Deep Freeze

Here in Alberta it is minus 31 and the world experts are in Copenhagen talking about climate change. It appears that as Canadians we have failed miserably in keeping the agreement made at Kyoto, worse than that we have undermined the process. The Albertan oil sands are being targeted as an environmental disaster. I hear this on the news as I drive along the Bow River clusters of ice float on the dark surface as ethereal vapour rises off the water, frosting the trees that fringe its banks. It is so starkly beautiful in the bright Albertan sun. It is hard to get excited about climate change, not global warming, when on the other side my SUV window my skin would freeze in minutes.

The mall and superstore is busy with heavily clad folk from all over the globe bemoaning the cold temperatures and no doubt dreaming of warmer weather in their homelands. It is obvious that retail therapy is one of our nations chief pleasures on a cold day. Easy to forget the dangers of our climate while listening to Jingle Bells, and wondering what Christmas presents our loved ones would like. Calgary has doubled in population since we moved here in 1990. The new comers including ourselves lured by jobs and for some, the proximity of the Rocky Mountains.

I visit with my women friends, one confesses how hard it has been to care for her autistic daughter, another in her eighties is convalescing from a knee replacement and now her back hurts, and another is the sandwich generation running to medical appointments with her 90 year old mother, living with her two teenagers and finishing her master's thesis. We listen and honor the struggle of each other's journeys.

I am reminded in this frigid weather, stories of struggle and courage, of my yoga teacher as she circled her forefinger and thumb in the meditation. "My Indian teacher said, this reminds us of how little we actually know."

Roaming in the gloming

Roaming in the gloming comes from an old popular Scottish romantic song however it summarizes my day. Scotlands weather has reverted to low cloud, drizzle and gloom. After coffee with my brother in law, who's health and hearing have sadly deteriorated since my last visit, and my neice Sarah she and I headed in the dreary weather to the new mall at Ocean Terminal. So there I was roamin in the gloomin wi' a lassie at my side as the song goes.

As much as I hate malls it was good to get out of the rain and lose ourselves in a little retail therapy. We found oursevles in Debenhams, I mesmerized by the strange fashions, leggins, little skirts, flowing jackets,and dainty shoes - I am definately not in Canmore anymore! I of course had to check out my purchases to make sure they would not lie languishing in my already crammed wardrobe. Reluctantly I replaced the little black dress with white and beige applique flowers on the rack. Happy that a size 10 fitted so well but then it wouldn't look that great hiking over Sunshine Meadows. Did I need another fleece? Here I do as the houses are so cold. After our efforts trying on clothes, we had to replenish our energy with tea and a huge peice of delicous gooey chocolate cake. That's right comfort food to combat the gloom outside. Maybe it is no surprise that the Scots seem fatter than they did when I grew up. Lets blame it all on the dreary weather. Still we did have fun, clutching our purchases and catching the bus to Sarah's place.

I decided to walk back through the drizzle to Theo's place to help work off the chocolate cake. What a different culture than that of the car culture of Canadian cities. Here people walk everywhere, regular buses services everywhere and not many cars in the main streets of the city. Edinburgh even in the rain is an attractive city, little closes and steps are designed for walkers. Everywhere the elegant building are framed with tall trees now tinged with orange and red.
Here I tackled some serious challenges in his kitchen then retreated to for come computer connection, blessing email, facebook and bloging. Computer addiction better than comfort food and hopefully will ensure that I fit size 10 dresses.

Tomorrow I hope to visit Little Sparta a garden created by a poet and writer. Then on thursday Clive and Chris are arriving.