Stag 'n'doe. What???

After having been out with Wendy and the girls only the night before for the first time, they decided to give me a shout. Instead of the movie night, they invited me to what would be my first Stag 'n' Doe. Without having a clue to what I had just agreed to they were on their way to pick me up.

A Stag 'n' Doe for those of you who don't know; its where a bride and groom to be sell tickets to a huge party to raise money for the wedding. Basically it is a curling club, a LOT of booze, music, and door prizes. Or another reason to throw a party in a small town. Who are we kidding, I'm game.

The stag 'n' doe was a blast. Drinks, music, dancing, free food, need I say more? The funnier part of the night was how I realized that I was now living in a small town. After telling Wendy that I would like to be home around midnight, most people there that I somewhat knew found it hilarious and ridiculous that my grandparents had set a curfew for me. Not only did the people at the stag 'n' doe know but also my father, my brother, and my aunt and uncle; who all live anywhere from two hours away to half way across the country.

So as midnight was encroaching, the circling of the horses began (as my dad would put it). We rallied everyone up into someones Denali and headed back home. Although we had a wee bit of a hiccup on the way.

None of us were expecting to see a check stop on the way into town. We had the sober driver, but only had four seatbelts when six were needed. So thankfully we were able to cut down the 10th concession to escape. Unfortunately the cops had already spotted us and sent a car to follow us to see if there was reason to pull us over. Not only did they speed and whip around corners to catch up to us they also followed us halfway through town. They soon realized that we had just taken a "short-cut" to get home. Thankfully they needed to drop me off.

That night I learned never to break traffic laws in a town of 6000 that employs 32 police officers. Just a tad but excessive, if I do say so myself.

You Only Need One Friend And You Will Survive

Those were the words spoken to me by my best friend who definitely has some experience with moving away from home and knowing no one. And they are very true.

Two weeks in I have have watched a LOT of tv. Although not the shows that I am used to watching. Gossip Girl, The Food Network, and HGTV were replaced with the Gameshow Network, ESPN, and the Business News Network. Great.

After watching these shows day-in and day-out while waiting for my summer job to start it seemed that my summer was not going to be as exciting as I had hoped. But you never know whats around the corner right?

One evening while enjoying Jeopardy (insert sarcasm here) an unexpected phone call came. One from my Dad's best friends wife, Rona. Asking me if I would like to go with her and her daughter Bryanna to the hair salon. I literally jumped at the chance to get out of the house. Thank God!

Little did I know that this was the chance to met at least one person my age that had friendship potential while here for the summer. Wendy is 22, a hair dresser, and my escape to get away from my grandparents for a little while and well possibly get into trouble with (don't worry dad, not that much trouble!).

Mission One: Find a Friend - Accomplished!

How Exactly Are We Related?

I am about a month behind in posting about my summer, so I will try and tell you what I have been up to before I get to todays date.

A couple of days after arriving here I went to visit my Great Great Aunt Florence. I had met and visited with her the few times; traveling to see her as a child when I was vacationing. Although all the times I had seen her I never really got to sit and talk with her. So as others complained about having to go visit my ancient Aunt I was a little intrigued at what my experience with her might bring.

My first visit was one to be remembered. At the ripe old age of 91 Florence seemed to be a bit of a spit-fire, making jokes and being quite animated. One thing that will probably stick with me forever is her asking my Grandmother if she had received birthday bumps (although not the word she had used). She replied no, that she hadn't; Aunt Florence immediately replied "Well I guess you are to dignified to be getting them at 75!"

This visit had turned the prospect of visiting Aunt Florence from a chore to a bit of a treat. I felt that I might just have the opportunity to learn something from this women who had definitely experienced life. Heck the woman is 91 years old!

A couple of visits later and I have come to the realization that that first visit really was a treat. Florence has her good days and her bad; but it seems that every time I have gone to see her since it has landed on one of those bad days. The days of not remembering, of asking the same question multiple times, and complaining of her immobility.

It has been a bit of a lesson for me you could say, something that I have always known but rarely thought about. That is to be thankful for the relationships you have each and everyday because they may not be the same tomorrow or may not be there at all.

First Response

So this summer is all about being adventurous and taking a new lease on life. What could be better then that, right?

In attempts to initaite this I have moved exactly 3 294km across the country; to live with my grandparents. For this my brother has called me "crazy", and numerous other family members believe I am "taking one for the team". I have chosen not to look at it in that light but rather see it as a time to actually get to know my g-pa's (grandparents, for you non-abbreviators out there) but also have a wicked time living in a beachy tourist town that is bound to get me into some trouble.

I guess we will just have to wait and see...