A fine line

There were moments today when it felt like the essence of reality had various shades. Which part was real and which part just mirrored reality?

Today we immersed ourself in Anne of Green Gables and Lucy Maud Montgomery. The line blurs at moments. Is that where Maud stayed? Is this where Anne did that?

We’ve meandered from Park Corner to Cavendish, from the lake of Shining Waters over to Lover’s Lane. To futher muddy the waters we went to Avonlea which is inside Cavendish and isn’t real at all. Heck they didn’t even film any of the series there. We stopped in New London at her birthplace and in Cavendish at her final resting place. Standing there I spotted the grave of Clara MacNeil Montgomery, beloved wife of Hugh Montgomery and my brain said “but they both died” and then I remembered that both Anne’s parents died at the same time and that Maud’s father lived and died in Prince Albert.

Throughout the whole day we learnt more about this iconic Canadian writer. Who, while prolific in her writing and assorted public works (the list is long of the causes she championed), struggled in her own life. It’s hard to read Anne of Green Gables or any of her other books and recongize that they were penned by someone who suffered from depression and nervous fatigue. The reality of Anne seems easier until one remembers that she’s not real.

“My life is a perfect graveyard of buried hopes.”
Anne of Green Gables

L.M.Montgomery

We also saw a great deal of an area of outstanding natural beauty and in this both Maud and Anne shared a great delight. The babbling brook, the gentle breeze and the wonderful endless pastoral world that ends on the red cliffs and beaches.

I believe that Maud was an early believer in mindfulness and gratitude. Anne certainly was. Those are traits that we should all ascribe to have whatever our reality.

Bernie

The hills are definitely as rolly as that big drawing above! Fortunately it was only 37 kms. Legs are feeling it tonight.