Getting to board the plane first due to broken back? Awesome; my cousin’s dog buddy VERY happy to see me; my day in a snapshot; amazing pattern in the floor of my aunt and uncle’s second farm house; my mom, sister and aunt looking out over the mountains on my aunt’s property; listening to my uncle’s hilarious answering machine; a heck of a lot of homemade meat and beer; we’re related – we both have horrible morning hair; back exercises in the sun; painting signs for the stag and doe; buddy and his bandana; my sister and cousin and I in our cowboy gear; my baby sister and I – taller now that I’ve shrunk from my back!; A-Team checking tickets for cousin’s cousin adam; the band – they loved me; the sunset for my departure, and the CN tower for my arrival (welcome home).
sorry so late... i was having a heck of a time uploading photos!
it was a long and fairly exhausting weekend for me......
Thursday: I went to work, prepared with bags in car, to leave right away. After a full day at work, I killed some time before my flight, and then took shuttle to ferry, ferry to flight. I had my first experience with porter airlines and was fantastically impressed. Free drinks and snacks while you waited, people helped carry my carry-on luggage door to door, a flight attendant let me use her jacket as a pillow behind my back. Free (alcoholic) drinks. Great in flight magazine (as recommended to me by my friend kevin). All wonderful. I sat next to a young man who was 32 - just had a baby jan 31st, and was in toronto for a teacher's conference on children's mental health. Sometimes on flights we just want to zone out, but this flight was nice to be distracted. Turned out we knew a ton of the same people, he knew my aunt and uncle, and had worked with my cousin. We chatted the entire flight, and when we landed, we were almost sure we would be at the same party on saturday night. My mom picked me up at the airport in sault ste marie, and we headed straight to my aunt and uncle's house in echo bay. My dad and sister arrived around 11pm as well - as they had driven up that day. Stayed up chatting for awhile, and drinking OV (because that's what my grandpa drank) and eventually went to bed quite late.
Friday: woke up late, as I was exhausted from being up late wednesday night, and (not quite as late) thursday night. We headed out to my other aunt and uncle's in bruce station, and had a great lunch, and explored their other farm all afternoon. Amazing old farm equipment that they acquired when they bought the farm.... As well as some incredible stuff (photographs, letters, luggage, etc) from my uncle's side of the family. We then headed back to echo bay. Had some dinner, drinks, hung out, and then went to bed, as we all had a long day ahead.
Saturday: woke up in time to head to the movies with my cousin and sister - to see fast five. We grabbed a bite to eat, and then saw the movie. Then did a little vintage shopping, and managed to score a plaid shirt. When we arrived home, my mom said, ‘oh perfect! For tonight?’….. uh….. yes. (no). we did some cleaning, painting, general get-ready-ness, and prepped for the party that night. We had a blast – a stag and doe for cousins of cousins. Amazing band, great company (about 450 people), and I got to wear my new (old) shirt, and pretend I bought it to go with my cowboy boots. Amazing. Didn’t get to bed until 3:30am, because the band, they played on!Sunday: woke up too early for my liking, but well worth the sleep in. realizing I didn’t have clothes for work Monday morning, ended up having to go shopping… and after trying on multiple clothes at multiple places, found out there was a joe fresh in town, and of course, ended up getting multiple things there. Went back to my aunt and uncle’s, had a nap, and just spent the rest of the night spending time with my 2 aunts, 2 uncles and 2 cousins. Early to bed, as I needed to be up at 4:30 for a flight…
Hope everyone had a fantastic weekend as well!