ANNIVERSARY

         A  few days ago was our 60th wedding anniversary. Ya I know. How did that happen? One never thinks ahead to numbers such as 60 years married.

Many people along the way support you. Helping to  get you to these anniversaries.

So this was day one.

58

       Fifty eight years ago today I put on my new suit and tie and walked across the road to the Stringer Hall Chapel and strolled down the aisle to the waiting minister. I stood facing the minister. People were coughing, shifting in their seats, dropping things. You hear much more when it's quiet. A float plane roared off the river. The Minister said, "She's left town!" Soon after , the crowd was asked to stand and there were flashbulbs popping and a shuffle up the aisle. Mrs Holman who couldn't play the organ, volunteered to play the music. Yes, the bride made it. Somebody gave the "woman" away and the veil was removed.

     Yes, today is our 58th anniversary. 

     We got together with friends and said our I do's. 

    It was a different wedding as we were married in Inuvik, NWT so didn't have relatives, just the friends.

    There are so many good things we remember about the day of our wedding. People volunteered to help us make a wonderful day. Mrs Holman was the assistant hostel administrator and took us under here wing. She played the organ and got a girl's choir to sing.

2000 POSTS

      I just happened to notice a few days ago that the counter was on 2000 posts. I don't post every day. I make about 120 to 150 posts a year so it takes along time to get to 2000.

     I try to write about topics rather than personal daily events. Yes, I did say that I was a bit of a bumbler and I had some adventures to write about. The adventures have been fun for me to recount. 

     I also notice that I should change some of the things in my introduction as they no longer apply.

     I started Hiawatha House in 2008 when my daughter set up the basics of the blog. She left town the next day.  I spent the next year with Blogging for Dummies trying to set up other things on Hiawatha house. 

    I have enjoyed writing Hiawatha House. One thing I did not realize is that I would make many very good friends. I'm always saddened when a good blogger disappears. There is a tremendous amount that one learns from other bloggers. 

   I will keep on writing and visiting. 

   Well, here I was in 2008!

   

What else is there to do but bird?

                                A good supper

                       I think this was about 2022. 

ANNIVERSARY

      Yes folks, today is our 57th anniversary. 

      The very poor quality photos are from Nov of 1965 when the great decision was made that we would marry. We were married May 21 1966. 

      My Mom always bugged us about the date of May 22 because her birthday was May 20 so why didn't we get married on her birthday? Anyway Mom would have been 109 yesterday. 

ANNIVERSARY

      Tomorrow is our anniversary. Yes, you guessed it it. I was scanning slides and many memories came back.

      We were married in Inuvik. We met there and decided to get married there.

      We were both in our mid 20's and it would have been difficult to organize a wedding back home 1599 miles away.

     The Micro Manager wanted some of the traditions. Many people helped us get organized.   Most of our friends lived with us.

     We were married in the Stringer Hall Chapel. Stringer hall was a student residence for about 300 kids. The residence was run by the Anglican church so they had to have a chapel for the kids. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                    The reverend's wife set up many things for us. She played the organ. She picked the hymns. She got a choir. She found  flower girl and ring bearer. She was a sweetheart and we remember her to this day. 

          So on a bright sunny day  55 years ago the Micro Manager and I took the plunge into a long married life.

     One thing that was unique about the chapel was the painting at the front. It was painted by a pilot who stayed overnight in the hostel . Each night he was there he added to the painting. The children were hostel kids he used as models. Take a closer look and you see the kids with their parkas. 

     Unfortunately this large complex has been taken down. 

      

MAY LONG WEEK END IN CANADA.

      This weekend is a long weekend in Canada, At one time it was called Victoria Day weekend where it was meant to celebrate Queen Victoria's birthday.  Now Queen Victoria died long before I was born so that makes it a long time ago. Now we simply call it the May long weekend. 

      It's the first long weekend in Canada when we can actually get outside and enjoy activities. So it's the first weekend of camping.

     At one time in my life, the May long weekend was one that we made sure we were out. Now many times there is very inclement weather for this weekend. When I was younger we tented. With my little kids we had a small holiday trailer. I have camped in the snow on a May long weekend...more than once! Camping became a little loonier than I wanted to experience...much alcohol and partying. So the May Long Weekend camping experience in campgrounds ended.

     We then latched on to a piece of recreational property and spent some pleasant  May weekends weekends in our patch of trees by the lake. There were some good times but when the kids grew up and left , we gave up the camping.

    Now there are two unforgettable May long weekends for me. First, I got married on May 21, 1966 which that year was a long weekend. Second, the next year, 1967,  May weekend , we had to go camping. So we took our tent and camping gear and headed to a northern lake and campground. We'd never been to Grieg  lake before. When we got there we were impressed by the beauty and quietness. In fact, it was so quiet that we were the only campers. The weather was perfect for a long weekend. The lake was about 2 mi long and half a mile wide. We rented a canoe and had a great time on the lake. For the whole weekend we were the only campers. 

   That was the best long May weekend camping that I ever had.

    

Let the 51st Begin

      The honeymoon is over Poochie Pie.  By Stompin Tom Connors

       Yes, the Micro Manager and I recently celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary. I'm sure most people say , "They don't know where the time went." or "It seems just like yesterday we were married."

        So we were married in Inuvik NWT. Get your map out and look for that one. It was a bright sunny day and warm enough for not having to wear a coat. The anniversary day here was terribly cold and windy and you had to wear your winter coat to keep warm

        One humorous thing sticks in my mind. We went to the minister in Feb to get organized. We had to request that he marry us and outline plans we would have to have in place. At the same time were were getting the marriage license from him. He shuffled  around in his office and couldn't find the book with licenses. He thought maybe he sold the last one in his book? He would get some more licenses from another pastor,but he would have to charge us $2.00 instead of one dollar because the last couple hadn't paid him!!!

     So this is what it looked like at the start!

     And this is how far it has gone!

       
      So by now the honeymoon should be over!

       My daughter wrote:
           Through thick and thin:
           Arctic adventure, chores,
           and play, kids, grand kids,
           in-laws , outlaws, you
          made it all work. You gave us 
          something to aim for.

       My son wrote:
       Congratulations on your special day...it's quite a milestone indeed. I hope it's filled with happiness, Best wishes from all of us on the left coast.