A month of promise
June is a favourite month of mine. Maybe because I was born in June, as were several of my family and friends, so growing up always meant plenty of birthday celebrations. June is also the month where the weather finally gets better, giving us a glimpse, a promise of the summer to come. Even though we’ve had some cold, wet, miserable days in June, just that little taste of heat and sunshine makes one long for more.
Not just the weather either. The freedom from school and routine will soon be upon the many students straining to be free. First are the proms and an exciting time for all those graduating this year. That’s followed by exams and finally a new summer routine of relaxation, or summer jobs, or day camp, or unbridled freedom, and a new challenge for working parents to keep their young ones happy and busy all summer. There are so many possibilities: day camp, recreation programs, summer sports, local pools, and so many interesting places to visit right in our own community.
I for one am excited about the arrival of the Tall Ships in Pictou, June 30 - July 2. It’s not often you get to witness a spectacle like that, and even get a chance to board them and see what a sailor’s life is really like. I remember boarding the HMS Bounty a few years back when it visited Pictou, just a few short weeks before it tragically sank in Hurricane Sandy off the coast of North Carolina.
Being intimately familiar with our own Ship Hector and its story of a trans-Atlantic journey in 1773, it is hard to believe that sailors today are still sailing tall wooden ships across the sea. Imagine these ships through the eyes of a child – what adventure, what dreams, perhaps even a career in shipbuilding or sailing their own vessels!
Speaking of imagination and dreams, they can both soon be found in one place this summer: Mabel Murple’s Book Shoppe and Dreamery, located off the beaten path in beautiful River John, will be opening its doors to the public on July 3, and I can hardly wait! The brainchild (and literal book-child) of creative author Sheree Fitch, Mabel Murple’s will provide visitors with a family-friendly, old-fashioned country style place to visit, to browse and read and buy books for children and adults, a quiet scenic spot for a picnic, or a visit with some friendly farm animals. There will be featured events and special author readings throughout the summer, so keep an eye out in the paper and on Facebook for details.
Another promise of a great summer to come is of course the Canada Day celebrations, and for this, our country’s 150th Birthday, there will be lots of them. From New Glasgow’s pre-Canada Day celebrations, Pictou’s waterfront celebrations tied in with the Tall Ships and the Ship Hector, to Westville’s legendary parade and fireworks, we have so much to look forward to.
Following Canada’s birthday celebrations, there comes the Pictou Lobster Carnival. Details and event schedule have just been released and it looks like yet another winner. I look forward to the parade every year, and hope and pray for good weather for Carny weekend so that we can all enjoy some great summer fun!