Today is My-my's birthday. I was looking through my photo archives a little while ago for a nice picture of My-my to send to my Mom, and I came upon this one.
My-my in February 2006, on black and white film. It was reading week during my third year at U of T, and I'd flown up to the Sault for a visit. My-my and I were watching the Olympic curling when I snapped this picture. She was doing that thing that sports nuts do when they watch their favourite team, throwing cheers and criticisms at the TV. My-my, the curler. I do wish I could have seen her in action. When my friend Juliet saw this photo, she exclaimed with real enthusiasm, "Wow, your grandma is a really beautiful lady!" Which, of course, she was.
When I scrolled down a bit in my Toronto 2006 album, I came upon this one, taken a couple months later.
When I scrolled down a bit in my Toronto 2006 album, I came upon this one, taken a couple months later.
I had asked my parents whether I could bring some friends home for the Easter holiday. "Sure," they said. "How many?"
"How many seats do we have in the car?" I asked.
So it was that my parents ended up hosting seven university-aged girls for Easter weekend. In that photo, we were decorating eggs. We also went to Niagara Falls, the Olive Garden, the Easter Church service, and the old abandoned psychiatric center, because obviously. Of those seven girls, three now have doctorates, two are teachers, one is a nurse, four are living overseas, and three will be married by the end of the summer.
I scrolled down a bit further and came upon this gem.
"How many seats do we have in the car?" I asked.
So it was that my parents ended up hosting seven university-aged girls for Easter weekend. In that photo, we were decorating eggs. We also went to Niagara Falls, the Olive Garden, the Easter Church service, and the old abandoned psychiatric center, because obviously. Of those seven girls, three now have doctorates, two are teachers, one is a nurse, four are living overseas, and three will be married by the end of the summer.
I scrolled down a bit further and came upon this gem.
I have no explanation for this picture. It was taken in the Upper common room in Annesley Hall around exam-time. Yes, Gabby and I are wearing backward baseball caps, and yes, our dirty bare feet are on the coffee table. Our mouths are full of Oreos.
Realising I'd strayed from my original mission, I went next into my album of old family photos. There I found this.
Realising I'd strayed from my original mission, I went next into my album of old family photos. There I found this.
My-my is in this picture even if her face is not. Judging by my hair and Pamela's dress, I would guess that this was taken in the spring or summer of 1989. It was Sunday morning, and we were in Orillia with My-my, at the Church she had attended as a child. There is a plaque in there dedicated to her father, who was for many years their much-esteemed organist. My-my used to tell stories about how, as a small child, she was sent climbing in among the pipes to help him with tuning. And how, as an older child, she would smuggle her schoolbooks into choir practice, hoping her dad wouldn't notice if she squeezed in some studying between songs.
So, today, on the 19th of April, in the most roundabout of ways, a happy birthday to My-my, and much love to my mom, who I know is thinking of her today.
So, today, on the 19th of April, in the most roundabout of ways, a happy birthday to My-my, and much love to my mom, who I know is thinking of her today.