Oh What a Summer It has Been…

It is officially Fall and I love it so much. The crisp air. The smell of the falling leaves. My walks along the river now have a clear view through the trees. That last mowing of the lawn as I shred leaves and toss them into the surrounding flower beds. I am a lazy composter. I love the cool days when I sit by the fire. Reading the latest mystery I have pulled off of the shelf. Fall is kind of a preparation for winter. The time of year I see as lazy do nothing time. I am always excited at the end of summer because I am tired. Summer is just so busy because it is so short. I never seem to get all of my fun finished. But this year was different. I loved it. This year I didn’t fill the days. I let the days flow kind of like the river.

You see, streams and rivers just mosey along. If something impedes their paths they just go around. They just find their way to the ocean. To the end of their journey. There is no plan. No anxiety. Just water moving through nature. Now and again Mama Nature throws a bit much at us but if we respect her we are fine. When we fight against nature that is when we will struggle. Nature has a way of keeping us in line while we just adjust. I live very close to a river and there have been many deaths over the years. There was a weir built120 years ago in order to divert water into a canal system used for farmland irrigation. However it was a death trap. People became aware of the danger and would portage boats in order to avoid the danger. Major renovations were done as the weir was removed and a series of manmade obstacles created a whitewater paddle park. The problem is, once again Mama nature. The river still flows and finds its way. Rushing water still overwhelms people. The water hides dangers which lurk below the surface which can turn a lovely day on the river into a dangerous or even tragic event. The answer. Stay away or go with the flow.

This was the summer of lets see where it goes. It was the season of going where the day takes me. So much of it was just saying sure to adventures. But it was so much more than that. It was about acting on impulse. Going out into the world and enjoying even if I had to go alone. Often alone provides the best times as I am more apt to reach out to strangers. Canada day I met a gal who had just flown in from the a small town in New Hampshire. She had no idea that July first was a big thing here. I was riding my bike as I sought out the festivities that Canada day brings. She was exploring on foot. Our paths crossed as we attempted to by pass crowds and ended up on a path that was a dead end. The next half hour was a joy as we got to know each other. She was on a soul searching trip after a marital breakup. I gave her advice on what to see as she was headed into B.C. We parted ways happily without an attempts to remain in touch.

I went to Phil in the Park which is the opening concert to the Philharmonic season. It is held every year on Prince’s island, a huge island in the middle of the river. I plopped down with my blanket next to a gal who had ridden her bike to the island. Coincidentally she was a widow of three years and we started to share our stories. When the concert ended we said good-bye and went our separate ways. It is enough to know there are those in the world who understand what we are living. There is no need to collect people in my life. It is enough to brush against them as I meander through the world.

There were so many concerts. With my daughter as well as grandkids. They are at the age I was when my concert life began. There were sleep overs with the Grands as well as movies and dinners at Denny’s. They are at the age where sometimes they just say “Mormor, can I come for a sleepover?” These are the sweetest words known to Grandmothers. There were numerous motorbike trips with a gal who just wants to go. She still works so she plans something and I follow. Even our camp sites were odd. A tent in a field because it was getting dark. Camping on a mans lawn as the campground had become long term trailer rental spots. He even let us use the bathroom in his basement. There was the obscure cabin we stayed in as we hiked the hoodoo’s. I met a young man and his friends as I stopped one day at a campground where I went often as a child. Total strangers sharing memories. Being invited for a beer just because. There were pub nights with a group of scrabble players. There were trips to the cabin with girlfriends where we talked until all hours of the night. Solving the problems of the world. Then there was my garden. I planted it and mama nature took care of it. My freezer is full because of the rain this summer brought. The apples overflowed and broke branches. Potatoes in containers were ridiculously abundant. I am still digging up carrots from my garden. The pile of tomatoes is smaller and I am finally freezing the rest.

Most interesting was an encounter with a young woman who was having issues with her bike. She camps outside all year around and moves often as people call the police. I gave her a ride and then gave her my number. She calls now and then. She dumpster dives for metals which she returns for recycling. Some of it is heavy and I have the use of my sons truck. She is such a bright soul. She often tries to buy me coffee or lunch as a thank you. She reminds me how blessed some people are to have safety nets in the form of friends or family. The difference between us is I had parents help me when I needed it. My children have me to fall back on when times are hard. That is the difference between people on the street and the rest of us. She has taught me so much. About life. And metal.

One of the loveliest days was a barbeque I had in August. My siblings came as well as one daughter and her kids. It was my husbands birthday and my brother reminded the others of the days significance. People who love me, toasted a man who loved me for many years. Now that he is gone, my siblings fill a special place in my life. We have lost a brother and a sister and I think that makes us more aware of the delicate thread holding us close. When our parents died, we drifted somewhat as our own lives trudged forward. Now we understand how special it is to know there are those people who remember who we used to be. And love us anyways.

This summer was one where there were no expectations. No real plans. No urgency to do. It was a time of going with the flow. And when the flow was too strong I spent days just relaxing. And when I felt like working, I cleaned out the garage. And the laundry room. Closets were emptied. Patio furniture covers were fixed. A fence was built around the garden. Well its almost finished. But it kept the deer out. The deck was stained and some of the outdoor steps at the cabin were replaced. Some. I read a huge amount of books. I wrote very few blogs. Not because I had nothing to say. More because I was busy. Or I wasn’t and I didn’t want to be.

My favourite spot in this world is the upper deck at my cabin. I sit there with a book and a coffee and look out at the mountains across the way. There is a peaceful vibe there. Again mama nature takes care of me as she feeds me the clean air and the beautiful scenery. It is a feeling that makes one feel closer to God. To make us appreciate how blessed we are. I felt so many emotions this summer. I often feel guilty about feeling so content and at peace in my life. I realize though that allowing life to pull me along, contributes to the peace. No expectations. No drama. No chaos. Two people in my life had caused me some heartache and emotional conflicts. After sharing and talking, one has broken up with me and the other has chosen to work towards a better understanding of each other. I cannot even begin to express how much both things have lifted me higher. Because its out in the open. No more wondering. No worry. Just peacefulness. I don’t know how much time I have left in this world, but I have learned one very important thing. I am not going to waste it with worry or anxiety. Fighting against life is like trying to swim upstream. I would rather do a gentle float down the river and just see where it takes me.