Chocolate Stetsons and Blizzards

The last stop on my trip was Calgary. I enjoyed a relaxing Greyhound ride from Edmonton, and even wrote a little more of my story on the way, which was heartening. My friend Rebecca met me at the depot and we headed to a potluck she had organized for some other med students, and despite not being a part of that world, I enjoyed the interaction with her fellow students. We were able to have some wonderful discussions in the next few days, which mutually encouraged us as well.

On the following day, Rebecca had planned a hike up to Ribbon Creek Falls (by Kananaskis), and I was more than happy to be included in that. She had invited some other friends, and before heading up the trail, we had a picnic lunch at a table near the parking lot. We were mostly through our meal when a blizzard came up out of nowhere, and we sat huddled under blankets before deciding to wait it out in our cars.

After about fifteen minutes, the storm died down and we decided to proceed- not the easiest thing, considering it involved navigating a stroller over the now ankle-deep drifts across the path. However, we braved the trail and enjoyed the hike with these friends before they decided to head back to the city.
Undaunted, Rebecca and I continued in hopes of reaching the falls, but the trailblazers before us had not made it the whole way and we decided not to eke out our own path for several more kilometres before having to turn around. I can't describe the feeling of coming around a bend and finding ourselves surrounded by mountain on nearly all sides, or the clouds covering the mountains, then clearing to reveal their awesome heights. It was truly magnificent to be a part of all of this.
Rebecca is an amazing listener and asks all the right questions, including the ones that can make you squirm, but make you really think about what you are saying. This resulted in some very honest conversations, and there's nothing like hiking through snow for 14+ km to give you time to talk- it was wonderful. We were blissfully exhausted that night, but not so blissfully ready to wake up early for church. She had friends that were visiting from Africa and we visited the church where they would be that day, a small, closely-knit cowboy church. I hadn't been to one for a long time, since last time I was in Alberta, I believe, so it felt familiar in some ways but quite unlike the city church I'm now used to.

I had the good fortune to visit my cousins who live in Calgary, and was treated to my cousin's delectable cooking. More great conversation ensued, including going through an album of their trip to Germany. My cousin was borrowing his friend's car, so I was driven in an Audi RS4, and it was a pret-ty sweet ride, I have to say:) I'm blessed to be in touch with them and be able to visit from time to time, and they are so generous to have me over when I am around.

Rebecca and I went out for breakfast the next day (my last before flying out), and I accompanied her to school and developed some more of my story while she worked with a friend.

Later, I got to meet my friend Rachel for coffee, and talk about how much has changed since school, and the places we're at. She's in seminary and took time out of her crazy end-of-year assignment crunch for me, which was great. It's funny the depth you can have when talking with friends you have things in common with, right off the bat, and it's not unwelcome, know what I mean? I'm not really expressing it the best, but I was so encouraged by Rachel and our talks, in my life, in my faith, in my creative efforts. I hope that was mutual, that I encouraged her as well. She's a terrific photographer, by the way, so check out her photo blog if you wish:)

That evening, I got together with Amanda, a dear friend with whom I also lived in first year, along with her husband and new baby. I had missed her sense of humour! and insights, and it was neat to witness her at this stage in her life and be reconnected.

So ended my wonderful journey- one that not only physically distanced me from whence I had come, but in other ways, giving me resolve in some aspects of my life, and freedom in others.

Since I couldn't come up with any equal synonyms, you may have found this post repeating a common thread- that of encouragement. I was astounded how much I was uplifted by meeting again with dear friends and relatives, and how much they have enriched, and still do, my life in so many ways. In a time where I often struggle with what I'm even good at or want to do in life, I have been given the boon of affirmation when it was not expected, and I treasure that. It's not always this conclusive of a feeling, but for now, I really sense I have some direction I can take with some of these decisions.

To each of you that has contributed to this, I thank you, inadequately, but deeply.


...I almost forgot, the chocolate stetsons reference is in regards to some of these that were being sold in the Calgary airport:)