April Showers & All Nighters

Squamish Dispatch, from the House of Mayhem

Thursday night, Eddie—age two and a half, beast in cotton pyjamas—decided sleep was optional. He pulled an all-nighter like a college freshman cramming for finals, minus the Red Bull and existential dread. Wide-eyed and feral, he prowled the hallways and jumped on the bed with the manic energy of a raccoon on espresso. We took turns keeping watch, speaking in hushed tones like survivors in a war film. By sunrise, he was victorious. 4 hours of Masha and the Bear, feeling like the worlds worst parents, We were broken. At 9 AM, He headed to Bob and Gran's for the day, happy as a clam, This kids got stamina.

Meanwhile, Dad—steadfast, industrious—has been elbow-deep in backyard revival. Rain or shine, he's been out there prepping the land for Eddie's new playhouse, which is en route from none other than Dundalk, Ontario. Small town Ontario, likely built by Mennonite hand- I'm feeling confident in my purchase, you can smell the cedar and honest labour from here. The pergola is also on its way, which means our mini backyard is about to become our home base for the summertime to stock up on house red.

Mom managed a brief escape to a bookstore dinner party—a blend of great food, drink, and late-night chatter under dim bulbs and tall shelves. Somewhere between the deep chats and chilled wine, they heard from a medicine woman who lives up the valley. I envision a Long braid, wild eye, a voice like gravel and honey. She spoke of trauma, dreams, and life off the grid. Sounds like we might be going on a spiritual adventure and I'm not sure if I will end up haunted—or healed.

The weekend came and went like Squamish weather—part sun, part sideways rain. As is tradition, we made it to the river for a fire. Eddie hurled stones into the current-like offerings. We drank Lucky Lagers from the can and watched the fire in all it glory thanks to Dads new stash of nice, fresh cedar firewood. The river was low, the air smelled of springtime and woodsmoke, and for a moment, everything stood still- Just kidding it was chaos but the kind we like.

Family life here remains chaotic, charmed, and full of cedar shavings and topsoil.

More soon. Or when Eddie sleeps. Whichever comes first.