Since I was fully invested in my teaching contract the last four months of the school year, I didn’t have the energy required to do very much gallery/music/event hopping and one of the greatest losses was Wednesday evenings at the Rumble House. I decided, given the resolution of most of my plumbing problems at home, I’d head downtown the evening of Canada Day and do some ‘chill’ painting just to soak up the good feelings that I always enjoy when I’m surrounded by friend-creatives.
I took along a papier mache rabbit that I had constructed as a demo piece for one of the create! classes that I taught down at the Golden Age Club. I thought that it was time to bring the little guy to completion and to let go of him. Priscilla sat next to me and I treasured quiet conversation. It was good to meet up with Jenn and Vincent after such a long time. While the Canada Day displays and events were a huge draw for Calgarians (something like 250,000 in attendance along the river), it was nice to be a part of something peaceful and familiar. It was nice to be painting.
From Rumble, I headed past the crowds congregating at the Center Street Bridge, to my brother’s place. After he fed me, we walked ourselves down to the hill at Max Bell Arena and watched the Canada Day fireworks together. I loved being with him and we shared memories of Mom and Dad taking us out with blankets and pillows in the night, to watch fireworks together. We are so blessed to be living in Canada. I had a beautiful evening.