A fine evening
06/18/2004 12:07 p.m.
When my daughter Valerie returned last night from Halifax, a little too-well sunned (accidentally, and she'd warned me on the phone beforehand she'd look a bit burnt) while on the harbour and on the Atlantic, plus an amphibian (or another word I forget) tour of the city, that took her on land and water both, she brought gifts for both mom and dad. We were just delighted that she’d enjoyed herself and come back safely, and had benefitted from the experience of flying out to one of our most beautiful parts of the nation, and caught up with her dear friend out there. She still seemed radiant with the landscape and voice of down east, and full of stories and explanations of the kinds of details you absorb in travel - like the tour guide who could identify where people came from by their pronunciations of Dalhousie and Dartmouth. He said he could tell right away the Ontarians by their treatment of these words. Such an education, travelling.

Of course she can only very sketchily remember our holiday in Nova Scotia and P.E.I, when she was about 7. It sounds like she packed in plenty of memories and inspiration to return, in her short stay this time.

My souvenir gift is a lovely white seashell made into an angel, with black curls, and a Scots tam in blue and green tartan. Perfect, because of my angel collection but also because the first view we ever had of Nova Scotia for real, included a young lady highland dancer in tartan, welcoming us over the border. At that time Valerie was actually in Irish Dancing, pretty close (don’t tell the Irish and Scots that) and it seemed so fitting and quaint.

For Ernie, she brought a lovely Haligonian (she loves to say that) coffee mug to add to his collection.

Ah, travelling, especially when not overlong or excessive, and when for pleasure, with good friends waiting at the destination, the fresh change it brings out in one and the mind growth.
Even extra appreciation for everything at home and all the learning go on every day. And people, how different but the same they are.

We didn’t have much time together, since she was a little tired and settling into an important episode of Buffy The Vampire Slayer, and I was going to the El Dorado 7th anniversary reading and celebration, in which I took part, and it was superb. A fine memorable evening in which I read Evening Haiku and The Silhouette’s Company poems, and Velada (not on here yet), in Spanish, thank you Norma Abrego and Oscar Martinez for helping me with checking one of my words)and For the Love of It. CBC (radio) recorded the evening’s deliveries, after interviewing the directors in the first part of the evening. I hope to catch the airing time and tape it myself.

But today I’ll hear more about the customs and nuances and scenery, I’m sure, of Halifax.


I am currently Cheerful