Day 3 had us still buzzing with the historical and emotional overload of Glaslyn. So after a hurried in-house waffle or two, it was time for some lighter detours. The Michiganders in the group threatened mutiny if we didn't pay tribute to Saskatoon native Gordie Howe (I guess he was a hockey player??). Everybody took turns getting a facewash from his notorious elbows. Later, The Gardener found some raised beds she couldn't resist. And the group's 4-year old got the closest he's ever been to a real train!
But the tour turned serious and reflective as we visited READ, the literacy centre of Saskatoon. A lot of inspiration about the power of reading and writing. A focus on the next reader in our group! A gesture of appreciation to those who crusade for literacy, in loving memory of a mother who couldn't read or write but brought such a wonderful life to her son. And a surprise perfect tribute from READ ---- a flower bed in mom's name! She will always read the love in bloom.
Comfort food for lunch at famous Baba's Perogies! The women in our ancestry made a few dozen at a time --- these ladies make thousands every day! Perogy? Cabbage roll? Sour cream and bacon bits? Berry pie? We took them all...
Over to the current Saskatoon City Hospital to honour women's health. How did girls and women in the impoverished dustbowl of 1930 survive? Were there any doctors or transportation? We got some answers from animated historians and added the legends we had heard from our family elders. Another gesture of gratitude, to ensure support for women in search of help in the future. A lot of emotions crackling through the farewells.
A final stop on our heritage circuit, along the banks of the Saskatchewan River. At the local Trans Canada Trail Pavilion --- a treasure hunt for the Irish name of a beloved Belarussian relation. There it is --- Murphy! And the same for a guy who was with us in spirit and paper all along.
Early (4:30 am!) on the morning of Day 4 we had to return to our regular lives. This family reunion has reconnected the group and made the bonds with our ancestors as strong as they were themselves.
But the tour turned serious and reflective as we visited READ, the literacy centre of Saskatoon. A lot of inspiration about the power of reading and writing. A focus on the next reader in our group! A gesture of appreciation to those who crusade for literacy, in loving memory of a mother who couldn't read or write but brought such a wonderful life to her son. And a surprise perfect tribute from READ ---- a flower bed in mom's name! She will always read the love in bloom.
Comfort food for lunch at famous Baba's Perogies! The women in our ancestry made a few dozen at a time --- these ladies make thousands every day! Perogy? Cabbage roll? Sour cream and bacon bits? Berry pie? We took them all...
Over to the current Saskatoon City Hospital to honour women's health. How did girls and women in the impoverished dustbowl of 1930 survive? Were there any doctors or transportation? We got some answers from animated historians and added the legends we had heard from our family elders. Another gesture of gratitude, to ensure support for women in search of help in the future. A lot of emotions crackling through the farewells.
A final stop on our heritage circuit, along the banks of the Saskatchewan River. At the local Trans Canada Trail Pavilion --- a treasure hunt for the Irish name of a beloved Belarussian relation. There it is --- Murphy! And the same for a guy who was with us in spirit and paper all along.
Early (4:30 am!) on the morning of Day 4 we had to return to our regular lives. This family reunion has reconnected the group and made the bonds with our ancestors as strong as they were themselves.
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