On this day in 1964 Betty gave birth to a daughter and after the mandatory week stay in the Salmon Arm hospital I made my entrance to the Ranch. I gave birth to my three children in the same hospital many years later, and what may have been the same room.
There had not been many children living on Canoe Point prior to my arrival. The Secwepemc people would often stay on Canoe Point during different times of the year, and the Woods family had three children. The population was slowly increasing with the construction of the road but it was still a very small community. The road was rough and it took at least an hour to drive to town. It is a 35 minute drive now and a good portion of the route is paved. The distance to town had to be taken into consideration when going into labour. As appealing as a home birth is we decided to have our children in hospital which meant leaving for the hospital before labour was too far advanced. Very dear friends of ours almost gave birth to one of their children in our vehicle as we made the journey into town due to the quick progression of the labour.
Canoe Point has never had a large number of children living here year around. In summer there is a significant increase in the population to enjoy the Shuswap, but as fall descends people quickly depart. It is challenging to raise a family here due to the long distance to school and other services. Betty was alone without the support of other young mothers and children. I was fortunate when I had children here that neighbors close by also had children around the same age. I also was able to bring the children to town to enjoy pre-school and other activities which was not as accessible for my parents.
I like to think, being a Leo, that I was a little sparkle of joy to the community. Babies are truly incredible and I can only hope that my arrival brought more love. I know for certain for my grandmother and great grandmother I became a central fixture to their lives, and called my grandmother Mama which is French for Mother. In the bay next to our home Mrs. Lea Berger and her husband Louie had bought the beautiful white farm house with the red roof. This landmark home sat in a deeply sheltered bay that became known as "Berger Bay". Lea Berger also became a significant person in my life and I called her Mama Lea. She was appointed to be my Godmother.
Eddy and Caroline in the newly constructed house. I don't remember if it was my birth or the birth of my brother but my Father did faint after the delivery of one of us. As he is an epileptic extra precautions had to be taken and he was also admitted to spend the night at the hospital.
From left to right: Grandmother Caroline, Mary Lou Tapson-Jones, Mrs. Woods, Lea Berger, and Caroline.
Grandmother Caroline gorgeously dressed in red for her birthday celebration. All of these women were year around residents of Canoe Point and I hope that they were helpful to my Mother in her new role.
Grandmother Caroline and Caroline
Eddy, Caroline and Gus
Life brings with it difficult decisions and as I have travelled my many paths I have developed guiding principles to help me with this process. One of the most compelling is asking myself if what I am doing is in the best interests of the children. I learned about this value first as a social worker and later as a parent it took on a deeper understanding. Children, like life itself, are with you for such a short time, however your actions can resonate for years. Our simplest actions, such as composting, can be seen through this guiding lens. Some of my most difficult choices have been made as I have decided it was in the best interests of the children.
My Child
Don't touch the wood stove,
but you did.
The crescent shaped scar on your hand,
a reminder.
Looking for you in clothes rakes, forest paths,
and most terrifying lakeshore.
Pulling you back from busses, cars, motorcycles.
Watching the stairs, hot irons, boiling pots.
A thousand times my heart would be in my throat,
and now, hours, sometimes days, I don't know where you are.
Springing forward with a hope, not a backward glance.
Such a moment of holding, and then a forever letting go.
My child, but not mine.
There had not been many children living on Canoe Point prior to my arrival. The Secwepemc people would often stay on Canoe Point during different times of the year, and the Woods family had three children. The population was slowly increasing with the construction of the road but it was still a very small community. The road was rough and it took at least an hour to drive to town. It is a 35 minute drive now and a good portion of the route is paved. The distance to town had to be taken into consideration when going into labour. As appealing as a home birth is we decided to have our children in hospital which meant leaving for the hospital before labour was too far advanced. Very dear friends of ours almost gave birth to one of their children in our vehicle as we made the journey into town due to the quick progression of the labour.
Canoe Point has never had a large number of children living here year around. In summer there is a significant increase in the population to enjoy the Shuswap, but as fall descends people quickly depart. It is challenging to raise a family here due to the long distance to school and other services. Betty was alone without the support of other young mothers and children. I was fortunate when I had children here that neighbors close by also had children around the same age. I also was able to bring the children to town to enjoy pre-school and other activities which was not as accessible for my parents.
I like to think, being a Leo, that I was a little sparkle of joy to the community. Babies are truly incredible and I can only hope that my arrival brought more love. I know for certain for my grandmother and great grandmother I became a central fixture to their lives, and called my grandmother Mama which is French for Mother. In the bay next to our home Mrs. Lea Berger and her husband Louie had bought the beautiful white farm house with the red roof. This landmark home sat in a deeply sheltered bay that became known as "Berger Bay". Lea Berger also became a significant person in my life and I called her Mama Lea. She was appointed to be my Godmother.
Grandmother Caroline gorgeously dressed in red for her birthday celebration. All of these women were year around residents of Canoe Point and I hope that they were helpful to my Mother in her new role.
Life brings with it difficult decisions and as I have travelled my many paths I have developed guiding principles to help me with this process. One of the most compelling is asking myself if what I am doing is in the best interests of the children. I learned about this value first as a social worker and later as a parent it took on a deeper understanding. Children, like life itself, are with you for such a short time, however your actions can resonate for years. Our simplest actions, such as composting, can be seen through this guiding lens. Some of my most difficult choices have been made as I have decided it was in the best interests of the children.
My Child
Don't touch the wood stove,
but you did.
The crescent shaped scar on your hand,
a reminder.
Looking for you in clothes rakes, forest paths,
and most terrifying lakeshore.
Pulling you back from busses, cars, motorcycles.
Watching the stairs, hot irons, boiling pots.
A thousand times my heart would be in my throat,
and now, hours, sometimes days, I don't know where you are.
Springing forward with a hope, not a backward glance.
Such a moment of holding, and then a forever letting go.
My child, but not mine.
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