Homesickness
We arrived in Vancouver yesterday, cats intact. I sedated both of them, one with a veterinary-prescribed concoction and the other with half a baby Gravol (veterinary endorsed). Neither seemed much affected by the sedation and remained awake for the entire trip. Luckily we were seated next to a very understanding woman who was clearly a 'cat person.'
We quickly tooled over to our new apartment, which was gorgeous, as promised. But on the way back to where we're staying I was suddenly overwhelmed with the fact that we have actually moved here. We don't know anyone, we don't know how to rent a video or where to get drycleaning done. And everyone here is so much more fashionable than I am. Suddenly the many thousands of miles between me and home seemed like a gaping chasm. No more evenings at Mum's house or quick weekend trips to Julian's parents. No more spur-of-the-moment journeys to Montreal, or skating on the canal. I was kind of stunned all evening, realising I was time zones away from friends and family.
This morning we woke up early (jetlag) and decided to take a trip to the UBC campus where we mapped out how I will walk to the law school. Pulling up in our car, I was reminded of how lush and green the campus is. There just seem to be more types of plants here. There are huge twenty-foot high holly bushes and all kinds of evergreens and pansies grow in window boxes all year-round.
We grabbed a quick and delicious lunch on Main Street and then returned to our apartment to plan out how we will arrange all of our furniture.
This evening we walked down to Kitsilano Beach with Julian's friend Mike Ross (photographer extraordinaire.) We enjoyed coffee sitting on a huge weathered log and then we walked along the beach watching the sunset reflect across the skyscrapers downtown. We watched fisherman pull in long lines of smelt on nets. We dipped our feet in the Pacific Ocean and watched a seal cavort in the bay in the distance. And I remembered that I didn't actually skate on the canal last year anyway.
Comments
Dear Hilary,
I am glad to see that you had a good trip, and that are settling in to your new city. As I read your latest blog posting, I felt temporarily disheartened at your dose of homesickness. I wanted to yell across cyberspace that you are embarking on a wonderful journey, in a beautiful part of the world, and that you are, in essence, kissing winter good-bye. As I read, I took solace that you appear to be enjoying your new surroundings. I am sure that in-line skating on the boardwalk in February will hold more appeal for you than freezing your ass off on the canal did. I hope that you will not rub it in too badly once Ottawa is deep in the grip of a bleak winter. You may find yourself with a few visitors seeking escape from the storm.
I am glad to see that your cats got through unscathed. I hope that they didn't enjoy sedation too much; I hear that there is nothing worse than a cat pestering you for another hit or rummaging through the medicine cabinet.
Take care,
Yours,
George
Posted by: George | September 7, 2004 09:52 AM
Hi Hilary,
Congratulations on escaping the clutches of the Lester B. Pearson building. Run, girl, run! And remember, never look back...
There's a place on the Dead Sea called "Lot's Wife." It's not far from Sodom. I guess there's a pillar of salt, though from the outside it looks like a cave. I've passed the sign a few times driving south en route to places like Taba and Sharm el Sheikh (fantastic fishies, if you're into scuba or snorkelling.)
Vancouver's a lovely place. I'm sure you'll be over your misplaced Ottawa homesickness in no time. My older brother's now living on Galiano Island with his wife, sailboat, dog and hot tub. The bastard. How I hate him.
By the way, I notice that your hair's getting long. Looks good. Sandals are the next step. Soon you'll be a proper West Coast hippie, living the good life, Ottawa just a dim, unpleasant memory. But I'll do my best not to hate you.
So Ben is now in Baghdad. What a loonie.
Anyway, hope you're settling in. If you send me your phone number, I'll try to give you a call next time I'm passing through Vancouver, heading for sailboats and hot tubs.
Kisses,
Richard
PS Nice website
Posted by: richard | September 7, 2004 01:10 PM