It was a pristine and warm day yesterday with a pleasant cooling breeze coming in from the ocean.
I had more time than usual on my Tuesday off as I had completed my laundry the night before on my return from work.
After 2nd guessing myself a couple of times, I opted to walk up for a haircut as it would have to be done in the next week anyway, and I reasoned that I would have a better day at the annual office “pitch and putt” on Friday without an unruly mop of damp, sweaty hair to deal with. I got it chopped down to finger length and the lady trimmed my eyebrows too. It’s as close as I have been to my 1986 India look in a while (except of course now I am older and less easy on the eyes.)
After doing a bit of grocery shopping I returned home to find the rebate cheque for my recent eye exam and purchased eyeglasses in the mail and so I walked up to the bank to deposit it and then segued over through the park to 2nd Beach to capture a modicum of that glorious sunshine.
I stopped at the concession stand and bought myself a Hagen-Daz ice cream bar, although I usually steer clear of sweets. But the cold ice cream eaten standing in the shade of a maple tree by the public pool was a pleasure that had me remembering how much I enjoyed this sort of thing as a child in Winnipeg. Of course back then it was two scoops of a no-name brand in a papery but edible cone.
I decided to walk up to “Averyville” (David Campbell’s coined phrase for the stretch of beach on which Kent Avery practices his art) to see if my friend was at work balancing rocks on the beach but though there was still strong evidence of the articulate work he’d done last week (still standing despite the threat of wind, waves and mischievous humans) Kent was nowhere to be seen.
I found a shady bench where I parked myself for a while longer listening to the soft cacophony of passers by, wheeled apparatus, beach splashers and the intermittent calls of crows and gulls.
I had planned to walk further but it was simply too hot and so after sitting and enjoying a short rest, I took my time returning along the seawall heading in an easterly direction.
I had no idea no idea what the rest of my day held in store, but was confident that it would remain a great day no matter what happened.
And it did!
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Hi Baba
Thanks for sharing your Tuesday. I took the walk up the beach with you in my mind's eye.
This morning I have been aware of recent losses, not caught up in
self-pity as I sometimes am-just aware of the empty space left behind and my reluctance to commit to new friends. Not that I have had a lot of offers lately, but neither am I willing to put myself in the places where that might occur. I have a preference for solitary walks, and naps at home. All part of aging I suppose.
I remember how I tried to convince mom to join a group unsuccessfully I might add) after Bill died. Does the process of detaching from this world necessarily entail letting go? I have Doug of course, so I cannot quite compare. I just
notice I am less available to go to parties, or other similar events to which I am invited.
I looked at that pic of you--the young monk- at a time when most of us were still trying to attain the world. You already were in the process of shrugging it off. I like the idea of wearing the world as a loose cloak, although I cannot remember where that phrase comes from--lol a testament to how loosely I have worn the world. I am beginning to forget so much.
Summer this year in Edmonton has been glorious. Warm and with very few bugs. I can stroll or relax on park benches and take in the long days of light. We are off to Portugal in a week for a two week period. Doug has a conference and I am a tag along. I am looking forward to a visit to Ciudad Real (La Mancha) in Spain. The image of Don Quixote has arisen over and over lately--my closest friends have often been the tilters at Windmills. I remember Paul Stewart comparing you to the Lone
Ranger--( a quixotic image) --to say nothing of Zorro. Shall I take my hat?
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