Golden hour

Golden hour

The period of time before sunset is called “golden hour”. I didn’t know that until 5 minutes ago when I did a google search looking for the word to describe it.

What did we do before internet? I remember the day when I was a pre-teen and the large set of World Book Encyclopedias arrived at our house. My father was an educator. At the time he was the high school principal in our small town. He knew how excited we would be to have so much knowledge at our fingertips. And we were excited!! My siblings and I spent hours those first few days looking up information on many random subjects. Those encyclopedias were very useful when writing essays, working on projects and doing our homework.

It was my father who first told me how to do internet searches, when at first we had to put a plus sign between words: time+before+sunset. He kept that last set up encyclopedias for many years after they became redundant. I think that was partly for sentimental reasons, and partly because he didn’t know what to do with something that was once so valuable.

When my husband was struggling with the effects of a brain tumour we would watch TV together. He could remember seeing actors in different movies, and wanted me to try to fill in the blanks for him so having a laptop handy it was quick and easy to look up the information that was always on the tip of his tongue, just out of reach of his memory.

The “golden hour” in reference to stroke victims is that first hour following a stroke where intervention can often make a difference. Unfortunately my father’s stroke was the more rare kind of hemorrhagic stroke. Even if he hadn’t already suffered in silence for most of the day before being discovered, quicker intervention might not have improved the outcome.

Golden hour also refers to the period of time immediately following an accident, illness or injury where medication or surgery can mean the difference between life and death.

With my iPad, iPhone and computer I can look up current and thorough and often accurate information without having two bookshelves full of encyclopedias that are out-of-date shortly after purchase.

…..one more item for my gratitude journal.

Water

What is it about active water that I find so fascinating?

I could sit in front of a water fountain or waterfall for hours, listening and watching. The way water interacts with itself, constantly changing paths and streams; the sound of waves hitting the shore near the ocean.

Not long ago I watch my young granddaughter scream with glee as she played with the water spouting from a frog at the gardens. She is only 2 years old and is discovering many new things every day.

I am much older than that, yet I seem to be discovering new things each day as well. Every second in the presence of moving water is new — it is never a repeat.

Misty morning

The sun is rising behind me as I walk toward the ocean. Today my new routine continues—for the fourth day in a row I have gone for an early morning walk. This morning I walked to the cruise ship terminal to investigate parking options for when my aunt and two cousins arrive for a few hours’ visit on the weekend.

Early mornings are quiet here. Along the way I came across crows scavenging, picking through what was left behind by partying crowds overnight. Two squirrels chattering away in what appeared to be either a heated discussion, or some sort of mating ritual. Seagulls are always numerous along the shoreline, interrupting the patter of running shoes along the concrete path.

Later this morning I will have to walk downtown for a meeting, maneuvering through the crowds of tourists. If only they knew how special the mornings are before they all get up and explore my neighbourhood!

Routine

How long should it take to establish a new routine? Now that I am attempting to semi-retire, I need to find ways to structure my day with positive activities.

Normally my work schedule has kept me very occupied. As a musician this schedule changes day-to-day and week-to-week. Some of the regular lessons and gigs stay the same, but all the extra rehearsals, short-term contracts and performances have made routine nearly impossible.

But that’s okay because all my life I have silently rebelled against routine. Michael came into my life with an ultra routine-oriented lifestyle. I found out later that his breakfast schedule (porridge Monday, Wednesday, Friday; cereal Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday) was established originally by his mother. His brain tumour and other conditions required serious routine. My approach to breakfast is “what do I feel like eating this morning?”

Yesterday I decided to start to a daily routine of a morning walk. Lots of people do that. It shouldn’t be that difficult, and it will be good for my physical health. This morning I went for a walk a for the 2nd day in a row, and am hoping that this new routine is established. We’ll see…..

Bandits

The familiar sound of paws scraping tree trunks startled me as I went to check my mailbox that evening. Raccoons are frequent visitors to our strata, crawling beneath the cedars in my backyard, sipping from the dish of water that I leave out for the stray cats and starting wars high in the trees.

Yes, there was a war! Many of the neighbours came out to observe the two males fighting over a female high in the pine tree. It looked like one of them chickened out and let the other guy win.

Many years ago when I lived in a different town, two young boys came to my door selling prints of paintings that their father had painted. For a very low price I bought one of two raccoons peaking out from a tree, titled “BANDITS”. At the time I had no idea how often I would be visited by these terribly cute bandits.

The water dish which I leave out on my patio day and night sometimes ends up on its side, or full of dirty water. Those are the nights that the raccoons find themselves thirsty. Cats are much cleaner, and don’t lift up the ceramic dish and play with it!

Even though I live downtown in a city, I love how almost daily I am witness to wildlife in my yard.

Coast to Coast

Aerial view of Trout Lake — almost home

For three weeks we drove across the country, then spent time at my daughter’s new home. For those three weeks I was amazed at the beauty of the new scenery that we passed through and experienced daily. Everything seemed so beautiful and new.

When I returned home and started looking at my own surroundings through eyes that had been refreshed by such a fantastic vacation and “reset”. I began to notice the little things that tourists notice and realize how much I have missed.

For the past several years my head has been buried in my work. When I go for walks or drives there is always a reason, and usually I am in such a hurry to get where I am going that I don’t see anything along the way.

We also have uniquely shaped cloud patterns that reflect colourful sunrises and sunsets. We have a bright moon that lights up the night sky and continues to shine during the day. We have trees and flowers lining the roads that wind through the hills and mountains. And we have an ocean — not the same ocean, but it is still an ocean.

This summer I have travelled from the west coast to the east coast of Canada, and back again. We drove 6000 km east and flew west. I experienced many times of reflection, good conversation, generosity and the kindness of strangers.

There is no BEST place to live. There might be a best place to live right now, but I think I could get used to living almost anywhere.

Vacation

Boating on the east coast

Our final day on the east coast was spectacular! Not only did we spend time with friends, students (in town for their family reunion) and a colleague, we were taken on a boat ride around Pennant Cove. The seas were calm since the cove is protected by several islands and a peninsula.

Being on that boat brought back so many memories of summers spent on Kootenay Lake during my childhood. Our summers then were a time to rest and relax and explore places and activities that we didn’t have time for during the year.

Since then I have gradually become more and more busy, to the point where summer fall winter and spring consisted of work, with very few short vacations.

The past month on the road has helped me remember those days where I could recharge my batteries. Those days when the only thing on the agenda was to get up and do whatever felt right at that moment.

I know it’s not too late to live like that again. My heart is full today and I don’t want to forget what these past 4 weeks felt like!

Priorities

web repair

Yesterday morning this spider’s web had been damaged probably because of strong winds during the night. I sat safely inside the living room enjoying my morning cup of coffee and watching what we think is a Cross Orb-weaver repairing the web, preparing it for another day of catching food.

This morning the web was still looking good, with a few fresh mosquitoes struggling to break free from the sticky strands.

As we drove through the fog on our way to do some sight-seeing we saw another web up near a telephone pole that glistened beautifully with the strands heavy with dew.

We arrived at my daughter’s new home a couple of days ago. The many surprises we found could have overwhelmed anyone, but my daughter very quickly took charge and started the clean-up and repairs one small step at a time.

The spider and her web will stay on the window for now—cleaning the outside windows is very low on the priority list. She is a reminder of how tackling one small strand at a time will soon result in something quite beautiful.

Pure love

This evening I witnessed something that surprised and impressed me. My son-in-law is a tough guy to understand and relate to. He is very intelligent, with a law degree, but unable to find a job. He expects kindness and consideration from his wife but is unable to offer the same to her.

We were eating dinner outside at the other grandma’s home, and a wasp came along for its share of the dinner. My granddaughter was absolutely terrified, as she could remember being bit by a wasp a couple of months ago. Her reaction to her fear was immediate and paralyzing. Her father grabbed and killed the wasp with his bare hands, catching it between his fingers.

I had never seen anyone do that before. My respect for him increased immensely in those few seconds. His quick action was evidence of the pure love he has for his little angel.