Once we knew we were going to Montreal, we wanted to also re-connect with some of our Montreal friends from a long time ago. Darlene took the phone by the horns and called them all, setting wheels in motion to see the three groups of people we were close to. So we took off.
Train really is the way to go. As seniors now, we get a discount. And we watch for specials (how archetypical!). So we got to go First lass to Montreal and back for about the cost of regular economy tickets. They pamper you with wi-fi, drinks, a full meal and truffles. It's great, and only marginally longer than flying.
We arrived in a relative heat wave. the weather was sunny and about twenty. People were out on the streets, in the bars, and generally having a good time all around. After checking into our hotel, we called Manny, who was going to meet us and walk with us around the downtown area before we met up with his wife Chris for an early supper. When we lived in Montreal, now almost 35 years ago, we did not go uptown a lot (although Darlene was there more than I), so we didn't really know the area a lot. But it was still wonderful to be on the street with so many happy people.
Dinner was at the Dominion Tavern on Metcalfe Street. An old tavern from the days when it was men-only, it had transformed itself into a hip, noisy place to eat, and we did that, as well as having a pint or two. And afterwards, we went out to see the parents of Electra, Paul and Anastasia Risacher. This would be the first time we had seen them since we left Birmingham in February, when Electra was still alive, but failing, and they were over there to help and provide support. So, while we could imagine the pain they were in, we were glad to be there to help in whatever way we could. We met lots of family, gathered for the memorial which would take place the following day. Again, it was a pleasure to us as parents to see our son Dan revered to the extent he is in that family. One of the things we did was help to put together a collage of pictures for the memorial service. And then we left them to go back to the hotel, which was downtown.
In the end, Dan slept in the same room as we did, on a roll-away cot. So it ws tight, but okay. It was so nice to see him.
The following day was the burial and the memorial. The day was very different from its predecessor: cold, grey, and a bit drizzly. We got our breakfast in the hotel, got ready, and were picked up by Philip (Electra's brother). A drive up Mount Royal to the Cemetery, and then to the grave site. None of the Risachers is religious, so Paul led us by reciting a poem and then we sang a song, "I'll Fly Away", that Electra had wanted sung at her burial, to the accompaniment on a fiddle played by a friend. Very fitting, and a song which Darlene has declared she wants also at her funeral.
Then back to her parents' home for a lunch, before going to the Montreal West Town Hall for the Memorial Service. This was attended by about 200 people, some of whom had driven down from Toronto for just that day to be there. A selection of songs, including "Fly Away", "Wildflowers" sung by Dolly Parton, and "I'd Rather be With You" by Josh Radin. Paul read another poem, and Dan read his eulogy again, as he had done in Birmingham.
We were tired and a bit overcome after this, so Darlene and I decided to go back to the hotel and then out to dinner on our own. We picked a lovely restaurant on Bishop Street, called "Le Mas des Oliviers". Service and food was wonderful, and although it was expensive it was worth it. And one of the servers was passionate about old gramophones
, so we talked about that as well.
The following day was another cold, rainy, grey day, and we mostly all stayed in the hotel room. Breakfast was out at a place called Eggspectations, and was fine, but none of us was motivated to do anything special. We met Claudette after her day of invigilating, and she and we went out to eat at Dunn's Smoked Meats. A lively discussion with an energetic woman, still doing very well after all these years. We headed back early to the hotel, but then went out to a local pub to have a drink with Paul and Anastasia before we left. As we headed back to our room, the snow was gently falling.
Sunday we had our goodbyes with Dan, who was heading early to Toronto, and headed to the Pointe-Ste-Charles area to walk about our old haunts.
As you would expect after more than three decades, things have changed. There is now a mosque in what was once Irish- and French-Catholic. There were up-beat stores alongside the older poor ones, and up-beat houses as well.
In the old days, no-one knew what a cappuccino was, although they could probably have placed "Moosehead"! We walked by our old house
and by the Clinic. Although it has moved since I worked there, the building and the climate inside it appears to be still going on.
After this trip down nostalgia lane, we were picked up by Bruce Brown for a delightful brunch with he and Elizabeth Robinson, old friends from the Pointe.
They dropped us off at the Gare Centrale, and we took our wonderful train back to our home in Dundas.
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Location:Montreal
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