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Editorial -- Issue #67 |
For five weeks this summer, my family and I travelled west to the Rockies. Until this trip I had never driven west of Sudbury.
Our route was simple - head west on the Transcanada Highway, detour south to Pincher Creek in Alberta, then head north to Drumheller, Calgary, Banff, Jasper, and Edmonton - eventually returning east on the Yellowhead Highway. I can now say with experience (and not simply pride) what a magnificent country Canada is.
During our trip, I jotted down observations and questions about various places. For example, across Saskatchewan and Manitoba, next to the Yellowhead Highway, there are small marsh areas. Someone has installed what appear to be birdhouses. They are tubes of mesh-covered wire, filled with straw - does anyone know who put them there and what kind of birds nest in them? What is the story behind the tiny community in central Saskatchewan called Khandahar?
I will never forget the way Lake Superior looked in the early morning; flax fields in Manitoba glowing blue against the yellow canola fields; the Miette Hot Springs, near Jasper, as the morning mist rose out of the surrounding forest; Drumheller and the surrounding badlands radiating heat; and all the really neat people we had the pleasure of meeting and getting to know.
Throughout the trip, there were reminders of how “national” MAW has become. I recognized the names of communities from the mailing labels I use to send out Homebase. And, on one memorable occasion, I met a complete stranger who just happened to know a MAW member.
On our way back, we stopped in Saskatoon to camp at the Gordon Howe Municipal Park. More than 20 years ago, Ken had stayed here on his cross-country motorcycle trip and we wanted to include it on our trip, too.
The campground is right next to this huge softball/baseball facility that was hosting the Women’s World Softball Championships (these are the women who will represent their various countries at the next Olympics).
In the evening we went to see China play the team from Taiwan and we got talking to some of the folks around us. They made several suggestions for sightseeing and then one of the women mentioned that she worked at the University of Saskatchewan.
Now remembering that MAWs are everywhere I asked if she knew Peggy Procter (longtime MAW member who lived in Ottawa for a few years before returning home) and sure enough they’d been on several health committees together. It was too neat!
We saw many places that we were unable to explore fully during this trip and we plan to visit many of them over the next few years.
A big welcome to Susan Atkinson for her poetry and thank-you to all the writers and illustrators who faithfully send submissions for each issue. Homebase wouldn’t exist without all of us pitching in to get it done.
For the last year, Mary Ann Pocock, longtime MAW member and art co-ordinator for Homebase, has been dealing with breast cancer. She describes the experience as “thriving through the treatment of her breast cancer.”
On August 28th I was speaking to Mary Ann and was delighted to find out that she was enthusiastically up for attending MAW’s AGM. Not knowing when to cry “enough,” Mary Ann agreed to illustrate the Fall cover of Homebase.
When I urged her to not try to do too much, Mary Ann answered, “I’ll just do a still life, it’ll be fine”. When I saw the drawing I was immediately struck by its power and how it was not just a still life but the bold statement, “Still Alive.”
Many thanks, Mary Ann.
Cheers,
Lisa Menard Back to top Mothers Are Women 1989 - 2002 ©
Although we received very few submissions for the theme on Sisters, we did receive an eclectic assortment of writings for your enjoyment.
Editor
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