Suzy Says

You can’t get much more contrast than this with the cement canyons of downtown Toronto. This is the deck at John’s parents’ house on Lake Kennebec. We’re here until Wednesday.

To review the past few days:

Friday
Train to Kingston. Train is the only form of travelling any distance that doesn’t scare me at all. Neither v is required, and although I carried my amulets with me, I didn’t actually drape them on my person. I was that confident. The worst part of the trip was carrying my bag, which, like me, had grown bloated from Birthday Week. I’m beginning to wonder how we’re going to get it home. We might have to name it and give it its own room.

Saturday
Official Child Duty, aka Dad Duty at retirement party for one of Dad’s former colleagues in the middle of Nowhere, Quebec. Discovered that stop signs, while in the traditional shape and color, do in fact say “ARRET” on them. Also discovered that Nowhere, Quebec is where they grow the world’s supply of mosquitoes. I was greeted by a cloud of them with great enthusiasm, and no amount of repEt actually repelled them.

I was greeted with mosquito-like enthusiasm by Dad’s former colleagues and friends, and gave away copies of two of my favorite pictures of him. I didn’t cry, even when I had to explain exactly why he is no longer here.

On the other hand, I got to eat lobster.

They did a really cool thing, which I’m planning to do at the next opportunity. They had made a pinata for the guest of honor in the shape of the pesticide molecule he had worked on. When he opened it, there were little brightly colored plastic Easter eggs inside, each with a letter or email or thought the giver wanted to share with the guest of honor.

Sunday
Spent the day with John’s brother Mike and his family, including John’s great-nephew Kyle. Kyle turns 7 next month, and this is the first time I had met him, which tells you all you need to know about the kind of wife I am. That, and abandoning the party to ride John’s friend Pete’s motorcycle with Pete. It was the perfect thing to do while wearing the jeans I got in London which are embroidered with sparkly pink beads. I mean, I had to. Also, it was fun. Made a deal with Pete for him to buy my Mustang, so she’ll have a good home and I can still drive her when we’re here visiting John’s family.

Acquired a slight sunburn and more mosquito bites and more birthday presents. My bag is named Bertha and is planning to attend UC Berkeley this fall.