NORTH BUT NOT TO ALASKA

I left Oak Harbor, Thursday afternoon. I had Peter, Paul,and Mary's CD "Songs of Protest" blaring on my radio. Singing along with "The Great Mandela" and feeling as though I was flying down the road, even though I was only going 55 mph. I had been looking forward to this since Christmas. This was my Christmas present from my son Bryan. For Christmas, he gave me 4 days and 3 nights with him at the Fairmont Chateau, in Whistlers, British Columbia with him. That was the best part of the gift, I would get to spend 4 days with him! Love spending time with my children. He was going to ski at what was said to be on of the best skiing resorts and mountains to ski in the world. I was going to "Ski Bunny" at what was considered one of the best ski resorts in the world. That was okay with me, seemed like a fair division of labor.

Well, here we are at Saturday and we leave tomorrow evening. It has been all I hoped for a more. We have had a wonderful time. Bryan found the skiing not that good the first day, kind of ice chunks, but today he said he knew why they called it the best skiing in the world. He said the conditions were fantastic.

I have been swimming in their indoor/outdoor heated pool. I've been in the sauna, the steam room and the whirlpool. Feel completely relaxxxxxxxxxxxxxxed! I walked around the Village today. Not much to see, but it was fun to look at the stores they did have. Found a great kitchen store. Because I love gadgets, I can always spend time in kitchen stores. I imagine that kitchen stores for women are like hardware stores for men. I remember, on a Saturday morning, Gus could go off to the local hardware store for a box of nails, and I might see him back by mid afternoon. He might have the box of nails, or he might not, but he had a wonderful day! Same for me with book stores and kitchen stores. I can easily spend a day in either one, and may or may not buy something, but be perfectly happy with the experience.

We have had some wonderful conversations. I feel so blessed to have really interesting children. They have great thoughts and opinions and I always learn something from them. Yesterday, we discussed what constitutes racism vs prejudice. Found a whole new way of thinking about racism. Need to think more about it.

Tomorrow, we are thinking of trying their "luge" run. Hope we do, I've always wanted to see what that would be like to tear down hill. I use to be a "wild woman" on a sled. Once, on a dare, when sledding under the cars along the side of our hilly street. Tore a little hair and skin off the top of my head, but won the bet!

Well we're off to dinner.

HAPPY 2011

It's been a long time since I posted anything. It was a busy end of 2010 and many interesting developments and challenges. I believe the new year will be a time of growth and visioning for St. Stephen's and I hope for me. Charlie and I are still wandering around but not too far these days. We'll have to get out and about this week because I hear snow is coming next week. Oh No! I left Boston so I wouldn't have snow.

I'm learning to really value sun shine. We had a couple of lovely sunny and clear days last week and it was wonderful to see the mountains and to feel the sun on my face. I hear that Vitamin D is what everyone uses in the Northwest, I'll have to try it.

For many years now, I have avoided making New Year's Resolutions but I think I'll try to reflect on some possibilities:

1. I heard Billy Graham say his only regrets were that he wish he had prayed more and meditated more. I think he's right so I'm going to rectify that so I won't have the same regret.
2. I keep saying I'm going to write a book. Many of my friends have told me to write about my life. I thought it would be boring but they say not. I don't know if I'll write a book or about my life, but I think I'll write more of something.
3. I always feel so much better when Charlie and I take long walks, and when I have gone swimming on a regular basis. So I think like prayer and meditation, more exercise is something I want to do more of.
4. Traveling. I don't know how that would happen with my current economic situation but I remember 15 years ago when I didn't have two cents to rub together and I saved by emptying my wallet of change at the end of the week. When I had $20 I put it in a savings account. It took two years to gather $2000, but at the end of that time, I had enough to go to Paris, France. So, the manila folder is out (that's where I kept the change until it reached saving's bank level), and the change is going into it at the end of each week. At the rate of inflation, I hope it doesn't take 20 years instead of 2, but I am a person of unbounded hope!

I think that's a fair amount for this blog. What's your plans for the coming year? Any regrets to rectify?

Happy and blessed New Year and Epiphany.

Pat and Charlie