One more day until Beatrix’ vacation
begins! Then we are off to Winnipeg, Moose Jaw, and then Val Marie, to walk in
the hills along the Frenchman River. Nice quiet vacation.
In my usual fashion, I started packing
yesterday, and have just about everything laid out on the living room floor. In
contrast, Beatrix won’t start until after work tomorrow, the eve of our
departure. My practice is based on, “What have I forgotten?” With time to
remember and correct the error.
The garage shelves are up and – thanks to
Angus’ help – loaded with stuff. We need a twelve-foot extension ladder to get
to the top shelf, but that will wait for September. It feels really good to
have that whole project completed. As we complete these little alterations
around the house, if feels more comfortable, and permanent to me. I like that.
I’ve walking – very early on these hot days
– in the “cool” so to speak. Swimming is hard, gasping for breath at the end of
each length, watching with envy as others, not as trim as I, swim length after length
with apparent ease. I have a long slog ahead of me! Twelve individual lengths
in one morning is my record. Ten is the usual. I hope to go tomorrow at noon –
last swim before vacation. I have no idea if I’ll have the chance o swim in
Winnipeg or in Moose Jaw, so when I get home, I will essentially be starting
over. Walking will get done, either on the street or on the hills of southern
Saskatchewan. How many of you think that’s an oxymoron: “the hills of southern
Saskatchewan”? Amazing topography and history as well.
Angus (and parents) is taking us out to
dinner tonight at Cilantro and Chives, a local fine dining place. Really! He
phoned and booked the reservation, and I teased him about not having a tie to
wear. He didn’t bat an eye. He’s been to Ponoka before.
There is something about going on vacation
that unsettles me. It means ‘change.’ Routines go by the boards; surroundings
are different. In some ways, I’d rather stay home, as I did last year. There
are blessings in the change, of course. I see all my kids; have an 80th birthday party; see some
friends in Winnipeg; and get a tour of the half-finished Canadian Museum of
Human Rights courtesy of Gail Asper. Her family is the major contributor to
this project, and she is justifiably proud of it. It was her father’s dream.
Another blessing of the journey to Winnipeg
is that I get to see some friends and a cousin as well. Also get to tour the
highlights of Moose Jaw. Not many people know that Al Capone used Moose Jaw as
a way-station on his liquor trafficking route in the 20’s the last century.
There is a series of tunnels under the town that we hope to see. There are
other features as well…which I forget at the moment! (What else if new?)
We are taking a laptop computer with us, so
I may well have the chance to add to this journal during the next three weeks.
Things I’m looking forward to in the hills along the Frenchman River; hilltop
tipi stone circles, many thousands of years old. Aboriginal people camped on
the hills and watched for bison, so they could hunt them down for winter food and
other supplies. I have read that they used absolutely every portion of the animal,
guts, bones, skin and tongue! Nothing was wasted. The animals were literally
their life. Killing off the bison was like killing off the ‘people,’ as they
called themselves.
So, you’ll hear from me soon, I hope,
either from Winnipeg or Moose Jaw, or our B&B in Val Marie. Hope summer is
good to you. It’s 30° here!
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