In years past, today would be the day we packed up the car and headed for Stratford, Ontario.  Then we’d have four days of theatre and touring around to see our friends at Jonny’s Antiques, Rundles restaurant, and Callan Books.  But the move to Cincinnati and the inexorable passing of time have made the trip now a wonderful memory.  And while we’re not going this year, we knew that our trip last year was our farewell tour, and we made the most of it.

So I’m not going to get all maudlin about it.  We have over fifty years of memories, stories, and pictures to share, and as long as we have them, we’re there.

The Festival Theatre.

The Shakespeare Garden in front of the Festival Theatre.

Callan Books — now closed — but once the best little bookshop in Canada.

Some random theatre goer and erstwhile drama critic having a picnic along the banks of the Avon River.

Dad and Mom outside Fanfare Books. Thanks for taking me and forging the love of theatre.

The Avon River that wends its way through Stratford

It was in Stratford that I truly fell in love with theatre, and from there I took that love and turned it into my life study, if not my profession.

It’s not goodbye; it’s just intermission.