Suzanne Reisler Litwin: Lessons from the Canoe, at 91

“I just got my blood work results. I’m good to go! No changes in my medications and everything is status quo. When do you want to go?” said an excited Noonie

“You can’t be serious…you want to go canoeing at 91?” questioned Suzie.

“Sure, when is good for you?” Noonie asked.

And so, the weather watch begins. The day needs to be perfect. Not too hot, little wind, not too many clouds, not crowded on the lake and no rain. We found a day that worked. Noonie prepared her famous eggie sandwiches with cherries and Whippet cookies for dessert. Do I hear the sounds of heartburn?

At the Lac-Monroe Visitors Centre in Mont-Tremblant National Park, we rented a canoe for four hours. With the aid of amazing visitor guides, we lowered the canoe into the lake and with extra precision and caution, Noonie got settled into the stern position of the boat. I also moved quite cautiously into the canoe. That wasn’t easy, kind of scary, and a huge relief that none of us fell into the water. With a big outward push, “MERCI”, we are floating in Petit Lac Monroe. Mission accomplished!

Honestly, I can’t believe Noonie is canoeing at 91.

We glide out into the center of the small lake. Her face was glowing with happiness. Noonie sat with purpose and great posture. She was in her element, where peace and tranquility ran through her veins. A little tear trickled down my face. I hope at 91, I will also be able to canoe. And that someone as daring as I will have the love and tenacity to give me this kind of joy. I wonder.

As we were canoeing, Noonie announced, “I have a lesson for you.” My vision and ears perked up. I very carefully reached for my phone and started recording. FYI, canoes are very unstable. One quick, sudden movement and it can tip. A big, hard sneeze can make it tip, especially when the balance of weight is not even from front to back. In our case, there was more weight in the stern than in the bow, which makes for an unstable boat. Tread lightly!

I gingerly reached for my phone to record the annual ‘lesson from the canoe’. This year, Noonie was prepared as she had read something very interesting. She reached into her front pocket, pulled out a piece of paper and recited, “On the sign it’s written, do not bend, do not break these flowers. But the sign is useless against the wind, which cannot read.”

She continued, “So, my interpretation of that saying is there are things you can’t control. You can’t control the weather. You can’t control people. You can’t control all kinds of stuff. So, if you can’t control it, just let it go, enjoy your life, do the best you can and think positive!”

I agreed with her interpretation as it’s best to let things go that you can’t control, or work through them. I value her lessons from the canoe, not just in theory but in practice. I also thought about how she is 91 and fully equipped to canoe and provide valuable life lessons. How is that even possible? She must be Benjamin Button from the fictional movie and short story The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, in which the main character is born looking old and grows physically younger over time.

While canoeing, we further discussed the theory of letting things go and the value of positive thinking. We looked for and paddled towards a sandy beach to park the canoe and have lunch. Luckily, we found a great spot with a bonus picnic table.

Note to self: getting out of the canoe is a lot easier than getting in. Very carefully, Noonie stepped onto the sandy beach and walked towards to the picnic table. Phew!

Her eggie sandwiches taste better each time I eat one. It just slid down my throat. I could eat two without hesitation. Relaxing along the shore, we could hear loons in the distance. We heard children playing in the shallow waters and voices clearly over the lake surface — along with occasional frog croaks, birds chirping and the wind picking up. That’s the thing about lakes and canoeing; the minute clouds roll in, the wind picks up and the surface of the lake dramatically changes. As Noonie says, “The surfaces gets whippy.”

I can control the canoe, but it will be difficult for Noonie to paddle against the wind. She’s 91, ya know! So, we decided to wait out the clouds and hope for the sun to return before getting back into the canoe to enter the larger Lac Monroe.

I think we both napped for a moment while resting and waiting for the sun. Noonie said, “You know, the greatest pleasures in life are the simplest things. The small moments shared with people you love. You can travel the world and see the most amazing sites. But the love you find in these moments will sustain you. Look what it has done for me.”

I said, “I love you, you know?” She replied, “I know.”

Thank goodness the clouds passed and the sun came out. The lake was less whippy and easier to navigate. Once again, very carefully, we got back into the canoe and headed towards the larger Lac Monroe. We need to pass through a metal-lined tunnel under a bridge to enter the larger lake. The tunnel creates an amazing echo and each time we go through, Noonie sings O sole mio, the famous Neapolitan song written in 1898 by Capurro and di Capau. Her version of the song completely cracks me up, which is hysterical, although risky when in a canoe. I need to contain myself, and the boat, when she sings this song.

Alas, we arrive in the larger Lac Monroe, and it’s filled with people on paddle boards and bicycle boats, and in kayaks, canoes, peddle boats, row boats. There are beaches, campsites, and swimmers everywhere. It’s a cacophony of summer splendor.

We were drifting and allowing the currents to push the boat at its leisure. Deer were sighted, along with beavers and the occasional otter. How is this incredible place just 140 kilometres from my home? Oh, Canada, my home and native land!

We felt the wind picking up, which meant the clouds would roll in again. That was our signal to head back to the Visitors Centre, about a 25-minute paddle to return, just in time as the next set of clouds were heavy with rain. Life jackets off, canoe returned and our personal paddles in the car. We did it and we were satisfied with the experience. That was a big relief for me. A BIG RELIEF.

“Thanks again, Sue. I can’t do this without you,” said Noonie.

“I can’t do this without you, too!” I replied.

This day was a great end to our summer events. I’m so grateful to be able to canoe with my 91-year-old mother. Frankly, I can’t believe what we did today. I drove Noonie Reisler home to safety and security. When she got out of the car, she said, “My goal is to stay well, so we can do this again next year.” I replied, “You bet, Pocahontas!”

That’s the goal for us, to get back into the canoe next year. Until then, we stay positive and let the rest go!

Suzanne Reisler Litwin is an author, writer, online columnist, and creative writing instructor at Concordia University in the Centre for Continuing Education, and at Le Centre Cummings. A recipient of the Governor General of Canada’s Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers, Suzanne is also a freelance contributor to TheSuburban.com with a column called Living in the Now, and the author of the children’s book, The Black Velvet Jacket. Suzanne lives in Montreal with her family. To read more visit www.suzannereislerlitwin.com