#NewThisDay Writing From My Photo Stream
Mamie Clafoutie
No sun comes through the window; the view from this airbnb bedroom is a brick wall. I wake at an unknown hour. I think about what it’s like to wake up and not see the meadow grass, the sky turning light, the arch at the river in the sunlight. Then, my husband is awake and we are out the door, up the street a block, and in a cheerful and very busy and warm and delightful bakery to bring home the baguette and croissants for everyone’s breakfast. This is truly the delight. Being together, relaxing, no distractions. At home, we are waking up at different hours and going our own busy ways so often. It’s a morning for lingering, and then a long, long walk with the dogs on leashes to “Old Town,” and we give the dogs and ourselves a good walk in this very cold city. But there is a wintry sun and a cloudless blue sky. These are not city dogs; pavement is their least favorite surface. But they behave 100%. In the afternoon, a treat for all the humans of this trip to a spa on the water: outdoor jacuzzis with views of the city, steams and saunas and a cold plunge bath. The seven of us cycle through all the features, each of us delighting in our chance to relax together in this special, indulgent way. In the sauna, I meditate and feel so happy to have all of our family with us. We stay until dusk, watching the city lights come up all around us in the skyline above the hot steam. This is the way to be warm in Montreal in November. In the afternoon, I hear my new son-in-law addressing a cashier, I hear him call my husband his “father-in-law,” and realize, this is the first time I have ever heard my husband called this, his new role. He is someone’s father-in-law now. But how could this be? And what does that make me? A year ago these two told us of their plan to marry. A year ago this very Thanksgiving weekend. And now we see they meant it, as they’ve done it. We are a growing family. What I appreciate is how my three children, who are as normal as siblings as all siblings are, have learned to get along and respect each other and be kind to each other on a family trip. Now, I hear the boisterous laughter; some of them are playing games. I am retiring to wake early and take the dogs for another city walk.
Les chuchoteuses ~ Location Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Les chuchoteuses (English: "The Gossipers") is a 2002 bronze outdoor sculpture by Rose-Aimée Bélanger installed along Montreal's Rue Saint-Paul, in Quebec, Canada. ~ Wikipedia
