.Year 2000 - End of the Century, End of the Millenium - The Start Of New Memories!
You know how these Christmas letters are supposed to go... highlights,
some bragging, a little about my arthritis, the achievements and the trials of the last year...
Well... prepare yourself.. it's coming... but first, some notes... and some pictures... Each of the pictures is linked to a larger version, should you want a clearer and larger image, just right-click on the picture, and choose 'Open Link In New Window' from the pop-up menu... After viewing the picture, close the extra window, and this page will appear.
Happy Browsing!!!
The Ritchies at Christmas.
Our Neighbourhood Environment (Grey House is Ours).
'Hark The Herald Angels Sing', reminds me of Christmases past, when I was a kid at home. The images associated with this piece remind me of getting ready for Church, Midnight Mass, of new shirts, tying ties, the smell of new cologne, (also with the scent of junipers from the gin, and some rum in the air), and a living room holding a decorated and glowing tree, and of course, family chatter, and in the background, 'Hark The Herald Angels'.
That was many years ago... Still, the same activities unfold this year in many households; perhaps yours too. Christmas is a time of memories, recent ones, and ones long passed. For example, our own family has grown (some might say 'aged') Here is 1983 versus 1999.... It seems memories are being created constantly (Awww... -duhhh! such insight!)
Allan and Laura, 1983
Allan and Laura, 1999
They have grown... and now we mark time through events in our kids lives... They both are at Queens U. in Kingston, a nine-to-eleven-hour drive from our home... I drove down to get them December 16th (nine hours down, no snow on the way,) and we returned December 19th, (snow, and night travel = 11 hours.) So, now, they are here with us for a little while... Or, at least, they sleep here... and sometimes, they even eat here... But.. Hey! It's Christmas, and they are home... with old friends, and new adventure tales that must be told... (Remember those days?)
Allan now has a page at Geocities. It's new, but growing. You can visit it here.
His residence floor also has a page, the photo section of Queens 'Victoria Hall' residence, Floor 6-E. is linked here...
Laura doesn't have her own page, but I set one up for her (also at Geocities) last year. It hasn't changed much since last year. You can visit it here.
ANYWAYYYY... Here we go...
Connie and I?
What happened in our life?
Specifically? Hmmm... not much in things one can say are ours specifically... as I said, now we mark time through events of the kids...
January through July was pretty much tied up at work. Connie was on a team to implement a computer system at her hospital. She learned the system, trained other personnel, and supported the go-live sequences for deparments coming on line. The activity just finished before Christmas. We adjusted to the empty nest.
In February, I made a trip to Niagara Falls, meeting Otis, Barb, and Cassandra, from Ohio, then back to Toronto, where I picked up Allan, who had just finished his Midget Hockey Playdowns. Together, we visited with my brother Brian, in Maple. Another brother, Allan, and his wife, Laura, and kids William and Adam happened to be there also, so it was a mini-reunion. Allan, who was on the coaching staff, had had his head shaved by his players. Strangley, he didn't look too bad... While there, Allan was invited to attend the Federal Liberal convention in Ottawa. Rather than head home with me, Allan drove to Sudbury with his uncle and aunt, and connected with a group heading to Ottawa.
In April, I learned a lot about workplace burnout; from a personal perspective, some of which I am still pondering.
In May, I started a garden once more; a bit of therapy...
In June, Ruth, (Connie's Mom,) and Hilda (my Mom)visited with us to attend Allan's graduation with our family.
Later in June, Connie, Laura, and I spent a few days in Kingston helping Laura renovate her apartment; some plastering, painting, and wallpapering. It is her first, along with three other roomates, Mike, Matt, and Ayham. We brought down some furniture and did a bit of shopping for tools and apartment things. We were too focused on the tasks at hand, and did not get any pictures of the place. Too bad... It is a really nice place. June also featured a visit from Linda, a friend from the past, whom I re-met via the internet. I, Connie, Laura, and Linda took in Timmins Cultural Fair; Allan was somewhere...?
In July,a family reunion...
...and a Chapleau Cree First Nation re-union. I took part in the Chapleau Cree First Nation Homecoming 2000, as a tour guide on the Chapleau River; That river is a part of me that I had not visited for a number of years. I was able to share some of that river with band members from my father's time.
Some tangent thoughts on that river...
July and August, I introduced three co-op students to the wilds of the Timmins area, Steve, Ben, and Vic. Steve is from Hamilton; Ben from Kingston, (and now also Laura's boyfriend), Vic is from Holland. They travelled with me several times as I prepared for the Fall Hunt. Ben stayed on for a week, taking in part of the hunt. We put a small deck on the house.
September was the hunt, and a business trip to Toronto, during which I was able to visit Laurie, my daughter in Huntsville. A short visit, but very valuable to me.
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Laurie, March 1999.
October, a visit to Toronto, meeting the kids at Connie's sister and husband, Cathy and Warren, Gramma Rowlands, and a side trip to "unca" Brian's house...
November, and December were relatively quiet.
Laura
Laura made it through her first year in Engineering Chemistry, returned home, took a summer job at Falconbridge in the smelter, and met Ben. Nice guy.
I took them out to a special lake for a camping weekend. It seems they had a good time. They were protected by the many good spirits of that lake. The lake is in a secluded area, where the family camped, fished and swam in previous years; crystal clear water, with Pike, Trout, and Perch for fishing. Connie and I took in a swim there that weekend also. That lake has many strong memories. In 1987, we held our 'Bill Ritchie Memorial Hunt there, Allan and I camped there. It is like a 'special room'. I caught my largest Speckle Trout there icefishing. So many high point things in my life. I have been back there several times, just to sit and remember the events that happened near, on, and in that lake. I suppose it was fitting that Laura and Ben spent their first weekend there. The events in Laura's life now begin to be something different than 'just Ritchie family events', which is the natural development of the individual maturing from the home. So far, so good...
In her last week, Laura spent some time with me on the first week of my hunt. Thanks Laura. (Ohh.. and she showed Ben a thing or two about dressing out an animal, and skinning; something that other boyfriends also had to endure.)
Allan
This was Allan's big year. (He also had a big year last year.) Allan graduated this past June... Roland Michener High is behind him, and a new vista unfolds...
Lark and Allan at Graduation...
... and now at Queens...
His interest is political studies, although economics also seems to be high on the list.
In July, Allan headed out to Washington, to the Future World Leaders' Summit sponsored by 'The Presidential Classroom in the U.S. - a fully paid scholarship he was awarded at Canada's 'Forum for Young Canadians' (Ottawa) in 1999
... and here in Washington with the Canadian Delegation he lead...
... and at the Podium...
http://www.oocities.org/lritchiegeo/Christmas2000/AllanPresClass.jpg
... and here in Washington using his hard tactic debating skills...
Shortly before Allan left for school, he was invited to Timmins City Hall, where Mayor Vic Power presented him with a Merit Award for his accomplishments. (Sorry, no picture for that one!)
In his last week at home, Allan helped me set up for the Fall Hunt...
We spent the weekend 'in the bush'doing some prep work, and doing that 'Father-Son' last-time-together thing...
It was a nice way to end his last days as a permenanet resident in our home. Now he is a visitor, welcome, but a visitor, making his way into the world, with a base where he is welcome.
They are out, beginning to fly, sink, or swim. We did our best, and wish them well...
Anywayyyy... that is the end of the dragged out thing... Drop by again, and take a link tour when you have time.
One last set of Updates!... (These were taken Christmas Eve, 2000, at Darryl's house just before Christmastmas Eve Mass..
