Chapter 1: Monday
At St. F X in Antigonish
We got into the new just-won Kia Sedona van and headed to Antigonish. We stopped at the Salisbury Tim Horton’s and I got a smoothie, trying it with the Greek yogurt. We connected our phone to the sound system and played our summer mix, then played the other group’s mix CD. Our group, by the way, consisted of me, Stephane, Silvana, Justine, and summer student Tricia. We entered Nova Scotia and went through the Cobequid Toll Booth. We passed the Only Exit to Halifax, which we skipped. We then passed Stellarton, not only the birthplace of Sobeys grocery stores and Big 8 water and pop, but where Mom and I picked up Ella, my second Border Collie, after losing Molly, my first Border Collie, at 6 years of age before my move into Saint John. Within minutes we entered Antigonish. We first stopped at Sobeys to pick up groceries, including our traditional vacation snack Sun Chips and traditional vacation cereal Cap’n Crunch. We went to Hope and Dixie Houses, and then went to find Horizons, formerly L.E.A.P., as someone there had the key to our house, Covenant House. I learned that Yeshua House had closed and was being demolished, and I was saddened. It has to be sad for a loyal L’Arche person when L’Arche houses in the Atlantic Region close and get destroyed. We went to Covenant House, down the road from the former L’Arche House and down the road from the Sobeys. We set up and got settled. Tonight we wanted to have a campfire and noticed we did not have a lighter or matches, so we walked back to Sobeys and picked up a lighter. Tonight we had a campfire with a guitar and songs and roasted marshmallows.
Chapter 2: Tuesday
Today we drove to a close beach to Antigonish and some swam while I took pictures with my Blackberry and played the guitar. We also picnicked. We went back to Covenant House and walked to a nearby dairy bar and got ice cream. Then we walked back, and tonight we went to a nearby pub to have a drink in hopes that live music would be playing, but none was, so after my Perrier I went onstage and sang Danny Boy, Cockles and Mussels, and When Irish Eyes Are Smiling.
Chapter 3: Wednesday
View from the Harbour Hopper
Today we took a day trip to Halifax. First we went to Mic Mac Mall and we shopped. At HMV I bought Bruce Almighty/Evan Almighty collection on DVD and the Simon & Garfunkel Greatest Hits CD. We headed to Downtown Halifax and got tickets for the Harbour Hopper. There I saw a book I really wanted called the Harbour Hopper’s Best Halifax Stories. Then we took a walk, caught some of the Busker Festival, walked some more, and then headed back in time to board the Harbour Hopper. Within minutes it took off, and the narrated tour commenced. The narrator got us to go “Ribbit-Ribbit” twice on this tour. We went up a hill, through the Citadel, past the Public Gardens, down Spring Garden Road (I saw the place HMV used to be and I also find it sad when an HMV I had shopped in and listened to top 40 music in since grade 11 closes), back to the waterfront… and went into the water. The narrator talked about history I already knew about from school and the Heritage Minutes videos from TV. Then after going past ships that were there and then past the waterfront, and then emerged from the water. Then we got off the Harbour Hopper. Then we went to the ferry terminal and took the ferry to Dartmouth… and took the ferry back… and went to Cows Ice Cream and had our favorite ice creams in waffle cones there. Then we went to the Old Triangle where the Alexander Keith’s commercials with the angry guy was set and had supper there. I had fish and chips with a Perrier. Then we headed home.
Chapter 4: Thursday
Basketball
Today Silvana and I went to Coles Antigonish Mall to see if I could find the book, which I did, and buy it, which I did, and to see if I could find a souvenir for Debbie who always felt left out if I mentioned vacation. We headed back… and went to a local interest store and I bought a book for Debbie to enjoy and to read to Kristina. We also bought a bottle of blueberry syrup and a CD for Covenant House as a thank-you for letting us stay there. Then we went to Hope/Dixie Houses for a multi-community barbecue and I played the guitar. Then we went to Hearts and Hands and got a tour and then we went to Horizons and we got a tour, and there I played the piano. I played while Stephane and Silvana went back to Hearts and Hands and bought a souvenir for Stephane and one for Silvana: artwork by Tom Landry like we have in our kitchen at McKim House. Then we headed home, had supper, and then some of us got a tour of St. F. X. University where Mom, Dad, and Jennifer, all went to university, and which had the basketball teams I loved to watch play. There I saw the big football field, the hockey rink, and the basketball court where the varsity teams I watch plays and practices. I went home and enjoyed my book. Then Stephane, Silvana and I walked to Sobeys and we got snacks for the drive home: I got Sun Chips and Stephane got Lay’s Old Fashioned BBQ chips.
Chapter 5: Friday
Today we visited an old friend of Jocelyn’s and our community’s in a nursing home named Carroll. Then we walked home, packed up, got into the car, fuelled up, and headed home, passing Stellarton and the Only Exit to Halifax along the way… and stopping at Holly’s in Hampton, where I got chicken strips and fries and a strawberry milkshake. Then we headed home! So ends Vacation 2014.