HUNGRY GERALD

Dinner last night at the Prince Edward Island cottage of friend and neighbor, Leslie F. A talented and beautiful woman, (like Cleopatra, age cannot wither nor tarnish), Leslie is a Canadian who lives in Toronto but has summered on PEI for many decades. Leslie’s cottage was bathed in late afternoon sunshine (also illuminated by her unique ambience). The evening began with glasses of chilled New Zealand Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc. This is HG/BSK’s favorite aperitif. It has a lively citrus tingle (also good with oysters). HG/BSK discovered it some years ago in Vancouver when the duo was eating –you guessed it–oysters. Drank some pleasantly dry chardonnay (like a French Macon-Villages) with main dishes of gently poached halibut in an aioli sauce accompanied by boiled little potatoes and baby carrots from a local farmers’ market. There was also some crispy grilled chicken (ignored by HG as HG concentrated on the lush fish and perfectly cooked vegetables.) A bottle of Chilean red was drunk with the cheese course (and Breton crackers). Dessert was PEI perfection: A big bowl of first of the season strawberries and mini chunks of chocolate brownies. HG drank an exuberant amount of wine but, aided by BSK, made it home safely and slept the sound sleep of a happy (and well fed) consumer of copious alcohol.

Canada Day weekend came and went on Prince Edward Island and the isle was bedecked gaily with colorful maple leaf flags. The celebration emphasizes pride without bombast (typical modest Canadian attitude). Many special events featured PEI food and music. HG/BSK were beguiled by a CBC radio broadcast. Listeners were asked about their most interesting encounters during the year with Canadian birds, animals and fish. A recent Jamaican emigrant talked about seeing a snapping turtle crossing a highway. He didn’t know the turtle was dangerous until it snapped its mighty jaws. The Jamaican/Canadian was concerned the turtle would wander on the highway and be crushed. Avoiding danger and after considerable effort, he pushed the turtle to a safe spot. He commented: “In Jamaica we have gentle turtles. We eat them.” On Vancouver Island, a woman and her family went to a beach to scatter (as was his wish) the ashes of her recently deceased father. They were met by a colorful male humming bird who sat on her shoulder and chirped softly as she scattered the ashes. The beauty of the bird brought her to tears. From her garden deck, another woman watched a flock of Canadian geese flying gracefully and trailed by a majestic bald eagle. Suddenly, the eagle snatched a laggard goose out of the sky and carried it to parts unknown. The woman was astonished by the eagle’s strength since the goose and the eagle were (approximately) the same size. In Newfoundland, hikers spotted a caribou on a hilltop. The caribou did a grateful, ballet-like pirouette as he/she sniffed the air to locate the human intruders. In suburban Toronto, a woman was disturbed by the raccoons who dropped nightly their toxic poop on her terrace. A neighbor gave her a tip. Leave a large bowl of water on the terrace. Raccoons will not poop where they eat or drink. It worked. No poop. The method was tested. Removed the water bowl overnight. The result: A poop-o-rama. Back to the water bowl and a spotless terrace. In northern Ontario, a young fisher spotted a pike. The pike leapt out of the water and bit the boy on the knee. Drew blood. The boy managed to net the fish and the pike was served for dinner. A righteous revenge. HG/BSK’s animal encounters have been few. A handsome red fox with an abundant tail wandered down HG/BSK’s road a few weeks ago. And, since clover has become abundant on HG/BSK’s lawns, Snowshoe Hares, with their distinctive markings (brown with snow white feet) have been making an appearance. Toby, The Wonder Dog, gives chase but the hares manage to avoid him.

Fifty fifth wedding anniversary. July 2, 1963 was luckiest day of HG’s life as he married Beautiful Sharon Kent, the love of HG’s life. Now, 55 years later on an equally steamy day, HG/BSK celebrated with a traditional sea dinner of shucked oysters and linguine con vongole. All the good words describe BSK. Creative. Insightful. Intelligent. Compassionate. Caring. Strong. Plus BSK is stylish, sexy and glowingly attractive. Blessed with unending energy, BSK does art, gardening, household repairs and maintenance and much else every day. Without complaining. Besides being an extraordinary wife and life companion for HG (the principal reason HG is alive today), BSK is a loving and much loved mother of two and grandmother of four. Daughter Lesley R. said about her mother: Crisis, disaster, sickness, distress, confusion. BSK confronts them all. Whatever has to be done as a remedy, BSK does. Quietly. Steadily. With no fuss and no drama. HG may be flamboyant and demanding of attention, but it is BSK who has laid the foundation for a loving family. She is the rock. And, of course, BSK is a wonderful, robust, hearty inventive cook making every meal a feast. As the country song puts it: “What My Woman Can’t Do, Can’t Be Done.” HG may be Hungry Gerald but HG is also Greedy Gerald, wishing for another 55 years with Beautiful Sharon Kent.

Errands brought HG/BSK into Charlottetown on a sunny, brisk day. The capital city is becoming a foodie destination due to Prince Edward Island’s surprisingly diverse population (PEI has given a warm welcome to a large number of Syrian refugees, shaming the so-called Christian country to the south). On the downtown streets there are Vietnamese, Chinese, Thai, Japanese and Lebanese restaurants. Also an Asian grill and a traditional English fish-and-chips joint. Naturally, there are lots of eateries dispensing mussels, lobsters, scallops and other local PEI treats. HG/BSK lunched at Sadat’s Cuisine, an Afghan/Middle Eastern restaurant serving halal kebabs and many vegetarian dishes. HG/BSK had splendid steamed ground lamb dumplings in a yogurt and pea sauce. Also, sauteed eggplant slices and a robust platter of delectable stewed spinach with outstanding rice mixed with raisins and carrot slivers. Home made pita, tstaziki, hot sauce. Pot of steaming green tea. Smiling, gentle service. Modest prices. HG/BSK will be back.

Dramatic sunsets viewed from the living room of HG/BSK’s home on the Prince Edward Island oceanfront evoke many favorite painters. J.M.W. Turner, of course, with his mastery of sea, mist and sky colors. Kenneth Noland and strong horizontal bars of color. Mark Rothko and his homages to color. Also Milton Avery, Albert Pinkham Ryder and Arthur Dove with their unique images of sea shores. All of this musing about color led BSK, with BSK’s remarkable eye and background in art history, to closely examine Toby, The Wonder Dog: And, voila!! Toby’s black splashes of colors resemble Robert Motherwell’s monumental “Elegy to the Spanish Republic”. That painting and Picasso’s “Guernica”, are two of the greatest paintings of the twentieth century, fitting commentaries on the tragic events of the pivotal Spanish Civil War. “No pasaran” was the motto of the Republican Loyalists fighting the Fascists. “They shall not pass.” Unfortunately, with the aid of Hitler and Mussolini’s aircraft, the Loyalists were defeated leading to decades of General Franco’s dictatorship. With the markings of Motherwell’s painting upon him. Toby gives HG/BSK hope that the current American Fascist wave will soon recede and disappear.