ON THIS HARVEST MOON,

 FULL MOON RISING

TONIGHT’s the night to look up high

A full white moon will light our sky

Our Shifu will drum and sing her song

Pure devotion keeps us strong.

Life is full of mystery and doubt

Tonight’s a good night to let it out!

Sitting around the Medicine Wheel

While the magic of moonlight reveals

Our every thought and our every cry,

We raise our arms very high.

Our own two hands connect as one

Next will come a new rising sun.

A fresh new start to a full new day

A refreshened heart will show the way.

Antoinetta DeWit

September 17, 2024

MAPLE RIDGE 150

It is not typical for Tulip to go out cycling on a dismal weather day, but this was no ordinary day. When she thinks about that she realizes that no one day seems to be typical or ordinary. Every day is unique and can be as special as you would like it to be. It is in that frame of mind that she dressed warmly and brightly, pulled her bicycle from the garage and made the eight kilometer journey to downtown Maple Ridge.

This day was the biggest and most intensely planned celebration of the City of Maple Ridge: her 150th year as a proud, growing community in the Fraser Valley region of British Columbia Canada. 

The organizers, participants and sponsors created a plethora activities, events, displays, performances and flashback memories of how things started and evolved. From significant forestry hub and bedroom community, from village, to town, to district to city, Maple Ridge has grown and changed. Tulip and her sidekick have lived through much of it and they remain proud and comfortable in the same home, in the same peaceful setting — nicely paired with a protected tiny backyard forest. It’s been nearly 35 years and counting.

As she arrived at 224th and Dewdney Trunk Road, sort of the entrance to downtown, drenched, she happily flipped her wet leg over the back of her bicycle, took off her helmet, swung it over the handlebars, took a swig of lemon water from her water bottle, shook the raindrops from her waterproof jacket, and started her journey into the celebration.

Despite the dismal weather tethering on drizzle and sometimes more, the streets were filled with people of all ages, all walks of life, all cultural backgrounds, wandering happily from tent to tent, table to table, busker to busker, stage to stage.

Tulip checked her bicycle at the HUB Cycling Valet station and followed the path to the main stage all ready for the big name entertainment later in the programme. She stopped at all the various entrepreneurs’ tents along a snake-like stretch, expressing  curiosity about their trades and creations, but also to get some shelter from the rain. 

Along the way various merchants had spinning wheels from which spinners could win prizes. Everyone loves a surprize. Everyone loves a prize. Tulip spinned a few and gathered pencils, a souvenir Maple Ridge Anniversary mug, water bottle, and colouring book pages for the younglings. She stopped in at the More Than Just Pajamas booth because a 50% off sign caught her eye.  There she found a beautiful garment: cotton, handmade and almost Galactic with Northern Lights colours, calling out her name. Instantly she knew it was meant to be and happily paid the price. It included an environmentally friendly fabric bag in which she would be able to carry a lot of the swag.

This celebration was filled with joyful, friendly local and non-local people. It gave them affirmation that Maple Ridge is a happening place — a place where people from far and wide, have settled, raised families, started businesses, enjoyed fresh air, nature, wildlife, recreation, sports and so much more. 

As Tulip prepared to leave the event, she stood back at the main stage area to reflect. From Agriculture to  Industry, Education to Entrepreneurship, Commerce to Economic Development, and Indoor and Outdoor Recreation to Entertainment — all of this defines Maple Ridge; all of this gives the community substance, energy and spirit. The City is ready to continue to build on the efforts and successes of the past, retaining the reputation of being a snug community slowly striving to move thoughtfully further forward, embracing its progressive history and impressive present, while being ready for a future that doesn’t leave it behind.  

As she heads toward the Bicycle Valet, Tulip stops to the scent of Vietnamese Spring Rolls — 3 for $10 and a perfect snack to end a perfect refreshing, pride-filled Autumn outing. She sits under a tent nearby and jots down some notes. Her community  is a growing and modernizing place. It is surrounded by Nature, creativity, innovation, and the right kind of “across the spectrum” leadership to recognize, respect and value what the community-involved decision making, including the wisdom and input of the Katsie First Nation and Kwantlen First Nation upon whose unceded land the City sits, has accomplished over the past 150 years. 

Over the 30+ years that she has lived in Maple Ridge, Tulip realizes that subtle and sometimes bold changes brought the City to this point. Some people liked it while it was unfolding and others didn’t.  Steady, subtle and other bold changes will likely come into play continuously — some will like this and others won’t. That seems to be the way the world unfolds! 

As she munches down the last bite of the third spring roll and wipes her mouth clean, she writes one last note for the City Council’s Debating Guidelines: BOLD DECISION MAKING — let the spirit and essence of “community and Nature” always be paired with community growth decision making for the years ahead.

With that she picks up her bicycle, and happily rides along well-marked bicycle lanes. She makes her way home safely, smiling about yet another wonderful atypical and far from ordinary day in her coveted hometown of Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada. #cityofmapleridge City of Maple Ridge

RAISE ME UP

 JUST LIKE SPIRITS IN THE SKY

Someone planted a seed in my thoughts today and it made me think of some of the lyrics in a song sung by many but none other as great as Josh Groban, entitled You Raise Me Up.

The suggestion was strong enough to get me off the cozy couch and out on my bicycle, with Tulip on my shoulder, and a creative writing idea on my mind.

We had not quite gone a kilomètre when I felt the need to stop, park the bicycle, sit on the curb, pull out my notebook and pen to write:

 She raised me up so I can stand on mountains 

She raised me up to walk near stormy seas

She raised me up to sit amongst the learned

She raised me up to be the me in me.

I feel strong when amongst the stronger

I feel weak when others cannot see

I feel sure when I am with strong leaders

They give me more — more than I can see.

I closed the booklet, got back on my bicycle, called on my soulmate (song companion) Tulip (the she) and said:

“Let’s go anywhere, let’s just go. My body needs physical exercise”

We followed the city groomed cycling paths and ended up at the Pitt Meadows Airport.  We have enjoyed time there often but it had been a long while. The cycle path has been extended right into the airport parking lot and directly to the front entrance of the terminal, where they now have a bicycle parking rack with room for more than two bicycles. 

We knew the eatery inside would be open so we went in, ordered a brunch meal and sat at an outside table, overlooking the runway. It wasn’t quiet but it was sunny, and the view of incoming and outgoing planes was ideal.

As I looked up at a one engine  Cessna, Tulip reminded me of the time I flew in one of those, over the shark infested Indian Ocean. It was one of those rare daring things I do now and then, and think twice about them later. It was only after landing safely that I realized the landing strip on Rottnest Island near Perth, Australia, did not have a tower and the pilot had to depend on visual and auditory skills to land and take off safely. 😳 

Some people say we should try everything at least once: “It’s not likely I will do that trip again!” It was beautiful and scenic but, in the end, it became a case of too much information.

It does get me to wonder what might be next on the list of dare devil experiences during this lifetime.  I figure as long as Tulip and Tulip-like* people are nearby, I know I will be just fine!

Cycling back home, I sat on my front porch and penned a finalé to what I started earlier, following the same tune:

I feel stronger when they* are on my shoulder

I feel great when they* are on my side

We all team-up to climb the mighty mountains

And all team-up to deal with stormy skies

Some team-up every early morning

And some team-up every single night

We all feel strong when we’re with each other

And won’t fully leave the other’s side!

 

DUTCH DAYS IN VANCOUVER 2024

 

ORANGE TIDE: A Sea of Dutch in Vancouver

August 31, 2024 was a big day in the life of Dutchies on the south coast of British Columbia. Orange Tide flooded the Granville Street pedestrian mall for the 2nd Annual festival of everything Dutch. It was a haven of exhibits, vendors, entertainment and food surrounded by Dutch flags, Dutch conversations and the colour orange was everywhere to be seen. [Why orange? That is a whole other story but it relates to a guy named Willem of Orange who many Dutch consider to be a hero of sorts.]

This event is particularly significant because it is only the 2nd of its kind ever in the history of British Columbia. The first was last year.  Of course the question “Why only recently?” pops up in everyone’s mind, and the time is right for me to expose the answer:

Most Dutch people came to Canada shortly after World War II. Much of the Netherlands had been bombed by the Germans and people were shattered and scattered, scared and shaken. During the war some people supported the Nazi regime, others did not. Some people provided shelter to Jewish people, others did not. Some families were torn apart, others were not.  

After the war, trust disseminated and Dutch people became isolated within their own country, and scared to speak. Rumours, suspicion, finger-pointing, gossip, anger, fear, and accusations made life very difficult for everyone. The rebuilding of infrastructure was slow and getting the economy to grow was challenging. Life was very tough in Nederlands.

My maternal grandparents and paternal grandparents were from opposite poles on the war issue; as a result, the relationship between my parents was not embraced and, according to my mom, the strain, stress and anxiety became too much for them. Top that off with lack of suitable housing for our family of four, and low income for simple unskilled or even skilled workers, my dad decided the right thing to do was to accept an invitation to start a new life in Canada. Of course my mom did not want to go, but as a wife and a mother she felt compelled to agree.  Although it took some time for her to feel good about the decision, in the end she was happy that the resettlement process became less and less hard over the years. She did become a happy Canadian. But I digress.

Nevertheless, all of this still leads me to wonder why almost every other cultural group that has settled in Canada, joyously and regularly celebrate their culture, their roots, their history. The Dutch up to now, have not.  

When my parents and my older brother and I arrived in Canada in 1957, we were greeted by already settled Dutchies who helped us secure housing and learn about being a newcomer to a new Land.  We were told the best thing to do is to assimilate — don’t speak Dutch and don’t do anything Dutch; learn English quickly, get rid of your accent, and never talk about the war. We were now in Canada and that ended our Dutch-ness.

Yet we all have noticed over the years, that most other cultural groups in Canada proudly celebrate and share the joy and excitement of many things that relate to their culture year after year, and often several times throughout the year. So when I asked, and yes I asked many times, why Dutch people don’t celebrate anything Dutch while in Canada, the standard answer was that we are quiet and reserved people; we don’t really have celebratory occasions except Saint Nicholas Day and New Year’s Eve which are exclusively family days.

Over the years, my siblings and I began to notice that the Dutch in the Netherlands actually do celebrate a lot of things and in big fashion. They have huge celebrations around sporting events and King’s Day for example. The sea of orange is amazing! Liberation Day, the Blooming of the flowers (tulips), performing arts festivals, Canal Festivals, Red Head Day, Market Days, GLOW Festival, Fireworks Festivals, parades and more. 

My older brother’s, and my, first homeland is clearly not a dead-beat country; yet, growing up in Canada, we (including our Canadian-born sister and brother) knew next to nothing about our dutch-ness!

Turns out a lot of Dutch immigrants who came to Canada in the sixties and seventies adopted the same ‘keep it in house’ attitude. 

Well, here we are, generations later and the offspring of Dutchies are at the plate to turn things around.  This event in Vancouver was fabulous. Dutchness filled the three block stretch of Granville Street giving me a sense of excitement, cultural pride and a renewed sense of optimism, as we take our place in the massive multicultural spectrum called Canada … I knew we could do this and I am thankful to everyone who worked so hard to break the internal barriers so more Dutchies can get on with showing and sharing their true colours as a supplement to being proud Canadians! 

Hup Hup! Proost!