Two sleeps to go

I returned my 407/ETR transponder yesterday, so I am well and truly on my way out of Ontario. One day to go.

Today I spent a couple of hours with one of the most important people in my life, Bette. She has treated me like family ever since she has known me, some thirty-three years now. She is someone I look up to and admire, and I don't think any of us could have a better role model. I will miss her terribly. She said she was disappointed that she had no gift to send with me, and I told her that she has given me the greatest gift of all, her friendship. I carry her in my heart, always. What more could I possibly want?

Tomorrow I will see my Ontario family for the last time, until my next visit. I had better get my act together before that event, because I have to be ready to pick Shirley up at 7:00 Monday morning.

The Annual - 2014

 

I just got back from my annual visit to my home province of Quebec. As usual, it was amazing. We changed it up a little this time, though. Instead of going to the pottery exhibition in Val David, we took in an exhibition of Quebec music at the McCord Museum on Sherbrooke street.

I loved it. It was so well done. It tracked the music and musicians from the early sixties to the present, through the quiet revolution years, the civil rights movement in the U.S., the Vietnam war, and the FLQ crisis, just to name a few. You could listen to entire tracks or excerpts, as well as some of the famous political speeches. There were some iconic Quebec poets and songwriters, like Robert Charlebois and Gilles Vigneault, as well as Leonard Cohen and Jesse Winchester, who fled to Canada to avoid the Viet Nam draft in the U.S. McCord Museum

There was also a small exhibit devoted to Ben's, an iconic Montreal Deli that closed down a few years ago. Ben's was the place you went to after the clubs closed down. It was open 24 hours a day. Sad to see it go, but that is progress, I guess.

We drove by my old high school, Thomas D'Arcy McGee, which has been converted to lofts. I think it would be fun to live there, and there are three units for sale at the moment. But I am moving to Vancouver. See McGee.

I had forgotten how beautiful and interesting Montreal is, despite all the wackiness that goes on there. You will fall in love with it if you ever go.

 

Every year when I drive to Montreal I stop at the tourist information centre just inside the Quebec border. There are two signs there which clearly remind me of the quirky sense of humour Quebeckers have. Here they are, both "biology break" related, and they need no explanation.

 



Why the revival?

My friend Shirley is very wise. She decided, wisely, in 2010 that I should not go on that very emotional journey to France all by myself. She came with me and we nailed it.

Well, Shirley and I are at it again. Shirley decided, wisely, that I should not do a cross-Canada road trip by myself. So, we are going together. I anticipate a memorable journey.

You see, I am moving to Vancouver from Toronto, permanently. Well, as permanently as anything ever is in life. My plan is to experience the third third of my life there. Of course, if I live to be one hundred and twenty, it will turn out to be only the third fourth. We'll see.

Anyway, I have downsized to the point where I am anticipating writing a memoir entitled "My Life in Thirty-nine Boxes", and my meager possessions are now in Vancouver even though I am not. I still have a few things to do and a few people to see before I go. But, come hell or high water, Shirl and I are hitting the road on September 1st, 2014.

Gotta go. I am having lunch with my childhood friend, Heather.  No matter where either of us is, or how long it has been between sightings, we are forever linked.

Not dead, dormant

It has been four years since I posted anything, which does not mean that I haven't gone anywhere or done anything. It just means that I am a lazy procrastinator.

I went back and forth between Vancouver and Toronto a few times, and of course I did my annual pilgrimages to Quebec. These are part of my life and will cease when I cease.

I got away from our hideous Toronto winter, or Snowmageddon 2014 as I affectionately refer to it, courtesy of my friend and frequent flyer, Lorraine. She comes across these almost-impossible-to-refuse airfare deals, and this time she asked if I wanted to come along. It took me about four seconds to respond in the affirmative.

This trip was Toronto-Phoenix return, taxes in, for $190.00 CAD. It was a short, three day trip, but it felt like a week because of the contrast between this

       and this

We met a falcon, who is employed by one of the resorts to scare away the birds that are pestering the alfresco diners.

We attempted to climb a couple of small mountains (well, I attempted the climbs ... Lorraine completed them). On the way down on the second day I rammed my foot into a rock, and the bruised nail is still growing out seven months later. At least it didn't fall off.

The last day, we visited the (cactus) botanical gardens. This is worth the visit if you ever make it to Phoenix.

Everyone we met knew the name of the mayor of Toronto.

Because Lorraine is a super elite, gold, platinum, and every other precious metal member of several affinity programs, we stayed gratis at two of Phoenix's poshest resorts. Not only were the rooms (and one suite) gratis, but so were breakfasts and happy hour drinks and snacks. The only problem with this lifestyle is that a girl can get used to it.

I am eternally grateful to Lorraine for including me in this brief respite from one of the worst winters I have experienced in my long life.