Harbour City Ramblings

Early last month I had the pleasure of celebrating two weddings on back-to-back weekends.

My journey brought me from a concert in Vancouver, to a family wedding on the Sunshine Coast of BC, then a few provinces east- to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

When I last spent time in Saskatoon my nephew-by-default, Emmett, was one week new in the world. I spent some time getting to know him while staying with my best friend Trista and her partner Justin. This time around, coming on two years of age, he had grown ten-fold both in size and personality.

Late last year is when I received news that I would be returning to that lovely, flat, wheat-abundant province. Trista called with the tremendous news that she & Justin were getting married. And I was thrilled to accept the responsibility of Maid of Honour.

Since our days of misguided youth spent wandering the aisles of our local Campbell River video store, or skipping school to whale-watch from the shore- we had been inseparable. Our families moved in next door to one another on the very same mid-September day, and we officially met in our Grade 7 class at Rockland Elementary School. Throughout our dozen year history we have lived together on several occasions, snuck out together more times than one can count on multiple hands, spent more days together than apart, and caused our parents a lifetime worth of grief.

Pre-Wedding Preparations

Due to the family wedding the weekend prior, I was only able to spend the week leading up to Trista and Justin’s big day there in Saskatoon assisting with last minute prep, and the standard pre-wedding events.

On my first full day in the city came the Wedding Shower, and the day following included an impressive west-coast inspired dinner at the Ivy Lounge, then dancing and debauchery at Jax’s Nite Club for the Bachelorette party.

On the Thursday the bridesmaids, Trista and I took some time to relax at Sunday Morning Organic Day Spa, where we were pampered in the least toxic and most eco-friendly fashion.

Friday night, after the preparations had come together and the week to a close, Trista’s mother and partner Gord threw one last pre-wedding-hurrah: the Rehearsal Dinner.

The Ceremony

The weather through the week was nothing short of dreary and damp. Upon waking up on Saturday, August 8th, we were all relieved to see dry skies.

Trista and I headed out of the house around 8am, stopped for coffee and made our way to MAC to have our make-up applied. We then met up with the mothers and bridesmaids- including Trista’s sister Candyce, Justin’s sister Kelsey, and Trista’s brother’s partner Heather- for our fantastic up-do’s.

With one hour remaining, and anxiousness setting in, all nerves were momentarily calmed when assisting the bride into her dress.

Having been a couple provinces away for most essential wedding preparations, this was the first time I had seen the bride’s dress. To be honest, there are positively no lack of clichés available to delineate just how beautiful Trista looked in that dress. It complimented her perfectly, she was the very definition of radiant.

The ceremony played out brilliantly. With the enchanting landscape of the Saskatoon Forestry Farm accommodating the crowd of friends and family, there on that Saturday afternoon we joined Trista and Justin in their natural and official coalescence.

The Reception

After the wedding party photo shoot we made our way to the reception hall for the grand celebration.

With most Maid of Honour duties behind me, there was but one left to fulfill… The most nerve-wracking, stomach-churning responsibility of them all- my speech. I certainly stumbled my way through it, but luckily it was soon to be forgotten as the dinner plates were cleared and we all sat in admiration of the new Mr. and Mrs. Stabler.

For the remainder of the evening, the dance-floor had not once been shy of full capacity. With the two dorky DJ’s providing the tunes, and the organic beer and wine flowing, it was certainly the perfect celebration.

Regretfully after the weekend was through, I had to leave my darling nephew Emmett, and Trista and Justin, to make my way back home to BC. After easily one of the best weeks of recent memory, I am so happy to have been a part of the festivities. And though it’s disheartening to live so far from Trista and her new family, the sadness is trumped by the fact that I know she is content, she is safe, she is comfortable and home. That she has truly evolved from the adolescent individual I grew up with, to one refined and impressive woman. I am privileged to know her, and to have been a part of her wedding day.

It’s happening again.

This time every year- and I do assure you it happens consistently once a year, for weeks on end- when the weather returns from dreary downfalls in spring and leads us into the depths of what we are hopeful will remain a summer full of sun-filled days, the crows a’cometh.

I hate them.

I don’t hate much in this world. Because it is in fact true as far as falling under the category of “what mother always said” goes. Hate is too strong a word to use sparingly.

I hate crows. More specifically, I hate how crows insist on waking me up before 5:00 am daily with their aggravating cawing. And how their already rude behaviour turns even more vile with swooping and stalking tendencies as the summer progresses. Luckily I have recently returned home from two weeks away from their incessantly irritating disruptions. For it seems the entire city of Powell River does not have as many crows as the lone tree sitting out front my bedroom window, thankfully.

Mike & Justine’s Wedding

The day after the Blink 182 concert in Vancouver I took the ferry back to Horseshoe Bay. Mom and brother Matthew picked me up in Nanaimo and we commenced the journey up-island and over the ocean again for wedding 1 of 2 that week.

Mike & Justine’s ceremony and reception took place on the grounds of Aunt Claudette & Uncle Stan’s property in rural Powell River, a mere couple of blocks from the water’s edge. The serene surroundings quelled the chaotic going-ons throughout the few days leading up to the ceremony on Saturday, August 1st, if only slightly.

From Wednesday to Friday evening myself, mom, the aunts and various other helpers of either side of the families scurried about the property grounds like worker ants about a colony. I managed to walk away with variable wedding war-wounds while assisting with the garden and food preparations. Deadheading plants was a term I familiarized myself with rather quickly, in between helping out in the kitchen with peeling 60 lbs. of potatoes, opening 50 cans of beans, chopping an assortment of vegetables and cooking a multitude of pasta with my aunts.

In these few days, I learned that anyone considering catering to a wedding of such a capacity, should not overlook the option of eloping.

Come Saturday morning all the preparations were complete, and the grounds beautifully set-up to host the nearly-150 person crowd for the big day.

The pool-side ceremony was harmonious and the reception an absolutely blast. I was fortunate to have joined in the celebrations with Mike and Justine, and spend plenty more time with dad’s amazing and supportive side of the family. The following day the family and I packed our two vehicles, hopped back to Vancouver Island on the morning ferry, and I sadly increased my carbon footprint a little further by driving down to Nanaimo in order to catch a flight to Saskatoon, SK for wedding 2 of 2- my best friend’s wedding.

A day late, but let me start by saying: Happy Birthday Ryan! The big 1-6. He can officially commence the process of obtaining his drivers license! That takes care of yesterday, as for today: Happy Birthday dad!

I’m certainly jealous as they’ll both be celebrating with the relatives on the beaches of Tofino, BC, the gorgeous West Coast of Vancouver Island.

Thursday started as an over-all good day including some shopping and lounging in the sun with Matthew, my youngest sibling.  We then biked from James Bay, past Thetis Lake and as far as Colwood at the Highway #14 crossing of the Galloping Goose trail.  A quick 13km or so trek, Matthew’s first time on that part of the trail, and he did superbly!

That night we collectively celebrated 60% of the immediate family’s Birthdays, as we all enjoyed a dinner out at a fantastic restaurant with hearty portions of satisfying food, in a great location alongside a hilly Metchosin farm with a petting zoo out back and… they’re environmentally friendly?  That was positive news.

My Chosen Cafe’s Composting Project

We dined at My Chosen Café.  A rustic, homey little spot located in Metchosin.  Dinner was highly enjoyable.

The whole family, including (cousin and good friends) Aimee and Dylan, all there for some good laughs.  And as it turns out- the restaurant is keen on keeping things green.

My Chosen Café is taking part in one of the CRD’s composting pilot projects.  These projects were first introduced, so far with much success, in the residential areas of Oak Bay and View Royal.  It was extended after a year when it saw over 400 tonnes of waste diverted from the landfill.

Domestic food waste is picked up from residential areas and transported to a composting facility.  Simple as that, they even supply you with the free composting bags.

The restaurant has it’s weekly pick-up, and our waitress explained that this time a couple of years ago they were letting cans, bottles, paper, and all pile up in multiple trash bags.  My, how things have changed.

Cheers to Ryan and dad- Happy Birthdays!