Sunday in Vancouver

Alright, then.  Weeks later, let's tackle the February Vancouver trip again.  

I did a lot of walking in Vancouver.  Up early in the morning, then setting out to stroll and take photos of local art

and scenery and buildings.  I would head to a nearby Starbucks first and fortify,

then get going.  On the Sunday morning of the trip, I headed (post-Starbucks) through Robson Plaza,

then down around the Vancouver Public Library,

past BC Place Stadium,

and on into Gastown

before returning to the hotel. 

A good walk.

I was able to relax a bit, then it was time to make myself pretty

and catch a bus to meet up with Remi

at Chez Celine.  Nice to get to a neighbourhood I pretty much have never visited before, and nicer still to catch up with a former grad school classmate and friend whom I hadn't seen in far far too long. 

We each had a breakfast sandwich with an all-too generous serving of fries,

and when the meal was done, we strolled in the neighbourhood before he got in his car to return home and I caught the bus back to the hotel.

I don't think I napped before dinner.  I am pretty sure I read a bit.  As dinnertime approached, I made myself pretty again (ha!), and took a leisurely amble, indirectly heading to the restaurant. 

Dahlia was where Mark had chosen for a family meal.  It seems that he and Linda go there regularly for the oysters and are known to the staff.  It's a handsome space in a hotel lobby. 

I did like the oysters,

and I thought the scallop crudo was also good. 

My chicken milanese was fine enough. 

The two Gibsons I had were great. 

The service was alright.  Verdict:  Lovely space, maybe great for a cocktail and oysters at the bar.  But no matter.  Here's the embarrassing thing:  I had not seen Bella since before the pandemic.  No, nothing bad between us at all.  It was really happy seeing her at long last and catching up, sitting next to her at dinner.  We were missing Nigel (who is thriving in Bolivia, it seems) and Marie (who really should have been there, but ah well), but it was a nice family dinner just the same.

And that was Sunday!  Another fine day in Vancouver, and another full day ahead.... 

Happy birthday, Dad!

You would have been 83 today, Dad.  Happy birthday.  Gone for almost 14 years now - far too young a man to have died when you did.

No moroseness on my part.  Just a celebration for Dad, simple as that.

forty

Oh yes, I AM milking this birthday. Unabashedly so.

I will have fun posts on the food, the shopping, the people in my life, certainly. I just want to take a bit of time this morning while I linger over breakfast and lattes to take stock.

I am 40 today.

I have a man I love, one whom I will marry next year. Conrad grounds me, Conrad completes me.

I have family. I have a lot of family - steps and halves and such. At the core, though, is my sister Marie. We've been in this together all my life and most of hers.

I have three of four parents. I do not have a father alive any longer, and I wish he were here to celebrate. I am not sad, do not think that, just simply wishing he could enjoy this celebration and the ones still ahead.



I have no grandparents left. How odd to realize that.

I have a good job that I will still not comment about on this blog. I am employed, I have tenure, and I have great colleagues.

I have my health. I set a goal of being in the best shape of my life when I hit 40. I think I've come pretty close, though I've indulged well in food and wine this last week or so. No matter. Do I need to lose more weight? Well, maybe re-distribute it a little more and firm/tone up more. But I like how I fit my clothes, and I am pretty comfortable in my skin at this moment.

I have friends whom I love dearly. I have former friends I wish were no longer "former". I miss some people who have moved on in my life. I am thankful for my best friend (Todd), my Best Woman (Allison), Kendall, CG, Jeph, Martin (and Mark), BTH, the SF, Darth and Heidi
and the great group from library school, our Yoshi's friends, the good friends who have stuck by Conrad since before I knew them and him,

Louise and Sandra and Wayne and others in Terrace, the Don Diego's family, the Smelts and other swimming friends like Chris and Brian and Daniel and Frank.
The list goes on, and I struggle to name every one.

I have a good life. I have said that several times to Conrad lately, and also to TK when we chat. Oh sure, I want to win that Lottery ($50 million? I MUST buy a ticket today!) and have a life of ease. But I've earned every grey hair starting to poke through, every wrinkle, every memory, ever difficulty and every reward.

So, yep: totally milking 40. Why not?

And thanks all of you who read this blog for being a part of it, too.