It's nearly nine months since my Dad died. On Monday I pulled out the suitcase containing his CDs from the corner of the dining room where they'd been sitting since I brought them by train from my Mum's house. I put on one of the last CDs I listened to with him (music bringing him moments of peace towards the end), sat on the hallway floor in front of my CD storage units, and arranged them in piles, A-Z. As Dire Straits turned into Meatloaf I integrated them into my CDs, mixing his eclectic choices with my own.
Here I am again, after a prolonged hiatus during which my Dad died of cancer. It's been a rough period of time and blogging has dropped way off the bottom of my priority list. Between work, a young child, housework and supporting my Mum, finding time to do anything beyond rest has been a challenge... but intercity train journeys are one of those liminal spaces where time seems to hang for awhile and possibilities unfurl.
No this isn't a post about marijuana! Last weekend I found myself unexpectedly weeding the garden and the drive – a novel experience for me. In the dozen or so rental locations I've lived in since 1996, this is the first one with a garden to look after.
Yesterday evening, without overthinking it, I changed into my running clothes after my toddler had fallen asleep and went for a run. First one in almost 5 months. The summer sun was low in the sky, the warmth of the day tempered with a cooling breeze.
Finally! After a decade and a half of coming to Canada I finally made it to a Maple Syrup “Sugar Bush”! I remember reading about maple syrup in a library book as a kid and being both excited and intrigued about the idea of tapping a tree for the sweet sap then boiling it down to make syrup that could freeze in the snow into candy. Well today's experience didn't tick all those boxes but it certainly didn't disappoint!
Whenever I travel to my in-laws in Canada, there are a number of things I like to do. One is go to the local mall. Something about wandering around it periodically over the last 14 and a bit years is comforting. I like to see which shops have changed and which remain the same. Eat in the Food Court (or the Timmies). Wander by myself, or with my wife, or with one (or both) of my parents-in-law. Although I'm evidently not a local, it's the kind of ordinary, grounding activity that somehow signifies I'm not a tourist either.
We're in Canada now, introducing our little one to my wife's side of the family. It's her first time encountering snow and so far she loves it! The highlight being the pure joy in her face as I pulled her and her Mom around in an orange plastic sled in the local park, especially sliding down the gentle slopes.
I'm a big fan of Eurovision – but their decision to allow Russia to still compete after invading Ukraine pissed me off. Glad to see they've caved into the pressure and reversed said decision. Must be comforting for the people of Kyiv right now to also know that the Champions League Final and Grand Prix won't be taking place in Russia later in the year. Sigh. These are correct actions to take – it's just that like many others I'm feeling bemused, angry, sad and powerless sat on my sofa while military action creates bloodshed in Europe of all places. It's 2022! Are we ever going to be able to be mature enough as a species to stop wasting lives and energy in this way? Probably not.