I pushed myself to leave the bed as another Sunday began on the mountain. There was no new snow at Big White but the freshly groomed corduroy called to my spirit of freedom. There is nothing quite like the true feeling of freedom attained by carving a fresh groomed run early on a Sunday morning. I revel in the pure energy and connection with the mountain and the earth around me. Krista and I scrambled to get out the door Read more
Fear and loathing, anger and hate, words and feelings that have taken over parts of our society these days. I never thought when this pandemic began that so much animosity could occur around a small piece of cloth or paper designed to cover someone’s face. Designed to protect each other from our viral foe, masks have become a divisive item that has caused more pain than warranted. In a Walmart in an innocent and peaceful town, a man was attacked Read more
It’s Monday, November 23, 2020, the world has kept revolving, the seasons changing. Eight months of Mondays has passed since I began this journal of self-discovery. Eight months of Mondays since the world seemed to implode and we were all forced to take a pause. Now with case numbers climbing and the world suffering from covid fatigue we stare another pause in the eyes. A lockdown in Toronto began today, as well as parts of Manitoba. They have shut down Read more
I awoke early this morning; the ghosts of powder dreams fresh in my mind. Through the window, I saw the glimmer of daylight beckon me. I felt like a kid at Christmas, anxious to get up and unwrap my presents. Big White was opening again for skiing after eight months. I was planning to get to the chair as early as possible. My powder dreams were about to become reality. Our good buddy managed to beat us to the bottom Read more
We had some exciting news on Monday. Big White Ski Resort is opening up on Thursday, November 19, over a week earlier than planned. With excitement in our veins, we made our plan. Eight-fifteen on opening day we will be in line for the first chair of the year. It will be a new and unusual season in the coronaverse. Masks are mandatory on the chair lifts and in the village. People are feeling nervous as the case numbers continue Read more
I stood in front of ninety of my closest friends and family. The sun set behind me and the room lit up. A feeling of euphoria and nervous excitement filled my body and my soul. I waited for the next chapter in my life to officially begin. To my left stood my best friend and best man, dressed in a tuxedo he looked better than I have seen him before. In front of me sat my father and his partner Read more
Friday, March 13 was a lifetime ago. In real-time, it was nine months ago. It was the time before the coronaverse. It was the day the world stopped. We paused from fear of the unknown virus that was spreading around the globe at an alarming rate. The governments of the world closed businesses and an entire way of life on Friday the thirteenth. Things may never be the same again. Nine months later the number of people newly infected was Read more
“In Flanders Fields, the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row That mark our place, and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below” I heard the powerful words that touched my soul and filled my heart with a sorrowful pride. We stood together, apart. On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day in the eleventh month, we stood silent for those that gave their lives so we could breathe freedom and Read more
They stood on the side of the ski run, watching the flames devour the wood and melt the snow that surrounded the pit like frozen sentinels. Six people stood in pairs staring into the flames, mesmerized by the dancing shadows of energy and light. He stood watching them from the distance, curious about why this group would be there. He was sure they were his friends that lived on the mountain. With cautious optimism, he approached the fire pit. They Read more
President-elect Biden. I am unsure if I expected to read those words and hear the news. I am relieved that the election in the good ol’ USA is over. It feels like they have been in some form of election that never ends. In Canada and around the world we have waited, holding our collective breath, as the count finished and a winner declared. Many people the world over now breathe a little easier. Will Trump be a man and Read more