Thursday, December 25, 2008
snow days
Last week Friday a big dump of snow came down. Travel to and from work was dodgy and transit was really slow. Late December 23rd and up until late Christmas Eve, the snow fell and stormed and blew and packed down the street. Our car has decidedly remained socked in after numerous attempts somewhere between our parking spot by the garage and skating in the alley.
A has nearly shovelled the entire alley by now getting the car unstuck merely to go back to our spot (phew!).
Christmas at home, snow-dumped-on inclusive, has been magical and fresh. Birdie loves the snow and enjoys the adventure in it. Our neighbour borrows us their sled when we feel so inclined and Birdie loves it, particularly on her tummy and going really really fast. A was smart enough to grocery shop early for all our favourite goodies and bevvies so we're having a ball together - and not working!
Merry Christmas to you all and a happy happy season to you and yours.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
opa
My Opa is dying. Like the rest of us, just sooner.
Not very far beneath the surface, he's a true cowboy. He didn't want to leave his home country of Paraguay but, he fell in love with Oma and... well since she was immigrating to Canada with her parents and siblings, Vancouver-bound he a-went. Opa loves to tell stories about his early years in the Colony living off the land, playing in the peanut fields, breaking horses, pranking his friends (and foes), hunting (out of necessity to survive) rogue jaguars and drinking ta-da-daah in the early evening shade. And, he's a stellar story-teller, his legs wagging back and forth with excitement, his convincing tone of dark moments, his quiet giggling-wheezy laugh when someone is about to get it, and the loud clap of his hands when the peak of the story is upon his audience.
Sheesh, I really don't know how to think of my life without this man.
He's fought a handful of cancers and asthma, openly overcome alcoholism, and proven to be the one unflinching source of unconditional love to me. Opa loves me a lot. He loves Birdie a lot. He loves A a lot. He loves each one of his own... a lot. Opa's best quality is his ability to make every single person around him feel as though he/she is the most special person in his world.
How will I refer to 'Oma' now since oma-n-opa is pronounced as one word?
I've let him go in my heart but my future feels incredibly tenuous.
For now I'll keep eating Smarties, laugh-cry at Sylvester & Tweety or Roadrunner & Coyote cartoons, look lovingly at a really big bbq steak (seriously, who knew a steak could be sentimental - particularly for this veggie-head), drive by the DQ on near Earles Street and this time, after driving around the block two times (another long story), I'll stop in and order a vanilla dip cone.
Not very far beneath the surface, he's a true cowboy. He didn't want to leave his home country of Paraguay but, he fell in love with Oma and... well since she was immigrating to Canada with her parents and siblings, Vancouver-bound he a-went. Opa loves to tell stories about his early years in the Colony living off the land, playing in the peanut fields, breaking horses, pranking his friends (and foes), hunting (out of necessity to survive) rogue jaguars and drinking ta-da-daah in the early evening shade. And, he's a stellar story-teller, his legs wagging back and forth with excitement, his convincing tone of dark moments, his quiet giggling-wheezy laugh when someone is about to get it, and the loud clap of his hands when the peak of the story is upon his audience.
Sheesh, I really don't know how to think of my life without this man.
He's fought a handful of cancers and asthma, openly overcome alcoholism, and proven to be the one unflinching source of unconditional love to me. Opa loves me a lot. He loves Birdie a lot. He loves A a lot. He loves each one of his own... a lot. Opa's best quality is his ability to make every single person around him feel as though he/she is the most special person in his world.
How will I refer to 'Oma' now since oma-n-opa is pronounced as one word?
I've let him go in my heart but my future feels incredibly tenuous.
For now I'll keep eating Smarties, laugh-cry at Sylvester & Tweety or Roadrunner & Coyote cartoons, look lovingly at a really big bbq steak (seriously, who knew a steak could be sentimental - particularly for this veggie-head), drive by the DQ on near Earles Street and this time, after driving around the block two times (another long story), I'll stop in and order a vanilla dip cone.
Saturday, December 06, 2008
alone
Following two very emotionally charged weeks at work due to an inexplicably unfortunate incident, and one week of catching up on the normal things at work and home - all the while dealing with the longest cold of all time - I've got the weekend alone at home. A and Birdie went to the Prairies for five days. A has cool documentary work going on that he's got to travel there for while Birdie gets to sneak a Granny/Papa/Auntie visit in. It's funny how the timing worked out after all the madness of November. It's like we all get a vacation from ourselves - our usualness.
I catch myself planning like Birdie is here. For example, I've got to eat this breakfast quick so I can... do what I want. Got to maximize this quiet moment on the computer so that... I can do what I want. It's very anti-routine while freeing.
It's 2:30 pm and besides sleeping in until 9 am - wow - I've cleaned the entire house, done a load of laundry, shaved my legs, took a shower, made plans with a friends, all the while I listened to some faves:like Radiohead In Rainbows, Arcade Fire Funeral, Depeche Mode Violator, John Coltrane The Gentle Side of John Coltrane, unpacked a few boxes, organized some closets and cupboards, written a blog, and drank a carafe of coffee. Yes, I have enjoyed my own distractions in between and rested a good deal as well. Not a worry there...
I do think this is therapy - being alone. Sometimes I forget how much I like me. I like being alone. I always have. I like being with A, and Birdie too. To tell you the truth I think they like me better when I have a little alone time though. Ultimately, it's good for us all.
Now, off to find a movie in the pouring rain with my umbrella. *Sigh*
