Next week in Victoria

This time next week I'll be driving to Victoria to visit Barbara and Terry for the first time since mom died.  It's strange to think of being there without mom and dad, sad really.  Just writing this makes me feel their loss more meaningfully than I have felt it before.  How different the days will be without the unwavering routine of coffee with Barbara and Terry; mornings and lunch with mom and dad; on Sunday's takeout from Tim's eaten in the car at Willows watching gulls, boats and dogs followed by a walk along the water, for mom and me at least; my long walks by the ocean while they rested; dinner together followed by talking, watching tv or one of my slide shows that no one else watched, not even I unless I was with them and then a drive down Bay Street, over the bridge and back to B and T's for an early evening and bed, repeat, repeat, repeat.  It was a wonderful, easy rhythm possible only because I could stay with friends whose home was a place of rest and whose company gave me the opportunity to release my feelings of exasperation, especially with mom.  Looking back over those five years, I realize how lucky I was; mom and dad were never a burden.  Visiting them and helping them to the extent I did gave some meaning to my life at a time when I needed them as much as they did me.  I wonder if I will be able to steer myself and the Mazda 3 along roads other than the well worn routes between Vic. West and Oak Bay.  B and T and I will have to find topics to discuss over morning coffee that have nothing to do with my parents' idiosyncrasies.  We'll be able to do more together.  I also look forward to seeing Elizabeth and Ross et al.  

I took the new kayak to Jane's this morning.  She lives on Lake Okanagan, so it was easy to launch.  We had a good paddle.  We switched boats at one point because she is thinking of getting an inflatable.  As I paddled hers, I was reminded of the fact that a real kayak is easier to paddle and faster than an inflatable, but I could no more transport it than fly to the moon, so mine is a fine compromise.  I look forward to getting it at least on The Gorge and maybe even on open water; it does track well.

All's well on the home front.  Jay continues to enjoy work, he knows Vernon and all points bordered by Kamloops, Revelstoke and Summerland.  May found a part time job for Min Hee at Rosalinda's, a Philippine Restaurant in Vernon, and in the process a part time job there for herself.  She's driving her car now on her old Philippine licence but still has to take a driving test after she completes some training.  Gin Hee carries on in her usual head on way and so do I, although I have a cold that won't leave.  

Last Sunday's hike to Cougar Canyon

A morning kayak on Swan Lake

The girls letting their hair hang down to dry at10:00pm Monday night

Success stories

Today was a good day for both May and me.  I bought an inflatable kayak as a 70th birthday present to myself; it arrived from Abbotsford by bus last Thursday.  Jay helped me inflate it in the back yard on Sunday.  Finally, today I "screwed my courage to the sticking point" and took it out on the water alone on Swan Lake.  It worked really well; I had a wonderful long paddle, saw birds and jumping fish, deflated it in a flash and returned home exuberant.  As I stepped onto the back porch, I remembered that May had gone to try her driving test again.  Had she passed?  I opened the door and called out "Hi," as usual.  After a moment there was a weak response.   May came into view, looking less than jubilant.  My heart sank.  For once, I couldn't think of a word to say.  Then she shrieked, "I passed!"  I grabbed her hands, and we did our celebratory dance.  Wow!  Jay brought home a bottle of wine and some soda, and we celebrated our successes at dinner with a spritzer.  May had not only passed her written driver's test but also got revenge on me for my April Fool joke on them.  Two with one blow is not bad. 

My new inflatable kayak on Swan Lake 

An osprey  near the heron rookery at the south end of Swan Lake

Jim's Eccentricity cut by 1/3

This has been a glorious week for weather.  It was warm and sunny for the Goose Lake Ramble that I led on Tuesday.  Forty people showed up; I was nervous as usual at the start.  The group has high expectations: an energetic walk, but not too; arrival at a scenic lunch spot after about 11/2 hours; a slightly more relaxed return to the cars and notable flora and fauna along the way.  I had decided to include an 'add on' after lunch.  This was a bit unorthodox since it involved the highest climb of the ramble.  Fortunately I had walked all over the area on Easter Saturday with Jay and May.  We had taken the route I had planned for the add on, and it was too rough for the Tuesday gang.  On the way down we found a better way, which I used on Tuesday when the ones who wanted a bit more climbing came with me and those who preferred walking the road back to the cars went with my friend Miriam.  All went well.  

Today was a time of changes.  One third of Jim's Eccentricity was ripped away.  I stayed outside working in the garden the whole time so as to be able to see the action and take a few pictures.  Jay worked with four other young men.  They started at 9:00am and by 4:00 there were only 2/3s of the old garage left.  A lot of plaster was bashed, chicken wire cut and semi petrified wood splintered.  The nails could not be removed; they were one with the Douglas Fir they had been hammered into in about 1934, a bit like mom and dad after 73 years of marriage.  The young man who wanted his section removed gave Jay his doors, which are more solid than ours.  Jay will put them on tomorrow; we will paint them, and Jim's Excentricity will be back in service.  

Just before the near third is demolished

Removing rafters