Morton Centre Memories
HOME PAST PRESENT FUTURE MEMORIES PHOTOS CONTACT
CAPTIONS
-An Album of Memories-
By Cate Trueman
Morton Centre Staff 2003 & 2004
Sight
Little miracles, growth spurts in garden surprise the eyes each day
On alert for dark shadows above, a sleeping porcupine is spotted in tree
A lone letter with my name on it sits at the bottom of our mailbox, bringing joy and surprise
No matter how often, the sight of deer, a fox, or any other wild creature catches my attention and is a moment of wonder
Numbers flicker on the screen as the GPS readings waver, with no sign of stabilizing
The sight of young cows playing innocently seems to be endless amusement
Can it be?! … a garden of food devoured in a single night plays tricks on my senses
Intense focusing is needed to read the numbers of the measuring stick during a beach transect
Squinting, or with a microscope, it’s still hard to tell…. is it a beetle or spruce needle?
Skills honed, eyes quickly determine whether a given tree is in or out of the plot
During an intense game of sardines, there is nothing like the relief felt when you spot the “it” person
The Grandma Tree, guardian of Monk Point, a wise woman with many a story to tell
A muddy car proudly mirrors our adventures
A deck crowded full of people, the Morton Centre welcomes the community to share in it
Baby oak trees, rare, hopeful signs that the forest is recovering from past logging destruction
A surprise and a marvel every time, a snake makes its presence known
Giants of this landscape, the magnificent trees of 40-Acre Island leave us standing in awe
Bright colours, people bustling, a feast for eyes and taste buds at the Lunenburg farmers’ market
Gotcha! Deer stand stunned in headlights, eyes glowing in the darkness, and then bound for the forest
After much practice, I look up and my eyes now know what species of tree it is
During a game of Hearts, I wonder if the fact that I am sitting with the Queen of spades is painted all over my face
Clear snapshots of the faces of my Morton Centre brothers and sisters, forever captured in my mind
Relief and accomplishment at the sight of the wharf in Lunenburg after paddling to town
Silently, together we witness the day’s finale- a spectacular sunset- from the cliff at the edge of the sea
Lack of human lights reveals countless celestial ones
Shooting stars- the magic of the night
Bright green wood sorrel, zingy like green apple, picked from the forest floor
A deep breath brings molecules of salty sea air to the tongue
Freshly-harvested, crisp, sweet garden veggies, planted by us and nourished by the Earth
Barbeque-smoked summer delights, potato and green salads
A bottomless pot of garlic-steamed mussels after a canoe across the straight to pick them ourselves
Experiments with new recipes, cooking for each other, risking new combinations
Refreshingly tangy margaritas complete special-occasion movie nights
Classic, Nova Scotian hodge podge, a celebration of summer colours and new veggie flavour
Raspberries, red, juicy and ripe, but only if you can beat the other wild creatures to them
Smell
Gentle, earthy air wafts up from the salt marsh
Sap from evergreens perfume our bodies as we work to widen the path
Herbs- spicy mint, savory chives, sweet basil, pungent dill- squeezed between fingers
Musty, stale air trapped in the nooks and crannies of the old farm house
A warm whiff of fresh cow patty crosses your path on the way through the pasture
The damp woods still smell of a crisp morning shower
A unique mammalian odor signals a nearby porcupine
Hints of noxious preserving fluids escape specimen jars
The smell of the dark, damp, stuffy Blair Witch Basement alone sends shivers up the spine
Resurfacing after each cleaning, the urine ghost haunts the Stinky Bathroom
Ron’s fresh grass clippings send up clouds of juicy, green, crisp air as they are fed to the cows
Thyme, forming a carpet around the cottage, permeates the air when crushed beneath feet
Newly-cut hay settles in the barn, a sweet, fresh aroma in a playground of haystacks
Sound
A bird calls, then another and another, a symphony of calls fills the air
Scratching on the countertop, tiny claws of the otherwise inconspicuous mouse give it away
“tok, tok, tok” goes the tree corer as it turns ‘round and ‘round
A young osprey gives a high-pitched cry for its parents
Cows keep us company with the odd, calm, low “moo”
Dusk brings the curious sharp strikes of seals breaking open shells on rocks
Interest is peaked when wheels rumble on the driveway- who could it be?!
The howl of the wind in the chimney when a good sou’wester blows off the water
Ron’s cheerful “Mornin’!”
Classical music animates our gardening, and the plants like it too
Darkness rouses crickets to perform an unending concerto
(Nothing)
Rain, a deafening racket on the big window panes, or a gentle, soothing rhythm on the tent fly
And what would the shore be without a gull’s cry?
Touch
Rough and steadying, the bark of a tree trunk under hand
Bare feet toughen due to adventure after adventure over grass, garden stones, and earth
Living heat and piercing quills are sensed as a porcupine lies still beneath me
Shocking (but dry) coolness envelopes feet in valuable rubber boots when delving into the bog
Earth is crumbled and molded by hands in the garden
Humid July days produce beads of sweat that tickle on the way down the back
Hard, smooth keys give gentle resistance as fingers dance upon them
An almost daggerish, cold Atlantic refreshes bodies after a hot day of work
The heat of fire, though comforting, never seems like enough on wet, chilled-to-the-bone days
Tweezers in hands, fingers grasp oh so gently to keep sorted beetles intact
The body senses the sun’s heat before the eyes detect the sunrise
Smooth, cool mud squishes delightfully between toes
Warm, tired muscles tingle after a day of cycling around the island
Heavy body feels glued lying on the Earth, a safe and grounding feeling takes over
Hot, sudsy, cleansing water of the occasional, precious shower reveals soft, clean skin
Warm, heart-felt goodbye and welcome back hugs
Pain wells in the tummy during a good hard laugh with friends
Feelings
Arrival, and I am filled with anticipation, apprehension, curiosity, and excitement that is hard to control
Early recognition that I will never be the same, that this will change my life
Transition to the lifestyle of the Morton Centre- community, discovery, freedom
Adjusting to “choose your own adventure” days- an education unlike any other
Waiting for a garden to sprout tests patience and instills curiosity
Excitement builds when first you see, and then capture a porcupine
Repeatedly defeated: frustration and disbelief upon the discovery of an escaped porcupine, again
Satisfaction after mega-cleaning the cottage
The fun of being with friends and playing outside all summer
Another summer day at the Morton Centre: all the incentive I need to get up in the morning
Playing pranks on each other sends thrills pumping though veins
The peacefulness of (nearly) media-free remoteness
Team work and camaraderie exists with every task or activity
A feeling of success swells after completing a chunk of research
The flexibility to choose to be in solitude or with companions
A fun, creative feeling bubbles as we dream of what the Morton Centre can become
We sincerely hope the Centre can continue to change the lives of students- students of and for life
We experience helplessness with respect to the Morton Centre’s financial barriers
I feel fortunate to be mentored by senior Morton Centre students
The second summer brings the re-experiencing of the Centre though new students
Outlining and trouble-shooting a research plan perplexes and exercises the brain
I sense a strong feeling of curiosity and support from the Heckman’s Island community
The accomplishment of living in close community- living, working, playing together- and making it work
Giving what you can and taking what you need- helping others and having others help you
Culture shock hits hard upon the return to school life after a Morton Centre summer
The knowing that your Morton Centre family includes brothers and sisters you will always have
Setting your own goals and achieving them instills a sense of responsibility and creativity
The more I learn about this place, this Earth, the more at home I feel and the larger my feeling of responsibility grows
Returning, and feeling like you’re coming home
After Thoughts
Realizing how much I’ve learned and appreciating that it may be impossible to identify all of the learnings I’ve had…
The realization that I am changed, that my experience has had an indelible impact on who I am…
Gratitude for all my brothers, sisters, mentors, supporters and friends who made this experience for me…
The warm feeling of remembering good times…
The sadness of the reality that those summers cannot be re-created…
The longing to return…
The wish that life-changing summers will continue to be created by those who open themselves to the Morton Centre experience…
May the adventures continue…