Family

November 6, 2013

Today I am thinking about my family and the losses we have had over the past couple of years.  It breaks my heart to think of those that are no longer here in the physical world and those that I cannot be with because of distance and finances.

When I think back on my childhood, I have such great memories of growing up.  Our home was a mixture of love and hate, laughter and tears, good times and bad.  Pretty much like most families.
Even when things were tight, there was always room for a friend at the kitchen table.  Our house always had other kids playing in the yard.  In the summer there was always freezies or ice cream to share.  It was a place that everyone was comfortable at.

Our Mom was never the calm, quiet type.  If she was mad, you knew it.  She would blow up at us, yell when pushed, spank when really pushed and cry when really, really pushed; but through it all we always knew that she loved us.  We were never spoiled with things, but we never left the house without a kiss, never went to bed without being told that we were loved.  Many times she went without, so that we didn't have to.  Meals were never gourmet, but they were good, wholesome and there was always something that we liked on the table.  Life was far from perfect, but whose is?

Dad was the kind of man that could talk to anyone, he never judged and always reminded us to "walk a mile in their shoes".  Dad grew up on a reserve in Ontario, he was part first-nations people and I don't think he ever forgot what it was like to be looked at in a negative way.  He always teased and poked fun at you, but never was it ever serious.  He just wanted to make you smile.  Many children that he knew; whether a neice, nephew or friend's child recieved a pet name when they were small.  Even after they were all grown up and had kids of their own, he still referred to them by their "special" name.  Our Mom always said he was a "kid magnet".  They had so many children call them Nanny and Poppy or Uncle and Aunt...and they weren't related to them at all.

Dad always had a joke or funny story to tell.  He had a great sense of humor and probably needed it, especially when dealing with the family he married into.

Dad became our Dad, after our Father was killed in a tragic accident.  I was 4 when they married and I can say that never in my whole life did I ever feel like a "step" child.  He was our Dad,  he loved us, cared for us and treated us with respect and a dose of humor.  It couldn't have been easy. But it was so appreciated.

In September of this year, we lost our wonderful Dad.  I miss him more that I can say.  Going home after his death and not seeing him in his chair was one of the hardest things I have ever dealt with.  Not hearing his voice on the phone when I call is so strange, I have to stop myself from asking my Mom how he is.  Most days I try not to think of the loss, it hurts too much.  All the things that I wanted to say, but didn't get the chance.  He didn't want a funeral or a lot of fuss.  Just like Dad, uncomplicated and easy going.  I know that one day I will be able to look back and not cry, today is just not that day.  I am so proud to have been his Daughter, to have been able to share part of his life and know that I was loved by such a special man.  Love you Dad, always will.

Gadsby AB to Coronation AB

We followed Hwy 12 east from Gadsby AB to Coronation AB, passing by Halkirk and Castor as we had stopped in at those locations on a previous Road Trip.

  

Coronation looks like many other prairie towns, unremarkable at first glance.  We decided to have a quick drive around and see if there would be anything in the town that would catch our eye.  

Coronation has a few commercial buildings at their turn off of Hwy 12, a gas station and 2 motels and restaurants.  A park with their mascot Crown, an old train caboose and the Musem; which has a number of older buildings, is situated on the right hand side of the street. 

A typical small town Alberta hospital services the town and area and it has an assisted living complex attached.  Ammenities include a skating/hockey rink, curling rink and outdoor pool.  A golf club and camping sites are located there as well.

    The town was to be a "hub" town with the rail lines bringing in prosperity.  At one time it hosted 3 Grain Elevators but the last one was demolished in 2002.       

     Calgary and Red Deer grew and Coronation now survives as a meeting place for Farmers, Ranchers and those working in the Oil Patch.  

     Although it lacks the interest of the larger centers, it has it's own appeal.  Professional murals cover some of the downtown shop walls, The water tower catches your eye, since it "towers" over the downtown core.  We found Jack's Shoe store, older and not too pretty, but it's character stood out.  From the window you can still see shoe boxes on the shelf, but I don't think it sells any of it's wares.  

     The main streets are paved and very wide, some are in need of some care and attention, but they are suprisingly in good shape.  Across from the Library was the Avalon building, an old movie theatre from the shape and size.  The mural on the west side depicts British Royalty.

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      Saturday in October the streets are busy with vehicles going to and from the hockey arena or stopping at the hardware store. We stopped in to grab a quick coffee and use the facilities at the Arena, where a small boy with a huge smile held the door open for us.  As strangers to the small town arena we were looked at curiously, but since we posed no threat, we went about our business unhindered.  The smell of fresh popcorn was too much to resist, so armed with hot coffee and buttery popcorn we left to investigate the town. 

     On our travels we look for a couple of items that all prairie towns seem to have in common.  Many have grain elevators (or had) and many more have a "Railway Avenue".  The railway was the lifeblood of the prairie.  If you were unlucky enough to live in a community that the Railroad bypassed, your town/village died or as many did, the whole town moved.  Coronation was one such place,  incorporated in 1911, it moved south from Haneyville.  

 

     We try to take a picture of every Railway Avenue street sign we can find, it is a reminder to us of how important the railroad was to the communities is passed through.  I especially like this one as my maiden name was King.  Seeing the street names in some of the smaller locals is always interesting.  Many of Coronation's streets  have something to do with royalty, streets such as the before mentioned King, Victoria, Alexander and Windsor to name a few. 

     Coronation like many of it's counterparts struggles to survive as it cannot compete with the supercentres, chain fast food restuarants and mega shopping centers that the larger centres have.  They are a little out of the way for a quick Sunday drive, but they are worth the trip.  Every June they hold their Rodeo and a Country Fair.  This June we hope to take the time and visit them and enjoy some country hospitality.

 

Lousana to Gadsby

I have lived in Alberta for over 29 years, the landscape has changed so much in that time.  Grain elevators that I saw in the distance on my train ride out to the west are quickly disappearing.  Whenever we set out for a Mini road trip, we try to find those old landmarks and hopefully capture their stark beauty as they take their last stand.

We left Lousana and traveled on Township Rd 364, a dirt road ended at Rge Rd 22.4 and to the right we caught sight of this private elevator.  Not in use, it stands guard for now.

The Village of Gadsby, AB
Established in 1909, is Alberta's smallest Village and has a population of 25, ten less then it did 5 years ago.
Gadsby showed signs of being bigger than it is now. The turn into the village has a large park with baseball diamonds and a good size childrens play area, which all looked in new condition.  A white boarded Church is undergoing some renovations and a large building which to my thinking may have been a former bank, now houses a Senior's centre.  There wasn't many other commercial buildings,except for is only one other boarded up building.  Faded paint identified it as having a few different lives, an Ice Cream shop and a gas station being two of them.


How these small communities survive not only amazes me, but humbles me as well.  The pioneer spirt lives on in these tucked away places.  Their stories unheard and unappreciated.

***Gadsby had a notable resident.  Barbara Kent a silent screen actress was born Barbara Cloutman in Gadsby in 1907.  She made over 30 movies, but none after 1941 and she retired from public life in 1949.  She learned to fly light aircraft and flew until she was 85.  As per Wikipedia she golfed into her 90's.  She died in 2011.***

Lousana, AB

Lousana, AB
This small hamlet is located due east from Penhold,AB, about 1.5 hours from our home in Airdrie AB.  Cam and I stopped in on a beautiful fall day in October at noon time.  The residents show a pride of ownership, yards and homes were well cared for.
The smell of cut grass and raked leaves drifted on the air.



Lousana boasts a population of 46...about 25 homes.  The air was crisp and clean.  The sounds of bird song were all around us and we caught sight of small birds flitting here and there.  For the short time we were there, it was so peaceful.  When we retire, we want to live in a place just like this one.
 

Like most small towns on the prairie, size and wealth have changed with time.  Most struggle as is evident with abandoned shops and street signs like the one above, that have 12 Street going into the bush.