Capturing the moments

In turn, I reminisced about the times my dad and I would go paddling on the Rouge River. If it wasn’t for my dad sharing time with me on the water, I am not sure if I would have the passions I have today. I doubt I would be where I am today. Building memories is what it’s all about. Capturing and seizing the moments. Those moments you remember are the essence of building your life.

Now and then I revisit a story “Evelyn’s Red Canoe” that was sent to us as a thank you in 2005. I tend to re-read this story now and then to remind me of how precious life is. Battling Lyme disease constantly reminds you everyday to walk like you’re kissing the ground, or in our case “paddle your own canoe!” The strength I tell myself I have, I share it, in hopes to help others deal with what I have been going through for countless years. My personal journey is not personal anymore. It affects our children, our company, our life. I am sharing my journey in hopes of raising awareness by auctioning off one of our canoes that has been specially made for this. Recently, the Independent Free Press wrote an article on the auction that will be happening on May22 on eBay.ca

“Never give up, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn”  ~Harriet Beecher Stowe

Life is precious. Seize the moments.

May 22 Auction

Naomi McQuade

Creative Director, The Holy Cow Canoe Company

“Waiting for the Sun” Original Digital Oil painting by Creative Director of the Holy Cow Canoe Co.

It warms our hearts.

Dear friends,

You may recall my ordering a Kevlar canoe in the summer of 2005. It was to be a birthday surprise for my wife, Evelyn, and was to be delivered to me in care of Home Hardware, Blind River, Ontario. You filled the order and shipped it out. It arrived in time for her birthday, and she was with me when we went to claim her surprise. To the surprise and disappointment of all of us the canoe was badly damaged on arrival. There was no way to determine who was responsible or, where in shipment, the damage occurred. When we informed you of what had happened you made an astounding offer – if we could get the damaged canoe to your factory you would replace it at no cost! Thus Evelyn and I drive the several hours to Acton, with the damaged canoe on the top of the car, made the trade, and returned home hauling its lovely, red replacement.

Now I am writing to tell you the rest of the story, and once again to express my deep gratitude for your thoughtfulness and generosity. Evelyn had wished for a canoe light enough for her, an eighty-five year old, to manage. This was the perfect one for her. She quickly mastered it, and went on our lake nearly every day for the next two months. She loved her red canoe, and became known for it to the Lake Lauzon community. The first week in October we carefully and fondly put it in winter storage before traveling to our California home. Evelyn had had the summer of her dreams!

In late November she and I traveled to Hawaii to visit with her granddaughter and family. On the journey she contracted what we thought to be a bad cough and fever. We determined to return home to her physician. On arrival there she was directed to the Emergency Room of the local hospital, where several hours later she lost life to a virulent form of pneumonia. In one of our last conversations while at the hospital she spoke again of how much she enjoyed her red canoe.

Now two summer later, two granddaughters and three grown grandchildren, all accomplished canoeists, will be together with me at the lake. The red canoe and our memories will afford us both pleasurable times and pleasurable memories. Thanks to Holy Cow and to you guys for the joyous times you have made possible.

Sincerely, Bob Steiger