A loaf of Bread, A Jug of Wine, and Thou. May 12th 2025

 I guess I should almost start with a big "Hello"!  It has been a while.  The weather got better.  There was lots stuff going on in the world and at home.    And those of the golden years know that we are as distracted as we are busy.  And then there is the whole "Who's reading this anyway?" vanity thing I am kinda ashamed of.   The ego thing.  How much better would the world be without it?  

But it's been two months and some stuff has gone on that I would like to touch on.  Some of it is old news now, but hey!  So am I.  

 We are home from Paris for almost a week now.  I have to say that I don't know if there is anything better than travel.  But such a statement calls for specifics.  While I love a road trip.  Well, a road trip in good or decent weather in a comfortable well maintained vehicle,  I have to say that the whole flying thing is not a pleasant experience.   I truly did miss our road trip to San Diego Estates this year.  I am in love with the scenery in Montana.  Driving from one season to another in one nine hour day.   That little corner of Arizona consisting of coloured rocks and canyons.  But I don't go where I am not welcome.....anymore.  Did that for a living for over 30 years.  Yuck.   

In a free society where all men and women are created equal, we need airlines to remind us that after the creation thing all bets are off.   Remember the term "Walk of Shame"?  I never liked that reference.  Well there is a new walk of shame these days that is far more inclusive for all genders.   When boarding an airline, First Class people are loaded up first.  They get into their private pods,  get their first champaign flute, set up their hide a bed seats, position their pillows, blankets, stretch out their legs and feet, and for all I know put their teeth in a complimentary glass.   Once they get comfortable,  the rest of us are herded into the the plane in droves and are forced to walk past those first class individuals with our chins against our chests trying not to make eye contact.  Still, we hear the sighs of inconvenience and stretched tolerance from those who are trying to get comfortable.  ( Bit of a rant there.  Sorry).

But back to Paris.  My fist time there.  And while I was taken with the history, the architecture, the opulence,  (And I do mean Opulence!  Enough to cause heads to roll!) I was more taken with the sidewalk culture.  People who sit and enjoy the society they have created over many generations.  The fact that just about any style and any order of dress goes.  That there is no time that is a bad time for wine.  That lunch is more an experience than a meal.  Paris and Parisians seem to know how to celebrate life.  They make it look easy somehow.  Paris is expensive.  But you get what you pay for.  

I have many many times eluded to the pins.  Canadian pins.  I cary them and hand them out every time I leave the country.   On this particular trip, we left on Election day.  When we arrived in Paris and I got my phone off airplane mode, I learned the results.  And as you all know,  I was okay with it.  But here was the surprising thing about Canada's federal election:  For a week in Paris we met people from all over Europe.  Almost every time they were given a pin, the response was "congratulations on your election!"  Many many people told us they were very happy to see Canada's choice of government.  Almost everyone with whom we had contact.  

Firstly,  I was a little taken aback by how many Europeans we met followed our politics.  I don't know that I would ever have paid attention to the election results in France, or The Chez republic, or Italy, or Spain.  In fact about the only people we met who had no comment were.....wait for it....Americans.  The closer you get?  Well that's just about true of everyone I suppose.  

Secondly, I was a little surprised how every person that commented were happy with the government selected by Canadians.  It seems that the American President has made right wing politics a little uncomfortable across the pond.   I am not a pollster.  And the sampling of people with whom I spoke was very random,  but being Canadian still matters to the rest of the world.  And that is a wonderful feeling.

Now I live in a wonderful country.  I live in a most beautiful part of the country.  I live with hard working good people who make great neighbours, and good citizens.   But an enormous part of our culture in this corner of my home and native land is about work ethic.   It has often been said you come to Alberta to work.  You move when you want to play.  That isn't completely true of course.  Alberta has so much going for it.  Beautiful urban areas with fine dining and entertainment.   Thousands of parks and forests, mountains and badlands, greenery and desert.  There is something for everyone.  And there is work..... until there isn't.   But when there is, it is non stop.  It has its rewards on paydays, although there isn't often a lot of relaxation between them.  

Balance.  It would be nice.  Perhaps a little balance would curb some of the discontent from which we  suffer.   Paris was good for me.  It was good to see it through my Granddaughter's eyes.  To witness art and scenery with Carol.  To taste and smell and feel the most visited city in the world.  

It was also good to experience the occasional surprise.  For instance the best beverage.  It was not wine, which was very very good.  It was the Cafe Americana I drank every morning outside a tiny bistro at the end of our street.  The beer!  It was sensational.  And the people.  Almost 100% of them were wonderful, polite, and able to speak english.  They didn't make fun of my attempts at French.  They shared humour and flirted with my grand daughter.  People make a place.  Which I suppose takes me back to the pride I feel when people realize we are Canadian.  

 And there are my thoughts on a much needed dreary and rainy day.  Life continues to be good for me.  I can only hope the same for all of you.