I’m Back… maybe

(See correction about Lake Moraine below. 8/4/05)

Well, I’m just finally getting settled back in to the hum-drum of daily living after a 10 day vacation… sort of.

Scott & I left on July 21 for a two-pronged vacation. For the first 5 days, we visited beautiful Calgary, Alberta, Canada. This was a blast!

Our first full day, we rented a van and drove up to Jasper National Park and Banff National Park. It was a fun drive, and the views were just awe-inspiring. These parks are home to what I believe to be the most beautiful mountains in North America (perhaps shy of Alaska, which I’ve not visited…yet.) The Bow River which ran parallel to the highway was a magnificent green color. We saw Elk. Wanted to see bear, but didn’t expect to, and didn’t.

When we got to Lake Louise, we drove over to the ski lodge and rode the chair lift up to the 6850 foot level. I honestly don’t have the kind of language to describe the view! Far off across the valley lay Lake Louise. The air was crisp, clear and with just enough warmth to make the trip up and the visit to the nature center there a delightful experience.

After travelling back down the mountain, we continued along to the west just so we could say we’d visited British Columbia, then made the nearest turn around, and headed back to Lake Louise. This time, we drove up to the lake and walked along it’s edges for about an hour. The three people with me all took off a shoe and tested the water. That wasn’t good enough for me… I removed both shoes, rolled up my jeans and waded out as far as possible without getting my pants wet. Oh, my gosh! Was it ever cold. But, really, after the numbness set in, it was quite enjoyable!

After leaving the lake, we drove back towards the road (Trans-Canada Rte 1, aka TC-1, by the way) we saw a turn off for another lake, Moraine Lake. Feeling adventurous we followed this road for 11 kilometers (a bit over 6 miles) up a 75% grade (ear-popping time!)

When we finally arrived we discovered that we’d made a fantastic decision. Moraine Lake was far more beautiful, in my opinion, than Lake Moraine! (NOTE (8/4/05): Uh, sorry for this last sentence. It should have said “Lake Moraine was far more… than Lake LOUISE!) I’ve never seen water that blue! I’ve never seen anything NATURAL that color blue! The closest I can describe it is… check out a neon “Open” sign… the blue neon ring around the outside… that’s close!

Walked over 12 miles that day! Beautiful scenery, good friends, nice companionship… and the man I love… what more could a guy ask for????

The remainder of our time in Calgary was spent at our church’s General Conference. Each morning, the four of us woke up, and walked around the city, down to the river (still the Bow) and back up to our hotel… about 3 miles. The rest of the day was spent in awesome worship and reasonably good workshops.

Then it was time to put the cool, crispness of Calgary behind us, as Scott and I flew on to Washington DC, with it’s haze and 99 degree heat, and humidity that was almost unbearable.

Washington DC is in actuality a pretty fantastic place to visit. We got to see many of the sights. But I’m so glad it’s only a place to visit for me. I’d hate to live there!

We joined my mom and dad for dad’s “96th Infantry Division Reunion”. It’s probably the last one this big, and it was 60 years since the end of the war. It was fun seeing Dad meet old army buddies, in some cases for the first time since he was evacuated from Okinawa.

It was a very stressful time for us, though. Mom’s Alzheimer’s is taking a serious toll and the stress of the event and travel really showed. I think she had fun. I hope she did! I did, just knowing that it’s one of the last memories of her I’ll carry.

Of all the cities I’ve visited in my travels around the globe, Calgary is probably the only one I could REALLY get into. Small enough to be similar in size to Omaha, yet with a distinctly big city air to it. Folks aren’t hooked on the macho man image there, lots of folk walk and bike, and there’s a decent rapid transit system.

I’m no huge U.S. jingoist. The USA is, to me, just one more country in which to live. No better, and no worse, than any other country. Our legal system and form of government are potentially among the best, yet how we use them, and abuse them, means that potentiality is never reached.

I won’t bash my country. I won’t bash any other country. I’m happy here.

But if I HAD to leave, I suppose Canada might be a nice place to settle. Not that they’re likely to want me!

I’d like to say I was surprised by the anti-American sentiment I encountered there… though it was appropriately directed towards the government, not to individuals. But I wasn’t surprised. Not after 5+ years with the Australopithecus that currently pollutes the White House. I’d have called him a Neandertal, but frankly, didn’t want to insult that species.

I’m hoping to return to my posting on a more regular basis soon. When I do, though, I plan on writing about what interests me. And if I seem to get stuck in a particular topic or area, well, that’s just the way it is. I write for me. If others enjoy it, that’s great! If not, I do truly apologize. I’ve really enjoyed getting to know the one or two folks I’ve met through my blog.