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And now for something completely different. First
of all, I would like to thank the so many of you who wrote
to express their sympathies with the passing of my wife
Margaret. It was strange again after everything had
quieted down here to be flooded with so many kind thoughts
as the news spread out through the Che-Mun
community.
We are holding up well but things but we had more
sad news with the passing of my father Tom Peake in
October. I wrote in my eulogy to him:
“Tom Peake was there to support you, encourage
you, assist you. How else can you explain how a man, who
to my knowledge never paddled a canoe, raised four sons
who are among Canada’s premier wilderness canoeists. He
was so proud of the Hide-Away Canoe Club. That was Tom
Peake; he supported you in what you wanted to do. He took
an interest in what you pursued. And he counseled, when
asked.
“But it was his thoughtfulness for which he was
legendary and there so many examples. One memorable time
was when we arrived back from a 55-day northern canoe trip
having named the Morse River in 1985, Dad led the
reception committee at Parry Sound train station with a
red carpet, special bagpipe music and a champagne toast.
We knew we were home. He later hosted a black tie dinner
for 54 at Rosedale Golf Club in Toronto for Eric Morse– it
was a magical evening that has become a treasured lifelong
memory.”
So, you will understand why we were all happy to
see 2004 gone! And it also explains why you are reading
the first - and only - Double Issue of Che-Mun
combining Outfits 118 and 119. This allows us |
Thomas Albert Peake 1923-2004
to catch up and get back to a regular schedule.
And though we have only boosted in four pages, in order
to keep mailing costs in line, we hope you will
understand.
Life will have more disappoints ahead, but we
feel sure there are many more highlights and memorable
times too. That is why we will keep canoeing the north
and doing our expeditions. Dad would want it that way.
Out trips are a crystallization of life, a time when you
truly feel alive. And as we just found out, such trips,
while ephemeral, are also very real and deeply
meaningful.
Michael Peake |
