I find it impossible to not be preoccupied with my genealogical roots as I
pursue my ongoing daily responsibilities. In the past 6 months my life has
changed as a result of having met Steve Goudey (of New Brunswick), and of
course the experience of the "Gathering" itself. Our first week back my
husband and I both fantasized about what it would be like to leave our home in
Massachusetts (which we love and for which we are indeed grateful) to head
for "The Highlands" (maybe that's what our predecessors, Philip and James felt
over 200 years ago!?) of Nova Scotia.
I can't seem to put into words the impact of being in Yarmouth, Port Maitland
and environs. As a professional musician I have spent two month's time in
Italy, and have performed throughout Switzerland, Austria, Germany, France,
Mexico, Venezuela, and 48 of the 50 states. All very beautiful and enriching
experiences, but never have I felt like this. Visiting Nova Scotia has made
me feel as tho' I have come home...
I am but one person who had limited time with too few of my new relatives.
I know each and every one of you has your own story to tell, and I hope this
might be a catalyst to encourage you all to share some of your thoughts and
feelings with us.
I will always remember:
the sound of that lovely "piper" as we disembarked the Scotia Prince (even
the sight of her opened suitcase "kitty" saying: "University or Bust"!!!);
the OVERPOWERING "WELCOME TO YARMOUTH" sign;
the little Cuban cigar truck up the street;
the teeny "Smoothie Shack" around the corner;
the "Willow Room", where some of us met for the first time, and where we
often gathered on our "time out";
just happening to be in the lobby when one Earl Goudey was looking for a
Jacquie Goudey (we were, maybe, 10 feet apart when that happened!);
Earl and Anne Marie's eagerness to show us their country as they led us on to
Port Maitland, the birthplace of several generations of my ancestors;
the feel of the crisp ocean air of the Port Maitland beach blowing against my
cheeks while we all enjoyed two local children (accompanied by their watchful
grandmother) take a dip in the freezing cold ocean. Meanwhile, our children
tested the long stretch of clean sand as the tide rolled out;
looking for, and finally meeting the dynamic duo Chuck and Linda whose
efforts over the past two and a half years have paid off big time!;
Jeri, always there when you needed her, be it registration, taking pictures,
packing and serving food, or just smiling!;
I can also remember:
checking out an 1895 postcard of Port Maitland (inscribed by my grandfather,
Wm. H. Russell Goudey) and comparing it to the century of progress which
exists today, most of the dwellings still intact, but with TONS more foliage!;
discovering for the first time "Goudey Street", "Goudey Road" and the cozy
feeling of the fog rolling in;
watching our children uncover, with wonderment, Goudey family headstones, one
after another and then, sharing in the connection by assisting with rubbings of each one;
discovering for the first time apprehensive Goudeys at the picnic, most
hesitantly wearing something canary yellow (or red, white and blue...), then
in contrast taking Yarmouth by storm at 8:30 Monday morning, marching down
Main Street to our "Grande finale" testimonial at the Yarmouth Museum, united
in wearing that bold yellow symbol (which our very own Gordo created) with pride;
FINALLY meeting Chuck and Linda;
FINALLY meeting Gordon M. (Gordo) and Bette;
going to the bank to exchange currency and to have the teller recognize my
name and pronounce it the same way I do!!;
trying to get rid of all our "loonies" and "twonies" before leaving Canada;
the smell of the Yarmouth Museum with its slightly creaky wooden floors
(representing a century or more of another lifetime), while being served an
elegant tea and sandwich feast;
Laura Bradley's enthusiasm of having all the Goudeys converge on our
namesake's memorabilia which she so nicely arranged for our viewing;
Thankful Goudey's existence, endorsed by a broken piece of tombstone, and the
visual impact of a memorial wall of forgotten lives!
I shall never forget:
the efforts of Steve Goudey (of Fredericton, NB) in his preparation of
passing on to us what he has learned over more than 25 years' research and
documentation of Goudey nostalgia;
the singleness of Spirit as we all stood listening to Steve's stories at the
cemetery (shall any of us ever forget Nanny Dumm de Dum?!), and the pride
which young Stewart exhibited when he found the marker of one of his infant
predecessors;
Maritta's lovely addendum to Steve's tour (Are we not enriched by her
detailed description of the family recipe for "Rappie Pie"?);
taping together Ken's fifteen foot long document, piece by piece, depicting
years of work which he selflessly shared with any and for all of us to edit;
looking for familiar names spread out over four tables so that we could see
where each of us fit in the big picture (in the scheme of things, going back
to George 1 doesn't seem so remote!);
Goudey Bubble Gum Cigars! All in pristine condition (except, they WERE
slightly atrophied!!!!);
Linda's ready and willingness to quietly do all the work to organize a super
opening picnic. (and registration, and lounge space in the "Willow Room"...);
Linda's company in photo shooting!;
Ken, taking a picture of me taking a picture of him!!!;
island kitty checking out "Samantha"...;
the steamed clams and lobster all dunked in drawn butter, and savored on a
timeless island fishing wharf which is still unhampered by 20th century
commercialism;
conversing with young Alex at our seafood feast, and deciding that he was a
grown person hiding in a five year old's body!...;
the seal basking on an isolated rock, askew from it's island, in a small
window of sunshine;
dolphin mates flying out of the ocean three glorious times just to make sure
we got to see them before they disappeared into the depths;
dozens of huge wild sheep completely self-sufficient, grazing on the mounds
of an abandoned island;
the family banquet, beautifully decorated with love, under Shannon's
supervision (with dedicated help from Coral and Anne Marie), where we now know
almost everybody, but still have a few Gouds to meet;
The Port Mailtland - Digby crew: Irene, Katherine, Shelagh, Gordon M. (the
other one), Errol and Vernon;
Aunt Pearl, our most experienced Goudey on hand - what an inspiration!;
Mackenzie, our least experienced (but, oh, most adorable!) Goudey on hand;
the opportunity to be a Goudey performing, with my honorary Goudey husband,
Barry Megquier, a piece of music "Choro Amoroso" written by a Goudey (my
father, Maurice Russel), with assistance from Goudeys (my family: brother,
Fred, his wife, Mary, and their two children, Justin and Jessie Goudey; my
daughter, Leanna Pink; and our newfound cousins, Shannon and Tiffany), for an
audience of Goudeys spanning three to four generations from `round the globe;
the dance, where giggles and laughter were dripping from the walls for those
who stayed to watch;
wishing I might have Ryan's ability to write, Britt's ability to fly, Paige's
beauty and stage ability, and Ford's smashing personality!;
my "Auntie" Estelle blending in and being welcomed as a member of our family.
Goudey's can be so kind...;
Coral's cinnamon and raisin bread - scrumptious!!!;
the sparkle in my family's eyes after having been shown secret places by
"Uncle" Steve that made them feel so special. (I was so worried that, after
insisting it was worth whatever financial sacrifice, this trip might not have
lived up to their expectations.) I think, if given the opportunity to do this
trip again, they would sell the shirts off their backs (they may have
to!!!!!)! I've never seen Fred and Mary so happy. And Justin, Jessie and
Leanna, who are as close to siblings as cousins can get, were brought even
closer.
I remember, still:
Leanna's thrill at leading Barry and me over rocks and sand to show off "The
Churn" (an Uncle Steve spot!) and the secret mark to which she is already
planning on bringing her unborn children;
The Rodd Colony Inn and restaurant;
Nancy, the night owl activist!;
Howdy, the genius amongst us;
Nicole, my closest new relative, kindred spirit, and all-around sparkle!;
Doreen's psychic abilities, and traipsing around Port Maitland with such good
natured troopers as Bob, Bruce and Jean. Willing to meet new people, like
George and Marjorie Snow, and seek out adventure!;
discovering Irene Goudey who so generously let us spend an awesome afternoon
in her home, sharing with us the house that my great uncle (and Nicole's great
grandfather) George M. built in the 1860s. Maybe, one day, "The Goudey
Museum..."!;
Errol's fish chowder (the BEST ever);
Bonnie, (Errol's missing half, at her own little family reunion that weekend)
who fell in to her home after a very long drive from Halifax Monday night, to
find a house full of Goudeys hanging from the woodwork! In spite of all, she
cheerfully offered to give Barry and me a private tour of the magnificent
grounds of the Harbourview Hotel in Smith's Cove, where my father traveled
from Brookline, MA at the age of 14 to work his very first "gig" in 1921;
and the people of Nova Scotia...! EVERYWHERE we went, people were so
gracious. From the B&Bs to souvenir shops, restaurants to local family,
receptionists to housekeepers, bus drivers to "CAT" captains, RC Mounted
Police to drug store owners... Always such kindness!
I was awed by:
the rushing sound of a carpet of water rolling towards Barry, Leanna and me
in a nearly dry river bed, displayed (near midnight) by the light of a full
moon. As we leaned, watching, from a single lane car bridge, in a matter of
minutes, the river bed filled with rushing water. So awesome was this
phenomenon that we all agreed to return the next day to witness this, the
Tidal Bore, in full daylight;
a "last (night) supper" with the Earl Goudey family (which featured Anne
Marie's savory carrot recipe), really making us all feel as though we have
always belonged...;
Earl, Anne Marie (with puppy, "Shi") and Steve waving to us from the pier
until we vanished from sight on the "Scotia Prince" . Pretty special family!
We were ever so mindful of the personal sacrifice (of his private time) Steve
made to see just about everybody off who left from the dock throughout the
week. Pretty special guy!
I will never forget the testimonies that were a witness to changed lives:
Dan and Nicole; June, Ann and "Samantha"; Michel and Andree; Earl and Anne
Marie; dear, dear Nancy; and, of course, Chuck and Linda, the heartbeat of the
entire weekend. If there were any negative baggage dragged in amongst us,
there was enough positive input to provide the strength to make changes.
Ah, yes. Change... Is that not why we are here on this earth? Are we to
"...suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune..."? Or are we to seek
growth by opposing the negative cards which we are dealt? I think this
reunion was a great example of how each can make a difference in the lives of
those around us. We can reach out, not only to friends, but to blood family.
Isn't that wonderful!!!? To some of us, that means HOPE: a future to which
we can look forward; broken chains; freedom; peace of mind...a much wider
scope from which to draw our familial experiences.
True, there will never be another event like this, the FIRST gathering of the
Goudey clan, but we owe it to our ancestors and our children, to keep the
torch of posterity burning with activity and connection. I once heard a very
great man by the name of David O. McKay say: "...No amount of [material]
success can compensate for failure in the home...". Each of us in attendance
of this first Yarmouth event, has contributed to the success of our individual
families. I will do everything I can to help that first RE-union come to
pass. I envision, with each year, more and more Goudey's coming to the
forefront to strengthen that flame which so many of us thought was isolated.
United, we can help in so many ways to secure the education and outreach of
our children's experience and for all our progenitors. United, we can
encourage high self-esteem, mankind's most valuable possession and, by doing
so, reinforce our great logo (thank you, Steve): "PROUD TO BE GOUD, YA GOTTA
LOVE 'EM!" Never does any one of us need to feel alone!