Wednesday, July 20, 2011

The bus through beauty – Calgary to Vancouver



Yesterday we took the bus for fifteen hours from Calgary to Vancouver. I’d never come this way before and had to do a lot of that ‘accepting’ of scenery I spoke about yesterday. 

I read about the economic crisis as we rolled along, sitting next to a lovely lady named Vi. Vi was originally from Calgary, and back in the 1950s had cut her hair to compete in the rodeo at the Calgary Stampede. She did fine apparently, until her brother ratted her out. Vi told me about her poker games, her improved health, her new boyfriend, her tattoo plans, her 9 grandchildren and her 4 great grandchildren. She told me about bears, and pointed one out to me. (I got to see a Bear! I got to see a Bear!) She told me about the west and her sense of things. 

When I asked her my question about the future of the country, she told me that although she’s an NDP-er, she voted conservative because the Liberals were corrupt and   no one could elect an NDP-er in her area (she’s from Merritt BC). She said the economy is booming where she is. Although the box stores were everywhere. She showed me the gorgeous Shuswap Lakes and she told me how she learned she can communicate with animals, and heal people.

4 comments:

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  2. You are missing the fun in Toronto. Right now the humidex is 48. My shoulder is dislocated but I am used to it. (It has happened four times on the left side, just cannot use it for much). Tried to get on fire fighting in northern Ontario but could not convince smokey the bear I could still be useful making sandwiches all day (freeing an able body person to do the real stuff) Apparently they have figured out that a 69 year old man cannot run very fast if the fire jumps the line a few hundred kilometers or so and we have to run for our lives. It was the smell of the forest fire in Dresden that made me apply. I guess I would have had trouble explaining my shoulder not functioning 100% I love Banff! G

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  3. Hey hey Lesley, Mac and Sidney!! great to hear about your trip TO Vancouver, now what your time IN Vancouver; your welcoming committee (ME!) at 11 pm. at the bus station in Coquitlam and our subsequent FABULOUS get together in my little tree-house condo in Burnaby! Dont forget to post the pic(s) I sent you. It was so great to spend time with the three of you and have Arran and Teresa over, get caught up, drink beers and wine and just hang out in the burbs, is it, the park with all the racquets and balls I had bought at the local thrift stores! Pity that Sidney is still nervous with his swimming though! A tres pity also that Jennifer and her boys werent with us, cos that definitely would have worked! Anyways, I wonder how Victoria was and about you guys trekking through the suredly wet trails and climbers of the ancient and provocative Walbran and camping there and rendez vous ez and whatever. How is Sidney faring? What a terrific guy he is! I am so impressed at how he is taking it all in..... twill be the makings of him (except for swimming! ;} ) I am coming along nicely with my on line course and now comparing trends and roles IT learning here and in Nepal (of all places). Enough. I look forward to your return to celebrate your birthday, Lesley. Lots of love, Dyane

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  4. Thanks for these comments Graeme, John and Dyane! And what a shame Gian/John that we won't see you in this part of the world. Dyane, thanks again for the wonderful welcome to Vancouver. We had such a great time with you.
    xo L.

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