She stood atop the sun-baked slopes. It was a bluebird day and the wind whipped across the peak of Big White Mountain. It was April 5, Easter Monday and this was the last day of an epic season of riding in the coronaverse. Liz’s one-piece skisuit was straight out of 1989 and her hair was freshly cut to match. She flicked on her smartphone’s video camera and shared her first run on the last day with facebook land. Her snowboard Read more…
One year ago today I turned fifty. It was supposed to be an epic year. It was supposed to be one that saw us travel the world and enjoy a taste of freedom like I never knew in my adult life. Supposed is a long word that doesn’t always mean what it says. At first, it all seemed so surreal. It felt like an experience from some sci-fi movie. We were told to stay apart; the health experts said we Read more…
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…
Deborah walked back to her cabin in Snow Pines. She was sad, heartbroken they had just told her she was done working for the season. Bonnie Henry just closed the restaurants in BC. They had until midnight and that was it. She was ok with being done a couple of weeks early, but… she would miss the last paycheque and she would miss her friends. Most of all she would miss saying goodbye. Why did they do it? Why close 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…