There are a lot of reasons that we load the car full of empty water jugs whenever we trek home to Niagara Falls. We’ve been buying our water from Rainbow Water in the Falls for many years. Of course when we started, we lived in Niagara Falls. In fact, we lived just around the corner from the 8201 Lundy’s Lane location. It is a small family-run business, which we like to support. Jack Ewin, his wife (Inga) and daughter (Sherry) are naturals at customer service and are some of the nicest people we have ever met. One thing they always have for us is a smile, a warm greeting and a kind word. There are other things as well. Things you might not expect.
A few months ago we walked in and there were balloons everywhere. It seems they are now the go-to-place for all kinds of specialty balloons. It happened to be Valentine’s Day and we were on our way to see Paul’s daughter and grandchildren. We left the store with some pretty cool helium-filled balloons that Trish and the kids loved.
Another surprise you might happen upon is music. Live music. A jam session! Any number of people can be there (once there were 14) playing any number of instruments, including banjos, acoustic guitars, mandolins, a bass guitar and a dobro to name just a few. Some of the musicians have been dropping by for years, but the afternoon sessions seem to be picking up steam because on our last visit we ran into a first timer, guitarist Lonz Crawford.
While it’s a lot of fun to listen and enjoy the music, but the real surprise comes when the young lady of the gathering stands up and begins to sing ― she has the voice of an angel and can take my breath away. Cally Scott has been singing since she was eight. She was 12-years-old when she first sang in public at her grandmother’s school reunion. Cally says she still follows advice her grandmother gave her that day. “If you get scared, just look up at the sky.” She has no formal training but learned to sing listening to CD’s and practicing with her talented father, Don Scott. Don joins Cally at Rainbow Water, accompanies her on guitar and gets in a few vocals himself. He’s been entertaining people since he was eight and in 1965, at the ripe old age of 12, opened a concert for Hank Snow. More recently, he’s had guest spots with another local boy, multiple Grammy Award winner Walter Ostenak.
And the music goes even deeper into the proverbial genes: Cally says that both her grandfathers were musical and that her grandmother was also a huge influence. On this particular visit we were treated to Cally’s vocal stylings of Patsy Cline’s Cry If I Want To, Loretta Lynn’s You Ain’t Woman Enough and two of Leann Rimes songs, Commitment and my favourite, Blue.
Here is the video I took with my phone.
Cally and her Dad share something else besides their love of music. They both have a genetic disorder that leaves them with very little sight. Cally was born with cataracts and the surgery she had for them led her to develop glaucoma. They are both monitored regularly and although the numbers can vary, Don has a slightly higher percentage of vision than his daughter. Still, neither one of them let it interfere with their music.
Of course Jack sits in with his guitar when he’s not taking care of customers. Most, however, would rather hang around a bit and enjoy the gathering. My Paul gets tears in his eyes whenever there’s a song being sung. Or, it could be because Jack has his eye on his precious dobro.
If you have a thirst for some classic country entertainment, stop by Rainbow Pure R.O. (reverse osmosis) Water at 8201 Lundy’s Lane at Kalar Road in Niagara Falls. This is no ordinary water store. The least you will come away with is some really great water, a warm smile and some friendly conversation. And you might just luck out and hear the voice of an angel. Tell em’ I sent you!
I love going down to the “Rainbow watering hole”. Especially when there’s a banjo in the mix! It’s usually going strong on Tuesday afternoons, which is the best time for me to head to the Falls. And if nothing’s happening, Jack and the family are terrific people to visit!
Yes, Paul, just remember to take the empty water bottles. 😉
I’ll have to listen to the music at home (at work right now). What an ecclectic store! Very cool!
Heheheh! I don’t get out as much as you do, Sherry, so when I do I have to make it count! 🙂
What an inspiring post – thanks.
Jim, Thank you for taking the time to read it. I appreciate you dropping in.
I wish I could stop by! I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed that!!! Thanks for posting!! I wish all the best to them!
Thanks Terri,I’m glad you liked it. We really do enjoy it when they happen to be there when we stop by. One of life’s pleasant little surprises.
It’s so great with family-run businesses like Rainbow Water. The big corporate world doesn’t leave much space for them nowadays – unfortunately, and sure doesn’t give you any feeling of service compared to places like Rainbow Water. Thanks for sharing this with us. It feels good to know there are still places where you can come and feel welcomed, be received with a smile, and even get some local music in the same run.
Agreed, Otto. My family owned a small corner store for many years. We lived behind it. We were closed one day a year – Christmas day. It never failed someone would knock on our door that day because they had run out of milk. We all worked in it at various times of our lives. We were definitely a big part of our neighbourhood. Then one day a we heard that a 7-11 (I am not sure what the big chains of convenience stores are where you live, but that is what it is) was going to open up across the street. We sold the store (and our home) quickly. It did not survive the “Big Guys”. Now I see very few small corner stores that are not part of one of the big chains. It is a different world. Maybe that is why appreciate the people at Rainbow Water so much.
Thanks, Otto.
Talk soon,
M
Memories move in many directions depending on the host. For me I often think of Paul stopping to get a jug filled at the Rainbow. Life was good (great) that summer as we banded together under the roof of paul and michelle and ate burgers, chips and other tasty morsels that are not good for you. And we washed it all down with that jug of rainbow water. MMMM, those were the days my friend, those were the days. Memories can be a life treasure and the ones garnered in the summer of 2002 will be front and center in this guy’s book.
cheers, chat later, bud
Wow! Was it really 10 years ago you spent the summer with us? It seems impossible. It was definitely a summer to remember.
Thanks, Bud.
You are so right. She has an amazing voice.
I think she sounds better in person. Of course once again I was using my phone to record her. It was the first time I had used it for video but I thought it looked and sounded pretty good.