Birthdays and Beaches

The main purpose of our holiday was to surprise our friend, David, on his 60th birthday, then spend the weekend visiting with him and his family. We hadn't seen David since the banquet in Banff almost a year ago, when he was inducted into the Canadian Ski Instructor's Alliance Hall of Fame. His wife, Jane, had been in touch with us for a couple of months, making plans for our surprise arrival.

Above are the remains of the fabulous food dishes brought by all the guests. I packed my own "famous" potato salad all the way in a cooler. The name tags on our backs were not only our way of introducing us to others, but a way of saying how we know David. Apparently, the fellow in the Hawaiian shirt is David's lover...

The two Grandma's. Jane's mom, Catherine, and David's mom, Ruth. Such sweet ladies - they were the life of the party!

Eugene toward the end of the evening, with a glass of deliciously decadent Grand Marnier for dessert.

Walking it off the next morning in the rain forest. From left to right is David's sister, Linda, Larry, David, Eugene and Heather. I don't know where Jane went...

And Mocha! I mustn't forget Mocha!

The boom of the sea, such as I have never heard before, and the wash of the waves against the shore were all so foreign to me, the land-locked mountain dweller. As well as the gagging aroma of the kelp lining the rocky beach...
That is Jane, appearing again out of the blue, in blue.

Motherhood

Without a doubt, a test of our mettle.

dragon slayers

The Fair - circa 2001.

That's Jenny riding shotgun with her best right hand friend, Courtney.

And, true to form, Bobby has the dragon by the tail.

Going West

The Trans Canada Highway - meeting construction head on in Salmon Arm. This city, located at the southern tip of Shuswap Lake, is considered to be the "houseboat capital of the world". Ahead of us are Gene's brother, Larry, and wife, Heather. On the first day, we convoyed to Whistler over the beautiful and remote Duffy Lake Road, then stayed in a finely appointed suite at the Club Intrawest Hotel for the night. After a delicious Italian meal at the popular Umberto Menghi's Il Caminetto, we were indeed ready to collapse into a soft, downy bed!

Day two saw us waving good-bye to the Mainland after traveling the newly-upgraded Sea to Sky Highway down the rocky coast of Howe Sound. We sailed from Horseshoe Bay and chugged our way across the Straight of Georgia to Nanaimo on Vancouver Island. This is one of the largest and busiest ferry terminals in the province. Operated by BC Ferries as part of the public transit system, the ferry ride cost $75.00 for Gene and I to cross in my mini van.

Larry, Heather and Eugene on deck. The weather - cold and foggy, with misty rain and a spray of salt to top it off. The seas were relatively calm and the crossing was smooth.

This is myself squinting into the wind and, at the same time, leaving a fair-sized wake behind me. The ferry was large, therefore it was deceptively slow. I don't know at what land speed we traveled, but it was not at a snail's pace, to be sure!

Two ships passing in the fog - about fifteen minutes out of Nanaimo. The weather became steadily wetter as we approached The Island. The steward soon annouced that all those traveling via vehicle must go below to prepare for docking and disembarkment.

We were then on to the next stage of our travels.

For Gina

Castles in the sand... can be shaped again and again. xo

my peace

hiroshima
nagasaki
new york

Lonely?
There's a dog under my coffee table.
And a cricket in my flower pot.

Neighbours

Do they not realise that the morning has barely unfolded?
They've been at it since before the sun chanced a peek over the treed horizon, but it now hides its face behind a smoky, leaden layer of clouds. Last night's rain has left puddles glinting on the deck that throw back the dawning grey, and there is a palpable dampness in the blue-tinged air.
The valley would be calm and still, but for the screaming and screeching emanating from the home next door. It seems they quarrel over the smallest of things.
I have duly made note of their names.
Eagle and Osprey.
Please, never let up the bickering!

Set fans at warp 8.
Lock in coordinates
50'28'03.6"N 115degrees59'34.88"W
Engage!

evening ...

in paradise

Honest!

I've been bad.
But I've been visiting.
Lurking but not commenting.
Really!
I will make time.

xo

.

Why do bad things happen to good people?
Is it reverse Karma? Or a void, perhaps? Is it a hole, left by someone else's bad Karma not yet fulfilled and lying in wait, into which some gentle, unsuspecting soul might fall?
Is it a momentary imbalance in the Universe? Conceivably, a split second where a tiny rift appears in the weave of the fabric binding the cosmos?
Could it be a trice, where light is superseded by dark and where shadow, let loose, greedily consumes the brightness?
How ever one might fathom it, terrible things can happen to those least deserving. In a breath, a person's world may change. No going back.
And with consequences beyond one's imagining.
Circumstances, bad or good, occur for a reason. Often enough, that particular purpose will not be immediately apparent, but instead, be slowly revealed across the span of time.
That being said, what if there is little time left? What if one is toiling toward the end of their course on earth, and simply looking ahead to a few comfortable years of quiet reflection? In such case, will there indeed be enough days remaining for all to be declared and understood?
My hope is that, when one comes of an age, we are somehow more suitably equipped to deal with horrific misfortune.
As for myself, I can merely send up my heartfelt love and prayers for these dear, kind and worthy friends of my family who may now be trapped in this conundrum. And I commit similar love and prayers to the family that bears the more direct consequence of this tragedy.
God be with you.

Distant booms
and staggered light
Exploding into sparkling orbs
scattering
and disintegrating
Silently tinkling down
into the dark that is the night horizon.

Dreaming dreams of having to leave ... and, in those dreams, I am confused and ask myself "why?", as there is nothing I wish to do less ... maybe there is a message realised - the tenuous state that is life itself?

I am taking a deep breath, opening my eyes and searching for words that appear to have eluded me.

that's about as straight as the roads get...

This photo is of one of the most beautiful places I can remember.

A lovely valley nestled among the green folds of the Laurentian Mountains in Quebec.

Interestingly enough, when I go back to visit, I see nothing has changed at all!

Maybe a coat of paint here and there...

Photo courtesy of the world wide web.

Okay, okay!
I'm thinking...

Happy Mother's Day, Mum!

You are the best!

Can't wait to see you!

xo

Now That's Art!

Q?

Well, that's that... I'm joining Starfleet!