I went back down South to Virginia a few months ago and never thought to post that on here. Next time I take a trip hopefully my posts will not be so retrograded, but here goes this one...
So my very best friend in the whole wide world has moved on down to Virginia to be with that farmer man I mentioned years ago. She is not just with him but also with the little one that they created, not to mention the cast of family and friends that exists in that world. For this fact, I needed to go down and see them all myself. In late May I set off to be with Beth, and I set off by bus.
The Greyhound, alone, for 4 days is a strange experience. I actually met a very wonderful person who I talked to for over a day of the journey, and once I got past the same exact stops I had seen one year prior on my trip to Montreal, it was alright. Going through New York was terrifying though since the bus/train station was evacuated immediately after I arrived. Dragging my many bags through the crowded New York streets after being on route for 3 days was labourious to say the least. Despite the journey, the arrival was what was important for this trip.
Seeing Beth with baby in arm was a beautiful moment. I realized "wow, she's a mama" and was taken aback by what that all meant. Arriving at the family home I was pleased with the beauty of my friends new life. The home is huge and gorgeous, occupied by their family of three, as well as Beth's new Father-in-law who owns the home as well as her sister-in-law who is the most accomplished and impressive teenager I have ever met. To be honest, this journey was very personal and so I won't relish too many details. Most of the trip was not in what I did or saw, but rather in the words spoken between myself and my dearest friend. There were definite trials in my time there, though not being there would be an insurmountable trial in comparison.
The end of my journey in Virginia was capped off by a short stint in Richmond. This, in combination with the near month prior, was honestly life changing. I experienced a lot of beauty in Richmond. The richness of the people I stayed with, the atmosphere of their lives, and the music and art that inhabited every moment of my days. All of this was too wonderful, which was apparent on my second long Greyhound journey that I took. This second trip was from Richmond to Spokane Washington, and it had to be the most emotional experience that I can recall having. Those days traveling across the flat Midwest were bleak and full of contemplation. At the end of the journey I reached my destination which was the Sasquatch music festival with my then boyfriend and a friend. Unfortunately my desolate mind made for poor company and the trip was not all we could have hoped for. Despite the negative tones, Sasquatch boasted some amazing shows. The music was as wonderful as the setting of the Gorge amphitheater it was set it; The company was good but distant.
Upon arriving home, and having a lot of time to reflect, I conclude this:
Life changes constantly and rapidly. Keep every precious moment in gratitude and stay in those moments for their full run. Do not wish for the future and be happy that the past was as it was. Love people strongly, tell them when you do, and let them go as much as the time needs to.
I hope that in a few years I can also say this: Hard times come but they also pass. Though you might feel despair, people are not permanently gone. Just be patient.
I hope these words are true, and though I do not dream of what the future might bring, I do hope for the best.
Monday, September 9, 2013
Upwards and Onwards... (found this draft from long ago)
*I obviously wrote this when I was in Vietnam... long ago*
Today I am ending a very long couple of days, as we have managed to travel from a town called Pakse near the boarder of Cambodia, all the way up to Vang Vieng, Lao. The travels have been pretty good, and the time that we spent since my last message in Cambodia was great.
We left Siem Riep for a small town called Kratie. It was a really neat little town for two reasons.
1. There were river dolphins, which were alright
2. There was a cafe called "The Falling Red Sun" owned by a super cool guy named Joe, from Chicago. What was great about Joe was his HILARIOUS personality, and the fact that he somehow conviced his Cambodian male staff to pose for a calender called "The Dolphin Boys of Kratie". Our Tuk Tuk driver was July... too funny!
Today I am ending a very long couple of days, as we have managed to travel from a town called Pakse near the boarder of Cambodia, all the way up to Vang Vieng, Lao. The travels have been pretty good, and the time that we spent since my last message in Cambodia was great.
We left Siem Riep for a small town called Kratie. It was a really neat little town for two reasons.
1. There were river dolphins, which were alright
2. There was a cafe called "The Falling Red Sun" owned by a super cool guy named Joe, from Chicago. What was great about Joe was his HILARIOUS personality, and the fact that he somehow conviced his Cambodian male staff to pose for a calender called "The Dolphin Boys of Kratie". Our Tuk Tuk driver was July... too funny!
Hey little blog, I haven't forgotten you...
"Sometimes I forget that I have a blog. I go through chunks of time where it is completely off my mind and then *poof* I suddenly think about it. I probably stopped with the blog when I was done traveling, but forgot to get back into it when I did go on a trip this summer. So, I am going to write about my trip to Montreal, and maybe even about how Bonnaroo was last summer."
Whoa whoa whoa... apparently last year, around this time, I remembered I had a blog. Then, what did I do but begin to write the above post which never saw the light of day (or light of the public internet) and sat stagnant in draft version. So here I go, trying once again to put down in words the few travels that have occurred.
Montreal:
Three days on the bus lead us to a beautiful city. We first stayed at a hostel, which was charming in its old-feeling esthetic. Our room had windows that you pushed open and were screenless (my favorite). With these open we could hear the joyous sounds of the streets below, making the night feel beautiful. Walking around the area near the hostel, Karen and I commented on how "open and accepting" Montreal was, as there was a rainbow flag on just about every suface that could hold one. Days into the trip we discovered we were in the gayest part of the gayest district of Montreal... this was excellent.
As this trip happened over a year ago, my details are not perfect so this will be brief. We stayed with a couchsurfer named Rafael for the majority of our trip. I met him here in Edmonton when he was looking for someone to show him around our city, and he offered to host us when we came by his. Rafael was a thin, vegan, sailing buff who had good taste in music. He also had a roommate (and friends who stayed there as well) who were all journying to Osheaga as well, which worked out well. Most of Montreal was spent wandering around, as any good trip Karen and I go on is. We saw a lot of street performers at the Just for Laughs festival, as well as the Muppets live. Live guys, I'm not kidding.
There was also a trip to the biosphere (a way cooler space and science center), as well as a very full day of biking and picnicing. That day was actually spectacular, as we biked our hearts out, took a ferry to an island, and then biked some more. Once we could bike no further, we went to "Picnik Electronic" an electronic music festival held on the same island that Osheaga would be held the next weekend. You could drink there on the condition you brought enough food for everyone in your party (thus being justified as a picnic). There we danced and danced, drank and drank, and I even ran into an old friend from highschool whom I was hoping to see. Montreal also included a day with this same friend (Parneet) at La Ronde, where I rode my very first huge roller coasters. All of these things were wonderful.
Osheaga as a music festival was good but flawed in design, having some natural bottleneck areas which made wandering much more challenging than it had to be. Despite the setting, the bands were wonderful. Karen and I made a particularily brilliant choice to attend Knife Party over seeing the Black Keys. This was worth it undeniably as Knife Party killed it, whatever "it" is.
Anyways, Montreal was a beautiful place at a strange strange time in my life. Occurring between a break up and a brief relationship with a good friend of mine, the timing was odd to be doing such enjoyable things. Despite my emotional woes, it was a place of beauty, punks, drinks, music, and art. To that place - I shall return.
Whoa whoa whoa... apparently last year, around this time, I remembered I had a blog. Then, what did I do but begin to write the above post which never saw the light of day (or light of the public internet) and sat stagnant in draft version. So here I go, trying once again to put down in words the few travels that have occurred.
Montreal:
Three days on the bus lead us to a beautiful city. We first stayed at a hostel, which was charming in its old-feeling esthetic. Our room had windows that you pushed open and were screenless (my favorite). With these open we could hear the joyous sounds of the streets below, making the night feel beautiful. Walking around the area near the hostel, Karen and I commented on how "open and accepting" Montreal was, as there was a rainbow flag on just about every suface that could hold one. Days into the trip we discovered we were in the gayest part of the gayest district of Montreal... this was excellent.
As this trip happened over a year ago, my details are not perfect so this will be brief. We stayed with a couchsurfer named Rafael for the majority of our trip. I met him here in Edmonton when he was looking for someone to show him around our city, and he offered to host us when we came by his. Rafael was a thin, vegan, sailing buff who had good taste in music. He also had a roommate (and friends who stayed there as well) who were all journying to Osheaga as well, which worked out well. Most of Montreal was spent wandering around, as any good trip Karen and I go on is. We saw a lot of street performers at the Just for Laughs festival, as well as the Muppets live. Live guys, I'm not kidding.
There was also a trip to the biosphere (a way cooler space and science center), as well as a very full day of biking and picnicing. That day was actually spectacular, as we biked our hearts out, took a ferry to an island, and then biked some more. Once we could bike no further, we went to "Picnik Electronic" an electronic music festival held on the same island that Osheaga would be held the next weekend. You could drink there on the condition you brought enough food for everyone in your party (thus being justified as a picnic). There we danced and danced, drank and drank, and I even ran into an old friend from highschool whom I was hoping to see. Montreal also included a day with this same friend (Parneet) at La Ronde, where I rode my very first huge roller coasters. All of these things were wonderful.
Osheaga as a music festival was good but flawed in design, having some natural bottleneck areas which made wandering much more challenging than it had to be. Despite the setting, the bands were wonderful. Karen and I made a particularily brilliant choice to attend Knife Party over seeing the Black Keys. This was worth it undeniably as Knife Party killed it, whatever "it" is.
Anyways, Montreal was a beautiful place at a strange strange time in my life. Occurring between a break up and a brief relationship with a good friend of mine, the timing was odd to be doing such enjoyable things. Despite my emotional woes, it was a place of beauty, punks, drinks, music, and art. To that place - I shall return.
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