A Strange Day Indeed, A Treasure Forever by Carolyn Muir Helfenstein
Our careful plans to be present for the wedding of our eldest grandson Connor Hughes to Cara Dorma in Ontario were intercepted by what might be considered a deadly fall. Hardly a start to a great event. And this is how it happened.
While exiting an elevator aboard a large ferry boat, a means we had booked to continue our trip from Northern Ontario to attend the wedding near Niagara Falls, I accidently launched out the elevator door we had taken as we prepared to return to our parked car. It was a small elevator. Without finding steps or railings to allow me a proper landing on the new level, I fell as I grabbed the wall with one hand and then stepped forward —into nothing. I landed face down between two of the many cars parked just beyond, having shocked a mass of people all around me who witnessed the sight of this flying 84-year-old.
Now that might be considered a long story in itself, but we put it behind us after the tender care of the staff of Lion Head hospital, because we had a grandson to see married.
Oh I would have aches and pains for several weeks to come, but with so many plans to visit old friends again after our move to Nova Scotia a year ago, the doctor who cleared me of any major problems, said I was sure to dance at my grandson’s wedding. I did just that. On pain pills.
And yes, to the horror of my younger son and my husband who were expecting another fall, I actually danced with the careful hands of my gentle, six foot three, smiling, brand new married grandson. He whirled me about the dance floor and apparently to my later surprise, most of the other dancers had drawn back to watch ‘age in action’. Not to be outdone, as soon as I was returned to my laughing husband, the younger granddaughters took over and had me back on the dance floor until I begged a reprieve.
Having a gathering such as this one was, that included our children and grandchildren who live so far apart — and celebrating the beginning of a new generation — had been a special moment for all of us. And strange, I thought later, with this beautiful wedding, this new generation in our family had been firmly established.
Following them will be six more grandchildren‑—as they begin their adult lives. It will take time. But time they have. The future is theirs. And they will be treasures forever.
