Point Clark

[vaneramos]

I have returned home, only briefly, from my working vacation at Jane and David's new cottage in Point Clark on Lake Huron. I helped David trim windows, doors and floor, build a staircase, and construct IKEA cabinets for the kitchen. Most of the pine construction will be left unpainted and unstained to develop a natural patina, and I spent considerable time sanding everything. David couldn't work long hours, so we had time free for bonfires and visiting the beach.

I read all of Murther and Walking Spirits, Robertson Davies' penultimate novel. The protagonist is Gil, entertainment editor for a Toronto newspaper. In the first sentence of the book he is murdered by the publication's movie critic, and his ghost ends up following the assailant through a film festival. But each film morphs into a story about one of Gil's ancestors, drawing him into a deep scrutiny of the various mundane hero-fights that led to his own origin. Great idea. I'm a fan of Davies' witty characterization and story-spinning, but this one didn't draw me in until the last few chapters. In fact I probably would never have penetrated that far if I had taken any other light reading along on the trip. In the end it provoked more reflection than enjoyment.

I continued walking every morning—even today in a thunderstorm—and updated my daily photo journal this afternoon. I am becoming a connoisseur of tiny things, but during the first few days there, grander themes and textures distracted me. I couldn't find flowers or insects that satisfied my eye. It all became confused, and the real beauty of Point Clark seemed to elude my camera. It is a cottage community, but more civilized than Lake Fletcher, and homelier than Poplar Bluff. Eventually it gave me what I wanted, but I'm bemused at how much time was required. This demonstrates the value of devoting one's self to the spirit of a single place.

Meanwhile, these walks have started generating enough decent photos that I'm disinclined to publish all of them on Flickr. Some can be set aside for future purposes. Gestation begins. This is something new.

First thing tomorrow morning I depart for a long weekend at the cottage with Dad and the girls and their boyfriends. Family is changing, too.

Comments

[jwg.livejournal.com]

And the girls and their boyfriends. Family is changing, too.

Yes, that is certainly true.

And of course, your pictures are lovely as usual.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[rsc.livejournal.com]

I'm a great fan of Robertson Davies, and this one is hitherto unknown to me. I'll have to give it a look (maybe after baseball season is over and I actually have time to read).

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

It was my least favourite of his books I've read. The concept was great and the theme intriguing, unfortunately the characters didn't draw me in. Still, if your a fan, it's worth reading.