living for long weekends... as in update #1

So my Mom celebrated her 60th birthday on Sept. 2 and thankfully it was a long weekend.

I couldn't sleep the night before we left for Abbotsford... I was so excited! M. and I hadn't been "down south" (as people up here call anything that's south of Prince George) since M.'s sister's wedding at the end of March. My oldest sister, Darlene, whom I haven't seen since last Christmas was there as well as two of my Mom's sisters, my aunts from Ontario. It was sounding more and more like a big family, fun, party, get together...

M. and I split the 12-hour drive into two, driving to Quesnel on Thursday night and doing the rest of the way on Friday morning. We got there at a decent time, early enough for me to hop in the shower and participate in party preparation shopping. My sisters still hadn't officially started their day yet. So we went shopping...

Like Jane Eyre who was "gasping for liberty", I was gasping for a Starbucks (not having had one in almost 5 months)... since it was Sept. they had already started making my absolute favourite coffee in the world! The Pumpkin Spice Latte!

Other highlights, under the subheading: I don't think I have laughed so much and so hard and had so much fun concentrated in such a short amount (two and half days) of time...
When you know you only have two days for a vacation, you tend to make the most of every moment, packing in as much fun and as many memories as you can... to last you until the next time...

...my Mom's only brother, my Uncle John, also from Ontario, surprising everybody by showing up for the celebrations.
... going out for a big "my big fat Dutch family dinner" type supper at a Greek restaurant. I love my family. We're loud. We're weird. We like to have a lot of fun. You really can't take us out into public, especially when it entails eating. Get a little vino/wine into us and the whole restaurant (or atleast those in our eating area, can also take part in our fun! but not to the point of getting thrown out). I was the growling lion to my brother's poor lamb chops... grrr... Laughter flowed more freely wine (which is saying something)... objects/food were thrown... but nothing was started on fire and nothing was broken...

Saturday was taken up by garden party/open house held in my Mom's honour. The day started with a family pancake breakfast, made by Dad, that lasted a little too long. Suddenly we had a flurry of activity trying to get food, chairs, food, tables, decorations, more food, all ready for an afternoon of hosting people.

The afternoon passed by with thankfully no upsets... it was the perfect garden party complete with little girls running around in frilly dresses (my nieces), flowers enough to start a hot house (indeed, there was a brief conversation, after guests were all gone of course, of setting up a booth at the side of the road to sell the many bouquets my mom received), and what makes every get together a memorable one: good friends, good laughter, good food, good wine...

My mom had the presence of mind to kick my sister K and I away early so we could some shopping. If there's one complaint I have about living up here it's the fact that THERE IS NO SHOPPPING... Of course when you're in a hurry and you need to stock up on some winter clothes, you can't find anything. Damn Murphy's law...

M and I ended the night by partaking in a meal that you also can't get up here in any good quality: sushi... I love good food (as you can gather by my frequent mentioning of it... and sushi was delicious. I was a bit rusty, not having used chopsticks for several months, but no spills.

After that, we went back home (with extra sushi in hand for a late-night snack) and played a riotous game of cards that has a Dutch name and I can't remember. I think it has an English name, but I can't remember that either.

Things started to wind down Sunday... we were all tired. My brothers and their wives and kids all came over again to eat up all the leftovers. It was good to see them one more time. Half of my nieces and nephews are almost as tall as I am and now can read and write, so we're going to exchange letters and/or emails. Should be fun... it's amazing how relationships change as they get older... playing board games with them is going to be a blast...

Monday M and I left for home. I spent Tuesday moping around feeling homesick and a little sorry for myself. Next family -filled weekend? Thanksgiving...