Plenty of fun ahead
Everyone invited to annual tree burning party
Good morning and Happy New Year – or Pusu’l Puna’ne as we say in Mi’kmaq! Have you made your annual resolution? Are you maintaining it, or have you decided that 2019 is your year instead?
Just some quick news first. If you’re not busy tonight, or if it’s not too cold, tonight is Membertou’s annual Grinch Party!
The party begins around 8 p.m. on Lnu Avenue. Just follow the warming glow of Unamaki’s greatest bonfire. If it’s your first time joining, you have to toss a Christmas tree on top of the kindling. It’s a tradition for newbies.
Before joining the rest of us firebugs, why not go for a skate at The Lazytown Gardens. No, I’m not referring to the shiny double-rinks at the end of Maillard Street.
In Membertou, we affectionately refer to Maillard as ‘Lazytown’ as it has been known for generations. I’m somewhat unsure where the term came from, but if you ask any Lazytowner, they will tell you simply that “our street is Lazytown.”
A cute joke about the actual spelling points out that ‘Lazytown’ is that it’s only one word. Why only one word? Because “folks are too lazy to press the space bar when writing it out.”
Cute huh? I’m hoping that the new bowling alley is actually named “Lazytown Lanes.”
As far back as I can remember, Maillard has always been Lazytown. The folks living there, and who have lived in the past, are (and were) some of my community’s most laid-back and inviting people I’ve ever met.
It’s also the home of The Lazytown Gardens, or what some refer to as Buster’s Pond. If you were to ask Buster, however, he would tell you that “it’s Atwen’s (Anthony’s) Pond.” Atwen Marshall grew up and lived next to Lazytown Gardens his entire life.
Today, Atwen’s grandchildren are growing up playing hockey and skating on the very same ice that he would have in his youth.
You can basically call Buster the General Manager of Lazytown Gardens, and he has the best seat on the street. I like to think of my good buddy Buster as the Mayor of Lazytown (or Maillard Street).
When not enjoying the sight of our kids picking up a hockey stick or putting on skates for the first time, he’s hauling wood to keep the toasty-warm fire aglow. It can get a bit chilly when visiting the gardens.
I must commend how incredibly smooth the ice is. Before I continue, please know that this author cannot skate and is too old to learn, but knows a superbly-maintained rink when he shuffles around on one.
Earlier in the day, David Marshall cleared the snow following a fresh snowfall. The night before, Buster was watering it down the surface in the freezing cold. Hashtag: teamwork.
Arriving at the gardens the other evening, I was greeted by a scene that reminds me of the opening of “A Charlie Brown Christmas.”
Membertews of all ages were out! Some of the littlest ones were taking
their very first strides on ice, and others were on skates for the first time in a while. We all shared laughs and shouts of encouragement as moms, dads, grandparents, cousins and BFFs met.
My highlight was seeing several youngsters, smiles on their little faces, skating for the first time ever. Sometimes I’m in the best place at the best time.
Maybe I’ll see you sometime at Lazytown Gardens, and hopefully I see you tonight at The Grinch Party. Nmultes, nitaps!
“Please know that this author cannot skate and is too old to learn, but knows a superbly-maintained rink when he shuffles around on one.”
Adam Gould is a lifelong Membertou community member and the Kji Paparazzi. He takes pride in grassroots initiatives and loves sharing the beauty of Membertou. Feel free to email him at adamegould@ gmail.com. Pusu’l Puna’ne (Happy New Year), everyone!