I went to Forum for Young Canadians and met Andrew Rennie?
I looked like a little boy? (Yes, that really is me).
I was a mascot for the 1998 Newfoundland and Labrador Winter games?
(I’m in the Carrie Bou suit).
I was a figure skater?
I had a helmet hair cut?
or a bowl hair cut?
Oh my. This has been fun. Honestly.
Ever take a minute to just stop and think what it was like to be a kid? Just rough and tumbly, not having a care in the world, wanting to be outside and playing in the dirt. Ever new step was a huge adventure, and there was something to be learned around every corner. Life was new and exciting and you weren’t jaded in any way. There was optimism and hope in every breath. You were free, free to just run and play. You could take risks on your crappy bike, fall down, cry and then be jumping for joy the next minute.
Heavens I miss that.
When I went to Africa, I remember thinking how wonderfully strange
it was to be in Africa, where I was born, the home I’d never really known. And it made sense. Deon even said “Africa is in your blood!” and I agree whole heartedly because deep down inside I know Africa is a part of who I am. That means a lot, especially to this little girl, who’s moved quite a bit in her lifetime and doesn’t always know where to say home is.
Now, in strange change of heart kind of situation, I find myself longing t
o reconnect to my home of fifteen years, Labrador. The circumstances which caused out move from there seven years ago were, well, less than desirable. My father lost he job very unexpectedly just over a year before I graduated high school, and again, the whole situation was a little messy. It generated lot of hurt and anger within my family. I won’t air the dirty laundry, but because of this I began to associate a bitter taste in my mouth Lab West.
Furthermore, as I grew up, I noticed that who I was when I was there was less than desirable as well. I was downright mean at times – mean enough to allow myself to turn my back on my very own sister because she wasn’t one of the “cool kids” and I desperately wanted nothing more than to be accepted. And, yes, I am aware that this is something that is very much associated with being a teenager, but all the same… Moving on from there gave me perspective on my selfish
tendencies and the thought of going back was scary because it meant facing my ugly self.
Furthermore, there is a part of me that always felt isolated and boxed in by being in a small town. Maybe it was because my mother never failed to remind me that there was a whole big world out there, and not to rule out any possibilities. Maybe it just comes down 
to the fact that I I don’t have that inherent tie to Wabush now because my family has moved and most of my friends too. I guess that’s why it’s so strange to me now to want to get back in touch with my “home”.
Mostly, I find myself missing the people. There are so many great people in Labrador West that I cut myself off from 1) because I’m really, really bad at staying in touch and 2) because it was hard to stay in touch because I wanted to move forward and I selfishly thought that Lab
West was going to hold me back. (NB: To any of you great friends, please accept a heartfelt apology – you are still wonderful).
Lately, mostly through the wonders of My Space, I’ve managed to reconnect with a lot of these people from home. It’s great! I’m even making new friends with people that I only kinda sorta knew back then. Plus, I’m actually considering going back to visit at some point once I get back in touch with some of my friend who are there. And I’m really excited about this prospect. I miss the woods, I miss the water, I miss the feeling of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Maybe there’s more Labrador in me than I thought.
p.s. Thank you to Larry Jenkins, Glen Benson and Mary Jacobs for their awesome photos.
So, my roomie just got me the BEST early birthday present ever! Season three of DJH on DVD! I managed to get some more quality Degrassi in before I leave tonight! Sweet. It reminds me of something though…
So I realized the other day that I almost forgot to share one of the greatest Degrassi moments in my life. I had my very own Degrassi sighting. For real!
It all ha
ppened back when I was working for Jets Go. I was on one of my first flights, coming back from Vancouver, and who was sitting on my plane by Andy Chambers, the guy who played Luke Cassellis. We all remember him – he was the sports guy who in Degrassi High ended up giving Shane drugs and abandoned him while he was high. Then Shane had the “accident” and ended up with brain damage – very big deal!
Being a silly girl, I didn’t ask him if he was on Degrassi, that would have just been going too far as a flight attendant. But all the same, it was him, I swear it!
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