07-01-21 A Nation in confusion
I will start out by explaining the awesome things that happened in my day. I was awoken early by Missy but she seems to be so much better that I can hardly fault her for waking me up at my usual get up for work time! It also got me out into my yard watering and enjoying the Robins and the coolness of the morning to water and sit in peace. I came in for coffee and a stretch of Breaking Bad which I am finally watching. Even 5 episodes in, it is nothing like I expected or was turned off by. Yeah, yeah I am late to the party. Yay, Netflix.
I met Maureen at the Studio/Stage Door as we had committed to clearing the stage of bits and bobs of booth tear down so the contractors could have a cleared space. We moved things to the basement three floors down, took pictures of the space for marketing and generally had a great visit which we haven’t made time to do for a long time. A musician who works for a Food supplier dropped off some coffee supplies for our donation to the vaccination clinic and I took the opportunity to show him the items I was selling and giving away from our work party on Monday. He is taking all the to go stuff in exchange for the coffee supplies for the duration and will purchase some lights which lets me buy the two I need to complete our inventory. Synchronicity!!! I love when the world dials in the circle of need.
After I got home, I made a rhubarb-peach crisp from the garden and freezer bounty to take with me to the Campbells for dinner. Their friends Don and Jenn were visiting and I do so love their company. We all feel comfortable breaking off into side conversations and they get deep and interesting. Dinner was delicious and a ride to and from was appreciated so I could just relax and enjoy.
I love that my Tiger Lilies have decide to burst in to bloom on Canada Day. It is a very conflicting day this year as we acknowledge the atrocities of the past 50+ years regarding the residential schools in Canada. I have such a strong tie with the Heiltsuk First Nation, having worked and then also lived there from 2010 to 2016. I respect who they are and have come to acknowledge first hand the full effects of generational trauma. Some of my dearest friends taught me through the pain of their remembering. I honour Pauline and others like her who shared their stories with me. Who’s pain was palpable and yet they succeeded in their careers and family lives. I did not at first understand that they gave everything to their children. In my world that meant the kids were spoiled and entitled but what it really was was that they were treated with respect and love and devotion, the things their parents never had. I am sorry I did not understand sooner and passed judgement. I struggle with the understanding that in the 1600s my ancestors landed in Quebec, rewarded with property for their time in service. I could not know today how many generations along the way treated First Peoples wrongly, I can only hope to do better. I do see color and culture that is different than mine. I am jealous of traditions and wish that I had a depth of culture that was not white washed by time, literally in this country. what I do know is that I love deeply and some of those I love happen to be of First Nations decent. Do I see them differently? I don’t think so. The only thing I do know is that they are too far away and I miss them. My time in Bella Bella was not perfect. Out of 50 things I would say 48 would blow my mind but the other two were very horrific. I still miss the people and the ocean and it is tempting to reach out for work when I know from a friend in a power position that there is some available coming up. I shall have to wait and see if I could work out a contracting position. In the meantime I will love the Canada I was raised to be proud of and mourn with the nations hurting, knowing I can only do my best to be better.
I learned today about the Maple in my yard and found it quite suitable to be on our flag.
My heart breaks for Lytton, the hottest spot in Canada ever as of this week, as they say 90% of it is gone due to the wildfire that raced in so fast even the ambulances didn’t have time to get out of the station. My earliest memory of all time is that of being very young and playing on a grey board floor playing with an orange crate of green toy soldiers on the lobby floor of the Lytton Hotel which my Grandparents were managing. They say Main Street is gone so I suspect it is as well. Sigh.
I find it perfectly appropriate that my Orange Tiger Lilies burst out in full force today as I wore orange in remembrance.
And just so you know, these are our regular temperatures.
So now that Covid is in stage 3 I wonder if I should continue this. It has been a weird ass slice of my life. I received the text to book my appointment for my second jab and will get it on July 18 so I guess I will keep going. I dare say, public opinion will sway me so if you have an opinion that this is just interesting enough, let me know and I will keep going. Happy Canada Day from the unceded territory of the Ktunaxa Nation
triumphgal 