Travelling South – Unexpected Reunions: The Story of a Special Surprise and Strong Friendships
MANITOUWADGE, ON – Most of us have experience watching friends and family leave our Northshore communities as life steps in and sends Northerners to big cities where there is more work or needed services or because they are closer to family members who have moved for these reasons.
Manitouwadge Cancer Assistance Group (MCAG) Volunteer Priscilla Gray, who has lived in Manitouwadge since 1966, experienced this first hand as she found herself saying a very sad goodbye to one of her best friends about a year ago as Vivian Girard, whom Gray had met in the early 70’s shortly after coming to Manitouwadge, joined the growing number of “Wadgeians” to relocate to Southern Ontario. The women vowed to keep in touch but had no plans for when they might be enjoying each others company again.
Fast forward to 2013, Priscilla is among the 6 MCAG Volunteers travelling to Toronto to be recognized with the very prestigious June Callwood Award for Outstanding Voluntarism [to read that article/photos click here], and she is feeling quite lucky to be recognized and have the opportunity to enjoy such a special experience with 5 woman whom she considers to be among her closest friends. Of course none of us travels without thinking of those people we hold dear who have relocated and likely Vivian crossed Priscilla’s mind, if only briefly, as she would, during these travels, be geographically nearer to her long-time friend, then she had been in many months though she knew of course there would be no opportunity to connect as the trip’s itinerary and purpose were fixed.
Plans can be more flexible sometimes than we realize, as they say “where there is a will there is a way” and we’ve all been reminded at some point that you never know everything others may be living through or maybe in this case it would be more appropriate to point out that you never can tell what those around you may be planning… Priscilla certainly had no idea what her peers from the MCAG were brewing up in regards to the schedule while they were in Toronto. They planned to have a special supper together after the awards ceremony they were travelling for and had even purchased tickets to attend the Wizard of Oz together but these were just part of what they had planned and some very significant details in regards to these plans had not been shared with Priscilla.
MCAG Volunteer Jackie Jung, one of the 6 very special women being recognized and another longtime friend of Priscilla’s, was among a co-conspirator of the “special details” conveniently left out of trip planning conversations when Priscilla was in attendance and shares how this special story unfolded for those looking for a sweet, good news story about a special reunion…
Vivian and Priscilla enjoy Irish Coffee. Photos courtesy Jackie Jung
A very heartfelt reunion - some friendships are stronger than time or geography. Photos courtesy Jackie Jung
“The June Callwood Award presentation was a very emotional and touching experience,
Vivian and Priscilla had spent many years curling together and Priscilla is still part of the curling club to this day. Vivian and Bob Girard moved from Manitouwadge after many, many years here where they raised their 4 children. It was a very big move for them to leave Manitouwadge and move to Wasaga Beach which brought them closer to their children.
Because our award had to be kept such a secret, Priscilla had only just shared this exciting news with Vivian and told her she was going to Toronto to be part of the awards ceremony. Vivian mentioned this to 2 of her daughters – Cathy Bazinet and Annette Girard. They thought about how wonderful it would be to surprise Priscilla in Toronto with a visit. Cathy offered to take her Mom to the big city so this could happen. The girls contacted me (I was visiting my parents in Orillia) to see if I could help make this big reunion happen and if Cathy and Vivian could join in the MCAG ladies post-award celebrations – dinner for the 6 of us at Milestones Restaurant and going to see the Wizard of Oz show at the Mirvish Theater. So I quickly changed supper celebration reservations to add the 2 surprise guests. Vivian and Cathy were able to get hold of the last 2 Wizard of Oz theater tickets – which showed it must have been fate! Then the plan began to take shape!
Vivian, Priscilla and the suprise conspirators. Photo courtesy Jackie Jung
Unaware of all of these behind the scenes arrangements, we (the MCAG 6) spent a wonderful morning at the Awards Ceremony and the afternoon exploring the Eaton’s Centre. I had informed all the other members of the MCAG with the exception of Priscilla of the surprise. Well much to the shock of 2 of them – who did they see in the Eaton’s Centre – Vivian and Cathy who had arrived early into the city. Pretending not to see them, in fear that Priscilla might be nearby, they headed in the opposite direction and the secret stayed safe.
Our group arrived at the Milestones Restaurant and were seated at a large table with too many place settings – which Priscilla commented on as we all tried to hide our grins. Cathy and Vivian were around the corner and once we were seated the most heartwarming reunion happened. We told Priscilla we had a special surprise for her as Vivian walked in.
Well….. even the waitress had tears in her eyes as the pair, best of friends for more than 30 years, hugged and laughed and the grins could not have been bigger! They had not seen each other since the Girard’s move since last June and there was much catching up to do. We enjoyed a wonderful dinner filled with laughter and stories and then it was onto the amazing production of the Wizard of Oz. Eventually it was time for the Girard mother and daughter duo to head back (a 2 hour trip) but not before a last round of hugs and many promises for a next reunion. It was a memorable day for all of the MCAG ladies, but even more so for Priscilla and we couldn’t have been happier to have been there to do our part to bring it together and to enjoy the special moment with her!” Jackie Jung
If you have a special story to share, please email Editor@OntarioNewsNorth.com, there is always room in our pages for good news!
