In This Corner June 1st. 2025

   I married into an Irish Catholic family which means I will never be short of family almost no matter where I go.  It is pretty cool actually.   On my inlaw side,  when you include the people my wife's siblings have married, it goes something like this:  I have 10 brothers in law, 10 sisters in law, and I think 31 nieces and nephews.  We are going to Halifax this year to a wedding that will welcome number 32.   And in spite of the fact I can't remember what I had for breakfast, I know all their names.  And through the years, I have managed a little alone time or couple time with almost all of them.  Those are the best times.  You get to have conversations and explore the interests and humour of each of them.  Those personal moments leave you feeling like you have made the family connection.  Having a huge family is pretty freaking cool.  Tell you what,  most of those nieces and nephews have families of their own, and although it is a little more of a challenge,  I have got to know many of the next generation as well.  As I have many many of the Monaghan cousins.  

   Now the McLean side is a little different,  but surprisingly it isn't all that little either.  I have 20 first cousins not counting spouses.  And,  I am a little ashamed to say, I am not completely sure how many of my cousins are married or with a significant other.  I have eight cousins in Windsor, Ontario.  I have met six of them.   I had met but one of them prior to my youngest sister's marriage.  Then, I didn't see them again until I went to a wedding in Windsor a few years back.  My cousin Mary organized a pizza night to have as many of her siblings and their significant others meet me.  They are a fun lot.  They all live in the same city and they all are involved in each others lives to some extent.  It was a wonderful thing to see and be a part of for an evening.  My one cousin was a recently retired cop and we had a good deal to talk about and compare. 

   I have six cousins in Scotland counting married partners.  I have met them and my six nieces and nephews.  One of my Scottish cousins moved to Denmark several decades back, and married a local girl to round out my European family.  They have a daughter I have never met.  One of my cousins contacted me over a decade ago which resulted in them visiting us and us visiting them.  Pretty cool going to the United Kingdom to visit family.  

   I have four more McLean cousins who grew up in Moose Jaw Saskatchewan.  One of them remains in Regina and one of her sisters resides in Halifax while the other lives in Los Angeles with her husband.  I have met their children a couple of times although they were very very small the first time.  

   And the last group,  the group with whom I was closest are my Flin Flon family.  That's right!  There is a place in Manitoba called Flin Flon.  So what is the second thing that comes to mind when you hear there is a town named Flin Flon?  ( And I say second because the first thing you will be thinking is What the hell is a Flin Flon?)   You're likely gonna think  ( If you live in a town named Flin Flon, how could you not be a fun person?)  Well,  I can assure you that my family from Flin Flon ARE indeed fun people.  Always have been.  Always.   I have eight cousins including spouses who live in Flin Flon.  I have met all but one of the spouses.    I have met six of their combined children.   They lived the closest to my grand parents so I got to see them more often than any of my other cousins.  I valued my relationship with all of them.  Cousin Darlene was the oldest.  I believed she was the coolest person alive.  Cousins Don and Bill were older than I but closer to my age.   My times with them were likely more fun for me than they were for them but I will never forget the excitement when they were going to be at grandma and grandpa's.  As we grew older I got to know the two younger boys Chuck and Murray better.  They were always fun.  They had the McLean sense of humour and they were always equipped with good stories about growing up in a northern mining town.   (How Flin Flon got it's name is a really great story by the way.  Worth looking up).

   My Flin Flon family were tied to the mine.  They were hard working hard playing people who were closer than close to each other.  As long as I can remember they did everything together.  This week, they left Flin Flon at the same time.  They were evacuated because a forest fire has moved right up to the outskirts of the town they all love.  Some of them are in THE PAS.  Some in Melfort Sask.  Some in Swan River, Manitoba.  All of them waiting to see if they have a home to go back to.   My cousins from Flin Flon are the definition of Elbows up people.  They have contributed to the well being of their community and they have enjoyed what a northern life on the Canadian Shield has to offer.  

   About 10 years ago my cousin Don and I were corresponding on facebook.  He had spent the day out ski-dooing in -40 weather.  He described it's clear blue sky and white snow in the bright winter sun and told me if God invented anything better he kept it for himself.   All my cousins are accomplished fishermen who love the northern lakes and the fresh water fish they know how to prepare.  I have always envied people who find so much contentment in their home town.  So embedded, so deeply rooted that they live a life of satisfaction and contentment.  

     So at this time of wild fires that are so threatening to their homes and lives, I have trouble thinking about anything else.  I am pulling for my Flin Flon family.  I only wish I could do more.  But I spent a long long time listing my extended family to all of you, cause I wanted you all to know (especially my Flin Flon family)  That the Monaghans, the Belangers, the Steeles, and McLeans are all pulling for you too.  Cause my family is your family.   Flin Flon will get through this.  And Don't worry,  all this extended family won't show up in Flin Flon at the same time.   keep the faith!  And thank you to those who are fighting fires for my family.