Partying with the Golden Girls of Wedgeport
Through happy times and hard times, five sisters have held fast to each other
For 36 years, be it sunshine or snowstorm, the Atkinson sisters have met for their annual Golden Girls party at Christmas time. That's no small feat now, considering the oldest is 91 and the youngest is 78.
Corrine MacKenzie, 86, describes how it all began.
“Our mother, Phyllis, died when we were very young, on Dec. 23. I was just a baby. There were six of us left behind,” she says.
The youngsters were divided amongst their godparents.
“I was a baby so it didn't really make any difference to me, but these ones didn't get to see each other,” says Corinne, gesturing to the other sisters.
Two and a half years later, their father, Russell Atkinson married again (to Jenny) and the sisters were reunited.
“It must have been such a reunion,” says Corinne.
The blended family eventually grew to five boys and five girls. Four brothers have passed away, leaving Brother Owen Atkinson, who is 99.
When Agnes Robicheau, 78, started the tradition of the sisters getting together, Corinne says it felt like déjà vu.
“Except we can't remember it because we were too young,” she laughs. “But when we all got back together when daddy got married, after we had been all spread around. It's wonderful, absolutely wonderful," she says.
Longevity is one of the topics on the day of their most recent party. What do the sisters attribute it to?
Nora d'Entremont, 82, says what people eat has a lot to do with it.
“It was eating the right kind of food. The old ham leg on the side of the house for instance,” she says.
“We had to go cut some meat off that when we wanted it because we didn't have a fridge. We'd go out with a knife and carve ourselves a piece and eat it.”
The families also ate “lots of good salt herring that wasn't full of preservatives.”
“We had fresh milk that only lasted about four days. Now it lasts about four weeks because it's full of stuff,” adds Nora.
“And we had deer meat every year, says Rose Emma, 88. Dad would go hunting for them, as well as ducks and rabbits. We lived off the land. daddy would salt his own fish and we'd have that anytime."
They also remember the time when there were six large haddocks on the table that their mother had baked with some dressing.
ANNUAL DINNER
A different sister hosts their annual dinner – for 2021 it was Agnes's turn – with everyone trying to outdo the others. Everyone is responsible for bringing a part of the meal.
According to the spirited conversation when the topic is brought up, that's proved a challenge at times.
Nora describes her struggle with white rice a few years ago. She was trying to accommodate a sister who didn't like it.
“So, I was going to make Jasmine rice. I made three envelopes and when I got done it looked like the glue that you use to put wallpaper up. I threw it in the garbage.”
“You didn't read the directions!”
Hostess Agnes Robicheau with sisters Rose-Emma Fox and Corinne MacKenzie. shouts one sister.
“Change your glasses,” laughs another.
Nora continues: “I grabbed my jacket and headed to town. I got in the parking lot and reached over for my purse and I hadn't brought my purse. So, I drove back to Wedgeport, picked up my purse and got some goldarn basmati rice… just to please you.”
One year Corinne called caterer Phil Kidder to learn how to make a crepe because she wanted to make one stuffed with seafood.
“It didn't turn out," she says. “But then I decided to just mix flour and water and threw it in the frying pan with lots of grease. It just sizzled away and it worked.”
One year Corrine, who was living in Bedford at the time, hosted the dinner. She says she was worried about her sisters not being able to make it.
“They just had to come, that was all there was to it," she says.
The others talked about it and decided to go.
“They came all the way to Halifax and the next day it was a storm and they had to leave early. I felt right guilty,” says Corinne.
The Yarmouth County sisters made it as far as Shelburne and then Nora and
Agnes had to take over.
“They passed me the wheel when it started to snow hard and I had to drive Rosemarie's brand-new car,” says Agnes.
POST MEAL
After the meal, the fun begins. The sisters play games like charades and Bingo
“You can tell we're starting to get old when you start playing Bingo at parties,” says Nora.
“Lots of years we went to Frenchys and got fancy evening dresses. After a few drinks we'd change our dresses,” says Rose Emma. “Oh my, that was fun.”
The other sisters jumped in.
“Remember that time we arrived in the same dress?”
“We had rhinestones and the whole business… when we didn't have grey hair and spare tires."
"When we first started, sometimes we'd go to bed around 2 or 3 in the morning. Last year it was past 1,” adds one sister.
Eventually, they put their pajamas on to sleep at their hosts' overnight.
After breakfast everyone heads home.
They love the tradition of still meeting in person. But how do they feel about technology?
There's a big sigh from one sister, “It's leaving me behind,” says Corinne.
“It's leaving us on the back burner,” adds Agnes, who has kept a scrapbook of photos of past dinner parties for everyone to enjoy.
“It's good to reflect on the good times, for life hasn't always been happy for the sisters.
“Our mother, Phyllis, died when we were very young, on Dec. 23. I was just a baby. There were six of us left behind.” Corrine MacKenzie
THROUGH THICK AND THIN
Amongst the sisters, they've lost children to car accidents, suicide, depression and cancer. A brother was killed walking on the side of the road. But through it all the five sisters have remained strong in their faith and very close to one another.
What's their advice to someone who has lost a loved one. What can help?
“Time. Lots of time.
And sometimes time is not enough,” says one sister. “Faith,” adds another. “Support. When you think you're doing okay and then a song or picture brings you right back like yesterday. There's never enough time to forget what you've lost.”
“I don't think you should forget.
“That's what you have to depend on, the good things,” says Agnes.
This year, Agnes served chicken cordon blue for the main meal, served with rice, rolls, salad and a drumstick cake.
And even before their annual 2021 get-together ended, they were already looking forward to their 2022 party.