Spring 2013

Tags

Backpacking, Birthday, Bow River, Calgary, Calgary Flood, Calgary Flood 2013, Camping, Elbow River, Glenmore Reservoir, Grass Pass, Hiking, Kananaskis, Kootenay Park, Mother's Day, Motorcycle, Music, Point Campground, Retirement, Stanley Park, Triumph Bonneville, Upper Kananaskis Lake, Waterton Lakes National Park, Wildlife

Calgary is under siege, torrents of water spilling over the banks of the Bow and Elbow rivers. Downtown is closed and the community where I work evacuated. Eyes glued to the TV screen, film clips stream in from all over the province: a mud slide eroding the Trans Canada, a house floats down the river, a brightly colored swing sets rises like a cheerful beacon from a lake of muddy water. It’s the first day of summer.

Tyler and I watched from our bicycles as a man in a kayak paddled towards higher ground. Emerging from the boat, his family surrounded him as he relayed a grim picture of the situation at home. His wife burst into tears.

Today I’m grateful for a fridge full of food, clean water to drink and a warm dry place to rest my head. I’m thankful for what I have and who I have. It’s amazing to me how, in the face of such destruction, a certain camaraderie emerges in a city of a million. All wanting to help, all wanting to do something to ease the devastation of strangers.

In the spirit of gratitude and thanks, a visual summary of Spring, 2013:

Man in Kayak coming from his flooded home near Stanley Park

Water pouring from Glenmore Reservoir

That’s a lot of water!

Our beloved Sandy Beach Bridge has seen better days.

Residential streets near Stanley Park

Calgary Flood 2013

Stanley Park tennis courts and pool is a lake

First hike of the season

Spring hiking up Grass Pass

Coke can from 1983

The mountain dog

Rummy in the woods

Never disappointing

First backpacking trip of the year

It’s just a phase.

So hungry, he couldn’t even lift his head. Nom, nom, nom.

Getting the tour of my Bonny!

Spending some time with Margaret Thatcher (Maggie)

Rain or shine, we’re out there riding!

Breaking Maggie in

Mowin’ it old school

Mother’s Day in Waterton

Baiya the busybody

Bear’s Hump in Waterton

Any boyfriends?

“They just use your mind and never give you credit. It’s enough to drive you crazy if you let it!”

He’s had a few, he’s about to retire, it’s his 60th birthday. Who gave this guy a knife?

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5 Bits of Wisdom Everyone Ignores But Shouldn’t

Tags

Calgary, Cat, Family, Friends, Husband, Kimberley, TGIF, Words of Wisdom, Work, Working for the Weekend

I collapsed into bed last night exhausted from the day and feeling that the week had been an endless list of to-dos that I really didn’t feel like doing. Though I’d completed tons of stuff over the course of the week – some things I’d even tout as accomplishments, I still felt profoundly unsatisfied. I hadn’t spent any time with friends and I’d all but ignored my husband. My cat showed his neglect by puking all over my bed. My wrists were aching and my eyes dry from sitting zombie-like at a computer all day (and all night). Aside from the flight of stairs I climb (down) each morning, I’d been absolutely sedentary. And then today, I read this:

Words Of Wisdom Everyone Ignores — But Shouldn’t

As the article says, this advice is so obvious even worms get it. But I needed the reminder, a list of instructions if you will, on how to keep my head up, my path clear and my mind on track to focus on what’s most important. As we head into the weekend, it’s time for family, friends and a vacation from pesky to-do lists. I never want to be one of those people who are “working for the weekend” but I have to admit, today is a TGIF kinda day.