We left home 5:50 am to catch the 6:15 am ferry from (SSI)Long Harbour to (Vancouver)Tsawwassen.  Once on the ferry we ate breakfast, had a coffee then went back to the car for a nap.  Travelling on the ferry and trying to sleep is like being in the hospital – bells ringing, announcements, people walking around and of course each time it happens you have just gotten back to sleep from the previous interruption.

With a thermos of coffee,  fruit, snacks and a picnic lunch we drove off the ferry into the bright morning sunshine at 9:35 am ready, for our first road trip to Alberta since we moved  to BC in 1995.  We hooked up the GPS to help us through Vancouver,  always a challenge as we seldom find a need to venture into the big land of commuter cars, green road signs,  freeways and stop  lights. (On SSI we don’t have any stop lights plus the only traffic jams occur when the ferry comes in causing a l-o-n-g wait of maybe  ten seconds!).

The traffic was light, the skies clear and a beautiful bright blue. The views were spectacular whether farm land, small or large communities, large plots of open unworked lands, or tree covered hills and majestic mountains.  We were seeing the spectacular beauty and the amazing growth of the communities we passed through new eyes. We had either forgotten or were oblivious. 

Beautiful Scenery

Our trip to Alberta was planned because we had three exciting events to attend. Although unplanned, they fell into line over the space of two weeks, a bonus for us as it meant we could be there for all of them. 

The first event was very special. Rick’s mom and dad celebrating their 70th Wedding Anniversary on September 26th in Medicine Hat.  It was wonderful to see and visit with so many relatives and to help Rick’s parents celebrate such a milestone. We are so thankful to have them with us.  Rick says he will be 103 when we celebrate 70 years!

Some of the family

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our second event was in Calgary and it was called “Engage Today 2009“.  This four day mind bending event was organized by Greg Habstritt and his partner Kourosh Assef.  The line up of speakers will be talked about for a very long time. Forgive the name dropping but it  is truely worth note so that I will remember!.

 The first dayas all about accountability. It was opened with President F.W. De Klerk of  South Africa, Nobel Peasce Prize winner 1993 and he  was instrumental in Nelson Mandela gaining his freedom. Following him Dr. Stephen Covey, Lynne Twist, Sean Stephenson, and Janet Bray Attwood. In the evening we attended a K.D. Lang/Bryan Adams concert at the Jubilee Auditorium.  

The second day was about contribution. It started with  His Holiness the Dali Lama, Carol Cone, Bruce Graham, Wyland, Les Brown, Garrett Gunderson and Eben Pagan. 

Day three was about growth. We started the day with Brendon Burchard, Sir Richard Branson, Dr.Barbara De Angelis, Tony Hsieh, and Alex Mandossian who teleconferenced from London.   

Day four was about implementation.  We heard from Michael Drew, Bill Harris, Vishen Lakhiani.  There were also a couple of panel sessions which included some of the speakers plus others such as Joe Polish, Rick Frishman, Jim Kwik, and Marci Shimoff.

I could tell you a more about each of these  interesting, informative and  inspiring people but if you are interested in learning more please google their names. They are very successful in their particular field and the expertise they shared with us in the short time was an invaluable.  A special thank you to Greg, Kourosh and the team that put this high quality event together.

The third event we attended was to help my sister Joan and her husband Neil unpack my mother in her new condo and help her to start settling in.  Most of it was done while we were attending the conference so our participation was insignificant at best. Joan and Neil spent a week of each of the last five months helping my mom to downsize all of her treasured memories. A difficult time for all of them even though the move was a positive one.  Rick and I rather rode in at the end of the process for the last few days.  By then most of the trauma was over and exhaustion had set in for the three of them.  I am not sure how much help we were but I believe she will be comfortable is a very short time in her new surroundings.  Congratulations on your move mom!

We drove back home making it before the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend rush started. We started out with a bit of snow flurries when we left Calgary and a bit of fog around Golden, after that the clouds went higher and the sun came out making a very pleasant drive home.  The rocks were bare and dry on the way out and a bit of snow above the tree line on the return.  A fantastic trip seeing family, stimulating our minds and gorgeous scenery!

Snow Cap

Snow on the rock

The road leads home

 This trip was many things for me from the trials of longevity to the joy and celebration of same, from the challenges of survival to the success of overcoming them and moving just that one step beyond. We all have our story that is unique to us.  How we choose to live that story is what makes us who we are. 

Change is inevitable and I am constantly overwhelmed with how much change there is in that which stays the same.