Goin' Back to the Legion

Johnny Cash - Big River (Live at San Quentin)

So unfortunately this week's blog post will be eerily similar to the last. That is because just less than two months after I lost my first grandfather I lost my second as well. Donald Langworthy Filtness suffered a fatal heart attack on the eve of February 22, 2015. He was 87. Grandpa had a wonderful final day; he went to the Legion with my Grandma where they enjoyed a nice meal and a beer while watching the Canucks get a big win. They went home, relaxed and kept each other company until, just before bed time, he was taken from us. As the much younger social worker put it to my Dad, Uncle and Grandma, "If that's the way I get to go out when my time comes, then sign me up!" 

I feel incredibly lucky and am thankful that I was able to have all four of my grandparents be part of my life all the way up until the age of 25. I am very aware that this is not the case for many others and I now understand and feel that pain and emptiness. My Grandpa was a good man, everything that you could ask for from a Grandfather. He was always up for a game of cribbage or to discuss the sports topic of the day. I know that most of you never knew him so I won't divulge any further about him. I will however share 3 of my favourite memories of him:

- Grandpa was the first person to teach me how to golf. It was the day before my brother and I were beginning our one week junior golf camp at Sunshine Woods. Upon telling Grandpa about it he jumped up and grabbed his 7-iron from his bag, and was very excited as he handed it to me. The first thing he showed me was the grip; that slight interlocking of the right pinky and left index finger. It's rather straightforward but to a complete beginner it means everything to get it down right, and I have used the same grip ever since. He then briefly explained what the "7" on the club represents and what all the other ones are before watching my brother and I take a few swings. He corrected us on a few things but was overall pleased with and proud of our swings. Grandpa then gave advice that I still use to this day, describing that the irons are more of a chop motion, like an ax and that the woods are more of a sweeping motion, like a broom. For juniors this was a brilliant way for us to truly visualize and understand the use of the clubs, without having ever stepped on a course. And finally he gave the greatest advice by saying "keep at it and don't get frustrated, it will come with time, I know you can do it."

- The next great memory I have with Grandpa was doing Hockey Pools with him. Along with my brother, Dad, and Uncle we probably did one every season for 5 or 6 years in the mid to late 2000's. And I don't think Grandpa came close to winning a single one, though he may have finished third once! But boy did he ever enjoy it! We'd get him on speaker phone where he'd announce his picks like "Dats-yuck", "Hawssa" or "Choochoo". But mostly he loved the classic guys like Sakic, Kariya, and Sundin and always, always had at least one of either Selanne or Jagr. He also always had the most Canucks, taking Brendan Morrison every year and even having Dan Cloutier a few times! He would then follow his team online every day on the site we used, hockeydraft.ca, which I always thought was quite savvy for a senior citizen in those days! And he always had something fun to say about it, even if it was just his excitement for the re-draft at Christmas.

- Finally I'll always remember games of cribbage with Grandpa. As I 'm pretty sure is the case with all Grandpas, he kicked butt at it. It felt like years before I could finally beat him. He had some of the greatest quotes during the game such as "Here comes Donny!" and "Everybody's best friend" whenever a 5 was flipped as the cut card. But the most amazing quote came after an incredible moment when during pegging he laid a 7, my Dad then played another 7, "14 for 2", and I followed that with a 3rd 7, "21 for 6" and was quite excited about it. Grandpa then looked at us with a devilish grin before he laid another 7, "28 for 12"! As he moved his peg up and up and up he exclaimed "feel something go flying past ya". My Dad and I sat there dumbfounded as he took the lead and never looked back.

Grandpa always loved Johnny Cash and "Big River" is a classic from the record he had, Live at San Quentin, a record that he eventually passed down to me which I have proudly displayed in my bedroom. He loved his voice and blue collar roots. Another artist that I always remember him playing was the great pianist Floyd Cramer. He had this yellow and blue cassette that he would play all the time when we were driving around Birch Bay, a small beach town just across the US border where he and my Grandma owned a trailer. I loved that album and was always looking at the box it came in. Here's a song by him below, a very cool blues track that has a wicked piano lead, something you don't hear much anymore.

This week's beer is definitely Labatt Blue, a Canadian staple and favourite of Grandpa's. Just an easy-to-drink, cheap, good beer. I've grown fond of it over the past few years (especially once the summer 15-pack for $19.99 deal comes around) and prefer it to all other cheap beers.

RIP Don Filtness. I know you're out there somewhere enjoying a cold one of these and watching the game. There will be a Celebration of Life held on March 29, 2015 at 2:00 pm at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #142 (West Point Grey), 3679 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC. Join us to share your stories and memories of Don.

Goin' Back to the 'Fax

April Wine - Say Hello

Tonight I will be flying back to Halifax, Nova Scotia; a place that I have been to at least 10 times over the years that never gets old and always feels like home whenever I'm there. It is an incredible city with kind and friendly people, a long and proud history, and the greatest seafood on planet earth. The people are hardworking but always know how to have a good time; they also act as incredible hosts every time I'm there, providing world class hospitality that is so genuine you'd think that you've lived there with them your whole life. From the Citadel fort overlooking the entire city and harbor to Canada's oldest tavern established in 1749, The Split Crow, to remnants from major past events felt by the city such as The Halifax Explosion, the sinking of the Titanic, and both World Wars, history plays an important role that can be seen and felt all throughout Halifax. And finally, there's the seafood, oh delicious seafood. Massive, deep-sea Atlantic lobster, scallops that are bigger than your palm, juicy steamed mussels and fresh, rich Atlantic cod are just a few of the options available to satisfy your hunger. I could go on and on about my love for this city (and I definitely will more in the future) but not today as there are more important deeds to attend to.

My Mom was raised in the Maritime capital so we have lots of family and friends to visit each time we go back. However this time when we go back, sadly there will be one less person to visit. My Grandpa, or Poppy as my brothers, cousins and I all call him, passed away on December 30, 2014. He suffered a fatal stroke during sleep and went peacefully. He was 83. Poppy was a good man, everything you can ask for in a Grandfather really; he enjoyed playing games with us, told great stories, including many from his time as a chef in the Navy, and was always kind and loving. I have many great memories with him but 3 will always stand out:

- While playing the game Rummoli at our house a few years ago Poppy went on a run for the ages. Rummoli is a fast-paced card game involving chips being thrown into the game board and then retrieved when you hit a pay card or cards, of which there are about 6 of. Some pay cards are easy to get, such as Queen of Spades, while others are very difficult such as King and Ace of Diamonds back-to-back or 7-8-9 of the same suit in a row. These ones are usually only hit once a game and often not at all. After deciding that this would be the last hand Poppy, simply put, went H.A.A.M. In one turn he hit 3 of the 4 single pay cards and then got BOTH the King/Ace of Diamonds and the 7-8-9 suited! For anyone who has played Rummoli you can surely appreciate how rare this is, like getting a hole-in-one or seeing a unicorn! But that was Poppy, bumbling his way through a game in which it seemed like he had no idea what he was doing at some points and exclaiming "I haven't played this game in 40 years" then turning it on its head and crushing us all.

- Another similar event occurred when the two of us played mini-golf at the Starlight Casino bar. He had been struggling all round and I doubt got less than a 4 through the first 8 holes. Then on the 9th and most difficult hole he nails a hole-in-one! Another improbable and epic finish.

- Twice my Nana and Poppy joined us on a trip from Halifax to Prince Edward Island. Both trips featured many great moments and fun times but the one that stands out the most has to be the beach day and lobster dinner. We spent the day hanging out at the red sand beach that we had all to ourselves behind the cottage we were staying in. Poppy and I shared a mickey of rum, Lamb's dark Navy rum of course, and mixed it with orange juice which was his favourite. I was playing tunes all day and right near the end when we were getting ready to head out for a big lobster dinner I played "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone" by The Temptations. I'll never forget the look of sheer joy on his face as he was groovin' to this somewhat unlikely jam (ie. not Tony Bennett, Hank Williams or Engelbert Humperdinck). The dinner was incredible as well; it was a great day had by all.

The Temptations - Papa Was A Rollin' Stone

"Say Hello" is a classic Canadian rock song by Halifax's own April Wine. I chose it for today because a) they are from Halifax, b) I will be saying hello to that city later tonight and c) I know that Poppy would have loved this groove as well, especially after learning that the band was made up of some good Canadian kids. And "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone" by The Temptations is an all-time classic; the perfect mix of funk, soul and psychedelic. If you can't groove to this track then I'm sorry but you don't have a soul.

This week's beer simply has to be Alexander Keith's. The refreshing I.P.A. was Poppy's fave and is basically the choice drink of our whole family and one of the few things we all will always agree on. The beer has deep roots in Halifax with the brewery in the heart of downtown and Mr. Keith's grave being a popular site nearby (both of which I have visited). 

He loved that beer almost as much as his family. Poppy will be greatly missed and I look forward to reminiscing about all the good times at his celebration of life this weekend. RIP Gerald Alan Goldring (1931-2014).