Christmas Day 1980

The young boy crept down the stairs, each step he took filled with anticipation. He moved slowly hoping to catch a glimpse of the old man in a red suit. In recent days he kept hearing about the magical person who could somehow come down the chimney and leave presents under the tree. He looked in wonder at the Christmas tree that stood glowing in the room by the fireplace. He hoped to see the stranger and see how he Read more

December 24, Christmas Eve

Early morning sunshine glistened off the snow-covered mountains. The white peaks lay under a golden-red sky, the morning sunrise embraced the valley below. The glassy waters of Okanagan Lake mirrored the world around and reflected the glory of the dawn. I stood at the window in awe of the world, silenced by the beauty of it all. It is Christmas Eve and the world is amazing. Last night we went to drive around and look at Christmas lights. I remember Read more

December21

Nine months ago I began my personal journey in the coronaverse. I started to put my thoughts out there and share my observations of life in a pandemic. I wasn’t sure where it would lead but I knew I needed to record these unprecedented times for future generations. Today is another Monday in what seems like nine months of Mondays and I reflect on where we have been and look towards where we are going. It is the shortest day Read more

December 16 Skier down…

Fresh snow coated the morning with a blanket of white that embraced the slopes of our mountain home. Anxious and excited we put on our gear and rushed out the door in time for the first chairlifts of the day. It was another day living the dream; little did I know it would end in a personal nightmare. Steep powder turns greeted me as I bounced in the fresh snow through the trees off the Powder Chair. Deep snow caressed Read more

December 15, outbreak?

Powder snow blew over the top of the mountain. I rode the chair and saw the fresh snow filling the trees. I floated in the light snow and bounced on the bumps like pillows on the slopes. There were remnants of ice that scraped free in some of the steeper pitches. Ullr was regaling us with his blessing. I was lucky enough to ride the fresh snow as it fell in crystalline heaps of wonder. With excited trepidation, we have Read more

Dec 10 Ice and snow

My brain swam to the surface of consciousness. I awoke and turned to the clock and saw the time, it was 5:30 on the alarm clock. In real-time, it was 5:15. I’m not sure why I try to trick myself with my clock, I have set my alarm clock fifteen minutes fast since I was a kid. Most days I know to subtract fifteen minutes from the clock that glows in front of my eyes. It was no different on Read more

Infection

Without malignant intentions expanding never ending always seeking A host A place to reproduce, to begin again and again… Unaware of the damage that it is wreaking   The host dies and searching once more To recreate itself, it spreads Cell to cell, faster, faster Rebuilding the host, infecting the core   Just a simple calculation, a mathematical equation Double once, double again Reproduction unchecked, spreading, changing, faster, faster It rapidly infects the population   Without intent, without knowing Simple Read more

Sensalia 2

Sensalia ran through the forest in a daze.  She had a flash of a memory, a woman yelling, telling her to go. The fleeing young woman ran from all she knew. The further she went, the less she could remember of the place she was raised in. She knew she came from a place in the elven kingdom. A kingdom separated and isolated from the human world; the world she now found herself in. The young human woman raced on Read more

Monday December 7

Lockdown, our nice Bonnie Henry refused to use the word, but it sure felt like a lockdown. Restrictions brought in two weeks ago were extended today. Today was another Monday in our pandemic inflicted country. This time the non-lockdown measures were extended until January 8, these restrictions limited social connections of any kind. Today Christmas was essentially canceled. Two weeks ago the BC government announced health orders telling everyone to restrict all interaction outside of their own homes. Monday, December Read more

Dec 6 Warren Miller comes to play

Three snow riding buddies carved their boards and skis across the freshly groomed slopes. The sky was a pure blue glowing overhead. Cookster, Barrman and the Big Boarder consumed the vertical of the mountainside and connected in an alpine wonderland. As the lines grew longer time slowed. The connections continued as the three adventurous friends stood and waited for the return trip to the sun-baked mountaintop. The story started in the lift line. But in reality, his story started long Read more

Connections