Canadian winters… You adapt to the season or you escape to warmer climates.
For those of us who are not beach lovers or sun worshipers, we choose to stay and make the best of it. Sometime after January 31st, we start complaining.
Public Transportation experience
We pop our Vitamin C, D and Omega-3 and absorb the glow from the DayLight lamp while we curse the inconveniences of the season. We get in gentle exercise, cautious walks outdoors, small social gatherings then retreat indoors for quiet activities.
As someone who appreciates the quiet and calm of my humble abode, I make efforts to refresh my living space and head space by performing winter housecleaning and preparation for the Lunar New Year. It’s a valid excuse to add ceremony to housework, to make it fun and hopeful.
Of course, when you share living space with cats, you adjust the placement of items to maintain harmony in your home.
Cats avoiding the cleaning staff
One way I refresh my head space is learning new things, doodling, listening to uplifting music and reading. When you’re a bus mouse, you can get in some good reading time – if you can find a good seat for the long workday commutes.
I Ching Handbook
So as we navigate through and negotiate with Winter, we can remind ourselves that it will soon lead to Spring.
There is hope.
Thanks for reading along! How do you survive Winter in your neck of the worldly woods?
Do you enjoy your solitude? Do you find it conducive to navel-gazing and existential contemplations?
Do you alternately feel a sense of inclusion and connectedness when in a crowd of like-minded strangers?
I do.
One way I experience the latter is to treat myself to a personal adventure on the Doors Open Ottawa tours. This was the third year that I explored the city on my own, learned new things, admired architecture and met other interesting humans.
Yesterday’s weather was perfect for being in the sun, walking, busing, touring around Ottawa.
My first stop was a disappointment. It seems that arriving at noon is too late to get on the guided tour list for the temple of online commerce, Shopify.
Still determined for urban exercise and discovery, I walked from Elgin Street all the way to my next desired stop, The Temple of Science.
Science. Apologies for this ear worm coming at you.
I arrived tired and sweaty at the National Research Council Canada (NRC) – Temple of Science on Sussex Drive. After freshening up in the ladies room and refilling my water bottle, I unwittingly jumped the queue, ignoring protocol by inserting myself into the next guided tour group. I blame it on the heat.
It was a very interesting, fast-paced walking tour. Kudos to the staff and volunteers.
@NRC_CNRC who could resist the attraction to The Temple of Science, the lamp of learning? That was very interesting! Thank you.
The wait on Sussex Drive for the OC Transpo bus downtown was very long. The buses were not obeying the GPS offerings according to various smart phone apps shared by me and my random companions. At least we had a bench in the shade of nearby trees. People came and sat. Some gave up and started walking.
It wasn’t the first time I used a park bench for deep thinking activities. I had plenty of time for people-watching, casual conversation, contemplating the Universe, and … catching up on some reading. I really hope to finish Masters of Time this weekend!
Waiting for another bus on construction-cramped Rideau Street provided a different lens into humanity, social interactions of ragtag gangs rallying back and forth in some loud, shared purpose. I was relieved when the next bus finally arrived.
Next stop was the Saint-François d’Assise Church, another temple of sorts. It was cool and quiet except when someone was demonstrating the organ (!). I admired the wooden pews, the statues and all those candles.
Presque tous les panneaux d’information et de la littérature était en français!
Now resting and reflecting on a rainy Sunday morning, I plan to head out for another educational tour. I think I convinced one of the young people to join me.
On a parting note, here is something else to contemplate:
I recently travelled alone yet had many people in my thoughts.
It was one of those journeys that you need to take solo, comforted in knowing that someone who loves you will be waiting at the other side.
The geographical distance wasn’t far, yet the detours down memory lane were deep and murky.
Above the clouds
I intentionally left my travel companion and anxiety relief at home. It was my turn to fly again and embrace small bits of adventure.
Before take off and at times during the flight, I kept my mind and hands busy by reading snippets from the Mindfulness on the Go book. I tried to ignore that apparent crack in the engine casing below me…
Mindfulness on the Go meets Tabby approval
The visit with family was relaxing and a welcomed change. Although it rained most of the time that week, I enjoyed the company and reacquainting with the lovely city I knew a lifetime ago.
Church of Our Lady, Guelph, Ontario
My relatives and I wined, dined, toured the city and got in some meaningful conversations.
I met up with an old flame from a lifetime ago. We lunched, walked, talked and drove around the city in the rain. He only ran one red light. The fact that it was next to a cemetery only affected me a bit. Just a bit. We survived.
Church of Our Lady at sunrise
Before I knew it, it was time to say goodbye. I was whisked away to a bus to Toronto so I could catch a train back home in time for dinner with friends.
CN Tower Toronto ON
While trotting through downtown Toronto with my suitcase, I made sure to get a picture of the CN Tower.
There just aren’t enough pictures of the CN Tower ;-^
Timing was perfect for purchasing a Business Class ticket home. The price for waiting too long was high!
VIA Rail Business Class
I don’t travel often or far but when I do, I like to travel in comfort.
Lake Ontario from the VIA Rail train
Train tracks and parallel journeys
I love trains. They are featured frequently in my novel “The Year of the Rabbit“. Read it sometime, won’t you?
Lessons learned on this journey:
Book your train ticket home earlier to save money. Damn!
Don’t distract an old flame with memories and hurts while driving through a rainy city;
Enjoy the journey down memory lane, as foggy and slippery the road may be;
Let some memories fade into the distance as you move forward in your newly created life. Anticipate some forks in the road.
Thanks for dropping by and joining me on this journey.
