It’s funny how the smallest thing can take you on a ride down Memory Lane.

Here is my Memory for today.

Today, I warmed up some Mac n’ Cheese for Apple.  Hubby had put some hot dogs cut up in it for the kids last night, a little extra protein and a little more fun.  The smell of the hot dogs just took me right on back.  Back to an era when the only time we had hot dogs was at the beach cooked over hot coals.  At least that is how I remember it.

The picture up top is actually on our cross Canada trip one summer and we are at Lake Superior , back when we only had ourselves and the scenery to keep us company on long drives. Mom was taking one of a few shots that we would have from this trip.  Back then film and developing was expensive.  They bought a roll and took a photo a day or a stop.  One roll served the whole trip, I believe, maybe two.  That table cloth was plastic, but it made it to every trip to the beach and I don’t mean the Beach by the Ocean, I mean Lac Philipe up in the Gatineaus only an hours ride from our house.  We dont’ go up there too often because with pollution the beaches get closed after too much rain, and we have had our fair share the last few years. Back in the ’70s and ’80s we went up almost every other weekend all summer long.  We would stop at the chip wagon for a fresh chip and soda on the way home, Québec may have a few difficulties, but they make the best chip wagon chips anywhere.

This next picture is at the beach at a Church Camp we used to go to every summer, my Dad was the pastor and I remember how much fun we had.  I remember this photo being taken.  I remember that yellow shirt and my Mom’s t-shirt, which later became mine and is in a memory box in the basement. I remember that we used to drive in the car down the dirt road to Lac Philipe.  Dad would drive, Mom would be in the front seat and us girls in the back, and on the car… yes ON the car, would be all the youth.  Guys would be sitting on the hood, the roof, the trunk and Dad would crawl along the dirt road transporting the youth to and from the beach.  You could never do that now, but back then, it was the ’70s nobody cared.  The youth would be dangling their bare feet in front of Dad’s face to see if he could see and we would all be laughing and giggling and it was just a hoot.

And when we would get back to camp the guys would break out guitars and sit around a circle and sing Church songs.  They were all hippies back then so they would be drying out their long hair in the sun.  And Mom, she would be cooking up some hot dogs over the hot coals singing along with the rest of us.

Last Spring I told you of the loss of an old High School friend Kirk “Big B” Ellard. He has been missed by many, but through his music he lives on. His brother, former band mates and friends organized a benefit concert that was held last night at Greenfield’s Pub in Barrhaven in his honour.

The first band of the set, Sal Piamonte Band. Great band, we had never heard them before, but were totally amazed.

When I asked Hubby if he wanted to go with me for a trip down memory lane, he was all for it. Of course, as the day went on yesterday with all the ice and the warmth of our house, it was a little harder to get him out the door, but once we were there we were both remembering why we love watching live bands play.

We were so thrilled to see all the guys come together to play their old tunes. If you grew up in my neck of the woods (Nepean) in the mid ’80s then I am sure you had at least heard of Fatal Mistake, if not actually heard them play. Into the ’90s they became Soul Tattoo and ironically my girlfriend and I saw them play at Barrymore’s when we decided we needed to see some good live music. I missed them play in Winnipeg when I lived there, only because I didn’t know they were there. Otherwise, I would have been right there.

From the original band of Fatal Mistake and Soul Tattoo: Jason Throop on drums, Matt Minter on vocals and Keith Ellard on guitar.

Greenfield’s was packed to a sold out audience and people waiting outside to get in.

I don’t know this singer, Luigi C. Saracino, but just look at him sing. He was so powerful and we really enjoyed this set.

Truthfully, it was a really awesome night. I got to see some old friends from school and remind Hubby of the people I used to hang out with. You see whenever we go out we run into people from High School that were Hubby’s age (he is 3yrs older) but rarely run into my old friends. Well last night it was payback, he got to be bombarded all in one night. For more photos from this set head over to my flickr page, there are a few more posted there.

And Thank you guys, for a wonderful Tribute and Celebration.