Getting Together

Feb 14

John spent Valentine's day with his family. Linda had spent two days in preparation for a family get together.

John woke around 9am and went down. He was stil full from the excellent meal the day before and said that he would rather wait for lunch than have breakfast. He did enjoy a cup of tea and a look at the paper.

Then he took a shower and got spruced for the coming gathering of the clan. He had just finished when Rachel, Nick and the kids arrived. Rachel immediately started helping her Mum while Nick got the children ready to go for a walk and to take Snowy along. Among other items of apparel they needed their 'wellies' (wellington boots) as it might be muddy. John asked if Nick needed any assistance walking two children and a dog. He said, no, but John was welcome to come along if he wanted. Well, with wet hair and no wellies John declined with thanks.

Just after Nick had left a call came from Alan saying that his wife Donna was not well enough to come and could someone pick up Stuart, his son, and bring him to the festivities. Nigel agreed. But there was a problem. Nick had parked behind Nigel and walked off with his car keys. Rachel ran off after the little group to retrieve the keys.

She made it back quite quickly. So quickly, in fact, that John was surprised because he had offered to go with Nigel and was not in fact ready. He quickly got his shoes on and followed Nigel out, while Rachel was reversing their car out of the driveway. John hopped in and Nigel was off.

They went through the village and onto the A12 on their way to Harwich less than an hour away. John was able to ask Nigel some questions about British soccer that he had been wondering about for many years - how the system works, the organization of the various leagues (champion, FA, other divisions), the arrangement of the overlapping play, the number of games per week and so on. Nigel had played soccer and he is an avid fan of Colchester's team so he was happy to share his knowledge even though John is, by geography, a fan of Milwall and Chelsea, though he didn't know it until this trip to the UK. He also enjoyed the changing weather and scenery of the trip.

The two arrived at Alan's and John went inside to meet Donna while Nigel waited outside and talked to Stuart. Alan and Donna, an American, had lived in the US when John was last in England and that was where Stuart was born. So this was John's first chance to meet her. It turns out that she is a truly gifted artist. John was very impressed by the range of her work and the different media that she used, from acrylics and watercolours to pen and ink. Unfortunately, Donna was really not well and it was clear why she couldn't come to the get together and that even John's short visit was taxing to her. It was only right that Alan was going to stay by her side.

John said that he hoped Donna would feel better very soon, that he was very glad to have met her and to take good care. Alan thanked John for coming. The journey was such a little thing to do.

They set off, with Stuart automatically offering John the front seat. Like his Mum, Stuart is also a gifted artist but in music. He is a drummer in a band, has a degree in music theory and wants to become a teacher. He and John talked a little about getting his educational qualifications but John had to admit that he doesn't know the British system well enough to give good advice to his first cousin once removed (or is it second cousin, John never knows). However, John was impressed by Stuart's attitude to teaching - how he wants to share - and it reminded John of himself as a younger man.

They arrived back in time to see a dining table covered in dishes fit for a king with desserts in the kitchen. The table was a work of beauty: the meats all sliced, the salads ready to be scooped, the multiple pickles, the Scotch eggs, the variety of cheeses, and crackers, the various breads, and the array of scrumptious desserts. Rachel and Linda were still hard at work on the last couple of details. Auntie Stella, Dennis, Adele, Lillie and Joel were already there. They were playing with their younger cousins, Josh and Bella. Barney was there too.

Now Barney, though 'fixed,' is in love (lust?) with Snowy who is likewise neutered. He followed her everywhere. In frustration with constant rejection he started getting her toys out of her box. Then he fiercely defended them. Even Dennis had to be quite forceful verbally to make him behave.

Hillary, Terry and Rebecca arrived soon after. David, his other son Tony (who had been away at a boxing match the day before) and Carolyn and Barry arrived a little later than that.

John had got out his iPod speakers and was playing the assembled group some Canadian music and happily adding to the din created by adults talking, children playing, and dogs growling. Stuart, though, was listening and knew the vast majority of groups John played. He even knew John's current favourite group, Arcade Fire. John tried to find his "My Name is Joe and I am Canadian" rant but was unable.

Then it was time to eat. The children were called to the table first and John thought how appropriate that was, to have the children served first because they get hungrier more quickly. Then John and the others went up to make their choices. John had roast beef, ham and chicken along with a couple of regular salads and potato salad along with delicious pickled onions of a type you rarely see in Canada. He went back for seconds too!

The house was peaceful as the assembled group 'chowed down' before starting the merriment over again in three rooms - the kitchen, dining room, and lounge (living room). Throughout the afternoon and early evening John moved from room to room as did others to talk to each person as best he could. Afterwards he wished he had been able to spend more time with Aunt Stella.

Then it was time for dessert and John was delighted to have the first big scoop of a trifle made by Hillary. It reminded him of the trifles made by his Mum. In fact, as the afternoon wore into the evening, he wished that his Mum and Dad could have been there too, along with his aunts, uncles and cousins who could not be there.

John asked David if he would like to play with his videocamera and take some candid shots. David said, "Sure!" This gave David the chance to renew his old teasing habit of taking Linda's picture without her consent, he used to do it many years ago using super 8 movie film. This time he even caught Linda saying a naughty word, Ar%%h&l*s when she realized he was filming her. It made John smile to know that he had been able to help recreate a treasured family moment. hahaha

John also played David some funny songs from Weird Al on his iPod.

Soon, too soon, it was time to be over. Dennis' family were the first to leave followed by David's. Carolyn gave John two of the biggest, strongest hugs he has ever had (to make up for all those he has missed over the years) and promised to come to Canada when she and Barry could. It was sad to see them all go but John was deeply happy that he had had the chance to see so many wonderful people once again.

He helped Stuart, Rachel, Nick, Nigel, and Linda to clean up though the others did the majority of the work. Rachel and Nick said that they would be happy to take Stuart home on their way as the children needed to get into a deep sleep before being carried into their beds (it's not a good situation when they wake up after having a short powernap in the car!).

It was not long until the cutlery and dishes were in the dishwasher and the other things washed and dried. They all had a short visit before Rachel, Nick, the children and Stuart left John with Linda, Nigel, and Snowy in what seemed an empty house. Little Josh seemed particularly sad to know that his playmate, John, would not be there the next time he comes to his Nana's house.

Tomorrow John leaves in the morning for Val's for one last night before flying back to Canada resuming his life, and ending the travels of me, his little red backpack.

TRB