A Few Yuks with the Canucks

Harold invited me to a Saturday party with his circle of Canadian friends. They seem to value playing-it doesn't need to be gaudy-hot dogs, hamburgers, brats, chips and each household brings something to share. Beer and wine welcome. Several of these folks are Acadian-a group that produced U.S. Cajuns. They play games and razz each other and cheer. Losers have to pay into a pot but the winners don't win it. There is a complicated drawing for the loot-usually $3- $6.00. Even that generates a lot of kibitzing and kidding. Harold brought real charcoal and everybody is expected to cook their own. The common dishes are shared all around and are tasty staples: baked beans, macaroni salads, etc. Then we had a campfire. All the while Harold's JVC boombox plays music, some French, but mostly music we all share: The Eagles, Bill Haley. Country -Western songs in French? Why not? Eight post-menopausal women singing or humming along to Anne Murray is a little bit hilarious and a lot touching. Patsy knew Anne when they were kids through college. These people remember how to laugh.

Bob hams it up cheering on his partner in backyard bolo. I could swear I heard the word "shithead" several times, followed by wild
laughter. But with those French accents...hard to be sure. New Brunswick is officially bi-lingual.

Fourteen for yellow bean bags, Fifteen for the purple team. The guy on the right was a little lit up, threw some wild ones, then "got pissed off" and scored some holes in one. He was a stitch.

Posing after divvying up the prize money. Some Saturday golfers showed up later.

Enjoying a campfire., after playing, drinking and eating, laughing and toe-tapping. I will try to duplicate Harold's homemade CD tomorrow. It is pretty good. I left about 8:00. They are partying on. Harold shuts it down at 10:00 out of consideration for other campers.