A Story, People, Names and Some Good News

A Story, People, Names and Some Good News for week 7 in the life and times of the Carr’s.

Nice People
This week, with a couple of stories that are sad, I thought I would start with a happy one.

Over the last 3 or 4 years I have worked part-time for my cousin doing data, phone, and cable wiring in my free time. It is fun and I have learned a lot, not only because the work is challenging, but because he is super smart and is always willing to teach me. This week I was doing some work for him and I borrowed his cordless drill because mine is not working. After making a trip to his house to return it the next day, he hands me a new one just like his and says, “Here, I am tired of loaning you mine”. WOW, every once and a while you find people in your life that do something for you that make you feel so good, and this week I thank Michael for going over and above.

A Name
She called me “Darlin”. I know I am probably not the only one, but she made me feel like I was and that made me happy. Born Mary Ella Carr, but her friends called her Mae or Shirley Mae and I called her Aunt Mae. She borrowed the name Shirley from an older sister’s birth certificate, when she needed to be older then she was to play music in the bars in Toronto. A fitting tribute in a way to a sister who had died way too young.

Shirley Mae Carr spent an enormous amount of time playing music and having fun her entire life and did so not only because she loved it but also because so many people loved her doing it. She made her living over the first part of her working life, in bands and traveling from town to town playing everyday for anyone who would listen. She even recorded an album in the late 50’s or early 60’s, packaged as a contest winner from a Toronto radio station. The truth is, because she was popular in the Toronto clubs, the station knew that if they had her name on a record, it would generate sales and it did. One of the tracks even got some airtime, and that lead to some success but not enough to steer her away from the factory supervisor job that she eventually retired from when she turned 65.

It’s hard to sum up one’s life in a few paragraphs and even after reading them, I am sure I have not done her justice but stop me anytime and I will be happy to tell you all about my Aunt Mae. How she could capture a room while she played her guitar, how great her laugh was when you got her going, and how amazing she sounded when she sang but most of all how amazing she sounded when singing with my Dad. For this week we lost Mary Ella, Mae or Aunt Mae or even Shirley Mae, but for my father, he lost his duet partner, his last living sibling and one of his closest friends in the world.

A story
As the children play and splash by the pool, I am on edge and show it by pacing. Perhaps with concern for their safety or in reaction to the movement of water or the high pitch shrills in their laughter. For as long as I can remember I have been like this. I am the same at home, as the doorbell rings or the sound of a distant car door opens and slams, I am sent into protection mode. “Who is that? What is going on? What do they want?” Questions I am always asking, yet you never hear my words. Although, I am unable to speak in sounds you can translate into meaning, I do speak. I do love and I do mean well but I am, at many times misunderstood.

Over the last couple of months, I have noticed that the sounds that at one time would set me off are no longer. The front door opening would not always wake me from sleep. Footsteps, heavy in weight would no longer always focus my attention to the sound they made and noises that once were part of my everyday life are somehow not always there. Now, I am the one misunderstanding. My ears are failing me. Failing me in my 68th year.

Bentley the Super Dog, our 13-year-old Jack Russell, has lost his hearing and no longer comes when you call. I miss the bark of excitement when I enter the room, but what makes me sadder, is I wonder what it is that he will miss. Maybe it is us asking, “Where’s the pink hat?” or “Who wants a treat?” No. I think it is the sound of the girls laughing and playing in the pool that he will miss most of all.

Anniversary
When we mark Nathalie’s brother Nicolas’ birthday every year we are obviously happy for him, but we are also happy for us too. You see in 1989, on June 19 Nick turned 10, and after Nathalie celebrated with her family she hopped into her little silver Sprint and came to the party in Toronto where she met me! We started dating officially the next day, so his birthday marks an anniversary for us and today it is 20 years ago we met. Funny to note that when I first met Nick, he was the same age Jordyn is now.

Guess What?
In a week where we lost Aunt Mae and confirmed that our dog is not able to hear, we do have some good news to share. The search for our first home is over, and pending a home inspection on Monday, we will be proud owners of house in Mississauga around the corner from the girls’ school. Clear your calendars for early August for painting and helping us move because we are calling in all the favours we can!

In closing
Finally, I can’t end without a Julia quote so here it is. On the trip to school this morning, Julia asks Nathalie and I what does the “No Pee sign mean?” Nathalie and I look at each other a little confused, and Nathalie replies, “Not sure Julia, what sign are you looking at?” She points out the window at the side of the road as we are driving and says; “Those ones!” pointing at the no parking signs along the side of the road. There you go No Pee signs. We never looked at it like that before, but she is right! You should not pee at the side of the road.

Thanks for reading and have a great week, and please watch where you pee.
Jim