PEOPLE... remembering Larry Crema

Larry Crema and I went to Burnaby North Sr. High together, along with the likes of Doug Pringle, Paul Bellano, Joey Paiero, Pete Cvitkovich to name a few. These are a few of the guys, who I walked to school with, played sports with or had coached my soccer team, had a cultural connection to or just a connection. We had moved to Burnaby at the end of grade 6 and it didn’t turn out to be as bad as I had expected.

Those elementary school years in east Vancouver were spent at Dr. A.R. Lord, close to Hastings community centre and the PNE grounds. Kids I grew up with such as Nap, Rav, Connie, Susan, Elvio, Jim, etc. many years later crossed my path when again but now with their own children. Being a “good” Aunt/Teta I would go to my nieces and nephew’s concerts and experience this childhood/adult connection. I didn’t really think how many of us had roots in Strathcona but that became more evident once I moved into the hood.

Stories started with my Mom. She began telling me how many of “our” people first lived in this area when they came to Canada and how stupid they were to have move out. “Look how close to downtown they were and used to walk to Stanley Park and they moved.”. “What a shame,” she would go on to say, “..and they used to all know each other and go to each others houses for coffee. It was like back home.” I completely understood as this was how we grew up in east vancouver at our Georgia St. house, except for the walking to Stanley Park part, we drove. We were raised with the culture of the old country, with extended families of “cousins” we visited every weekend: Drpics, Turcics, Lenics, and on occasion Kukuljans, Maracics, Miljenkos, Burmas, Oreskovics, Antunovics, Puratics… (the list goes on).

As a kid I would ask “how are we related to Oreskovic’s Mom?” or some other family name that came to mind. The answer would be something like “oh they come from the first marriage of your great grandfather on your Dad’s side, stari Malatestinic is also related to them. His sister, Jovana is the daughter from the first marriage and she was a Malatestinic but then married stari of Vrbnik, Sulina I think, and lived in her house independently until she was 90. Remember that picture of them all where your Dad came to Vancouver where he is dressed up like a priest? Ya, that’s that side of the family, I don’t remember why they were doing the pretend wedding it was before my time. They’re all from our island Krk, but not all the Malatestinic’s are related these ones are but more like 6th cousins and are related. Those ones on the east coast have the same name but they aren’t related; they come from the “other” brother that landed on the island in the 13th century from Italy our line is from the brother that settled in Dobrinj.

Figuring out the root connections of tribal members were less complicated when I realized it was easier to say “ya, we’re related”. I happily accepted they were “ours” and it was enough to know they belonged. Belonging meant they were part of “us” and we took care of each other. All pretty simple.

So back to the hood and Larry. When I “landed” in Strathcona my path crossed with my high school friend Larry , when one day he saw me walking in the “hood”. He approached me and we had a great reunion, although it took me a while to connect the man standing before me was the boy I walked and from to school with. Over the years Larry and I would chat and I met his wife Paola and his lovely daughters Francesca and Catarina. I kept wanting to call them over for dinner, lunch or even coffee but it seemed our connections were always in the street.

This week I bumped into Larry and his whole family when walking up Union St. while I was dog sitting Koda, who I’m thinking to possibly adopt. It’s interesting how moving only a few blocks can make a difference in your movements through the “hood” as well as the people you see more often, but I digress. On point, wishing Larry and his family a happy new year I discovered Larry’s Dad had passed in 2018 and the service was held at Sacred Heart Church.

It was surprising, as you’re never ready when a parent passes even if he lived to 87. I’ve lived here for so many years and only recently had I wondered into this church — fair to say I’m not a regular attendee and not even a C&E goer anymore.

My Mother goes to the community centre pool more than the church but still likes to step in the doors on occasion. She did this at Christmas when she attended the late mass on Christmas Eve at Sacred Heart.

Had I known, as I told Larry, I would have attended his father’s funeral on Dec. 28th as of course you just do. We chatted in the street and I told him of my father’s passing some 18 years ago, as the anniversary is coming up January 15th. It was a moving day when i spoke to Larry, who is a dear heart, as we shared our paternal loss on a beautiful sunny day in a hood where we both belong that is connected to layers and layers of history to this community and “the old country” that brought us here.

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In memory: http://vancouversunandprovince.remembering.ca/obituary/lorenzo-larry-crema-1931-2018-1071892272

COMMUNITY... living in Strathcona

As 2019 rolls out I can’t help but enjoy the fruits of the labour of 2018 and the people that have surfaced during the evolution of this project.

I often chuckle when I think about this Blog as it’s kind of more for me than anyone else: surely no one reads it I’ve said to myself. In my mind, it helps me keep track of the process and moments that arise; it doesn’t hurt to actually engage in writing and an attempt to keep those skills alive. So, just when I think words are being pushed out into the air to hold a place to visit on occasion I get a surprise by finding it’s otherwise. For instance, someone reaches out to me on the street and/or via e-mail from Quebec or Europe…

Just this week, I received an e-mail, phone call and a few happen chance street meetings with various people from the community. Well Happy New year I say!!! — especially those who are so generous with their compliments and questions of positivity.

To the neighbour who has lived through the similar experience restoring their home and a new build in the back that contacted me to say “hang in there” it does get better… (these are for you):

To the charming Scottish gentlemen who came by to admire and enquire about the rock wall (these are for you):

To the extremely interesting elderly lady who’s Grandfather and Grandmother were the original owners of the Hollywood theatre (these are for you):

To the neighbours I’ve never talked to that have approached me because they love project 851, the neighbourhood and want to stay here in the hood (these are for you):

To those I have not met in person but have taken the time to drop me a note via this Blog — we’re not just another brick in the wall, but we’re just a couple of Madonna’s in the wall (these are for you):


PROGRESS... right into the new year!

2018 what a year!! Now that we’re in the home stretch it’s easy to see the tons of progress that’s happened at Project 851. Particularly at this time of year, one can find themselves reflecting on the worst, best, most challenging events that have taken place and personally, I like that game of thinking; it gives me insight as well as appreciation.

So what was the worst of 2018? Hmmm, I don’t like to be negative or focus on that but it’s valid to recognize the things that you don’t like or are irritating. Sometimes it’s light like a nasty neighbour and sometimes it’s a huge challenge like health issues or a loss of someone important to you. This year, I’d have to say the indicator of the “worst” moments would be “the face”.

Yes, that look one has when they’re about to loose it, or are loosing it, or just do loose it. That became the positive in my worst “please, please, please let’s avoid “the face”, I don’t want to make “the face”, became part of my humorous mantra. That mantra was connected to something I learnt. In 2018 I learnt that stealing and construction seem to be connected nowadays; it’s kind of a cost of doing business??? Who would have thought and how sad is that, right? It did happen here when somebody(s) violently entered the property and made off with thousands of dollars of tools (BAD BAD BAD people). The good that resulted was BC Hydro connected power and Telus connected services so wifi became available so alarm systems and cameras could be set up. Now I get to watch all the animals that come on site instead of thieves; to date there have been 3 racoons, 2 different cats, a squirrel, a bird and several raindrops. Also I now have a great relationship with my local police department/officers and they give me special attention.

As for the best of 2018, well there have been many highlights this year (besides the police officers and the special attention I get hehehehe). The big one for the year is my 2018 World Cup —“rocking chair storey”, of how Croatia almost won first prize; it was a synergy of a team not likely to be repeated anytime soon. The prize that was won was the hearts of so many around the world. Feel free to stop and ask me about all the layers of happiness this series put out in the global community.

Of course , there was also the joys of watching Project 851 come to reality. This has been amazing (and stressful) but it was special to be able to have Christmas eve dinner here in the Garden Suite with my family! I love the contracting crew who kicked it up to make this happen by getting the stove hooked up etc… The new soup bowls are now a symbol of the joy of that shared experience (as is the purple Christmas tree).

I look forward to sharing my home with others in the years to come and that’s how I’m starting the New Year’s Eve / New Year celebrations!! Happy New Year everyone.

This is a combination of the best — wearing my soccer jersey and dancing around the purple tree!

May your bowls (of life) always be full, of just the right amount of worst and best challenges!!!

ART...it took me 15 days plus, plus, plus.

Not quite the 12 days of Christmas I’ve sang over the years, this year has been more of a season of discombobulation and cheer. The adventure has allowed me to enjoy the everyday moments that have been unexpected joys in the familiar being noticed as if it were the first time.

Everyday is a journey here at the Pink House, Garden Suite. One day the bed arrives, the next it’s appliances and eventually an actual hook up of the stove!! It’s Christmas time in the city alright. This kitchen is celebrating the “fish” and cooking up a Clam, Salmon, Haddock, Scallop and Prawn chowder with baguette and triple cream cheese on the side this will be followed up with cod cakes (bakalar a la Union market) with a nice salad and holiday treats to end the evening.

It’s the first Christmas eve in new surroundings and the family is coming over to have some ho, ho, ho as we roll out the old year and think about the new one rolling in only a week away. The transition for myself has mirrored the happenings here at project 851, I just can’t help enjoying keeping the best of the old and bringing it into something new; it’s like honouring the good and making it better. During the holiday season I’d like to share the joy of the rosette with you.

Let’s look at how it’s played out.

OLD

TRANSFORMED

NEW

Oh ya, cheers to the old, new and transformed Happy Holidays. May all your transformations be bright!