St. Luke’s
Also on Sunday there was a service at St. Luke’s on the lake. Pastor Al from the Grassy Plains church gave the message. It was very inspiring to us all. There was the most delicious lunch served. Lots of good singing which we all took part. There was lots of good music with top of the line guitar music and of course lots of hugs and handshakes that gave a nice warm feeling to the whole service. I must not forget the ladies who made the afternoon and evening so special. You all deserve a pat on the back.
St. Luke’s is such a special place with so much history that goes back 100 years. Just think of the stories it could tell. Thanks to all those caring folks who gave so much love through all those many years.
Hall meeting
The Francois Lake Tchesinkut Lake Recreation Commission held their regular meeting at the hall on Monday night. There is always lots to do to keep the hall in shape. The hall has always been the centre of our community and we are very proud of it. In the last year or so there have been some vast improvements, thanks to the board. Hats off to you all. If the hall could talk there would be some wonderful stories to be told.
Water is up
It’s very interesting to report the number of inches Francois Lake has come up and it’s good news too. Since Dec. 11 the lake has come up 32 inches. Last winter the lake was at an all time low, in fact a danger for water lines. My son Mark from the ferry is keeping track of the lake levels.
Francois Lake story
It ended up ok but was a bit scary too. I spoke about Elmer and Dorothy Mills who lived in the cabin by the garage. I had a call to Colleymount, it was a nice afternoon so I took them with me. I took the pickup as it was a grocery order to deliver. This was Mayday weekend.
We delivered the order. There had been a slide by the mountain and only one way traffic. I was on the lake side, just about through when I met a pickup driving too fast and two kids hanging over the billboard. He was in my lane, there was a willow bush on the lake side so I hit the bush, it held us up long enough for me to get the door open then the bush broke and we went into the lake upside down.
I got Dorothy by the coat and onto the beach, Elmer did not come up for a minute or so. The guy in the pickup was upset as there could have been a drowning. Maybe killed those kids in the pickup box. Our truck was upside down, gas and oil all over. It was cold as Elmer and I were wet. Dorothy was ok, a good thing as she was due to have a baby in a week. We got into the other guys pickup and he took us home.
Fred Beach towed our pickup home the next morning. Whenever I drove the Colleymount Road I remembered that time that could have been a disaster, maybe a good lesson for me too. It all turned out ok in the end. Dorothy had a baby girl they called her Colleen. I was able to drive our team of horses on a float in the Mayday parade.
Love country music
I always have enjoyed country and western music. There is one song that hit me this morning that goes back almost a lifetime. No doubt some old-timers will have heard it. The name of the song is ‘The letter edged in black.’ Wilf Carter and a few more country folks recorded it. It’s a sad song but has a haunting melody. I have both the words and the music in my memory, almost a lifetime ago now.
This was the custom to notify family members of a death by sending a letter edged in black. It’s years ago now but our mother called us into the office to show us a letter edged in black to one of her customers. This custom is now long gone. The envelope was a bit larger and had a black line around the edge. I have sung country western all my life and that was one of my songs.
Nice chat
I have just got off the phone with such a wonderful visit with Hillary Routley, one of our long time friends from Francois Lake. She now makes her home in the lower mainland. She and her husband Kip lived on the Brown Road for many years. The Partington family made their home on the road named after them, the Partington Road. Reg and Lena were great workers in keeping St. Lukes Anglican Church open.
Sad news
It was a surprise to read in our last paper the passing of Jean Nelson. I remember the family very well. They ran Paradise for some time. It was a very popular lodge for many years. As I had the taxi I would take folks up there fishing as the fishing was always good. When their first child was due and it was spring breakup the road was very bad so Jean stayed with Mother and Dad at the landing until the baby was born in Burns Lake. Jack liked to hunt with his good friend Barry Granger. We were very sad to see the family move away.
This afternoon I was going through some of my old writings and this came to light and I thought you might like it.
It’s called ‘An old Indian wedding ceremony wish.’ May you feel no rain for each of you will be a shelter for the other. Now you will feel no cold for each of you will be a warmth to the other. Now there will be no loneliness for each of you will be a companion to the other. Now you are two persons but there is only one life before you, go now into your dwelling to enter into the days of your life together. And may your day be good and long upon this earth and may the great spirit continue to bless you and keep you safe. And every day may your life grow stronger and the love for each other keep growing as precious as it is today.
We all miss Ben and Aggie Wiebe as Ben is away taking treatments. Our prayers go out to them to come home again and all goes well.
Always remember this little saying, it’s nice to be important but it’s more important to be nice.
Remember God loves you a great deal and so do I.