Lynda, the kids, and I landed in Toronto yesterday to begin our spring vacation. Sure, we may be late in starting our trip, but officially, it's still spring for a few more days. Unofficially, at least at home in Newfoundland, judging by the 5 degree temperature and several days of the cursed RDF that we left in our jet stream, we'll be foregoing spring this year. If we waited for Mother Nature to tell us it was time to take our spring vacation, it may never happen. We have learned to rely solely on the calendar to tell us what season is supposed to be taking place outside. In any event, we made it just under the wire and are already enjoying our respite from the clutch that winter still has over our beloved Avalon Peninsula.
It is said that "Home is where the heart is." I must have a big heart. My arrival back in Southern Ontario yesterday felt very much like coming home. Why shouldn't it? I lived here for fourteen years. It was the first place that I settled after finally leaving the protective nest of my parents. I began my career here. I proposed to Lynda when she visited me at my first apartment in Thorncliffe Park, which is not far from downtown Toronto. We eventually bought our first house together in Oakville and moved twice when transfers took us to Kingston and Burlington. My children were born at Oakville-Trafalgar Hospital and spent the first few years of their lives by being blessed to live in a beautiful Burlington neighbourhood. Our first two family dogs, Nickie and Reno, were "Ontarions".
Of course, getting off the plane to sunny skies and 25 degree temperatures also felt extremely welcoming. But even that didn't compare to the warmth we felt when we finally pulled into the driveway of the Mississauga home of Doug, Dallas, Devon, and Delaney. No, they aren't a musical troop, despite the catchy name they could have - The Four D's. They are the Pendergast family. They are our dearest friends. Their story is very similar to ours. Doug and Dallas are Newfoundlanders who came here in the early 90's to begin careers. I've actually known Doug since we played hockey together as 10 year old kids, so he is a townie like me and Lynda. Dallas, as some of you may have guessed by the unique name, is a Bayman. She is from the Northern Peninsula - River of Ponds, to be exact. I was there once. Such a colourful name for a town. I do recall seeing a river, but I don't remember any ponds nearby. There were a lot of small, wind bent trees, plenty of poached salmon, tasty moose that may have poached, and the rocket fuel of beverages called moonshine. A few drinks of that stuff and I was poached!
We are staying at the Pendergast residence while we are in Ontario. Their place is a proverbial hotel for wayward Newfoundlanders. They have always been gracious and such hospitable hosts. The rate they charge us is pretty reasonable too. I also enjoy experiencing the new things that come with staying at some place other than my own home. Doesn't it always seem that the towels smell so much fresher and are softer than your own; the taste of the grub, even if it's just toast or KD, is so much sweeter to the palate; and even the softness of the pull-out couch is just right. Such visits also allow me to try new shampoo brands when I shower and Doug and Dallas have lots of choices. They'll never know because my follicley challenged head doesn't require me to steal very much of their shampoo. They also splurge and buy the high end Cottonelle, which is probably the biggest treat of my vacation thus far. I may have a big heart, but a certain other part of my large body really relishes three plies.
There has been no sign thus far of any rain, drizzle, or fog and none in any of the long range forecasts for the Southern Ontario region. The nice weather here just makes everything and everybody so much more cheerful. We hope that by the time we return to Newfoundland later next week, we will be greeted by beautiful summer weather and everyone will be is good spirits there too. Just in case, I have a backup plan that will make people forget about the bad weather. I'll be handing out rolls of Cottonelle toilet paper to everyone I meet, compliments of The Four D's.
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