Memories

The weather is heating up and it is bringing back all sorts of summer memories. Since my parents were international people of mystery (diplomats) we lived in meny meny different places... Only the last couple of years I have been able to not wake up in a cold sweat not knowing where the bathroom is. I kid you not. I can't say I have a favourite summer but there is one that stands out.

First summer back in Canada- age 9. We had lived for 4 years in Germany and I loved it- except for the year my bro was born because he usurped me from the position of "youngest". Jerk. I held that position for like 6 years. I eventually got over it, last year. Anywho, the plan was for me to visit my dad's parents in Sombra. Now Sombra is tiny. It's a little town in Southern Ontario on some big river right across from the States. You can see the States from the town. Sombra was known for bootlegging back in the days of prohibition and I think that's pretty cool. Sombra was pretty much the only consistant place in my life growing up and it was small and everybody knew everybody and as a kid this place was heaven. I had a couple of friends I would visit in the summer - Robyn and Tara and they had a freezer full of popsicles, a banana slide, a speed boat with an innertube and cable TV. Had I been Muslim, this would have been named "Mecca." The town had a little store that rented tapes and sold pop and ice cream just down from the ferry stop. My grandparents house was about a 5 minute walk away and I always remember the pretty houses on the way. My Aunt Bill (she was great) lived on the way and I would stop by and chat with her. She rocked. There was something so familiar and safe about Sombra that I loved.

My Grandparents house was one level and the smell of toast would rouse me from the sofa that I slept on and the first sight I'd see was the large tankers floating by on the river. If my Papa (Grandpa) was back from his Post Office walk (always wearing his Trucker hats) he'd pass me the binoculars and ask what the name of the ship was. He was funny. He called me "Kid". The summer mornings were always warm and full of excitement and I couldn't help but squirm at the dining room table in anticipation. Grandma made breakfasts that would put June Cleaver to shame. I'll always remember that the toast was cut diagonally, the juice was served in small glasses with knobs portruding, and the pancakes would be piled high. It was homecooking at its finest.

Sometimes we'd visit my dad's brother who also lived in Sombra. My two cousins, Danny and David lived in a great house on the river. I loved that place. They also had Fruit Loops. One summer David had a baby raccoon and for a kid like me brought up on Disney, this couldn't have been any cooler. I had visions of this animal braiding my hair and telling me I was pretty. Dumb pet just climbed walls and scratched me. It was cute though...

So the summer that I was 9 I arrived late in Sombra without my luggage. It was lost on the long commute from Germany and all I had with me were the clothes on my back- an impractical pretty dress. I haven't changed. So Grandma rounded up the neighborhood kids to provide me clothes which in the early 90's led me to boast an impressive wardrobe of cut off jean shorts, hyper colour t-shirts, and those t-shirts that were shredded on the bottom and the shreds twisted and adorned with beads. I looked SO cool. I needed underwear so Grandma and I drove off to Sarnia and picked me up some. Unfortunately I was bought boy panties for 4 year olds. I lost a lot of circulation in my legs that summer but my butt sure was perky! Boy was my mother pleased to see me in a neon swimsuit and fake tatoos. To the mall!

Banana slides, innertubing, late afternoon bbq's, popsicles while sitting on the curb and warm summer nights. Life didn't get much better. The Husband and I visited Sombra in 2002 in the winter for a night with some friends. It was how I remembered it but Grandma and Papa had passed away and the river was frozen. One summer I'll go back and walk through that lovely town that gave me so many wonderful childhood memories... weeping willows and softball games. It's the simpler things in life that make it all worth the daily stress. J'taime Sombra. You're always in the back of my mind.