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.
Snow is something we all take for granted; actually, some of us would rather leave it than take it, but thatÕs another story. However, there are some who have never seen the white stuff we are so accustomed to. Over the Christmas holidays, Gator, Gail, and Riley Eastman were back from Mexico, and they brought RileyÕs girlfriend, HaydeeÕOlvera, and her sister, Claudia Olvera, with them. Neither of the young ladies had ever seen snow. Actually HaydeeÕ (pronounced Hailey) had been to Snow Lake last summer and was taken out on Wekusko Lake fishing a few times. Upon her return this winter, she couldnÕt believe the frozen lake where she watched people skate was the same one on which she fished from a boat four months earlier. Claudia couldnÕt believe that it was a lake; she thought it was a field. Both women felt that the snow and Snow Lake itself was beautiful, but could do without the cold. They just never seemed to be able to warm up. Claudia and HaydeeÕ are from Guanajuato, Mexico. There, Claudia is employed as a mining engineer with San Anton Resource Group. HaydeeÕ has two years to go before she too becomes a mining engineer. The girls both spoke English amazingly well and although they say they enjoyed their trip to Snow Lake, they were no doubt happy to get back to the sun and warmth of their Mexican homeland. There were several things that took place in Snow Lake on Boxing Day, not the least of which was the annual Boxing Day Hockey Game. There was a great turnout for the event, with a good mixture of young and old, residents and former residents, and even male and female. The game was played over a period of a couple of hours, with a break midway through. The play wasnÕt indicative of all the turkey and trimmings consumed over Christmas; it was fast and furious, and there were some surprisingly crisp passes flying about. Conversely, there were a number that didnÕt find their markÉ although did leave marks on the glass, roof, and the odd helmet. There were oodles of goals scored during the afternoon, and it ended up being basically a Òyou pick a winnerÓ affair. Ted Stabback was under the weather and didnÕt suit up for the game. Had he been playing, it would have been easy to pick a winnerÉ isnÕt it always the team that he is on? Longtime resident Clarence Johnson hit the eight-decade mark on the December 30; however, family and friends gathered on Boxing Day to mark the milestone. Although 80, Clarence is still full of vigour, with a head full of snow-white hair and stories galore of fighting and hauling wood in good old Birch River. There were 26 Johnson family members in town over the holidays and in addition to helping Clarence and wife Norma celebrate the season, they were all on hand for ClarenceÕs birthday. Norma made a very nice cakeÉ with a few candles on it. Contrary to popular belief, Clarence wasnÕt really having a hard time blowing them all out; he was just taking his time. Finally, a good crowd of Orville BeckingÕs family and friends were on hand at the Elks Hall during the evening hours of Boxing Day. They came to help celebrate his 60th birthday. OrvilleÕs actual birthday doesnÕt take place until January 18th; however, with family in town for Christmas, it seemed only natural to try and celebrate as many things as possible. This held true considering the fact that one daughter, Marla, came all the way from Qatar for the holidays. Eldest daughter Marci, her husband Christian, and son Alexander were also home from Ontario, and youngest daughter Mandi and husband Richard were in from Brandon. See 'Few' on pg. Continued from pg. This evening get-together also offered occasion for friends to visit with the girls, in addition to having a little cake and a few laughs with Orville and wife Janice. Apparently the family hadnÕt been together for Christmas in 14 years, so there was time and tradition to catch up on. There was a formal segment to the evening and it began when Marci took to the stage and welcomed everyone prior to launching into a list of ÔOrvillismsÕ that she and her sisters remembered from over the years. One of these time-honoured gems of wit was one which most guys have likely asked at some point in their lives: ÒCan you have too much beef jerky?Ó Another had to do with OrvilleÕs customary answer to the question, ÒWhat do you want, Dad, coffee or tea?Ó Marci noted that her Dad would always say, ÒSurprise me!Ó Well, one time she didÉ she actually mixed the two together and gave it to him! Subsequent to this, OrvilleÕs sons-in-law, Christian and Richard, came from the back of the hall decked out in headgear that appeared native to Qatar, carrying a birthday cake. They fashioned a headdress for Orville, before allowing him to blow out his candles and sit for a round of pictures. The evening progressed with food, fellowship, and funÉ a great time was enjoyed by all. My Take on Snow Lake runs Fridays.
