Monday, November 13, 2017

Not a Travel Post

Thing One:

I've missed blogging.
When I helped Dede (at work) get a blog started this week, I realized mine needs an update in appearance and effort.
Here's hoping I make time to get back at 'er.

Thing Two:

Seeing all the first responders standing at attention/saluting Constable John Davidson (the RCMP officer who was shot in the line of duty on Monday) just did me in. I couldn't stop crying.

















Even talking about it a few days later, I get all choked up. There's just something about watching a community pull together that's so beautiful your heart hurts way up in your throat.


Know what's not beautiful?

Watching hundreds of people stand beside those who are hurting with there cell phones out, recording the whole thing.

Shudder.


(Police dying in the line of duty is not a common occurrence in Canada, and especially rare in BC. I did a quick google search and could only find 26 RCMP deaths in the line of duty across Canada since 2004. And only one in BC. I was proud of how Constable John Davidson was honored as his body was transferred to and from Vancouver from Abbotsford.)


Thing Three:

Sue mentioned to me, while we were in Japan, in our separate beds, late at night, on the verge of falling asleep, that all these new and challenging travel experiences we were enjoying was our fun way of fighting Alzheimer's. Carving out new pathways in one's brain is exhausting work. Being in a foreign non-English speaking country, navigating train systems and various transportation options, forces a person to use parts of one's brain not often engaged.

It occurred to me at work this week, that I've been fighting Alzheimer's at work as well. One year ago, I had a design team, a set of vendors and a boss that I'd developed great relationships with. Haha. I'd worked with all of them for years and was able to communicate in short hand because we were all so very familiar with our cyclical projects and how to deal with them.

Ten months later? A completely new design team, new print and mailhouse vendors and a new boss. There is no short-cut regarding communication. No one is reading anyone's minds yet. No one has done any of our cyclical projects before so everything is new. Details must be outlined clearly. Follow-up is a new aspect of my life. Working with a whole new set of people, who are from a different generation, some from different cultures, all with different skills than me, is keeping me on my toes and has me aching for a nap at around 4 pm.

If I get Alzheimer's I'm gonna be pissed annoyed surprised.
Seriously. I've been forging new pathways for about 20 years now.


Thing Four:

We have had the most amazing Fall. Oh my goodness. THE COLOURS.
Feeling awfully spoiled, as we just had the Best Summer in the History of Summers.
I have LOVED taking pics of the trees as they don their Autumn wardrobes.
And I've felt honored that a couple of my pics have been reposted on some popular Instagram accounts. Not sure why the opinion of other photographers should matter to me, but there you have it. It does. I admit it.


We had SNOW on Nov 4 at Cultus:






















































































We has SUNSHINE on Nov 5 at Kit's Beach:

























































































































































































































Thing Five:

It's a long weekend. (Remembrance Day) and for the first time ever, all 5 kids decided to spend two consecutive nights at the lake with me.
It was supposed to be a clean-up-the-yard weekend, but it's POURING rain, so we're concentrating on cupboards and closets instead.

There's nothing quite like having all your chicks in the nest to chase away the November blues.
























































































































































































































































































































All of the laughter has been a great way to re-claim this space as OURS.

(In case you're wondering, both sides of the break-in (insurance claim and legal aspect) have not moved forward. It's only been two months, and apparently these things take time. Sigh.)


Three things I'm thankful for:

1. Hearing Clint say, at 1 am, "It's steak time," as he goes outside to fire up the BBQ.

2. Watching my kids (especially the girls), dig right in and deal with rat shit in hidden places and cupboards that hold items we haven't used in twenty years.

3. This place, these memories. These people. This country.

xo

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