Cross Country

Courageous was a great movie. A bit of a tearjerker. We rented it on Rogers TV and watched half of it until Rogers went off the air. It took us awhile before we got to watch it again, and ended up with surround sound, after Doug set up speakers so we could hear it. Max & Dale, and Bill & Louise attended our movie theatre. I told them to turn their cell phones off (just like a real theatre), however, by the time the night ended, two people were on cell phones, Doug and I talked to Stuart in Mexico via Skype on Bill's cell phone, Max was on the phone to Rogers, and we had the laptop out. Too much technology goin' on. B & L had to leave before the movie ended, but rhe rest of us toughed it out to the end, and it was worth it.

Sunday found Doug and I on a road trip and ended up on the Charlie Lake Road (although the GPS told us it was the "Charlee Cake Road." Where do they come up with their names via satellite?). Perhaps we were going to find some cake at the end of the road, but we found Charlie Lake. Granny told me that Jed used to fish there when he was young. We couldn't look around too much since it was private property, so we went cross country through the forest, snowmobiling our CRV through the woods. At least that's how it felt. Beautiful snow road. Didn't have a clue where we would end up or where we were, because Mrs. GPS decided to take a break and lost her signal. After quite a jaunt, we made it to a main road -- the road to Canterbury. So we headed towards Meductic instead. Down on the river, past Sabian Cymbals, and into Temple -- where my grandparents lived and my father was raised. Tried to find the property where the old house once stood. I remember the chicken shed and visiting Gram & Gramp, but that was a LONG time ago.

It was so quiet and the snow on the river was inviting me. "Doug, I want to ski on the river where my grandparents used to live." And my ancestors probably canoed up the mighty Saint John to settle. So I put on my boots and skis and off I went -- a lone soldier skiing on a frozen river. Skiing in Temple. Never did that before. A first. Doug stayed in the recreational vehicle (not a first).

Back in the vehicle. Exhilarated I was. "Doug, I want to go to the cemetery where my ancestors are buried." Down the Temple Road to the Hillman Cemetery. Skis on again and for the next half hour, I skied through the cemetery, searching for my grandparents, great grandparents. It was a very deep experience for me; I was surprised at how it affected me. Found a very old tombstone with "Christian Fox," an ancestor from the 1800's. Spent quite a bit of time in front of my grandparents' stone, remembering Ella and Cecil, and weeping. There's nothing like a cemetery to bring home how 'short' life is here on earth. I'm glad I have a future and a hope and will live forever. Like many of my ancestors, I hope.

What next to do? Go to the Acorn for lunch. Met up with Rick & Patricia and had a nice lunch. Good food. Then home to read and catch up on episodes of The Naked Archaeologist (yes, very good show), and Heartland. Yes, Heartland -- we're almost caught up to season 5. Quite a weekend.

And I've decided my new love is cross country skiing. Skiing on the river, and in a cemetery. Never had a clue I would do this when I set out that morning for our little road trip adventure. You never know what you're going to do. You just need to "do."