No, it didn't matter that her twins had to cancel the surprise party planned for her birthday. She was not going to allow me to hear the doctor confirm the bad news without listening in.
Two days after her arrival was her Big-'O' Day. Instead of me asking her how she would like to celebrate, it was she who asked if I wanted to do something different on that day. Would I like to visit Jean-Talon market in Montreal where she, her dad and I chose, 55 years ago, our weekly supply of fruit and veggies at the stalls of Hungarian, German and Polish farmers and where we offered the one and only rabbit, grown on our rear balcony, to an Italian farmer. I vaguely remember that the three of us convinced each other that the rabbit would now have a better life on a farm.
We arranged to meet Besito de Luz, my younger daughter, at the market and made sure to align the timing in such a way that Pasha and I would have 2 hours during which to visit the areas where we used to live when she grew up. Pasha wanted to take photos of the buildings. We moved a lot prior to acquiring our own place. Leases used to expire April 30 and May 1st was Moving Day for thousands of people in Québec. The tradition is still alive but the leases expire on June 30th now.
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| 1957 De L'Epee- 2nd floor |
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| 1958-1959 Birnam semi-basement |
1959-1963 Outremont -3rrd floor
We had no time to visit the years of 1956 De Bullion
1970-1972 Nuns Island
1972-1974 Duquette
but it settles the years of Pasha's 'growing up'. The years that included much more than timing my contractions when Moselito was born and being the trustworthy, build-in baby sitter of Besito de Luz and Moselito, when help needed.
Pasha always has the taking of photos on her mind.
During her stay with me she stepped out on the patio to smoke and came back inside complaining as to why the neighbour leaves his patio light on during the night. I was surprised to hear that she questioned the neighbours doing until she explained that she wants to take pictures of the stars and that it needs to be pitch dark in the area.
One morning she returned from her 7km walk/run and was pleased to announce "I found the dark area! The cemetery!"
And what happened in the evening? She did something completely out of character. I had fallen asleep on the couch. She pinched my toe and woke me.
"Noooo, why did you do that?"
"I just want to tell you that I am going now - did not want you to wake up wondering where I was."
"Oh yah? I get the message, ok I'll go with you."
The Schnucker was not at ease to go alone and is not one to ask for anything, ever. It was almost midnight.
I threw my coat over my Pj's, wrapped a thick scarf around my neck and off we went.
It was minus 5 out there and since I had already caught a cold at the market and was on cough syrup there was no way I would get out of the car. Nothing to do with cemetery ghosts or any such thing. Pasha was happy. She found the perfect spot for the tripod, set the camera up and waited and waited and waited. Exposure, she said, takes a long time. It seemed like an eternity to me. I was cold sitting in the Jeep without the heat turned on. No heat meant no disturbing lights on, you see.
Here are the results of bravery. Untouched as yet and also a bit of disappointment because the lights of a neighboring village should not be showing but all in all she was happy with her first try.
The bit of milky way that appears I could not see with the naked eye and the stars were not visible in such great number. The camera saw more than we did.
The sky brings evenings to my mind when I was 10,11,12 years old. Sitting in the dark at the window, on my grandmother's short lap searching for constellations. Sorry about this messy post. All looks fine as I type but when I preview things come up different. My third try at fixing it, giving up.
