. Making plans without talking to her about it. “Have you really thought about it all? Stepped back a bit and looked at it realistically?”
“Why do I need to stay out at the Estate? I don’t think anyone needs baby-sitting out there.” Dez sat back and smiled in amusement. “I suppose I could use the time to really get involved with my - I mean, your - orchard. It sound’s like fun, Em. You’re worrying too much. Jeremy hasn’t even told us when this second honeymoon is going to start.” To herself, she thought about Martha. ‘I’ll have to call here and let her know that her plans may get kiboshed again.' She’ll have to get everything in motion again. Would it be a send off or a return? To her sister and brother-in-law she said “I’ll do whatever you need. Just let me know when you’re taking off.”
Dr. Jeremy’s pager beeped at him. He called on his cell phone to the unit. Silence while he was listening. “Be right there.”……“Well ladies, now you know why I called this little board meeting. I have to get back to work, and I’ll keep you posted about the details.” He stood, leaned over, brushed Em’s hair back, and kissed her on the forehead. “Get your suitcases out, Em. ‘Bye Dez and thanks. You may find that being out at the Estate will be good for you and your orchard.” With that, he turned and jogged in to the hospital, disappearing behind the heavy glass doors.
Em looked rather stunned “Well that’s a surprise. He’s been so busy and tired lately that I just about didn’t know this guy!”
Dez grinned at her sister. “Well, he looked like Jeremy, almost sounded like him. But I think we need to talk about this over lunch. You know that little restaurant by the bank that has been closed. Take Out only. They have sidewalk tables and are open for lunch. Come on. We can talk about it over Brioche sandwiches. Remember the desserts?”
“You’re right. Sitting here trying to make sense out of what all I need to do is not helpful. I am hungry. They’ve also got a delicious ginger carrot gazpacho. I’ll ride with you. I had Giles bring me in. I’ll call him and tell him to go on home.”
“The surprise is that you continue to be surprised.”
~ Jill A. Davis, Ask Again Later
nestled in still damp grass
before cool air was infused
with the heat of the day.
“Hallo, Rabbit,” he said, “is that you?”
“Let’s pretend it isn’t” said Rabbit, “and see what happens.”
~ A.A.Milne
