My mom comes North!

My Mom has always been one of my biggest supporters and the wisdom she has given me over the years has helped shaped the person I am today.
- Catherine Pulsifer

Monday July 18^th, 2011 I was driving a guest that had stayed at my dad’s motel to the airport and low and behold when I arrived I saw a strangely familiar women standing waiting for her luggage. It was my mom! Of course I knew that she was coming. She had decided for my birthday that she’d like to spend it with me. It was amazing to have my mom up here for a few days, and although we had just seen each other not even a week earlier this was going to be a whole new adventure not only for myself but also for her.  My mom’s last visit to Churchill was over 30 years ago, and so in that time a lot had changed. Not to mention when she was here it was in October, so now coming in July she’d notice a huge difference. Especially because we’ve been having a wicked summer!

So of course one of the first places that anyone who comes to Churchill has to visit is Gypsys.  The best place to be in Churchill.  I had hoped that I would be able to take mom to see lots of what Churchill had to offer, which in a way I did. My big thing though for her was to get her out on the boats to see the whales, and of course do one of my tours.

So on July 20^th (my birthday) I managed to get mom on the tour. She was the typical tourist taking pictures of everything, it was awesome.  Our first stop during the tour was of course at the Fort where I took about 25 guests mom included on my PWF in a nutshell tour.  Mom seemed to have really enjoyed herself as she had never been to the Fort before, and of course having her daughter as the guide made it all that more exciting (tooting my own horn), that or she wanted to prove to people that I was a tour guide because she kept taking pictures of me. Once I was finished giving my tour I allowed everyone to wonder around the Fort, and so mom and I were able to spend some time together. I took a few pictures of mom at the Fort, to show that she was really there and not just stealing my pictures.

Mom standing on a Parapet

Me doing my thing

From there Captain Mike and the crew (Remi and Jamie) arrived back at the Fort dock to pick us up. We all loaded onto the boat and set out to do some whale watching. By this time unfortunately the weather decided to change on us and it became very cold and wet on the boat. However, that did not stop the whales from putting on a good show for us. We had very curious adolescent whales coming close to the boat as well as a mother and her calf. But it would be the amazing bulls (big males) that would put on the best show. Mike said that out of 10 these whales were about a 13 on the entertainment scale! The bulls were about a foot away from the boat coming right up out of the water in a pod of possibly 6+.  Very quickly did we all forget how cold and wet it was on the boat, the whale show was more interesting.  My fellow crewmates also sang "Happy Birthday" to me on the boat once they had to PA working. It was unexpected but amazing.

Mom holding onto the SNII

Three Whales heading right for us!

The Bull Show

After the boat tour I had to stay behind and put things back in order as well as cleaning up the boat, while mom headed back to the motel. She decided with all that excitement to have a little rest. It was a long day for both of us. We did get to Skype with Brookelynn, Hailey and Sarah that night as well, as they wanted to wish me a happy birthday so that was fun too.  So in all it was a pretty good birthday.

Thursday was another long day; Mom did her own little tour around town enjoying the sites while I went to work for a few hours. She walked all over town taking pictures of every single building she could, all of the different displays around town and of course the flowers.  I ended up having back to back tours, and then an hour individual tour afterwards. I got to see lots of whales and with the weather was so nice that day I defiantly didn’t mind.  Once I was finished work, mom and I decided to go for a walk around town as we both wanted to enjoy the fresh air. We went and took some pictures down by the wolf statues and the different Inuksuk and then decided to have a meal at Gypsys. After that we enjoyed a quiet evening just talking.

Friday I only had to work for a few hours but asked mom if she was interested in doing another tour, and of course she said yes. Despite probably not wanting to do another Fort tour with me as she had heard it all just days before, she did. However I again had back to back tours so I didn’t get to spend much time with her as she went off whale watching and I did another Fort Tour. But this worked out good because once I finished we were able to enjoy the rest of the afternoon. It was such a beautiful day that we walked again throughout town. I showed her where the Canadian Eskimo puppies were, which I would’ve love to take home.

Canadian Eskimo puppy

Afterwards we went into the different gift shops, checked out the Northern and then wondered down to the bay behind the complex. I took a picture of mom at the Polar Bear table and by the Inuksuk as well as on the Enterprise (boat down behind the complex) and yes of course we were watching for bears! 

Mom at the Polar Bear table

Down by the Bay

On the Enterprise

 I also took her to see the Icelandic ponies that are just behind the motel, they’re so cute and friendly. But this was fun for us; mom and I always do stuff like this, whether it be going for walks around wherever or just taking pictures and talking. 

Friday night we again went to Gypsys for dinner, and then decided to watch a movie. But by 1030-11pm I was tired, all that fresh air we had throughout the day made me sleepy so I was off to bed. Sadly mom would be leaving tomorrow, but I know for the most part she did enjoy her visit.

Saturday morning came fast, mom’s flight was at 1120am and I had to be at work no later than just after 10am. We walked to Gypsys for breakfast and afterwards we walked down to the flats so I could borrow the SNT company truck so that I would be able to take her to the airport.  We headed back to the motel and gathered all of our bags, put them in the truck and we headed off. I didn’t get to stay long with mom at the airport as I had to head to work but I told her to call when she got home. I’m glad that my mom was able to come and visit me here in Churchill and experience some of the things I’ve been able to do.  She really seemed to have enjoyed herself, and of course I always enjoy spending time with my mom.

My Mom and I, July 2011

A daughter is the happy memories of the past, the joyful moments of the present, and the hope and promise of the future. ~Author Unknown

Thank you for continuing to follow

Monica

Side note: Because I am knew to blogging I am trying to add my earlier adventures here in Churchill now and should hopefully be up to date within a few weeks.