Sunshine, Freedom and A Little Flower

One of the really great things about living in the West End is the ubiquitous holiday atmosphere. I can leave my suite any evening if the weather is fine and the streets around English Bay Beach are crowded with people. They are out walking, talking and enjoying the beauties of nature.

I started my day with a workout. Walking to the gym in the sunshine I noticed there were many sailboats out in English Bay. I could probably tell by looking at the Bay whether it's a weekday or weekend. Sailboats=weekend.

In the afternoon I went to see a play called "The Andersen Project" with friends B and L. A very creative play - all six parts were played by the writer. It was about a writer from Quebec in Paris to write the libretto for a play adapted from one of Hans Christian Andersen's tales. The production was fabulous. Then we had drinks and a bite to eat at Bridges Restaurant on Granville Island. There were some pretty nice yachts going out and coming in. I'd like to take a dinner cruise around the area some day.

Anyway, I went back to the old stomping grounds, bought a paper and sat in Starbuck's at the end of Davie Street doing the NY Times crossword. It's so amazing that one can buy a coffee and sit there in a big easy chair reading or just resting virtually as long as one wants. I was there about two hours with the sun shining in the huge windows and finished the crossword just as the sun set. So I went for a short walk on the beach. People with frisbees and dogs, kids and strollers, lovers, friends, speaking many languages. The sunset behind the blue mountains was so beautiful I was sad that he wasn't there to enjoy it. I discovered that my sunglasses (which look as if they are rose-coloured from the other side) enhance the colours of sunset, the blues were deeper, the pinks were...pinkier! I suddenly had a great sense of well-being and realized how lucky I am to be where I am in time and space. I am at a time in my life when I can stop and smell the flowers and I have the freedom that a sufficient pension brings. Combine that with the beautiful location in which I live and it's very gratifying. There's only one thing missing...

Last Sunday was my sister's birthday and I spent the afternoon and evening with her. We had take-out Chinese food and a chocolate cake. Then we played Scrabble and watched a movie. Most enjoyable - I didn't know until then that my sister was a Scrabble fan, so I look forward to many more fun visits. Sure hope you had a happy birfday, Sis, I know I had a blast.

Yesterday I had lunch with my friend, H. from Manitoba. Most enjoyable. The first of many visits (I hope) from my Manitoba friends. Gary and Carolyn should be arriving in Manitoba on Monday and will be packing Mother up for her move out west. Good luck with that.

Take care....tata....and PEACE.

Just living is not enough... One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.
~Hans Christian Andersen