Loss is the theme for this post. When thinking of loss of life, relationships, precious items, I recall the ache that goes along with those sad moments of our lives.
Sometimes, in the midst of a moment, we also find out about other people’s losses.
This theme today led me to think of a memorable holiday in Canada‘s amazing province of Newfoundland Labrador. Please drop by their site to find out more about the province!
In 2008, my husband and I visited the western coast of Newfoundland. From the moment of landing at the small Deer Lake airport, there was a sense of being “at home” in this rugged province.
Meeting the people as we travelled the west coast from Deer Lake and Gros Morne, north to St. Anthony and L’Anse aux Meadows, only heightened that feeling of well-being.
We found many treasures of people and culture and geography there.
We also learned of the loss that Newfoundlanders had experienced in the fisheries. This government-imposed limitation on the industry severely impacted individuals and families. To regain financial stability, some families re-invented their materials for the tourist industry; some moved away. Whatever they decided to do with their situation, many turned their loss into more positive event with their creativity and ingenuity.
In reflecting on this trip, I realized that I had found so much in this last province to join Canada. I also learned that loss can spur people to use their energies to get past that loss and to move ahead.
Today’s prompt inspired me to finish this little poem that I wrote as a tribute to all those who did manage to adjust to the challenges of such huge change! Happy Canada Day, All!
How I learned of loss in my Finds!
Music of ancestors and Irish descendants—
That’s what I learned in grade 3
When Mrs. G. taught us to sing I’se the bye.
Then,
I never knew about
Newfoundland’s
Wildflowers and whales
Melt-in-your-mouth pastry
Partridge berries
Bakeapple jars of jam
Seafood chowder
Catfish and codfish
Kitchen parties
Viking settlements
Magma on Gros Morne Mountain
Former fijords at Western Brook Pond.
It is all digitized now on the machine* but in that summer
We learned about the loss of the cod fishery from a son who showed us
The lobster traps and the nets and the old shacks
We saw and felt and touched the artifacts of days gone by
Near green mountains with spots of snow
Rippling waters
Misty hazy foggy weather over
Bogs nestling practically perfect pitcher plants,
Growing there, in the rich peat soil of Newfoundland,
With not so purple flowers, in the real.
*machine—slang for a computer
© 2013 Patricia A. McGoldrick
Posted in response to a prompt at http://withrealtoads.blogspot.ca/2013/06/fireblossom-friday-loss.html
Related articles
- Wildlife of Newfoundland & Labrador (jenniferkellandperry.wordpress.com)
- Research sheds new light on Viking travels in N.L. (cbc.ca)
- Labrador’s Red Bay whaling site earns coveted UNESCO heritage designation (canada.com)
PM27's Blog 