"Go West Middle Aged Man" - My Father's NW Trajectory
My Father, (William Kenneth Franklin Seburn), set a strong Northwest course for my life. I was born in Ottawa, moved to Emo (NW Ontario) then to Winnipeg and Flin Flon. I left home to go to college in 1985 in Edmonton Alberta, a bold western move. My sister Joy also came this far just long enough to meet Kent and they moved way back east. Toronto.
On my mom's side (Carol Ann Joy Penner) her brother Wesley heeded the western call by uprooting and moving right from toronto to Grand Prairie. The legend goes that they longed for new frontiers and literally got out a map and randomly picked to spot.
Anyways, all that to say I'm taking my family on a Northwestern adventure. Deborah Lea Hanna (my wife and companion of 20 years) of course grew up in Bella Coola BC. pretty much as far west as one can get in Canada. Her Parents Henry Mulligan Hanna and Mary Ellis Drogus now reside in Hazelton BC which is on the most northerly tip of the yellowhead. This is where we are bound today. Aside from the good old Baptist "traveling mercies" that we so need as a family we are also looking forward to a special time of bounding.
In fact this is the very path Debbie and I followed on out honeymoon 18 years ago. we traveled by train, stayed in Jasper a few days then continued by train all the way to Prince Rupert. My first experience of the Pacific. We then took the ferry down the inside passge to Port Hardy on the northern end of Vancouver Island. - Victoria - Van - Kelowna and Home.
So there are many levels and layers of symbolism and significance to this journey. The whole thing of pioneering that thing that burns in certain family members to push further and further. Henry is a prime example, starting his life in the eastern US and following that Northwest call all the way to Norhtern BC. Uncle Wes is another, forsaking big city life for a simple farm house in North Western Ontario. My Father Ken taking a leap of faith to Flin Flon Manitoba again NORTHWEST.
Launching out beyond, as in what we typically think of as "pioneer days", still carries with it a sense of risk, adventure and even misunderstanding from family. Not that I feel I've suffered but I have felt somewhat isolated from my roots at times. Human civilization and evolution begins in the east and moves west. Returning east is always a magical, deep and rich prospect and one that I often dream of. I plan to make a number of pilgrimages to Eastern Canada and then follow the line back to my home. But for now my I get to take my family to a place they have never been. My seed, the branches that grow and stretch beyond my years will be experiencing with amazement this mystical land. Deborah, love of my life will be back in her element of coastal mountains and ocean air.
I think they have computers out there so I will try to blog some of our adventures (and pictures) till then...Go West Young Man.
On my mom's side (Carol Ann Joy Penner) her brother Wesley heeded the western call by uprooting and moving right from toronto to Grand Prairie. The legend goes that they longed for new frontiers and literally got out a map and randomly picked to spot.
Anyways, all that to say I'm taking my family on a Northwestern adventure. Deborah Lea Hanna (my wife and companion of 20 years) of course grew up in Bella Coola BC. pretty much as far west as one can get in Canada. Her Parents Henry Mulligan Hanna and Mary Ellis Drogus now reside in Hazelton BC which is on the most northerly tip of the yellowhead. This is where we are bound today. Aside from the good old Baptist "traveling mercies" that we so need as a family we are also looking forward to a special time of bounding.
In fact this is the very path Debbie and I followed on out honeymoon 18 years ago. we traveled by train, stayed in Jasper a few days then continued by train all the way to Prince Rupert. My first experience of the Pacific. We then took the ferry down the inside passge to Port Hardy on the northern end of Vancouver Island. - Victoria - Van - Kelowna and Home.
So there are many levels and layers of symbolism and significance to this journey. The whole thing of pioneering that thing that burns in certain family members to push further and further. Henry is a prime example, starting his life in the eastern US and following that Northwest call all the way to Norhtern BC. Uncle Wes is another, forsaking big city life for a simple farm house in North Western Ontario. My Father Ken taking a leap of faith to Flin Flon Manitoba again NORTHWEST.
Launching out beyond, as in what we typically think of as "pioneer days", still carries with it a sense of risk, adventure and even misunderstanding from family. Not that I feel I've suffered but I have felt somewhat isolated from my roots at times. Human civilization and evolution begins in the east and moves west. Returning east is always a magical, deep and rich prospect and one that I often dream of. I plan to make a number of pilgrimages to Eastern Canada and then follow the line back to my home. But for now my I get to take my family to a place they have never been. My seed, the branches that grow and stretch beyond my years will be experiencing with amazement this mystical land. Deborah, love of my life will be back in her element of coastal mountains and ocean air.
I think they have computers out there so I will try to blog some of our adventures (and pictures) till then...Go West Young Man.
posted by Paul Seburn at Monday, August 22, 2005
4 Comments:
Did you erase my amazingly poignant comment Paul? Don't make me rescind the title of The Great!
nope! haven't erased anyting, we're having a great time up here- puppy farm, horse back riding, canoeing, all in moderation. peace.
Ahh, I see. I posted a comment on the wrong post. Boy, is my face chartruce?
i have been referred to as "great" a lot but usually in the context "great big -blank-"
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