On Thanksgiving I paid a visit to the new residential school memorial statue of grandmother and child carved of marble by Michel Beauvais. It is so important to remember the past, forgive each other, forgive ourselves, and bring the good from the past into the present, for a better future. I am so thankful to have had grandparents who taught me lessons that my parents couldn’t, and it’s hard to imagine a childhood without that love and nurturing. The traditional role of the grandmother is one of those good things we should all try to keep in our own lives. Úlnumsh chālap! A big thank you to my Aboriginal friends for reminding me how important that role is, now more than ever. I am more than old enough to be a grandmother, but that blessing has yet to happen. Instead of waiting interminably for the young folk to get on with it, I have decided that the grandmother in me does not need to wait. I don’t have to look far to find young ones who could use love, guidance, something useful to do, and yummy things to eat. Right here is a good place to start.
The Halfmoon Bay Apple Festival is the perfect opportunity for older folks to share the work-first-then-play tradition with young families, related or not. Take the community kettle where apples from local trees are made into apple butter. Children learn to peel an apple, ride a pony, stir the big kettle, get smoke in their eyes, bite into a caramel apple, taste Halfmoon Bay Café fall soups, beat a Native hand drum made of elk hide, and feel the love that surrounds them in such a beautiful place. The joy of playing music and singing together can be passed on. So this weekend I will step into that grandmother role and do my duty to nurture and nudge the younger generations. Monies raised from sale of the community-made apple butter go to the Food Bank and the Halfmoon Bay Child Care Society.
Parents, grandparents, kids (and wanna-be parents, grandparents, and kids) are all invited. Saturday, Oct. 17 is your chance to work with your neighbours to finish the job of apple butter making, stirring and canning. Come if you aren’t afraid to roll up your sleeves and help. Lots of hands make short work of it, and bring the little ones so they can experience community in action. Sunday, Oct. 18 is the main day of the Apple Festival. I look forward to being Grannie and seeing my wonderful neighbours and friends at Coopers Green. Website www.halfmoonbayapplefestival.com for more.
