A Poem for Kat

I wrote this for Kat on the anniversary of our first date. I've been planning to post it since then. This weekend was the anniversary of us agreeing to be a couple (as far as I was concerned we already were . . .) so this seems like a good time to get it done. The significance of the canoeing theme should be pretty clear to anyone who was at the wedding . . .

Come pick out a paddle, we'll start in Vancouver
and follow the old Voyageurs.
We'll weave down the waterways, and we'll maneuvre
through forests where memory blurs.
We'll each take a turn
in the bow and the stern
and find out just how much we can do.
My love, be my wife,
and we'll launch a new life
in our beautiful mustard canoe.

Come pick out a paddle, we'll cross through the north
and relearn the meaning of need,
reorder priorities, second, third, fourth,
until our word matches our deed.
Each night on the Shield
we'll see grace revealed,
the stars, and the Great Manitou.
And then we'll untether
and launch out together
in faith, and our mustard canoe.

Come pick out a paddle, the river is free
and each choice a new watershed.
But as we near rapids each upside-down V
points us on to the Voyage ahead.
With hearts madly racin'
we'll invoke Bill Mason
at each choice we cannot undo.
When going gets rougher
we'll trust in each other
and in our old mustard canoe.

Come pick out a paddle, this life's a portage
where many have fallen before.
But I'll share the weight of it, and I'll massage
your shoulders at night when they're sore.
We don't know the length
of our days or our strength
or what the next life might renew.
But we'll steer for the dawn
until we pass on
your father's old mustard canoe.


with love,
J.

Wedding Photobooth

Thanks again to Wade Metcalfe Photography, and of course, to all our ridiculous friends & family who made this photobooth work.

Honeymoon

Finally, I'm getting around to this one! Actually, it's been hard getting around to lots of things. We still have most of our Thank Yous to send out. I'd blame it on hibernation, but mostly I'm just a procrastinator and Jesse's too relaxed to worry about it. Anyway, we will. For now, some honeymoon pictures.

We went to the Moulin Wakefield in Wakefield, Quebec. It was a whoppin' 30 minute drive away. Far enough to feel like we could get away from the familiar, but close enough to travel stress-free. I can't comprehend the idea of getting on a plane and flying somewhere foreign after all the craziness of a wedding. Quebec is foreign enough for me. Enough tangents. It's picture time for reals.

Jesse "Tiny Bladder" Butler had to mark his territory on the way.

At first we thought the Inn left us something special. Turns out, some very thoughtful friends arranged to have these lovely treats for us upon arrival. Thank you Byron & Erica!!

We upgraded to have a jacuzzi tub, a much needed place for to relax after the wedding.

Outdoor hot tub at -20

We rolled in the snow and jumped back in. Then another couple came and it felt awkward.

A full country breakfast was included for all three mornings. So good!

 

 

The dining room overlooks the falls. I like hash browns.

The falls/river. Our room also overlooked the falls.

Frontside.

On a walk to town.

Wakefield. We enjoyed coffee at a local cafe and were pleasantly surprised to find a second-hand shop upstairs.

more Wakefield.

Amazing gourmet three course dinners were also included in the three nights. Jesse has a stink face.

We went for a very chilly walk in the woods along some trails in Gatineau Park.

Goofy or handsome, you pick.

Kat managed to beat Jesse at pool on our first night there.

But then Jesse kicked her ass the rest of the time.

Kat doesn't mind (not too much).

In between course 1 & 2, we were given complimentary appertifs. Above is raw bison marinated in lemon juice.

from our room

another view from the room

we spent a lot of time relaxing. Already old farts reading the paper by the fire.

Our last stop before heading home.

Good times.