Cal's Journal

Natalie held her phone and stared at the message: “Automated message from the BC Centre for Disease Control, Covid19 test result for Natalie D is POSITIVE. You and those you live with need to self-isolate now. You will be contacted shortly for contact tracing.” She sat there numb; shock, fear, and anger took turns coursing through her body and her mind. How could she be positive? Sure, she went to the restaurant but everyone there was safe. Or so she Read more…

The news we were dreading came today. Big White announced they were closing the hill six days early. Citing the closure of Whistler and increased traffic from the lower mainland. As well as the foolish party at Charley Victoria’s; the management of the resort made the regrettable decision. I wanted to ski fifty days this year; it doesn’t look like that will happen now. I could have worse problems. It certainly is a first-world problem. Others have much bigger problems. Read more…

My lovely wife and I had dinner at the Bullwheel last night.  The Bullwheel is a restaurant at Big White that always satisfied our culinary cravings. We enjoyed a great meal. With the safety protocols for covid in full effect, we felt very safe. We sat alone, separated from other tables by plastic walls. Dining out is a special treat in the coronaverse. Little did we know it would be the last time eating at the Bullwheel for the season.  Read more…

It was time for a road trip to Kamloops this week. It was a relaxing drive over the connector to Merritt and then on to Kamloops. The blue sky gleamed overhead as I crested the top of the mountains that shadow the Okanagan Valley. I breathed in the vast span of snowy peaks and white-covered trees. The road flew by and I cranked the stereo and filled the cab of my truck with sound. I cruised the highway, resisting the Read more…

She lay on the big recliner, the leather was smooth to the touch and the soft pillow cushioned her side. She drowsed and stretched out her legs then curled up against the pillow and purred with contentment. Gabby felt the shadow before she saw it. The tall figure leaned over her and gently shuffled her to her side. She pushed her to the edge. Normally Gabby would jump up and wander off. This time she stayed and shared her space. Read more…

One year ago today I started my unusual journey in the Coronaverse. March 23, 2020, I wrote my first entry in my journal. It has been a journey of exploration and awakening. I have learned a lot about myself and about the world we live in. Is it a new world? It is a new world for me. There is new normal being created from the ashes of my old normal. I know when this all began a year ago Read more…

I find myself caught between wanting my kid to grow into a woman and the desire to see her remain a princess forever. She can’t be a princess forever. She will grow up and all I can do is provide her the tools to become a responsible and successful adult. It is the toughest job I have ever had in my life. I want her to be a woman that has everything she needs and the desire to succeed. Today Read more…

It’s official, spring is here. Today at Big White we had every season of the year; except summer. according to the calendar, today was the first day of spring.  My friend told me how this was a sad day for him, the days were now longer and ski season was that much closer to being over. The change of season approaches faster and faster every year in which I live on this wondrous planet circling the sun. For my daughter, Read more…

The two ski buddies met at the bottom of the Ridge Rocket high-speed quad. Barrman and Cookster smiled beneath their masks as they pushed through the gates for another ski day. It wasn’t just any ski day it was a day to celebrate. Cookster was on his one-hundredth day and it was one day over a year since the mountain closed because of the pandemic. It was also St. Patrick’s Day. It was going to be a good day! Or Read more…