Wed Aug 27/08 – Day 5
Have had a couple of days of wonderful reconnecting with friends and family in Calgary. Rod’s 2nd cousin Alex took us under his wing on Monday and having time off work squired us around to a couple of motorcycle shops and of course Rod’s home away from home – the Home Depot. Cousin Maryon has some challenges with lighting and Rod replaced all 3 ballasts in the kitchen ceiling fixture, took apart the kitchen tap and tightened all the hinges in kitchen and bathroom cabinets. In more than 20+ years I cannot recall any vacation where he has not dug out some tools and fixed something – even in hotel/motel rooms. He loves it – it’s his nature to always want to help and leave things better than he found them.
Tuesday dawned rainy and c-c-c-cold!!!! I’m not keen to don rain gear and set out on the days activities which include lunch and dinner from the SW of Calgary to the NW. Maryon graciously offered us her car for the day and gratefully we accept (must be getting ’wussy’ in my older years). Maryon is a very gifted artist and has painted on all types of mediums from canvas to wood but her forte lies in painting china and she has stunning plates and vases of every kind. At 82, she is very active and loves to make things for all the family from kids, to grandkids to great grandkids to remember her by. Rod’s mother was her aunt and she has regaled us with many family tales and memories. She generously gifts us with a beautiful filigree plate she has painted with pansies which Rod loves as they always remind him of ‘happy faces’.
We are meeting the daughter of an old friend/client who now lives in Calgary and are the proud parents of 6 month old twins Jacob and Nancy. When we meet at Milestone’s at Southcentre there is another young lady with Naomi and Rod holds out his hand to introduce himself to her. With a twinkle in her eye she says her name is Desiree. What a surprise!!! We have not seen her since she was 8 and moving to New Zealand with her folks. She is now a delightful young lady of 19 and has been helping her sister out with the twins since they were a week old. We look forward to Naomi’s monthly updates and pics. In a week they are taking the twins for their first trip to Disneyland to start their goal of having them there for each month of the year by the time they are 15.
The afternoon takes us to the NW of Calgary to meet up with my dear friend of some 35+ years originally from Czechoslovakia now the Czech republic. We are remembering that it was 40 years
last Thursday (Aug 21) since the Russian tanks rolled into Prague. By all accounts, prior to WWII it was one of the richest countries in Europe and having been invaded by Germany, was sold out to the Russians at the end of the war. Since the ‘Velvet Revolution’ of November 1989 and the fall of the Berlin wall in the summer of 1990 it has reclaimed its independence and is rich with opportunity. Eliska whisks us down for a quick visit with her son who is now married with a lovely daughter of his own. We are enchanted to meet Kail, now 10 months old and proud Mom, Heather.
We enjoy a wonderful dinner at Eliska’s, complete with one of my personal Czech favourites – palačinky. These are very light crepes that you add warmed fruit (in this case fresh blueberries and strawberries) to one edge, roll up and top with fresh whipped cream. Yumm! After dessert and coffee Eliska takes us and the leftovers down to her friend Bill who lives nearby in an interesting house that he is busy remodelling. We get the contractor/realtor tour and hear what the ‘next’ plans are to be. Bill is a giant of a man and when he hugs me goodbye as we take our leave, picks me up off my feet like I was a toothpick (which I assure you I am not).
Today has dawned bright and sunny albeit quite chilly. Rod has dropped me at Chapter’s to use their wireless internet at which point I have discovered that if you have a registered Starbuck’s card ( and what self-respecting Vancouverite does NOT???) it gives you 2 hours of free internet access per day. Thank you – much appreciated. Rod is off to find a stainless steel fabricating shop that he hopes will be able to mend my flagpole so we can use it when we leave for the states which will be tomorrow morning. Then we’ll need to find the flag shop here in Calgary to buy a new flag as mine, having been run over is in pretty sad shape.
We head to Okotoks this afternoon to have dinner with former Vancouver friends Julian & Laura. Looking forward to catching up on their news.
Have had a couple of days of wonderful reconnecting with friends and family in Calgary. Rod’s 2nd cousin Alex took us under his wing on Monday and having time off work squired us around to a couple of motorcycle shops and of course Rod’s home away from home – the Home Depot. Cousin Maryon has some challenges with lighting and Rod replaced all 3 ballasts in the kitchen ceiling fixture, took apart the kitchen tap and tightened all the hinges in kitchen and bathroom cabinets. In more than 20+ years I cannot recall any vacation where he has not dug out some tools and fixed something – even in hotel/motel rooms. He loves it – it’s his nature to always want to help and leave things better than he found them.
Tuesday dawned rainy and c-c-c-cold!!!! I’m not keen to don rain gear and set out on the days activities which include lunch and dinner from the SW of Calgary to the NW. Maryon graciously offered us her car for the day and gratefully we accept (must be getting ’wussy’ in my older years). Maryon is a very gifted artist and has painted on all types of mediums from canvas to wood but her forte lies in painting china and she has stunning plates and vases of every kind. At 82, she is very active and loves to make things for all the family from kids, to grandkids to great grandkids to remember her by. Rod’s mother was her aunt and she has regaled us with many family tales and memories. She generously gifts us with a beautiful filigree plate she has painted with pansies which Rod loves as they always remind him of ‘happy faces’.
We are meeting the daughter of an old friend/client who now lives in Calgary and are the proud parents of 6 month old twins Jacob and Nancy. When we meet at Milestone’s at Southcentre there is another young lady with Naomi and Rod holds out his hand to introduce himself to her. With a twinkle in her eye she says her name is Desiree. What a surprise!!! We have not seen her since she was 8 and moving to New Zealand with her folks. She is now a delightful young lady of 19 and has been helping her sister out with the twins since they were a week old. We look forward to Naomi’s monthly updates and pics. In a week they are taking the twins for their first trip to Disneyland to start their goal of having them there for each month of the year by the time they are 15.The afternoon takes us to the NW of Calgary to meet up with my dear friend of some 35+ years originally from Czechoslovakia now the Czech republic. We are remembering that it was 40 years
last Thursday (Aug 21) since the Russian tanks rolled into Prague. By all accounts, prior to WWII it was one of the richest countries in Europe and having been invaded by Germany, was sold out to the Russians at the end of the war. Since the ‘Velvet Revolution’ of November 1989 and the fall of the Berlin wall in the summer of 1990 it has reclaimed its independence and is rich with opportunity. Eliska whisks us down for a quick visit with her son who is now married with a lovely daughter of his own. We are enchanted to meet Kail, now 10 months old and proud Mom, Heather.We enjoy a wonderful dinner at Eliska’s, complete with one of my personal Czech favourites – palačinky. These are very light crepes that you add warmed fruit (in this case fresh blueberries and strawberries) to one edge, roll up and top with fresh whipped cream. Yumm! After dessert and coffee Eliska takes us and the leftovers down to her friend Bill who lives nearby in an interesting house that he is busy remodelling. We get the contractor/realtor tour and hear what the ‘next’ plans are to be. Bill is a giant of a man and when he hugs me goodbye as we take our leave, picks me up off my feet like I was a toothpick (which I assure you I am not).
Today has dawned bright and sunny albeit quite chilly. Rod has dropped me at Chapter’s to use their wireless internet at which point I have discovered that if you have a registered Starbuck’s card ( and what self-respecting Vancouverite does NOT???) it gives you 2 hours of free internet access per day. Thank you – much appreciated. Rod is off to find a stainless steel fabricating shop that he hopes will be able to mend my flagpole so we can use it when we leave for the states which will be tomorrow morning. Then we’ll need to find the flag shop here in Calgary to buy a new flag as mine, having been run over is in pretty sad shape.
We head to Okotoks this afternoon to have dinner with former Vancouver friends Julian & Laura. Looking forward to catching up on their news.
2 comments:
Hello dear Linda Sue ~ I hadn't yet had a chance to check in with your blog so just took that opportunity now while I had my salad (no raspberries on mine!). I have to say it's delightful to once again read of your travels and my favourite part of ALL of it so far... is when you said "The light inside me that had grown very dim these past dark months has found an ember to rekindle on – Rod says it’s the first real smile in quite a long while – one that actually reaches my eyes. It’s a start."
Ya gotta love a start! And hoping you and Rod great travels as you move beyond the start of this much needed healing journey!! Ride safe & warm wishes ~ Tama
Hey Linda and Rod,
Really looks like you are having a good time, Hope all is well and the weather holds out for you,
Been really enjoying reading your blog everyday, keep forgetting about the time change and Well you know.
Hugs and kisses
Robyn
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