A new phase

It’s been awhile since my last post. The last few weeks have been busy, and also transformative.

My dear friend Michele from Hamilton came and stayed with us in September, using our place as her home base for a broader exploration of the province; she has wanted to visit here for over 20 years. We went hiking, toured the Bonavista Peninsula, stayed overnight in the exquisite small town of English Harbour, saw a theatre production based on the experiences of outport women in the 1960s, attended many AppleFest events, went into Clarenville for groceries, did rug hooking, walked along the shoreline, stared out to sea, and had a great time together. Les and I especially enjoyed hearing about her adventures in St. John’s and on Fogo Island; her enthusiasm for both places was contagious!

And then, the weekend after Michele left, our friends Ivan and Joyce stayed with us en route from the ferry terminal in Port aux Basques to St. John’s. Although they live in Southern Ontario now, Ivan spent over 20 years in Corner Brook, teaching folklore at Memorial University. Joyce lived in Corner Brook for the first four years of their marriage and then when Ivan retired, they moved back to Ontario. I think nobody knows more about this province than Ivan; his academic practice of community engagement led him to travel all over the province, meeting people and getting to know the places they call home. We benefitted from his and Joyce’s insights into Newfoundland culture, and enjoyed showing them some of our favourite places in Port Blandford and Clarenville.

In amongst all of this, AppleFest happened! Michele and Les and I enjoyed many of the festival’s events – the craft show, BBQ dinner, pancake breakfasts, classic car show, and multiple musical performances. But for me, it was the experience of volunteering that made the festival really special. I joined the organizing committee of Port Blandford’s annual fall festival shortly after moving here, mostly listening to the experienced committee members planning out events and logistics. (I pitched an idea for a project to commemorate Port Blandford’s 50th anniversary of incorporation during the festival, which was supported by the committee.) As a volunteer, I got to know a lot of people who are passionate about Port Blandford and want to show the rest of the province what Port Blandford can achieve – which is exactly what they did! I was inspired by their commitment, impressed by their work, and thrilled with their success, and felt that I was part of it.

Now that visitors have visited and AppleFest has come and gone, life has quieted down considerably. Fall weather has arrived. Les has had a bad cough, and I have been nursing a broken toe. We have spent a lot of time at home, doing not much of anything. It’s been a nice change.

I think perhaps we’re leaving the honeymoon phase of our new life in Newfoundland behind us. We have shared our home with friends, socialized and collaborated with neighbours, danced under the stars in the municipal park, harvested our garden, and watched the beauty of summer transform into the wisdom of fall. Winter is just around the corner, and based on the abundance of dogberries on the trees, they say it’s going to be a long one. We’re now faced with the challenge of transforming our discoveries of the last six months into sustaining activities, habits, and relationships. Here goes!