Remembrance Ceremonies On Monday; Retirement Interest Me At Home

Royal Canadian Legion Branch 302 – Gravenhurst – Cenotaph – Mickle Memorial Cemetery

 

The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 302- Gravenhurst Cenotaph in Mickle Memorial Cemetery is the resting place for the veterans of both World War I – 1914 – 1918 and World War II – 1939 – 1945.

Tomorrow’s Remembrance Day Service in Gravenhurst (Monday, November 11th) will include the placing of Poppies on the graves as well as the Remembrance Service held at Cenotaph located at the Legion Branch located on Bethune Drive, Gravenhurst.  (Photo By Fred Schulz)

Royal Canadian Legion – Gravenhurst Branch 302 – Poppy Chairman

 

The Royal Canadian Legion – Gravenhurst Branch 302 Poppy Campaign has been taking place over the past days with a large number of volunteers in various locations throughout Gravenhurst with their Poppy boxes.   “In Gravenhurst approximately 150 dedicated volunteers covered 13 different locations with Poppy collection boxes.” stated Royal Canadian Legion Branch 320 President Jim Morrow (Left) and Poppy Chairman and 2nd Vice President of the Gravenhurst Legion Ian Rogers (Right).  The Poppy Campaign which is carried out of the period of ten days is one of the largest fundraisers for the Legion Branch. (Photo By Fred Schulz)

I'VE NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT RETIREMENT - OR WHAT TO DO IF I WAS TO RETIRE - LIKE GETTING A HOBBY

THE SUBJECT HAS COME UP - BUT I'M TOO CONTENT TO COMPLICATE THINGS WITH STAMP COLLECTING

     SUZANNE MADE THE COMMENT THE OTHER DAY, WHILE I WAS WORKING ON THE STORE LAP-TOP, DEEP IN MY WRITER'S ENVELOPE OF THOUGHT, THAT RETIREMENT HAS BECOME TOO MUCH WORK. SHE RETIRED FROM TEACHING LAST SPRING AFTER THIRTY-ONE YEARS. THEN SHE IMMEDIATELY OPENED HER "COOKERY NOOKERY" BUSINESS, HERE IN GRAVENHURST, ON TOP OF RUNNING OUR FAMILY ANTIQUE BUSINESS, AND LOW AND BEHOLD, THERE IS NO TIME AT THE END OF THE DAY, LET ALONE, THE WEEK ITSELF…..FOR DASHING OFF TO PARIS OF LISBON.  SHE WAS TALKING TO ROBERT ABOUT PLACES IN THE WORLD THEY'D LIKE TO VACATION SOME TIME IN THEIR LIVES. IT STARTED TO APPEAL TO ME, BUT SUZANNE KNOWS THAT THE "BROKEN RECORD,' THAT IS "ME," ONLY WANTS TO GO TO A PLACE CALLED "CORONATION STREET," TO SIT IN THE ROVER'S RETURN ALL DAY, EVERY DAY, NURSING A WEE PINT. "YOU DO KNOW THAT 'CORONATION STREET' IS A FILM SET FOR THE FICTIONAL COMINGS AND GOINGS OF ACTORS AND ACTRESSES?" SARCASM IS HER STRONG SUIT.

     "I'D LIKE TO SEE CORONATION STREET," I ANSWER, "AND IT WOULD BE NICE TO TAKE A TOUR….MAYBE MEET SOME OF THE OLD GANG I'VE WATCHED FOR DECADES." BASICALLY, I ONLY WANT TO GO TO TWO PLACES ONE EARTH. ENGLAND, INCLUDING SCOTLAND, AND ALGONQUIN PARK. I DON'T INCLUDE MUSKOKA, BECAUSE I'M ANCHORED HERE AS A PERMANENT RESIDENT. SUZANNE WANTS US TO BUY PROPERTY IN NEWFOUNDLAND. ROBERT WOULD GO JUST ABOUT ANYWHERE ON EARTH, TO SAMPLE EXOTIC CUISINE, BUT ENJOYS IT WHEN HE AND ANDREW GO TO OTTAWA FOR A WEEK EACH FALL AND SPRING. I THINK HE WOULD LIKE TO JOIN A GLOBAL ADVENTURE AT SOME TIME, BUT THE WHOLE PROBLEM OF BUSINESS AND ITS SUCCESS, IS THAT IT PRETTY MUCH OWNS YOUR SOUL. SUZANNE'S POINT TO ME, IS THAT WE "WORK ALL THE TIME." I INITIALLY TOOK EXCEPTION TO THIS, BUT IF YOU TAKE OFF OUR SUNDAY BUYING TRIPS, WHICH HAVE ALWAYS BEEN RECREATION TO ME…..I SUPPOSE SHE'S RIGHT, THAT WE DON'T "GET AWAY FROM IT ALL." EVER! WELL, IT'S ACTUALLY MORE SERIOUS THAN SHE LETS ON….AND THE MORE I THINK ABOUT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE SPEEDY TO CATCH UP WITH EVERY ONE ELSE, OR WE'LL HAVE TO CONSIDER RECREATION AS PART OF OUR BUCKET LIST PARTICULARS. HERE'S HOW IT HAPPENED, THAT WE GAVE UP ON VACATIONS.

     I GREW UP WITH PARENTS WHO WERE PASSIONATE ABOUT THEIR WINTER HOLIDAYS IN FLORIDA. EVEN AS A KID, I WOULD BE TAKEN OUT OF SCHOOL FOR A MONTH OR MORE, AND MY PARENTS SAVED EVERY PENNY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, TO AFFORD SUCH A WINTER-SEASON LUXURY. WE DIDN'T STAY AT LUXURY RESORTS, BUT INSTEAD, RENTED EFFICIENCY CABINS FROM THOSE WONDERFULLY NOSTALGIC OCEAN-SIDE MOTEL AND CABIN ARRANGEMENTS, WHICH IN THE 1960'S THROUGH TO THE EARLY 1980'S, STILL EXISTED IN PLENTIFUL SUPPLY IN DAYTONA BEACH. THEY PREPARED MOST OF THE FOOD IN THE TINY COTTAGE KITCHEN, AND FOOD PRICES THEN WERE ABOUT HALF THE PRICE OF THE SAME IN CANADA. AND YES, NOW THAT YOU ASK, WE WOULD GO TO THE EARLY BIRD DINNERS, OFFERED BY LOCAL RESIDENTS, AND WE STILL GOT THE SENIORS RATE. DIDN'T MATTER THAT I WAS A KID, OR THAT MY PARENTS WERE IN THEIR FORTIES….AS LONG AS YOU WERE WILLING TO SHOW UP AT 4 P.M. TO EAT. I LOVED OUR WINTER HOLIDAYS IN DAYTONA BEACH, INCLUDING FOUR OR FIVE CHRISTMASES I SPENT WITHOUT SNOW. I PROBABLY STAYED IN DAYTONA FIFTEEN YEARS OVER THE COURSE OF MY CHILDHOOD TO EARLY 20'S.

     WHEN SUZANNE AND I GOT MARRIED, WE BOTH FOUND IT IMPOSSIBLE TO GET TIME OFF FROM WORK, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A FEW PERSONAL DAYS. THE FACT IS, WE HAD FULL USE OF THE FAMILY COTTAGE, IN WINDERMERE, AND IT'S WHERE WE STAYED FOR OUR HONEYMOON. IT WAS AMAZING, BUT WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME AT THE COTTAGE IN THOSE DAYS, SO IT WASN'T REALLY WHAT SUZANNE HAD PLANNED AS THE PERFECT HONEYMOON LOCATION. BUT IT WAS AFFORDABLE, AND WE DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF EXTRA CASH TO BE TOO EXTRAVAGANT. WE TOOK OUR HONEYMOON A FEW MONTHS LATER, WHEN WE TRAVELLED TO VIRGINIA BEACH, IN THE OFF SEASON, AND SPENT A LOT OF TIME EXPLORING COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG. I DID NOT WANT TO LEAVE. I DID SO, BEING PHYSICALLY PULLED OUT THE GATE. MY NEW BRIDE WAS STRONGER THAN I THOUGHT. THE WEATHER WAS COLD AND RAINY, AND THE MILITARY AIRCRAFT, IN A SCARY SUCCESSION, APPEARED TO BE FLYING RIGHT AT US, WHEN WE STOOD LOOKING OUT OVER THE OCEAN FROM OUR UPPER FLOOR BALCONY, AT THE LOCAL HOLIDAY INN. ALL DAY, ALL NIGHT. I COULD COUNT THE RIVETS ON THE BOTTOM OF THE AIRCRAFT, AS THEY PASSED OVERHEAD. BUT WE WERE LIGHT-HEARTED AND HAD FUN NONE THE LESS. WE HAD THE RESORT DINING ROOM AND POOL ALMOST TO OUR SELVES. 

     EARLY IN OUR MARRIAGE, WE HAD ALREADY PURCHASED OUR FIRST HOUSE, ON ONTARIO STREET, IN BRACEBRIDGE, JUST BELOW THE HIGH SCHOOL; AND SON ANDREW WAS ON THE WAY. WE WERE TAPPED-OUT AS THEY SAY, BUT WE LOVED OUR PROPERTY, AND CELEBRATED THE BIRTH OF CHILD NUMBER ONE SOON AFTER. WE SOLD THAT HOUSE, BOUGHT A SECOND, ON GOLDEN BEACH ROAD, AND HAD CHILD NUMBER TWO….ROBERT. WE WERE TAPPED-OUT AGAIN, BUT WE WERE SITUATED A "ONE WOOD DRIVE" FROM BOWYER'S BEACH IN BRACEBRIDGE, AND WE COULD LOOK OUT AND SEE LAKE MUSKOKA FROM OUR FRONT WINDOW. WE HAD A NICE BIG LOT, A FOREST BEHIND US, SANTA'S VILLAGE DOWN THE ROAD, THE BANGOR LODGE GOLF COURSE, A SHORT WALK AWAY, AND A GHOST WE CALLED "HERBIE," THAT YOU CAN READ ABOUT IN BARBARA SMITH'S BOOK ON HAUNTED ONTARIO. HERBIE WAS THE GHOST OF A LITTLE BOY THAT VISTED OUR HOUSE REGULARLY. WE BELIEVE HE HAD, IN LIFE, BEEN KILLED IN A BIKE-CAR ACCIDENT NEARBY.

    WE SOLD THE HOUSE, MOVED TO THE COTTAGE FOR THREE MONTHS,  TRIED TO BUY IT OFF SUZANNE'S FATHER, TO NO AVAIL, AND THEN BOUGHT BIRCH HOLLOW HERE IN GRAVENHURST, AND THEN BECAME AUTOMATICALLY ENROLLED IN REAL ESTATE 101…..LEARNING HOW FAST HOUSE PRICES CAN DROP IN A BUYER'S MARKET. WE WERE TAPPED-OUT FOR THE NEXT FIFTEEN YEARS.

     WHAT HAPPENED OVER TIME, AND NOT REALLY ANALYZING WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO US IN TERMS OF VACATION PROTOCOL, IS THAT WE LEARNED TO PURSUE WORK AND HOME LIFE AS RECREATION. THIS MAY SEEM CRAZY AND FAULTY LOGIC, BUT IT'S WHAT WE LEARNED TO DO, IN ORDER TO MAKE THE MOST OF EVERY DAY, AND STAY WITHIN A TIGHT BUDGET. WE ARE VERY PHILOSOPHICAL PEOPLE WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING THE MOST OF THE DAYS AND HOURS WE HAVE LEFT IN THIS MORTAL COIL, AND WE, AS MY MOTHER USED TO WARN US…."DON'T WISH AWAY TIME." SUZANNE ENJOYED THE YEARS OF HER TEACHING CAREER, BECAUSE SHE WAS AN IN-SCHOOL MOTHER…..A LEFT OVER, FROM THE OLD DAYS OF FORMER HOME ECONOMICS DEPARTMENT, AND EVEN IN THE UPGRADED FAMILY STUDIES PROGRAM, OF WHICH SHE WAS INVOLVED FOR MANY YEARS; SHE GOT TO SEW, COOK, KNIT, AND SOCIALIZE WITH HER EXTENDED FAMILY. AND IT WAS, BELIEVE ME, AN EXTENDED ARRANGEMENT. THEY WERE HER WORK FAMILY. WE SEE AND EXPERIENCE THE AFTERMATH OF THOSE YEARS, EVERY DAY WE TRAVEL IN AND AROUND MUSKOKA. SHOPPING AND DINING, INEVITABLY MEETING-UP WITH HER FORMER STUDENTS, WHO EITHER OWN SOME OF THESE BUSINESSES, WE VISIT, OR WORK IN THEM. "HELLO MRS. CURRIE, DO YOU REMEMBER ME?" SHE GETS THIS ALL THE TIME, AND IT'S HARD NOT TO LAUGH, WHEN SOME HULKING BIKER-DUDE, STARTS TO BLUSH, WHEN HE GREETS MY WIFE, AS IF HE'S STILL A GRADE NINE STUDENT WITH A CRUSH. THAT HAPPENED TOO, BUT SHE WAS GOOD ABOUT IT, AND NEVER MADE ANY KID FEEL STUPID OR EMBARRASSED BECAUSE THEY HAD A THING FOR THE SCHOOL MARM. I WENT THROUGH THAT IN MY SCHOOL DAYS (DAZE), BRING ALL KINDS OF GIFTS TO THE TEACHER I WANTED TO MARRY. IT STARTED IN PUBLIC SCHOOL FOR GOSH SAKES.

     WITH WRITING AND RESEARCH IN LOCAL HISTORY, I NEVER CONSIDERED IT WORK, AS SUCH, UNLESS I HAD TO DO BUSINESS FEATURES FOR THE ADVERTISING MANAGER, OF EACH OF THE PUBLICATIONS I WAS EMPLOYED. I HATED THAT, AND YES, I WOULD HAVE ENDED THAT PROMOTIONAL WORK AND SAID WITH GUSTO, AND FLAGS WAVING…."I NEED TO GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE, NOW!" BUT THEN I'D GET THE CHANCE TO WORK ON SOMETHING REALLY NEAT, AND I'D START IT FULL-STEAM AHEAD, ONCE AGAIN, OVERLOOKING OUR NEED FOR AN OLD FASHIONED CLARK GRISWOLD, "SUMMER VACATION". SO WE JUST RENTED THE MOVIE, OVER AND OVER. WE WERE SLOWLY FACING UP TO THE REALITY, WE WERE BECOMING "HOME BODIES". WE WERE LIVING LIKE ANDY TAYLOR AND  HIS FAMILY IN MAYBERRY, WHERE YOU STAYED HOME, SAT OUT ON THE PORCH AFTER CHURCH, AND LOVED IT…..EXCEPT IF YOU WERE GOING TO THE MOVING-PICTURES OVER IN MOUNT PILOT. OR LIKE UNCLE JOE AND KATE AT PETTICOAT JUNCTION. A LOT OF OUR PARALLELS COME FROM OLD AND DEAR TELEVISION SHOWS. AND LET'S NOT FORGET ABOUT GREEN ACRES.

     WHEN WE BEGAN IN THE ANTIQUE BUSINESS, WE LEARNED TO MAKE OUR BUYING TRIPS RECREATIONAL. WE NEVER LEFT THE HOUSE ON YARD SALE SATURDAYS, WITHOUT A CAR FULL OF PROVISIONS FOR US AND THE BOYS. INEVITABLY, BEFORE WE RETURNED HOME, WE WOULD HAVE ENJOYED MANY CURIOUS AND ENTERTAINING STOPS ALONG THE WAY, AND A ROADSIDE PICNIC, IN SUCH GREAT PLACES AS THE BAYSVILLE FALLS, AND THE PARK ON THE MUSKOKA RIVER, WHERE THE BRUNEL LOCKS ARE SITUATED. SOMETIMES WE WOULD DO THIS ON BOTH SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS, AND WE HAD SOME GREAT ADVENTURES ALL OVER THIS REGION AND SIMCOE COUNTY, FOR MORE THAN TWENTY YEARS. IT'S HOW WE DEVELOPED OUR ANTIQUE BUSINESS BACK INTO A MAIN STREETER, AND IT'S CERTAINLY WHAT INSPIRED THE BOYS TO OPEN THEIR VINTAGE MUSIC AND RECORD SHOP, IN GRAVENHURST. BUT SUZANNE IS RIGHT TO SAY THIS……THAT IT STILL WASN'T AN ACTUAL VACATION. EVEN WHEN THE BOYS GO OFF ON THEIR TRIPS TO OTTAWA, IT'S NINETY PERCENT BUSINESS, VISITING ALL THE NEAT MUSIC AND RECORD SHOPS IN OTTAWA….WHICH FOR THEM IS RECREATIONAL. MAYBE NOT IN THE STRICT INTERPRETATION OF VACATION. BUT THEY DON'T COMPLAIN ABOUT BEING SHORTCHANGED. AS THEY WERE THE ARCHITECTS OF THEIR BUSINESS EMPIRE, THEY DID SO, BY CREATING AN ENTERPRISE THAT EXPANDED ON THEIR CHILDHOOD FANTASIES, AND HOBBY INTERESTS. IN OTHER WORDS, THEY CREATED A COMFORTABLE WORKING ENVIRONMENT TO PURSUE THEIR HOBBY PROFESSIONALLY. SO DID MOM AND POP. EVEN SUZANNE NODS HER HEAD THAT THIS IS TRUE, THAT WE ALSO VERY MUCH ENJOY GOING TO WORK BECAUSE WE'RE SURROUNDED BY THE NOSTALGIA THAT GIVES US SO MUCH PLEASURE TO BE AROUND. WE HAVE SOME FIERCELY TOUGH AND LONG DAYS, BUT WE HAVE ABOUT EIGHT SOFAS AT THE SHOP, BETWEEN THE STUDIO AND OUR PERFORMANCE (RECREATION ROOM), THAT IF ONE OF US DISAPPEARS FOR AWHILE, CHANCES ARE, A NAP IS IN PROGRESS. SHOPPERS ARE WELCOME TO CARRY ON WITH THEIR BROWSING, DESPITE WHAT SOUNDS LIKE SNORING. IT'S HOW WE GET ALONG THROUGH BUSY WEEKS, WITHOUT TAKING VACATIONS IN THE STRICT DEFINITION OF LEAVING HERE FOR SOMEWHERE OVER THERE. WE NEVER LAY ON THE COUCHES TO NAP. THERE'S ALWAYS A BOOK OR GUITAR IN OUR HANDS, IN A "SITTING-UP" POSITION. WE WANT IT TO LOOK LIKE WE ARE SO RELAXED IN BUSINESS, THAT WE JUST FALL ASLEEP PEACEFULLY, AFTER A JOB WELL DONE.

     WE ARE STILL ANTIQUING OUR WAY TO RECREATION AND WHEN THE FOUR CURRIES GO OFF ON "THE HUNT," IT IS ALWAYS A VERY NOSTALGIC, SOCIALLY PLEASING TIME…..THAT I KNOW WON'T LAST FOREVER. IT IS GETTING HARDER AND HARDER TO DISAPPEAR AS A GROUP, THESE DAYS, AND THEY OF COURSE, HAVE THEIR FRIENDS TO CONSIDER. BUT SUZANNE AND I STILL ENJOY THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOP AND SHOP SOME MORE, AND THEN COME BACK TO THE STORE, AND SELL AND SELL SOME MORE. IT'S NOT EVERYONE'S CUP OF TEA, FOR SURE. BUT AS WE LEARNED YEARS AGO, BECAUSE OF OUR LOVE FOR THE DISTRICT OF MUSKOKA, WE HAVE NEVER REALLY FELT THAT A STAY-CATION WAS A DISADVANTAGE IN ANY WAY. OUR DAYS AT THE COTTAGE WERE DELIGHTFUL, AND EVERY MOMENT WE SPENT IN OUR FIRST HOMES, WERE DELICIOUSLY SENTIMENTAL AND HOMESPUN SO WARMLY, THAT EVEN DAY TO DAY LIVING, DOUBLED AS OUR IDEA OF THE PERFECT VACATION WITH FAMILY AND PETS.

     I HAVE BEEN WATCHING RE-RUNS OF MY FAVORITE TELEVISION SHOW, "TOOL TIME," WITH TIM "THE TOOL MAN" TAYLOR, TO GET MYSELF IN THE MOOD FOR "HOME IMPROVEMENT." I AM NOT VERY HANDY, AND I FIT PERFECTLY IN, WITH THE HOST OF MISADVENTURES, EXECUTED BY TIM TAYLOR……AND THAT'S WHAT SUZANNE THINKS OF ME, WHEN I TELL HER WHAT I'M WORKING ON IN THE YARD. SHE HAS HER CELL PHONE HANDY, JUST IN CASE I NEED THE PARAMEDICS. BUT IN FACT, IF THERE WAS ANYONE, ANY SINGLE CHARACTER I WOULD LIKE TO MODEL MY OWN RETIREMENT AFTER, IT WOULD BE THAT OF THE TAYLOR'S "GOOD NEIGHBOR," AND BRAINIAC "WILSON WILSON." WHAT A GREAT AND DIVERSE LIFE HE LED, CONSTANTLY PONTIFICATING OVER THE FENCE; GIVING TIM AND JILL SAGE ADVICE……SO EXCITED BY THE OPPORTUNITIES IN HIS OWN HOME AND BACKYARD. THIS IS WHAT I WANT MY LIFE TO BECOME; AND THE RECREATION I WANT TO PURSUE, MORE SO THAN JETTING ALL OVER GOD'S GREEN EARTH. I WANT TO BE HAPPY WITH THE OLD HOME HAUNT. AS FOR SUZANNE, SHE'S PRETTY MUCH THE SAME, WHEN IT COMES RIGHT DOWN TO IT. SHE LOVES HER CRAFTS, HER SEWING ROOM, KNITTING WHILE WATCHING TELEVISION, WORKING AROUND HER KITCHEN, AND PUTTERING IN THE BIRCH HOLLOW GARDENS. IT'S A SIMPLE LIFE IN ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL REGIONS ON EARTH. AND JUST LIKE WE ADORED THE VIEW OF LAKE ROSSEAU, AT THE COTTAGE, LAKE MUSKOKA AT OUR HOME ON GOLDEN BEACH, WE LOVE OUR VIEW UPON THE BOG HERE, ABOVE MUSKOKA BAY, FROM OUR MODEST HOME THAT WOULD BE A COTTAGE IF IT WAS LAKESIDE…..AND JUST NOW, WE HAD TWO BLUE JAYS AND A SQUIRREL AT THE FEEDER, AND I WATCHED A DEER CROSS THE LOWLAND, ACROSS THE ROAD. IT'S PRETTY HARD TO BEAT THIS PLACE, YOU KNOW THAT…..AND THE PRICE IS RIGHT. IT'S CERTAINLY AN AFFORDABLE RETREAT.

     THANKS FOR VISITING THIS EDITORIAL OUTREACH OF BIRCH HOLLOW TODAY. I'VE BEEN WORKING IN THE YARD THIS AFTERNOON, STILL CUTTING AWAY SOME NUISANCE LIMBS, AND SUZANNE HAS SET OUT A NICE CUP OF TEA AND A BISCUIT, AND BY GOLLY, ADD A CRACKLING FIRE, AND WELL…..I WOULD RATHER BE HERE THAN ON CORONATION STREET, TRUTH BE TOLD. SEE YOU AGAIN SOON. OUR CHRISTMAS IN GRAVENHURST SPECIAL, BEGINS ON THE 15TH OF NOVEMBER, AND CONTINUES UNTIL NEW YEAR'S DAY. PLEASE JOIN US FOR ALL THE CHRISTMAS TRIMMINGS, IN THIS SMALL TOWN, HINTERLAND BEAUTIFUL, TRIBUTE TO THE SEASON.