I was brought up in a big city (Montreal) and I remember so well as a little girl the rare times when I was coming home with my parents late at night in the winter (had we been perhaps visiting a friend or relative?) in the back seat of our car. My mother sat with me, I remember and I was cuddled into her side against her warm soft coat of some kind of fur, smelling her perfume and hearing her soft voice. The car was warm though it was wintry cold outside. From that feeling of sleepy, comfortable love and security I would watch the city lights below me as we drove across the top of Mount Royal. I would wait for the sweep of the searchlight on the top of the mountain as it made its way back around the dark sky time after time. Though this was very long ago now, still, the lights of a city always bring back some of that same feeling.
This was taken during our visit to the city of Québec.
Hi +Ellie Kennard … sorry to seem so unresponsive lately, just been really, really busy. Glad to know the trip to Ohio is coming along. We're looking forward to it.
You are right, don't we go through changes in what we like as we live longer, +Lynn David Newton – I had missed seeing comments from you and hoped you are okay. The trip to Ohio is gathering steam and is pretty much planned now. Another year away, but something to look forward to.
Nice as long as you don't have to live there. (I lived in first Chicago and then New York City enough years to know about city lights and certainly have an appreciation for them … now only in other people's pictures.)
+Linda Jess thanks, Linda. It's funny what can trigger these random memories that fill our heads though we are unaware of them most of the time.
Beautiful photo and wonderful feelings to have
+Ellie Kennard I think my parents got their first car in the 1960s, blue with nice fins and bright red tail lights. I used to love to climb it – until I broke the tail light. I was born in Berwick near you but moved to Ottawa when I was young due to my Dad's job as an aerial photographer, then photo muralist for the NFB. No such work in NS at that time (1960s).
I know what you mean about people being afraid of the cold these days, but again some seem afraid of everything these days.
I often dream of the landscapes while snow shoeing and the frozen lakes while portaging. I do like my walks on the beaches of NS during wintertime, forest too. Kejimkujik adjunct is quite lovely on the south shore in the winter. I was up your way a couple of summers ago to visit friends in Sackville, Truro and the shores around Canning.
Do you know about the great course "Learning from Knowledge Keepers of Mi’kma’ki " that is being taught at CBU/Unamaki College. I am taking it long distance via their live feed and archive. Amazing sharing of the First Nations in NS up until present day with Mi'kma'ki Elders and young Elders teaching about first nations history (as per the Truth and Reconciliation Commission recommends)
http://www.cbu.ca/indigenous-affairs/unamaki-college/mikm-2701/
I bet it did, +Karin Lisa Atkinson – I'm not sure if cars in the early 50's felt any more cozy than they did when you were young, but certainly there were no heated seats, front or back. I know what you mean about waiting for the school bus, though for me I only rode on a bus for about 1.5 years, (Senneville time) otherwise I walked to school. Half an hour or so each way. Every day. In weather so cold kids today would no doubt be suing for cruelty. We just got on and did it.
+Ellie Kennard I grew up in Ottawa, French part – so close to Montreal for frequent school trips 🙂 But my family is from Nova Scotia, so it is NS that I visit in Canada every year for two months. I enjoyed your memories of winter in the back seat of a warm car. I appreciate warm cars, especially now with the seat warmers. What I did not like was waiting outdoors in the winter for the school bus to come, in
20 degree weather and storms. I got stuck in the first snow storm of this year in NS during the christmas holiday season :) Brought back memories.Beautiful in sentiment, image and word. Thanks, Ellie.
Thanks so much Sandra! I’m glad you like it.
Only memories prevail. Good job!
+Ellie Kennard Who knows? We might have bumped into each other in the past. I still go to the mountain. Its so close. I live near St. Marys.
+SIR GEORGE PREVOST – I lived as a small child in the Town of Mount Royal, then Senneville, then Montreal West, then NDG. I don't think we would have crossed paths if you had been around at the same time unless it was on the Mountain playing with the kids there.
I was born and raised in montreal. Lived in Rosemount, New Bordeaux, Ahuntsic, Cote des Neiges. How about you?
So glad the memories are stirring, Ellie. What an amazing photo! 🙂
Excellent!
So beautiful memories! Life is like a treasure box :o)
+Doc Dolittle thanks!
So thank you à beautiful photo
I hoped it would trigger memories in others (that's one of the reasons why I write it, from my own memories and in the hopes of doing the same for others). Thanks so much +Alex James
Every so often the tiniest detail will bring back a flood of sweet memories ~ an old song, the scent of a worn leather wallet, a crinkled paper lunch bag (those brown Kraft paper ones) … know exactly whatcha mean! Thx for sharing! 🙂
+Ellie Kennard
Yes, isn't it just +Diana Boyd? Thanks for relating to the story. 😀
it is funny how seeing certain things bring back memories and emotions!
+John Getchel thank you so much for that comment, my friend!
What a beautiful photo and story Ellie! Thanks for sharing!