I can remember a few years ago, on January 11, 1976, all four of us, Dennis Siemko, Gail Siemko, John Morrow and Vicki Morris were celebrating the guy’s birthdays and went to Davis Lake, just outside of Minden, Ontario. The weather had made snow drifts all around the highways and backroads to the cottage, making it impossible to park our car close to the abode. We ended up bringing our turntable, three-foot speakers, LPs and 8-track tapes. Traipsing into the 100-foot driveway with all of our suitcases and provisions made us very tired and miserable. However, after finding the key and starting a fire, we were able to take a look around and decide what to do. The snow was still coming down very hard and it was time for dinner, so we opened some soup and made peanut butter sandwiches. I wanted to inform you that both Dennis and I were recently married, 21 and 19 respectively. Whereas, John and Vickie were engaged to be married at 21, and 20. So I was Vickie’s chaperone and have the pictures to prove it. When failing to warm the extremely cold cottage, we took a vote packed up, checked in at a local Inn, called The Norlander. It took us twice as long to retreat from our humble beginnings, but we did it, and when knocking on the door of the owners at the Norlanders Inn, able to secure two rooms along with some food and games. The weather had made snow drifts all around the highways and backroads to the cottage, making it impossible to park our car close to the abode. We ended up bringing our turntable, three-foot speakers, LPs and 8-track tapes. Traipsing into the 100-foot driveway with all of our suitcases and provisions made us very tired and miserable. However, after finding the key and starting a fire, we were able to take a look around and decide what to do at this juncture. The snow was still coming down very hard and it was time for dinner, so we opened some soup and made peanut butter sandwiches. I wanted to inform you that both Dennis and I were recently married, 21 and 19 respectively. Whereas, John and Vickie were engaged to be married at 21, and 20. So I was Vickie’s chaperone and have the pictures to prove it. When failing to warm the extremely cold cottage, we took a vote packed up, checked in at a local Inn, called The Norlander. It took us twice as long to retreat from our humble beginnings, but we did it, and when knocking on the door of the owners at the Norlanders Inn, able to secure two rooms along with some food and games.
The fireplace was massive, keeping us all warm and toasty, the guys kept us laughing with their antics and beers which flowed leaving us all in a super good mood.
After the amazing weekend, we were returning home along the Hwy. 400 and all of the roads were icy and covered in sleet and snow. We were trying to barrel through there with our ‘Big Silver Bird’, John in the front with Dennis, Vicki and me holding on for dear life in the backseat. The other drivers were in the ditches and stuck all-over the roads leaving their cars unattended, with huge baggage being dragged along the highway. I didn’t know enough about the worst snowstorm to hit the GTA in over a Decade. It took us six hours to arrive home to our respective dwellings, and we swore on a stack of Bibles that Vickie stayed a virgin until their wedding, September 11, 1976.
Gail Siemko 