The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
A surprise is a tough thing to keep secret, particularly when you are trying to pull off two in one day and everyone in town knows about them other than the people they are for. However, it is possible and to prove it, Snow Lake's Cockle family put two great surprises together this past weekend. Lauretta Cockle, the Matriarch of the Cockle family, turned 80 back in April, but that date wasn't convenient for a get-together. Lauretta's son Randy and his wife Margie's 30th wedding anniversary is on August 6. But that date would have been a little too obvious. So, in order to justify 29 children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren all being in town on the same weekend, a certain amount of scheming needed to take place. Lauretta was told that there would be a surprise anniversary for Randy and Margie and in turn, Randy and Margie were told the weekend get-together was for a surprise birthday for Lauretta. Neither the couple nor Mrs. Cockle was any the wiser and not a single lie was hatched in the process. Nevertheless, with a community invite to the birthday celebration placed in the town's weekly newspaper, there was a little steering and some stories told in order to keep the ad out of sight until the celebration unfolded. Fittingly, about 80 people gathered in the Seniors' Center on the afternoon of July 29 to wish Lauretta a belated 80th birthday. While family served coffee, lemonade, and the obligatory birthday cake, well-wishers congratulated Lauretta on her milestone. Among the attendees was Mayor Zamzow, who took the opportunity to say a few words. Eloquent as always, Zamzow put a new spin on an old adage. "It's been said that behind every successful man there is a woman," noted the mayor with a grin. "Well, I want to take that one step further. Behind every successful community, there is a successful family. And behind every successful family, there is a successful mother." As Zamzow presented Lauretta with a framed certificate from the Town of Snow Lake, cheers rose up in agreement with his observation. Later that evening, 50 or so friends and family gathered at Randy and Margie Cockle's Wekusko Falls seasonal lot to surprise them when they arrived back from supper in town. Led by the couple's daughter, Jodie, the crowd yelled "Surprise!" as the Cockles got out of their truck. Outfitted in a costume dress and hat for the occasion, Jodie escorted the pair to their seats of honour and proceeded to address them and the crowd. Sprinkled with humour, but straight from the heart, Jodie's remarks called to memory many of the things that made growing up in their home so special for her and her siblings, Troy and Shane. Once done, she presented the duo with several amusing gifts before bringing forward a beautiful carved Moose Horn from the family. Following the formal part of the evening, several hours of socializing and snacking took place around the campfire. This included some fantastic smoked elk provided by Jodie's partner, Jack. The couple thanked those in attendance for helping them celebrate their 30 years together, and both stated they had no idea there would be a celebration for them that evening. Randy, in fact stated, "I didn't figure it out even after we got out here and saw all the vehiclesÉ I was actually mad because someone was parked in my spot!" My Take on Snow Lake runs Fridays.
