Day Two at the Castle

Yesterday was intense.  I'm learning a lot, being teased, making new friends.  I'm finding new people to respect and learn from, and a whole whack of books that I want to take home.  It's a great group and a great location.

Last night I went to bed early, and actually fell asleep.  I slept four hours in one stretch--and then slept for another couple.  That was pretty much the most sleep I got in one night since, well, forever.  I woke up super early though (4:30!) so spent some time talking to people at home, and then went for a walk.  It's a lovely time of the morning...quiet and peaceful.

This is a place for solitude.  Solitude is a grand thing!  I may just have to make this an annual affair.

A day at the castle

My purpose for being in Colorado is to attend a writers workshop which coincidentally will allow me to spend some time with one of my favourite people.  She tells people that we have been friends for twenty years, and I hadn't stopped to absorb that.  It doesn't seem that long...it also seems like forever.  She is someone who has earned my trust, someone that I will drive a few hours to see, someone that I treasure as much as it is possible for me to treasure anyone.

She is a brilliant writer.  She has insight, and a clever way to put words together.  She observes things that I only wish I could see. She is beyond delighted to be here, and it is fun to share in that joy.  This is, I think,  her safe place.

It scares me half to death.

The conference is small and cozy, and in the most unexpected of locations.  Spectacular scenery, very friendly people, seemingly very well planned.  I have an historic room and a four poster bed.  The program is flexible, and I have lots of choice.  It should give me everything that I need.

The problem is that what I need may require me looking at things that I had very firmly sent to a corner with a strict admonition to behave.     What if they come to the party and have a grand old temper tantrum?

And what if I can't write?

Then again, what if I can?

Happiness is a Day at the Zoo

I am currently in Colorado Springs.  I arrived on Friday expecting to be in the mountains, but instead, it is more like a semi-desert with a mountain view.   I have so far found the people to be exceptionally kind, the plants intriguing, and the signs hung on overpasses declaring "welcome home, daddy" to bring unexpected tears.

I've been staying at the Doubletree here, and I have had a most pleasant stay.  For one, they hand out chocolate chip cookies upon arrival, and they are better than mine.  I hate to say that.  But it's true, and I am soon going to be on the hunt for a copycat recipe, or to make one myself.  I'm so tempted to grab a dozen for when I leave.  You know, to test and stuff.

In a couple of hours, I'm meeting up with one of my favourite people in the world, and we are going to a conference together.  But when I was researching a place to meet up, I realized that the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is but ten miles away.  And I'm a real sucker for zoos.  Any zoo.  My favourite kind of day is to wander a zoo, laugh at the antics of animals, especially if they are in a large enough habitat, and learn something new.

I'm particularly fond of giraffes, so when I realized that this zoo has a large herd and a feeding station....well, I knew I needed that as much as I need a retreat.  So yesterday, a kind gentleman from the hotel gave me a ride, and a city tour, and I spent the day enjoying animals, the mountain air, the sun, a bit of breeze, giraffes and more giraffes, and for lunch....a foot-long dog "ready to party".

Here are a few pics from the occasion...

Catching up

Last week, I went home to see my family.  The last time I was there was in August, to celebrate Mom and Dad's golden anniversary.  This week, I went home just because. 

I promised myself that I would take some time to rest, that I wouldn't be too busy, that I couldn't see everyone.  I mostly kept that promise but it was hard.  I don't like being that close to people that I love and not being able to see them all or spend hours on the phone with them.  I didn't HAVE hours.  I had moments.  So to all my friends who are upset that I didn't connect with you, I am sorry.  I hope you can forgive me and I hope you can understand.  I'm blessed that there are so many of you...I'm grateful.  I love you but I just can't make it happen every time. And why am I writing that you may ask?  Because someone didn't understand and now I feel really guilty about it all.  So again, I'm sorry.

Here are some of the moments.

Dinner with Mom and Dad here.  After we got through the usual routine of who could afford to pay for what, I really enjoyed this private time with them.  It was ironic that my Auntie Bev and I decided to fly in on the same day...and it was unfortunate that snow delayed her flight be many many hours.  Consequently, she missed dinner, but I'm sure we ate enough to sort of make up for that.

I had lunch with Shelley, which was as always a delight.  We have much in common and we took advantage of the time to commiserate about our current situations.  And she told me about Italy.  I want to go to Italy.  Just not when a volcano feels the need to express its displeasure.

With the help of Boston Pizza, we hosted a party for all the kidlets and their assorted hanger-ons.  By that, I mean their parents and grandparents.  Can I just say how selfish my sister is for wanting those kids all to herself all the time??  Yes, in fact I can.  It's MY blog.  And also, that my newest great-niece is a gorgeous little thing.  And that my youngest niece is just growing up to be a lovely teenager, and that my  eldest niece is a really great mom, and seems to have found herself a nice man to share it with, and that my nephew is hilarious, and that it was a delight to see a little girl jump up and say 'my daddy is here, my daddy is here, my daddy is HERE!'?  Indulge me while I also mention that I love my aunt for saving my arm from coffee burn, and to express my thankfulness that said coffee landed on me and not on the bare shoulders of a 3 year old.  I don't think that the restaurant handled the evening very well, but I don't care.  From my perspective, it was a great evening full of crazy sunglasses and lots of teasing and best of all, we didn't have to cook or clean.  So thank you, kind serving people.

I had coffee with some touchstone-type of people, and we found a new little spot called the Three Bananas Cafe.  You should go, and your latte could look like this too.  If it looks that good, think of how wonderful it would taste (it was sooooo smooooooth).  Add in a good healthy dash of laughing and it was a great way to spend an hour.

My sister-in-law and I met for sushi.  I love sushi.  I can eat a lot of it.  She weighs half of what I do, and she can eat more.  She can eat a lot more.  I can't figure out how.   I'm jealous.  I'm also very grateful for the quiet afternoon we had for there were some real heart-to-heart moments coupled with some crazy laughter.  It could not have been more perfect, and I will always treasure it.

Then there was dinner with my parents, one of my best friends, and my very funny aunt.  Said friend shared the hotel room with me so that she could work on her novel.  I marvel at her mind, for the world she is crafting could never come out of my black and white way of looking at things.  Don't worry, I'll brag about her book when it is published, so you can find it at a bookstore near you.  She needed to ask my prairie parents about some much-needed detail, and much mirth ensued.

Then there was just one more gathering before we left the city.  Our 'ladies-who-brunch' club gathered and laughed and caught up, and told stories.  I loved that there were a few generations there, of people that I have known through my church for decades.   That was just one of the absolute best times, and I hope we make it a tradition. It was a GREAT idea!

It's always great to visit that home, and it's just as wonderful to come back to this home.  Life is good!

Toronto

My husband has been travelling a lot lately.  Me?  Not so much.  So when we had a four day weekend, we took a trip that was in some respects, a compromise.  We took advantage of the opportunity to go away for a few days, and then we took advantage of the privilege of being home for a couple more.

We took the more rural route to Toronto.   The drive was leisurely and it was warm enough to open the sun roof, a sure sign that spring has arrived.   When we saw a billboard saying that the 'most amazing coffee, two blocks left' in Madoc, well, away we went.  This little place delivered, and while it was really smooth latte, I think my husband makes a better one.  Still, if you are on highway 7, we recommend this for sure.

We stayed at this hotel, which just has so much to look at in it's historic lobby.  The room has high ceilings, big windows and a lot of space.  It had everything but a coffee maker, which frankly surprised me quite a bit.   No coffee maker?  Nothing to heat water?  What's up with that?  As much as I loved the hotel, there is NO way that I'm going to spend $7 to have two cups of coffee delivered to the room.  By that I mean, the $7 menu price, plus the $3 delivery charge plus the 15% service fee.  Good thing there were two Starbucks within a couple of blocks!

What I did love about the hotel, however,  were the doormen.  They were so much fun and they remembered us by name.  They were always laughing...and I appreciated that. Well done, guys!

We admired the history and architecture of St. James Cathedral.  We walked through the madness of the St. Lawrence market.  Our true destination was the Distillery District.  And Soma...without a doubt, my favourite stop.   The weather could not have been more accommodating and our day could not have been more perfect.  The people watching was great, and there was a young string quartet playing in front of this strange sculpture.  We had coffee, and freshly made hot cross buns...but the best part, was just being together.  He was showing me something that he had discovered, and there was something very sweet about that.

The Distillery District--now one of my favourite places!  And oh yes, he found a fixer-upper so he's happy too.

The best friends

I've been reflecting lately on friendships.  I've lost some, gained some and learned to treasure some.

North of Toronto, we have some dear friends who live in a lovely house by the lake.  Last year, we started our road trip at their house and it was perfect!  These friends are the kind who will drive for an hour just to have dinner, and that is what we did on Good Friday.  We chose the restaurant by choosing a location of the city that was midpoint for both of us.  None of us knew any more than the internet told us.  Also, it wasn't our first choice, but it turned out so well.

The restaurant is a surprising little cafe sandwiched between two service stations, and sorely lacking parking.  But our hostess was so charming and accommodating and the evening was a delight.  My friend, who represents all the best in French style, sophistication and class chatted in French, and I even practiced a wee little bit.   We had the best time--one of those great, tuck in the treasure chest of memories times.

While the food certainly helped, I think that our evening was so delightful because of our company.  What a joy it is to spend time with another couple who is truly happy.  We don't see each other more than once or twice a year, but when the opportunity comes close, we do our best to take advantage of it.  Our husbands like each other.  We tease, we laugh, we tell stories, we laugh some more.   We value the time that we get to share together.

She taught me how to do that, to treasure moments.   It often surprises me that our news and our stories can fit into whatever time we have.    I know that I can call her in a time of crisis and she will be there for me.  I hope she knows that I would do the same for her.  She sang at my wedding, and I sang at hers.  We have known each other since singing together in college, oh so many years ago.   Her parents have become my Quebecois parents.  We share in each other's successes and triumphs, and we pray for each other's struggles and difficulties.  We trust each other enough to share our defining moments.

Eleanor Roosevelt once said "Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart".   She must have had a friend like mine.

Not going anywhere but...

...allow me to whine a little?

I WANT A LICENCE to drive the car that sits in the garage every time my husband goes away for work.  I really really really REALLY do.

It just ain't gonna happen.

waaaaaaa