Took a wee drive yesterday
up a long and winding road
surrounded by northern beauty
a wolf and an eagle
no moose
lakes
trees - which became progressively shorter the further north I came
Time reversed itself and I went back thirty years in my mind
to the time when I lived in Thompson
Here my son was born
Northern chaos remains
it has grown - that is the difference
Northern beauty remains
so does the chill
and the slush
I have parked my car and my bags
in this place for a short time
and changed my clothes
to that of a helper
car accidents have the way of changing a person's life
and so
I am glad to be here
the sun is shining
and the reflection of light off of the snow is almost too bright
a reminder of all that dispels darkness
from
any given place.

Wood Walking

Everywhere I looked this morning it was gray.
Three candles burning brightly on the dining room table did not help and I know better to stay indoors surrounded by such heaviness.

So, I took a little walk in one of the local parks linked to my past...many years ago I would walk here, before I moved to Europe...back in the day!

It was still dull when I began the little jaunt, but the sun was trying to break through and
the lack of four walls to close me in helped a lot. I could breathe!

King's Park is at the south end of our city, near the University of Manitoba. In the centre of the large green area is a lovely small Japanese Garden and the Carol Shield's Memorial Labyrinth.....There were fallen and falling leaves everywhere, even the Tamarack's leaves had turned a bright yellow.

Tired Pergolas, with only the ratty evidence of a green summer made me wonder how many books had been read under their shaded covering last season.

It was too cold for me to settle there with the book I had in my bag, that had to wait until a little bit later, when I was seated in the warmth at the Public Library...which is where I am now, being distracted from the 'read at hand' by a table full of giggly schoolgirls, a man reading questionable magazines and loud talking coming from the Service Desk. Libraries are not the hallowed halls that they used to be. I could never study in one and hope to receive a passing grade in any subject!

So I am thankful this afternoon for my quiet, but cold, early morning walk....

Ramble Reminders.....

Sometimes pics are better than words.....

Kelohnah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Last Friday I climbed into a very late aircraft and flew to Vancouver. It was the usual flight...time passed quickly with movie watching and a friendly chat to my neighbour who was the Principal of a local Winnipeg Christian School.

Hotel Accommodation and food was provided for me by the airline as my connecting flight had long gone by the time I managed to walk through the terminal doors, so I followed the crowd, grabbed my bags and went where the shuttle bus took such stragglers - thankfully, as I was tired.

Four-thirty came early the next morning as I was up and preparing to jump back onto the same shuttle bus and catch the first flight to Kelowna - on a tiny little prop puddle jumper.

It was great to arrive and be greeted by Valerie. We drove into town and headed straight for a breakfast hot spot to meet "the girls" with a quick stop for a Danield 'Hello"!!

So, it has been mountains and lakes, sunshine and walks,Charity Runs, introductions to family newcomers, borrels and long meals with discussions fit for a King......birthday parties, drives, shopping.......lots of koffie and Chai lattes...to come are the wine tours, Salmon Runs, massages, girls nights, prayer meetings, more discussions and on and on the list goes......

Here we are before the start of the CIBC Run for the Cure...Breast Cancer Survivours wore pink shirts with the word COURAGE printed on them and the rest of us wore white shirts with the word HOPE across the front.

There were thousands of us doing ZUMBA as a warm up, which was rather fun......here is a pic of DanielD, Valerie's husband (the D on the end of his name is an affection we grant him, he is no longer just Daniel...)and I going at it. Needless to say, it did not take long for our layers to come off!!

I am loving every moment of this little jaunt!

The Trip Continues.....

Back home....well, sort of. I am babysitting this weekend, so once again I packed a suitcase and left my apartment!

I have been bouncing around the United States since the beginning of September. My father visited friends and then we stayed in New Hampshire with my Uncle and Aunt for five days.

Uncle Jim is my late Mother's younger brother......and he spoiled us with good food and tours of the area....and time on the lake. Oh how we suffered in the sunshine.

While in that part of the world we were able to visit ...with an old friend of my Fathers from our Sudan days....in fact this lady gave me my first little tricycle. I can remember taking that little bike on a little boat out to the bigger paddle wheel (I think that is what it was) kind of boat and going along the Nile to go back home with it. Little did she know that she - Eleanor Vandervoort - would start me on a life time of biking my way around the world!


What a beautiful part of the world New England is. I enjoyed simple things like splashing around in the Atlantic and eating Lobster and Fish to my hearts content.

There is more to 'show and tell', including a quick trip to Niagara Falls, Lancaster County in PA and a three day stop in West Virginia. Every State I passed through was special in its own way. I particularly loved driving through New York as it reminded me of the South West of France in many ways......When I have some moments I shall have to download the pictures that still remain on my camera....eventually!!!

Going East......

I've been on the road again for the last couple of days....
the first night was spent in Minneapolis, then came Chicago - which was a real eye opener, and now I am in Holland, Michigan.

I am road tripping with my Dad.
He is visiting some old friends from his 'Sudan Days' as we drive towards New Hampshire where my Uncle (my mother's brother) lives.

Minnesota was fun....we took some back roads and drove through Red Wing....the home of my biker sister's favourite boot company and also the place which boasts the worlds largest boot.

We drove by the banks of the Mississippi in the early morning mist





We passed by Wabash(a), the home of the Grumpy Old Men...it was quite the morning drive!

On this trip to Chicago I saw more poverty than I have ever seen in a North American City. It seemed endless, and got worse around each corner. Even though it was a good reality check - most of the world's population lives in this manner - it made me angry and I could not wait to get out of there.

Today we drove a couple of hours east and stopped in Holland, Michigan. I dropped my Father off to stay with his friends and did a little 'tourism' of my own! Naturally, there is all sorts of Dutch memorabilia here



So far, nothing has been much of a surprise - except for the way people seem to drive. In the few states I have been in so far on this trip, slow drivers do not move over to let you by....well, some of them do - eventually. But more often than not, you have to weave in and out of the traffic to get anywhere! I had to laugh several times when I thought about just how European drivers would not only give you the horn and the flipped bird..but a great lecture as well as they ran you into the ditch if you did not get out of their way!!!

The weather has been bright, hot and beautiful. Perfect for the long weekend - I hope it continues as we head back into Canada for a couple of days. Arrrrrgh....expensive gas!!!

turmoil

Life is chaotic
momentarily....

bags are being packed
even though
things
must be bought.

when?
after the day
has been slept away
by those
who
hold the power.

Still
work will stop
and
we will
forget
as we drive away!


Looking forward to Thursday morning - early!!!!