TORONTO'S WORLDWIDE PRIDE

OK, let's get through the early week's highlights. The garden is in full bloom, attracting bees and butterflies as planned --- a colourful combo, the best in years. We got an offer for the 1963 Falcon convertible that we couldn't refuse, so it was sold and delivered to a happy couple (well, he's happier than she is!) in Kitchener. A very pretty car but I never bonded with it like other classics. Then in to Toronto for the first time in weeks and our Beach neighbourhood was also at it's best in years: very green, very full in a good way.

Toronto has been hosting World Pride for the past 10 days, the first time it has ever been  held in North America. An estimated two million people from around the world enjoyed the fun and show of proud diversity and inclusion. Today was the huge parade finale, a hot exhausting 6 hours so all the groups could march down Yonge Street. It was truly Toronto at it's finest and one of the reasons we love the city.

Being gay is a crime in dozens of countries, so Grand Marshals from many of them were appointed to lead the parade as a show of unity. Then the loud, happy, sometimes naughty masses strutted their stuff. Every religion was represented, every age group, every level of education, every kind of relative. Plus many unions, professions, industries, police forces, sports, and charities. A noisy but well-organized scene that could bring tears from seeing so many liberated people just being themselves. Toronto is known for welcoming them all --- way to go T.O.!

Some of our favourites were the Mounties in red heels, the synchronized street dancers from Holland (Men in Orange), guys as outrageous beauty queens, the giant "tool" box, and the gay hockey league in shoulder pads but not much else on their sticks. How about the Police Hot Line sign that said "Your tip is safe with us"? You get the idea, it was great for laughs.

Events that bring people from around the world and welcome them in dozens of languages have a special place in my past, present, and future. When that happens, it's a point of Pride to say I Am Canadian.

TWO COUNTIES AND A WEDDING

Yesterday was the first day of summer and the week was busy as a bumblebee (the honey bees have suffered mass die-offs lately and are almost non-existent in the garden). A new edible berry this year  is the blue haskap --- tart in taste, imagine somewhere between a raspberry and a blueberry. Rabbits are plentiful; this one stood on its hind legs to grab low-lying apple leaves. And remember last week we removed a snapping turtle from the pond? This week a painted turtle arrived in its place! A lot cuter, but still alien and destined for catch-and-release. 4-year old Atley from next door supervised the release part into the Bay.

We took a drive down to Essex County, my boyhood stomping grounds. Pat noticed that the plant growth was about three weeks advanced from our home in Grey County, and Essex has the most greenhouse vegetable production in all of North America. I've wanted to ferry over to Pelee Island since I was a kid, but we were shut out again and that spot remains more unknown to me than Indonesia or Uganda! But the area is also known for awesome monarch migrations and the first commercial oil discoveries in North America (sorry, Pennsylvania --- look it up). It's also a major battleground from the War of 1812 in which the British defeated the Americans at Amherstburg. All good tourist stuff!

We wound up in my hometown of Windsor and I blabbed non-stop growing-up stories to Pat as we drove around. The town looked great decorated for a multi-culture festival, tall ships, outdoor concerts,and a beautiful green riverfront. One place that was new to me was a neighbourhood Ukranian restaurant that has been there for 70+ years but wouldn't be allowed among the houses today. Anna cooked and served my ancestors' favourites like perogies, cabbage rolls, and borscht. Keep that sour cream coming, Anna!

The grand finale to the Longest Day was the wedding party for Greg and Rebeckah, married on Tuesday. He's the son of my cousins Shirley and Rob. (They're now the Newest Newlyweds in the family, taking the title from Pat and I!). This crowd was ready to party! The DJ, venue, and food were very hip. The Happy Couple looked truly happy. Congrats and all the best, you guys!

CELEBRATING GREAT DAYS PRESENT, FUTURE, AND PAST

Another really full week. A major birthday is noted by honking geese out in Owen Sound Bay. Then off to Stratford for memories of Aunt Mary and honking swans in the Avon River. We saw "Crazy For You" on the main stage --- absolutely exuberant, talented, non-stop musical fun. Five stars and many smiles, don't miss it!

Back in Toronto, the last major upgrade at Wineva was completed as the dark-cork pattern flooring was laid down. The new materials are easy, soft underfoot, and look great. So there's time to go downtown and enjoy the city at it's best. Open-air bus tourists, ice tea and mango beer giveaways, bustling patio life after a brutal winter. The Luminato Arts Festival featured a Cuban-inspired Cardboard Beach among the office buildings! Other huge events coming soon include the 2 jammed Jazz Festivals. Toronto is also hosting giant World Pride, the first time ever held in North America and fun for everyone. On a sad nostalgic note, Toronto's last old style strip joint, Jilly's, is closing --- who will have the honour of slithering on the last pole? Or is that Pole??

Back at The View, a full moon on Friday the 13th was awesome and spooky. Our not-as-much-needed firewood row is being replaced by a variety of bushy plants to grow under the cedars. But spookier than the moon was the appearance of a snapping turtle in the pond! You expect to look into tranquil waters but freak out when you see a creepy snout staring back. (Where did it come from??) Knowing that it devours fish and frogs, we panicked on how to get it out, even imagining draining the pond again. In the end, a lucky scoop with an old landing net made the turtle angry but the netters relieved. That lucky turtle avoided the soup pot by going for a ride to the same bay mentioned in the second sentence of today's blog. Move over, geese!

June 15 is Father's Day (and also coincidentally the day my mom had her stroke 30 years ago). Pat and I reminisced about Roy and Walter with tears and laughs. Remember, as long as you say their names out loud, they are still with us --- try it on your loved ones right now. Dads were playing with their kids in the Beach; like them, we remember the time we had together, with love.