Back to Reality
11/14/2004 12:08 a.m.
There’s nothing like being back home two minutes, after a relaxing but not inexpensive two night get away to the Laurentians, at the lovely Manoir de Ste. Sauver, and being brought back to reality by plumbing problems! Having re-found some sense of rejuvenation, restoration, peace, and lightness,(at a time when really one shouldn’t have gone away, with a close family member in the hospital yet again with very serious problems, but we knew we really needed to), only to make our quick bathroom stops in our own washroom and encounter the first problem of back to life as home owners. I won’t say who, but you can guess, tried to flush in the main floor washroom, and the flusher stuck and refused to work. Then a constant running and hissing sound continued as a harbinger of ill welcome and nothing like my relaxation pond sounds, nor the soft piped-in music of old colonial times up and down the red-carpeted hallway with the gorgeous colonial and New England style sea scenes and Renoirs in gold-looking frames at the Manoir.

$100 and a plumbing job later, while we’re eating the supper we were back to cooking and serving for ourselves, and we know we’re back down to earth again. Oh well, we didn’t let the process destroy our recent memory of ambience and carefree living.

Getting a little spoiled for a couple of days is super and yet we knew it wouldn’t be the stuff of our reality, nor should it be. The grindstone and the ups and down of everyday life are the ingredients for character, aren’t they? And to tell the truth, after a few buffet breakfasts with the package deal, I was growing uncomfortable at the idea of so much food at our disposal, and I told my husband as we enjoyed the varieties of fruit, sausage, breads, cereals, that I hoped like many restaurants in hotels, that this one also provides to soup kitchens and homeless people.

I didn’t want to put a damper on my husband's use of hard-earned and hard-saved funds to treat us this weekend, and I know we have to let guilt of all kinds slide a bit off our shoulders when we take a lovely vacation, but we reminded ourselves of our charity commitments waiting at home and were gratified that we have involved ourselves in such projects and some others with the church and United Way (the latter an organization in which my husband is always helping out).

Some of the best parts of the holiday were, as always for me, when I go to Quebec, the sightings of the crosses on the mountains, the silver-spired churches, the myriad displays of twinkling white lights at night, and also, watching a man in the hotel work steadily by the fireplace as he put the large Christmas tree together, with lights going on section by section, as he built them from the box of branches. Quietly and calmly putting together the tree, so that everytime we returned from our outings, another stretch of tree was ready, til at last at the end of the day it was complete. The roaring fire was welcoming as the weather was sunny both days but very cold, especially Thursday night, with the winds. The next two days weren’t hit with those strong winds, and were nippy and frosty but bright and beautiful.

The Laurentians to me are as gorgeous as many places I’ve visited in Europe, and the people were courteous, bilingual, (though we preferred to use our French as much as possible, we could always get spoken to in English) and there was a warm, convivial and boisterous spirit in most of the hotel guests and staff. Of course, it’s a resort town, a resort manoir, though it’s used for business conferences too, and the pace and attitude are reflecting the letting go atmosphere of a get away.

On Friday night two singers, a man and woman, sang English songs with French accents, popular tunes and oldies, and had great voices and guitar skills, but there were only a few at the bar at the time, listening. I enjoyed catching a bit of their first set as I warmed up by the fire, while my hubby took a well-deserved nap.

On the mountain sides there were already a narrow stream of skiers, in the strips that had artificial snow already done, and there was a frozen-still appearance of mist over the hills, that resulted from the snow making machines.

I know in a month or less, the place will be bustling with skiers and the mountain all white, but it was something to see at this stage too.
By the second day I was convinced there was good fudge to be had in this town, and we searched til we found it. Irish cream fudge even! And speciality candy that made for some great gifts to bring home, all beautifully gift-wrapped. The stop at the Cadbury store was amazing, felt like Paradise, but we reserved our purchases to Cadbury mugs, for gifts, as we didn't really want a lot of candy. We've still got tons of Hallowe'en candy to avoid at home. But some family members are getting fudge treats soon.

On Thursday evening after reading some of Larry's Party by Carol Shields, I caught the Giller Awards on television and was happy for Alice Munro’s win, but very impressed with the glimpses and inviting samples given of the other nominees' works. I added quite a few ideas to my book dream wish list, having heard the other nominees read from theirs too.

Though I had hoped world news wouldn’t prevail heavily during the break up there, the California murder trial of Scott Peterson, the Arafat funereal and political coverage, plus a terrible fire tragedy in Saint. Catherine’s Ontario, wherein a wife and a couple’s seven children died in a house fire, dominated the channels and of course were oppressive, though important, stories across the networks. There was plenty to pray about and still is obviously.

My sister and her husband still enduring terrible ordeals with his bone cancer, and new complications, I had given her the number to call if she wanted to and indeed by Saturday night she did and we had a long chat. I think she wanted to ease my sense of being torn about going away at the time, though the battle has been long and on-going and there is never a good time for going away, it seems, so they wanted us to do so without feeling badly. Tomorrow we’ll see them, at a family birthday for my mom, 86 on Monday, and we’ll have quite the reunion I’m sure. Plus a birthday party for my husband’s 90 year old aunt, Theresa, a nun, who is very special to us too.

It’s great to be home again and touching base with our son and daughter too, though we haven’t been gone long. Wisdom teeth came out on Wednesday for our future daughter-in-law, so we also wanted to make sure she was fine before taking off.

Well, I’m a little tired in a good, refreshed way, and going to take a walk, then cuddle up with my calming pond with a new little washstand-type jug and dish I found in Sainte Sauveur, blue pottery with white winter scenes on it, that matches the pond beautifully, and was inexpensive,
and my pile of second-hand books I bought with a gift certificate for my tanka award last year and never had cashed in before today.

Mostly Canadian poetry and short story collections, but also The Scarlett Letter! I’ve seen the movie, but never read the book yet and can’t wait.

At least the toilet’s flushing now, and staying quiet in between, but a $100 later?
I’d better win the Giller someday! But if I do, and before that anyway, I'll probably be volunteering at the soup kitchens.
I am currently Content
I am listening to a bus rolling past