Author: Colin

Oreo Frizzell was born in Prince Edward County, in 2007, on a farm just outside Picton, Ontario. At six weeks old he moved to Cressy, Ontario, also in Prince Edward County, after being picked up, early in the morning, by his newly adopted brother Colin, and his nephews Ryan and Mitchell. He was Christened, Oreo, by his niece, Allie. Peggy Frizzell, Oreo’s adopted mother, fell instantly in love with him and they were inseparable until her death in in 2018. He remained loyally by her side until the end and visited her in hospital when she was admitted after having a seizure.

Oreo spent his youth and middle age on the Frizzell farm, playing with the neighbour dogs, Babygirl and Bailey, both now passed. He romped through the fields with his cousin, Sparky, when he would visit from Ottawa, and would go to Ottawa to visit Sparky, and his youngest nephew Ethan, brother Mike and sister Charlette. Oreo enjoyed swimming in Lake Ontario and was a winery dog at Rosehall Run winery for a few weeks. But his main focus was his mom, Peggy.

When Peggy moved into a Retirement Home into Toronto, Oreo moved with her and became a therapy dog for her and many other residences who fell in love with him. One residence, in particular, Bibi, would always save half her dinner for him and bring it to him every morning. Other residence carried treats for him in their walkers.

In Toronto, Oreo enjoyed daily walks with Peggy and another resident, Betty. And occasional visits from his sister, Trish, who would always bring his treats. Oreo played in High Park, went to dog hill, spent warm days on bar patios, went for car and subway rides, outings to friend’s houses, vacations back to the farm, pool parties at his friend, Fishstick’s grandpa’s, and one year at High Park, and a trip to Toronto Island.

After Peggy passed Oreo moved in with Colin, who lived across the street. People in the neighbourhood would often say hello when they saw him on his walks. Oreo would sometimes lean against them, if he felt they needed a little extra affection. One time a man was sitting on a bench, having a beer with his head down when he spotted Oreo; the man popped his head up and said, “Hey, Oreo” and then went back to his beer. Another time, when Oreo was elderly, he was walking slowly through a back lane behind his apartment building, when a car pulled in behind him. Colin tried to hurry Oreo along and then woman popped her head out and yelled, “Take your time. I know him.” There are too many stories to share, of all the people who knew and loved Oreo. He has had a few roommates and he endeared himself to all of them. And he enjoyed weekly pub night with the boys.

He will be missed by his family, neighbours and friends, K-9 neighbours, especially, Leon, who Oreo took under his wing when Leon was a pup and Oreo slowed Leon tried to keep him spry, Delilah, a pug pup that would give Oreo kisses whenever she had a chance. Oreo was welled-loved and gave his love freely to whoever wanted it and wasn’t bother when they didn’t. He will be sorry missed.

Work on ‘Matter of Time’ began when I was caregiving for my mom (Peggy) who had Alzheimer’s. After she passed, we tried to keep working on it, but it got pushed to the back burner. Recently we got the shot we needed for completion and decided to share it online. This is for her, my grandmother and all who suffer from Alzheimer’s and Dementia and for those currently locked down in retirement and long-term care facilities.  Starring Robert Fulton, with Tarayn Hiddink, Arne Steinforth. Cinematography and editing by Louis Thomas. Written by, Colin Frizzell.

Fifty-six years ago today, on August 20th, 1963, Peggy Strain had to leave Art Frizzell in Canada to return to Northern Ireland. They met while she was on vacation in Prince Edward County, Ontario—Art’s home. They fell in love and got engaged after a four-day courtship. He knew she couldn’t stay and was afraid she might never return.

They had forty years together on this earth; three children, Mike, Trish and Colin, a daughter-in-law, Charlotte, and three grandchildren, Ryan, Mitchell and Allie, before Dad left us in 2003. One more grandchild, Ethan, came after Art’s departure.

A year ago today, on August 20th, 2018, Peggy Frizzell, fifty-five years to the day she had to leave Canada and say good-bye to her darling Art, to return to Ireland, she said good-bye to this world and returned to him.

You’re both greatly missed.

Thank you for the love, memories and so much more.

In Memory

Memories were taken.
Others left behind.

A smile sparkling in
Irish eyes.

Songs song
with an Irish lilt.

A genuine laugh,
often directed at yourself.

Tears,
at sad movie scenes.

Memories aren’t
permanent.
I saw yours stolen
until you didn’t
know me.

A broken brain.
A heart-rending journey,
watching the progression.

Something remained.

Faces unfamiliar,
names gone;
you still lite-up
when friends and family
came into the room.
You never forgot your dog.

Some things can’t be
quantified or qualified.
Can’t be known.
They can only be felt.

A bond that runs deeper
than human knowledge
can’t be torn apart—
even by death.

You will never be truly gone.
But, you are sincerely missed.

The Sunday, September 23rd, 2017, Peggy Frizzell (aka, Mum) will be selling and signing copies of her book, Such Little Time: A Collection of Love Letters, at Word of the Street in Toronto, Ontario, at the Harbourfront Centre. It’s supposed to be a beautiful day so why not spend it by the water surrounded by books and bibliophiles. We’ll be at booth 410!

SUCH LITTLE TIME

Dad’s last words were to tell Mom, “I love you.” His last conscious action was to raise his head, to meet her descending lips as she leaned in over the hospital bed, for one last kiss. After Dad died I found out about the letters.

In 1963, Peggy was on vacation in Ontario, Canada. She met Art, they fell in love and four days later got engaged. But Peggy had to return to Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland. For eight-months their only communication as through letters; letters which are filled with the optimism of new romance and the longing of being separated from the one you love.

After forty years by each other’s side the first thing Peggy said after Art took his last breath was, “I just didn’t think we’d have such little time together.” While only a few of Art’s letters made it to Canada, Art saved all of Peggy’s. This is their collection.

SUNDAY ON THE COUNTY WRITES…THE COUNTY READS – following the news at noon. HAPPY FATHER’S DAY! COLIN FRIZZELL shares memories of his father, a Cressy farmer, and what he learned from the life, and death, of his dad. CHRISTINE RENAUD has recommendations for Father’s Day reading no matter what kind of guy your dad is. TERRY SPRAGUE reveals what his dad said to the chickens just before the axe fell and other stories from his book Up Before Five: The Family Farm. Music by Cat Stevens, Sheb Wooley and Paul Petersen. Listen on the radio or listen onlinewww.993countyfm.ca

Here is the clip of my segment of the show:

Lynn Pickering interviews Peggy and Colin Frizzell on County FM 99.3, The County Writes . . . The County Reads, regarding, Such Little Time: A Collection of Love Letters. The Letters were read by, Siobhan McGarry (Presenter & Broadcast Journalist
Downtown Radio), and Pat Larkin.

Original Air Date: December 7, 2014.

Listen below:

So it’s the last cut of the year, for the grass. Still using my Walkman I grabbed 3 cassettes, one on wine, one without a label and one with a hand written label with Irish comedy written on it, which I’d just found in my office. I’m not sure where it came from. While cutting I listened to the wine tape, on tasting and cooking with wine and the joy of sharing it with friends. When it was done and I put on the second, which turned out to be Toad to Wet Sprocket. I had forgotten I even had that. I finished the lawn quickly, some parts hadn’t grown much since last time.

“Dad would be happy,” I said to myself, as came into the house.

Dad was very proud of his well-kept lawn.

I had a cup of coffee. I checked my facebook and took a call. I went to go back out and put the lawnmower away for the winter. I decided, just before I went out, to check to see what was on the Irish Comedy cassette before it went into the back of a drawer and was again forgotten about.

I put it on. Nothing. Fast forwarded it. Nothing. Fast forwarded it, again. Nothing. I was about to turn it off when I heard a crackle. I didn’t recognize that crackled, at first, it had been so long since I heard it; it was the sound of someone pressing the record button.

I heard her voice first as she starting singing, ‘The Mountains of Mourne’, then I heard his. I can’t really describe at this moment what that moment was like. I needed to be sure I was hearing what I was hearing. I walked into the room and held an earbud to Mom’s ear.

She smiled slightly, tears came to her eyes.

“Is that you and Dad singing?” I asked.

She nodded.

I put the cassette into the stereo so we could hear it properly.

It was the first time hearing him in 11 years. Their singing filled the room once more.

There was just the one song and then the tape went into an Irish Comedy routine that it was labelled for.

The tape in is a protective case now. Dad’s name added to the label. It won’t be going into the back of a drawer. And as a back-up I recorded it with my camera and am sharing it here, with you.

Peggy (Mom) cried a little bit with every signing.

Such Little Time is now widely available. In Prince Edward County, Ontario, you can get a signed copy at Books & Company, and on-line at amazon.com and amazon.co.uk.

Reviews:
5 stars out of 5.
“Charming letters loved everyone!!”
— Diann L Donnell, Amazon.com

“I have just finished reading Peggy Frizzell’s book, Such Little Time. What a delightful collection of letters! I knew that Peggy was a lovely woman, but the letters fully reveal her open, honest and loving spirit. The day-to-day details of living in 1963-64 will remind those of us of the older generations of poignant memories of life in Ireland and the County. Everyone will be moved to remember what true love is. I highly recommend this book. Congratulations, Peggy and Colin!” 
— Mary Grimley, Songwriter

Sorry for there being so few photos from the launch. I took a some at the beginning and then as more people poured in I set the camera down and started visiting and assisting with the signing.

So, I went back to the Miller House on Lake on the Mountain last evening to get a few shots of the view, which hasn’t changed much since the 60′s.

Also, the lake itself.

And, the Mohawk legend, which I have always loved: “It has become a symbol of lovers overcoming difficulties.”

On August 21st, 2014, at 8:00 p.m., 51 years to the day that Peggy wrote her first letter, to Art, she will be launching the paperback version of her book, ‘Such Little Time: A Collection of Love Letters’, in the building where they first met, on Lake-on-the- Mountain, in a dance hall (affectionately known as the, ‘Bucket of Blood’), which is now, The Miller House Cafe-Brasserie. Please join us for the celebration as Peggy, at 86, becomes an author for the first time.

For more information click here.

Mom and Dad’s love letters cross the ocean once more with, ‘Such Little Time: A Collection of Love Letters’, getting written up in both hometown papers: The Picton Gazette and the Newtownabbey Times. To read the full article from in Times click here. To read the full Gazette article click and zoom in on accompanying photo.