splendid party, super moon

The recently gone but not lamented winter dumped about 6 feet of snow on our

neighbourhood.  That was almost exactly what we accumulated in the winter of

’08-’09, known here simply as “that one winter”.  So it was incumbent upon us to

have a proper send-off for this brute.

The community gathered at our place last Saturday, the day before the vernal

equinox.  We hoped to have a cookout and a bonfire to burn symbols of winter,

but it rained steadily for the 11 days leading up to the party.  We thought we’d

have to settle for a cook-in and symbols in the woodstove.

It stopped raining just hours before the party.  We got our cookout, supplemented

with a potluck.  We got our bonfire.  We even got clear skies for the “super” moon.

The bonfire was the highlight of the night.  I held a paper sack for folks to throw in

winter things they didn’t want anymore.  Paul tossed in a box of matches.  I “tossed”

in a yelling match that Jude and I had when we got stuck in the snow and were late

for the ferry.  It was the first time we’d ever raised our voices at each other.  It was

an ugly 30 seconds.  F-bombs filled the skies.  I told her with our community as

witness that I would never do it again.  I believe that’s legally binding.

The ever creative Nina, one of the community’s other writers, brought this:

The sack was then sealed off.  My friend and fishing partner Mowat, the senior male

child in the community, threw it into the fire.  Amelia, the senior girl child, threw

in Nina’s offering.  Winter was officially over in the neighbourhood.  About half the

crowd stayed to marvel as the “super” moon arose.

My favorite moment came late in the evening when most of us were sitting around

the fire, talking and roasting weiners.  Mowat was learning the proper distance from

the flames.  He did this under the tutelage of his parents Greg and Jolie, and other

adults.  That’s what communities do.

Here’s some highlights of the party:

Some of the crowd braving the weather.  Len (far left) brought some of his legen-

dary huckleberry wine.  Bless you, Len.

The kids play on the deck ramp.  Maese leads the charge.

The girls practice their hockey moves.  Juliet tops the scrum with Amelia on the

bottom and Maese in the middle.

Mowat shows off the blood blister he’d incurred earlier in the day, courtesy of a

hostile door.  He’s also practicing for his teen years.

The group gathers for the bonfire.

The “super” moon.  The perfect punctuation mark for a splendid party.

This shot was taken by Chris, Nina’s equally creative but not nearly as

cute husband.