Two Tins of Salmon

... a gift of love ...

One of Rebecca’s students gave her a gift last week: two cans of salmon.

I think this is the Victoria version of an apple for the teacher.

The gift came from a visit up island where the woman’s family have canned salmon for their own use.

I am the one who slipped the two cans into my room hoping that I will decide whether it is going to be used on a salad, just turned over on a base of greens.

The first tin was mashed into the filling for sandwiches to take to the opera. I waited until the show was over and then sat in the food court, wondering how this much joy can be possible – with just a sandwich and the overflow of happiness from watching Gaetano Donizetti’s La Fille du Régiment. Such an odd comedic opera – so much declamation to keep the story going, and so much musical thrill in the arias. Sulpice (Maurizio Muraro) had the exaggerated character of the sergeant of the 21st regiment funny (to me) even down to his exits.  Such playful exuberance!

All of that and then a salmon sandwich made from a gift given with love.


Arta