The proofs arrived from WestCan!



Jaz and I had made a Computer Central with our side-by-side laptops on the dining room table. Both of us, working on the invitation when Stacey pounded on the door with the proofs in her hand. I hugged her and we ripped into the plastic and pored over full colour pages. A thin book, faded images (only a proof) but even so, the impact of it made me cry.



It’s so beautiful! Jaz had worked so hard and for so long to bring us this combination of images, typeface, copy and . . . white space. A summary of the struggle and the sublime. Our work for The Cultural Olympiad in Italy. The dedication alone was enough to send me (already hyped by the holidays and goodwill from the Inniskillin duo) over the top. But here it is, Gord’s simple words:

To Mary Gordon McLellan, who always knew it would be painting.

Here Gord refers back to a conversation I had with his mother, years ago, when Gord was doing . . . what? He’s done so many things, and each thing well: a director, dramaturge, playwright, Production Designer, screenwriter. He's created drawings and paintings, both abstract and figurative. I remember her saying to me, “Gord will go back to painting.” And I remember thinking, "she knows her son, a mother knows.”

There it was, those simple words, years after she died, across the white page.



So yesterday, Mary Gordon McLellan's grandson and I spent the whole day at the Gallery House, proofing the copy, making arrangments for the invitation printing, confirming press release details, importing logos, dealing with Rogers Wireless again. (It turns out Rogers assigned the new local number to my son’s phone! We have a framily plan and they became confused. We had to take the sim card out of my phone and put it into Jaz’s phone!!! But I digress).

Our Winter Solstice celebration began when JC got home and started fixing up the house. He’d been to the store and came back with party stuff which he put out, like the ex-restraunteur he is.



Jaz and Erik picked up the fully cooked turkey (complete with stuffing, mashed potatoes & roast potatoes). I fixed salad and veggies. They brought poinsettias and a box of Inniskillin wines! After a great meal a spicy shiraz, a chilled reisling and dessert, Stacey stood up to be the Santa. She handed each of us a large bag and instructed us to open it all up at once.



Wow! Look at what they gave us! Here we are, all suited up in Inniskillin outfits.

Today we managed to get away to play old timer's hockey. Yesterday it was Shinny again with the FAST guys. Jeff set me up for a shot on goal. Gordie held his own, but Andy said it's so fast he's worried about me. Then today, the Old Timer's was like slo mo -- but much more relaxed. Here they are: I've turned my back.



Now, so as you won’t be thinking we’re in the “mice will play” portion of this trip, I want you to know: we have colour!