Time Warp

Cath, Lise, Karen, Linda

Photos.

I had been looking forward to a lunch organized by Linda O. for four of us Temiscaming alumnae. We met yesterday at Farmtable Kitchen, located on the second floor of Locale Market in St. Petersburg.

Linda, Karen and I were in the same class in high school; Lise is a few years younger. Linda and Karen have maintained their close friendship over the decades and I've loved a renewed friendship with Linda and her husband, from shared meals in Florida and hometown reunions in Gatineau. Lise and I are kindred spirits with many interests in common, shared on Facebook and occasional face-to-face meetings.

Yesterday's special treat was visiting with Karen, whom I haven't seen since I walked out of De La Salle High School 50 years ago. I was very fond of Karen's dad, Canadian ski champion Ole Bakkelund, who taught many of us young skiers the basics and coached the older ones for competition, especially in jumping. I found some old clippings here.

The four of us talked non-stop for several hours yesterday and marveled at the strong connections forged during those long ago years of childhood and adolescence. Anyone who grew up during the 50s and 60s in Temiscaming, a Canadian International Paper Company "company town", probably has memories that revolve mostly around outdoor activities like hockey, skating at the arena, swimming at the waterfront, skiing -- and many other sports, mostly financed through profits from the company-owned beer store.

Tantalizing but not explored, touched on briefly at the very end of our time together: we had all heard vague allusions to swinging in Temiscaming in the years before any of us were born. We knew a few names; Karen and I remembered our mothers opening up a little, but not enough to embarrass the living or speak ill of the dead.

We all have memories of one another's extended families and the many "characters" in our community: that's what small towns are like. When I left home at 17, I vowed I would never again live in a place where everyone knew where I was going the instant I turned one way or another coming out of my front door. It's ironic that so many years later, I remember with fondness the very situations I longed to escape.

Gerard, Neil and Bob talked happily about sports, politics and business at the end of the table. We all enjoyed a really good meal and promised to do it again.

Our visit was a highlight of this Florida vacation.