Interests:Oh, the usual... art, life, God, good food, fine wine and amazing friends. Expertise:Running into someone I know no matter where I go. Occupation:Artist Industry:Media
I so needed this last weekend. I have been going pretty much non-stop for months now. Nay, even years. Or is it months? Well... alright, let's go with the months for now. I'm sure both sides of my brain can come to a decision on which of the two it really is. Months. Years. Months. Years. Months. Years.... I'll let you know if and when Right and Left come to a mutually agreeable decision.
ANYWAY....
I so needed this last weekend. I have been going pretty much non-stop... oh, wait. I already did this part.
I went to Kelowna for four days and sat by the Okanagan Lake. I drank large amounts of beer, copious quantities of wine, ate ripe peaches, reacquainted myself with slalom waterskiing, visited with family, read a provoking book and, generally, relaxed.
My dad's family has had a beautiful property on the Okanagan Lake for close to 50 years and it is the closest thing I know to Heaven. I just tried looking for my photos of the place, but I think they're on my server at my office.
Like I said: for me, it's Heaven on Earth. I have so many memories there. I learned to waterski there. I learned to how use a hammer and saw while building cabins and decks. Most of all, I learned how very fortunate I have been to have this place to go to occasionally. I don't go as often as I used to. That seems to come with age and responsibilities and work. But, I honestly think I cherish the time and the memories I acquire there now, more.
It was also a chance to see my aging grandparents. My grandmother turns 95 this fall. I have never really seen her as being old because she's a very vibrant woman. She's this (literally) 4'11" Irish farmer who has a physical backbone that is rock solid and the personality to match. Yet, she's incredibly tender and kind. I love her to bits. However, she is getting very old and this weekend was the first time I actually realized it. How many more times will I really get to see her? How many more times will I hear the same stories over again? I don't suspect it will be too many more times in my lifetime.
My grandfather is 94 and has not been so fortunate as his wife to age as gracefully. He is now in the late stages of Alzheimer's and the family consensus is that he will not live out the next 6 to 12 months. Here was a man who was a champion gymnast with the YMCA in Regina, rode the rails during the Depression, built his own log cabin all by himself, fought a bloody war in Europe, spent a lifetime fighting forest fires and managed to raise a family. Now, I see him in his wheelchair at his care home and my dad has to help him to the toilet. A man who literally dodged mortar shells can now barely remember who I am. After a rich and rewarding life, all his body is able to do is to completely fail him. It was the very thing he feared the most as he faced his advancing years. He didn't want to be the old man sitting confused in his wheelchair. What a cruel turn.
So while it was sad to see my family changing before my eyes, I was happy to be where I was. I got to sleep outdoors. No walls. No windows. Just me and the sunrises. It is the best way to sleep. There is absolutely nothing like hearing the sound of the lapping water against the rocks or feeling the light breeze coming down the hillside. Nothing compares to the smell of the water and the trees and the dust as you close your eyes and when you wake up...
See? I told you it was Heaven.
It was with a heavy heart that I returned home yesterday. A return to email and budgets and projects and pricing and egos and computers and personalities and meetings. I love all these things to a certain degree. It is the field of work I have chosen and do, indeed, enjoy. But, there is nothing like finding Heaven on Earth. For me, that's Kelowna.
As I mentioned earlier today, I didn't sleep on the plane. I really like sleep. A lot. A helluva lot. And I didn't get any. By about 11 this morning, I was feeling like I'd just pulled an all-nighter... which, in fact, I had. 24 hours, no sleep.
After dealing with some BlueCasting fires, I tucked myself into my temporary bed and had some alone time with The Cat In The Hat and two rather ferocious looking dinosaurs.
Oddly enough, they were very kind to me despite those horrible looking fangs and wimpy little arms. They let me sleep, which is more than can be said for my damned phone!!! Everytime I thought I was asleep, it would ring with yet another call from someone. The calls were all necessary, but they a poor substitute for a post Red Eye nap!
I'd like you to also note the space-themed bedding. I'm staying at my friend Mark Dowds' house. His wife and kids are in Ireland and I'm staying in his son's room. Taking me right back to my own childhood when I slept in my Star Wars sheets.
I have been very absent. I think I say that at the beginning of all my latest posts. Anyway, it's kind of a special occasion. At least I think it is. I'm in Toronto today. Just arrived after taking the Red Eye. I've always wanted to fly the Red Eye. Seemed so grown up and business-like. You know, the fact that you're too busy to fly during the day but you need to be Back East for meetings first thing in the morning.
Well, the shine is definitely off. I have now partaken and I would prefer not to do that again. I tried to sleep. But, I am hopeless at sleeping on any sort of public conveyance. I hear noise. There's always someone moving around. Someone's light stays on and sends the glare right through my eyelids. Yeah, I'm flying during the day from now on.
I actually do have a meeting I have to go to right now. I should leave this computer and get going on that. I need to take the TTC and I was informed that it will take longer than I was initially expecting. So, I must leave now.
