My most favourite place, the cottage. Since my dad and his family came to Canada they’ve been going up north, past Huntsville, to the small town of Magnetawan. My family’s been going up there since the late 50s now. Lake Cecebe taught this Mediterranean family how to summer like a Canadian: campfires, hi-jinx, waterskiing, kids putting on shows, fishing and spud guns. The old cottages, the town, the lake are a second home for this city girl.
The August long weekend we are always up there. Always. No matter work, who’s where and doing what, you make it happen. This past Friday night we went up late so that Saturday would be a full day of fun. But, we woke to terrible news. During the night someone had set fire to the General Store. It went up in flames.
Apparently, a tourist had been kicked out of the local bar. As he got shut out he screamed, “I’ll burn this town to the ground!” And he did just that. (An ironic aside, the headliners for the night were “The Infernos”.)
The General Store in a town where the population is 300 serves so very very many purposes. I don’t need to tell you that the fire was devastating to everyone. To the family who owned and lived above it, to the town that grew around it, to anyone who’s had the good fortune of buying their eponymous “Downtown Magnetawan” tee shirts.
These two beauties opened up a Spa for the day and donated all their monies in aid. Painting nails, giving hot stone massages and getting to the bottom of each and every cuticle in the name of charity.
Please feel free to email me for further info on donations and help for Magnetawan’s General Store.
So here we have my small homage to a place that is so dear to me I almost don’t want to share it. For the fear that someone somewhere may cheapen it.
Magnetawan, I love you.
If you feel so inclined email me and I’ll let you know how you can help, where to donate.
