April was a quiet Month for Nick and me. We spent most of the month heads down, working from an Airbnb apartment in Toronto. This was made reasonably palatable due to the rotten weather here, which has included snow, sub-zero temperatures, and lots and lots of rain.
Thankfully, our apartment is warm and cosy, and we get to witness close up some amazing wildlife through our glass doors which overlook the picturesque Humber River.
So far, we’ve seen vibrant American robins, red cardinals, a red-tailed hawk, white-tailed deer and black and grey squirrels, all without stepping outside. When we did risk the elements and ventured into the cold, we also saw Canada geese, ducks, and a couple of beavers on or near the river.
Nevertheless, and despite nature’s splendour, my YOLO (You Only Live Once) moment again centres on family. If you’ve read my other YOLO Moments from previous months, you are probably noticing a trend!
As I mentioned in a previous post, I only really got to know my Father in the last 10 years or so, and the same applies to my extended family on his side.
My Father has two younger sisters who both moved from Kingston, Jamaica to Canada more than 60 years ago. In that time, they both had successful careers and enjoyed marriages of over 50 years that produced wonderfully loving and kind families.
I initially made contact with my aunts in 2010 and we quickly became very close. I love them dearly and feel as if I have known them all my life.
Since 2010, we’ve spent time together on many occasions. We’ve travelled to Canada for many special occasions including Thanksgiving and family get-togethers.
Also, a number of times, we’ve been delighted to welcome my Canadian family to Jamaica both to our home in Kingston, Jamaica and the beautiful resort town of Negril.
So, my YOLO Moment of the Month came on the very last day of April when we spent the evening with my aunts, uncle and cousins at a Toronto restaurant for a Saturday evening dinner.
The food, service and ambiance were all fabulous, but frankly we would have enjoyed ourselves almost as much at a Tim Horton’s (Canada’s iconic coffee and donut chain) as the laughter, conversation and love would have been just as wonderful.
Nick and I arrived at the restaurant 5 minutes ahead of the scheduled time of 6pm only to find that we were the last to arrive. A prompt lot these Canadians, or at least my Canadian family are like that!
Of course, it was noisy and chaotic at first as we all tried to greet, hug and talk to everyone else at the same time. Remember, everyone of us is either born Jamaica, part-Jamaican or married to a Jamaican and it’s how we are when we’re with family and friends.
Over a lovely and leisurely dinner, we shared stories and caught up with each other. One of my cousins commented that it was great that Nick’s and my visit had given us an excuse to all get together and that we should come back soon, which of course we will.
I love hearing about my aunts’ early days in Canada, their lovely mother (my grandmother) whom unfortunately, I never got the chance to meet, their childhood days with my father and how they met their husbands, even if I have heard them all before several times.
I really wish that I had met my grandmother, who reached the grand age of 103 and who was an amazing woman. Thanks to my aunts, I really feel that I have been able to get to know her a little, not just because of their stories and anecdotes, but through watching videos of her, including her 100th birthday party, and going with them to visit her grave. Of course, I still wish that I had been able to meet her in person at least once.
All too quickly, the evening was over, and we had to say our goodbyes. These, just like our initial greetings were lengthy and high in volume, even though we will be in Canada for a while longer and will see most of the family again very soon.
A special thanks to my cousin and his wife who very kindly picked up the bill for all of us and my lovely aunt for coordinating dinner. This was incredibly generous, but, on reflection, hardly surprising. Next time, and it’s here in black and white, it will be Nick’s and my turn to foot the bill.
Author
Monique Abbott
Hi, I ’m Monique, founder and editor-in-chief of Yes2Yolo, travel addict, lover of home makeover projects among many other passions, including creative and inspirational writing to embolden us to live our best lives. At my core, I am a creative artistic being and I believe that creativity knows no end.
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I’ve explored over 60 countries with my husband Nick. Together we’ve partnered on some truly exciting projects such as creating and running a successful Airbnb business, chairing condo boards, purchasing fixer-uppers and renovating them from scratch on our own while balancing all of this with full-time jobs and family.
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While my personal passions are travel and home décor, I am, by profession, a lawyer with over 17 years experience.
Lovely pics Mons! I enjoyed reading about the fantastic time that you had with your family.
Awww! Thank you so much Elizabeth! We really appreciate your support!
Family is everything and even better when you get to gather in person after two years “locked down” . Enjoyed reading
You are so right Kiddist! Thank you as always for taking the time to read our posts. Much appreciated!
Beautiful pictures. ❤️Those memorable moments with you and family. Awesome Monique.
Thank you so much Jennifer! It was memorable indeed.