Sunday, June 12, 2011
A dinner and 3 hikes
It’s almost 8:00pm on Sunday, June 12, 2011, and by this time tomorrow, the Canucks could be drinking champagne out of the Stanley Cup. They’ve given their fans the fantods with their slim wins late in the game at home and huge loses in Boston, so there might be a game 7 in Vancouver. Whatever the case, I’ll be there. It’s an enjoyable part of my plan to give living in BC a chance. Also to that end, I’ve now been on 2 hikes and a ramble with the Vernon Outdoors Club. Hikes are longer, harder and on Sundays and rambles are on Tuesdays. I’ve been along Shorts Creek Canyon Rim, South Canoe and the High Rim Trail, seen cliffs, views, rushing water, colorful lichen, wild flowers, moose droppings, etc, and got to know some people. I’ve never been a club joiner, but it certainly is a good way to meet characters, make friends and find out about a new place. The club is big, admirably organized and I’m glad I joined it.
I got home from the hike today at about 5:30pm, took a short rest and then tackled the dishes from last night. I had Jim’s dad and Carol, Bert and Peg and his cousin Gayle and her husband for dinner. It was my first dinner party without Jim, and I missed him as I knew I would because he and I really enjoyed having family and friends for dinner and had developed quite a system. I did my usual part, the cooking, quite well, but the setting of the table and serving, Jim’s jobs left a lot to be desired. I think of him at many moments on the average day, almost more now than ever since he died, but this dinner was especially hard to do. Bert, Ken and Gayle helped me get the table ready and the food out. I think working together made it easier for all of us, and we had a good time. When everyone suggested doing the dishes, I refused saying I’d do them in the morning as Jim and I used to do. They didn’t want to leave them, but I insisted. Only when they left did I realize that not only had I never used the dishwasher but also I had no dishwasher soap. I’ve been washing my few dishes by hand and using the dishwasher merely as a drying rack. I was not about to wash everything by hand at that hour, so I filled the sinks with water and left as many dishes as possible soaking. The sight of them this morning was not pleasant, but again I left them, had breakfast and went for the hike. Now they’re done.
I finally got my BC license and the garden continues to be a treasure hunt of flowers.
At the top of the Shorts Creek hike we were over 6,000 feet and there was still snow. This is Donna, a member of the club.
Friday, May 27, 2011
May 2011
It’s Friday, May 27, 2011, and I’m at the Pollock’s. Caroline is at work. She’s one month from freedom. Albert’s taking care of business for his mom, so I’m alone gathering my wits and wrapping the gift that Jay and I will give to Blake and Tracy tomorrow. Being back has been a mix of sad and happy memories, bad weather and good friends. I don’t know if it’s la nina’s fault or mine, but everywhere I’ve gone in the last eight months the locals have commented on the fact that this is the worst weather they’ve had in whatever month it’s been in living memory: colder or wetter or windier. I’m going to have to retrace my route to see what these places are really like or perhaps climate change is happening and I’m experiencing the future in one year of living around.
The alarm went off at 5:45a.m. on May 16. As I threw cold water on my face to force my eyes open, the phone rang. My heart leapt because I thought it was probably mom again to say that something was wrong with dad, but it was Micheline calling to tell me to pack my bathing suit because the weather was bad and we likely would not be able to bike, so we would go to a pool for a swim instead. I already had my suit packed because I never leave home without it. Relieved, I continued on my way and made it to Ottawa about an hour late. Mela was at the airport to drive me to their place where Don was waiting with Bloody Caesars, a warm start to a cool week. Blake and Tracy came over the next night for dinner. We had lots of laughs about the idiosyncrasies that dog all families and nthat occasions like weddings always unleash. Mela and I met Micheline in Wakefield on Thursday, and I spent Thursday and Friday nights at Miche and Paul’s. We did bike on Friday. The weather was perfect, not too hot and not too sunny. Saturday was also a good day. The www met at our usual depaneur and bought junk food before heading to Paul’s place in the country. After the usual chattering lunch, we put on our bug nets and tromped like Ewoks down the back road to a small lake. Some of us had bathing suits on and had planned to jump into frigid water and out again just for the thrill of the cold after a hot walk. But the water was warmer than we had expected, so most of us went in, in underwear and birthday suits and bathing suits, and swam for a long time. A few of us even lay in the sun on the raft and went in again. This was the height of our wildness. Then we suited up and returned through the black flies and mosquitoes to the usual delicious evening of eating, drinking, talking and playing charades. Old friends drop easily into the sharing of stories and laughter.
I spent Sunday and Monday nights with Barb and Rod on the Gatineau River. We rode bikes, went to Molo and had a great dinner with Crofton and Nick and their partners. I borrowed the Steer’s van to drive down Wakefield Heights Road and back again to dinner at the Smiths. It was hard to see the sauna and our two homes without us in them, but talking with the Smiths brought me back from the sadness. Chelsea and her boyfriend joined us for dinner and fixed my computer for me, so by the time I returned to the Steer’s I was in good shape. I had fun playing bridge, drinking wine and eating lunch with Barb’s gang and then she drove me to the IGA where Ken Baughan picked me up. I stayed with the Baughans on Tuesday and Wednesday. We had a hot tub, a couple of walks along the Ottawa River, some long chats and a good dinner with Geoff, Megan and Danbrook. I’ve been lucky to see so many friends on one visit. In spite of la nina and/or my weather curse, I’ve used my bathing suit twice. The wedding is indoors at Gabe’s restaurant, Grounded, so the rest does not depend on the weather at all.
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