The River Rail: A few thoughts on my birthday this year

A few thoughts on my birthday this year…

The River Rail restaurant and banquet hall in Shiocton has been a background in our life for more than 17 years. That’s how many years we have had the option to go there for Sunday morning brunch, drinks with friends at the bar, corned beef and cabbage (and shakes) on St Patrick’s day, foggy bar hopping adventures and the most memorable-

…my many birthday dinners on the outdoor patio.

Unfortunately, last summer the River Rail restaurant had a fire.

To drive by the former site and see nothing but concrete, nothing but an outline… to see nothing but shadows…

The entire banquet room where my niece and nephew danced on my birthday, reduced to an extended parking lot…

It almost makes you begin to question what was really there.

There is no indication of walls, of the long banquet tables, of the wooden booths, the claw machine full of rubber ducks, of the mural of the Barteau Bridge…

There is nothing left standing to hold in the echos of laughter and good times…

The open space that remains makes it feel as if all of that energy has simply escaped, like it was just released out into the atmosphere. Almost like a helium balloon that was let go from the party too soon. One you can only watch as it floats higher and higher into the sky, all the while knowing it is never coming back.

To be honest, we had ended the tradition of having my birthday gatherings here since we began hosting our celebrations at our Mill Street garage location. There had been new hours and new ownership and our dedication to hanging out at the Rail had waned during this transition.

But a few months before the fire it was chosen as the location for an after party for the Shiocton 8th grade graduating class. At first I wasn’t sure I wanted to go. I didn’t really know any of the other parents and I hesitated to take the time off with all of our current projects.

But we went. We ended up sitting outside on that familiar patio on a record breaking 90 degree day watching the kids jump in and swim across the river. I remember thinking how all these kids were having such a good time- and where else could you do something like this? Celebrate together on a Friday afternoon at the beginning of summer vacation and jump in a river!

Only at the River Rail.

Only in this small town of Shiocton.

All my memories flashed before me. All the great times at this place.

Last summer I wrote about the road and the wild roses. I wrote about the impression places and things have in your life and the unexpected memories and traditions they forge. I wrote about how I sometimes struggle with letting go of the physical reminder tied to those good feelings.

As I sat on the River Rail patio last June replaying all the events there, all the memories, I thought about when 25 year old me invited her co-workers from the landscape nursery to celebrate her birthday here for the first time. She was starting her life in this town, remodeling a house, figuring out who she wanted to be when she grew up.

So much has changed since then and even more has changed in the past couple of years. Who knew I would have a child about to start High School. Who knew that after a series of successful careers I would find myself excited to be at a beginning again. Who knew I would finally have a carefree summer ahead of me.

Last year was pivotal. It was all change- which normally intimidates me- but last year was about embracing the best changes, the ones that let you grow.

Sitting there in the sunshine at the River Rail felt like good old times. It felt comfortable- reassuring. Which is why I am glad now that I did go. I couldn’t have known it at the time but as it turned out- it was the perfect way to say Good Bye.