Winnipeg to Calgary
Today was a lot of driving and a lot of sleeping through the prairies. The picture above is probably the highest point between Winnipeg and Calgary, and we stopped here for some lunch. We left at around 5 a.m. (Winnipeg time) and made it to Calgary at about 5:30 p.m. (Calgary time). We are staying with my darling cousins at my aunt and uncle’s house and currently watching some 21 Jump Street.
Anyhoo, more exciting posts to come, but I promised to write every day of my trip, so stay tuned for mountains!
Calgary
So today involved some Ikea shopping, stocking up before the Winnipeg store opens, and mall shopping. We are currently experimenting with how to take off gel nails. My darling sister just graduated high school and got gel nails for grad, and she decided to enlist the help of our cousins (who have no experience with gel nails) to take these bloody things off. The room is filled with “OW!” as you can see in the picture above.
Another low-key day. Tomorrow we are going to take our time getting to Golden, BC, by going through Banff, visiting the hot springs, and taking in some hiking trails. So expect a more exciting post tomorrow. Day 4 will involve white-water rafting in Golden.
Calgary to Golden
The May clan does this trip every three years. This tradition began before I was born, when my parents went with their friends to Tofino. As friends started getting married and having kids, the Tofino “brood” grew to a very significant size. As the kids got older and started working, the brood began to dwindle, but my sister and I tagged along for one last trip.
Every time we usually gun it to Calgary, stay a night, then gun it to Vancouver. This time, we have decided to meander. Plus, we are going white-water rafting tomorrow. So today we managed a hefty two-hour drive in about eight hours. We stopped in Banff and went to the Banff Springs Hotel, where my old friend Marilyn Monroe stayed while filming River of No Return. I also found this sweet lamp made out of a fire extinguisher.
We took in a farmers’ market where my mom bought some glass-blown dishes, my sister and I bought matching bracelets (cute, I know), and my dad bought a tie-dye shirt.
After Banff, we drove down the highway a little further to Lake Louise, and after driving around the parking lot for quite some time, we were able to take in the beauty that is Lake Louise. There were many canoes out on the lake, and it was very overcast, so the pictures are alright. I dipped my feet in, and my foot cramped within 30 seconds. We walked around the grounds of Chateau Lake Louise, and I took some lovely flower pictures. Tonight we are resting our heads in Golden, BC, and tomorrow it’s off to white-water raft and 3 Valley Gap.
What does it mean to be family?
To me, family means cherishing the time you have with your grandparents and listening to all of their stories because one day they won’t be there anymore. It means spending time with your little cousins and watching them grow up right before your eyes. But it also means driving 16 hours home to get to the family who needs you.
Sadly, while in Golden we learned that my great-grandmother passed away at the age of 96. Mary Gordon was admitted to the hospital about a week before we left on our trip. At first, things weren’t looking too well, but things turned up a few days before we were to leave on our three-week trip to BC when Mrs. Gordon asked the nurse if she was allowed to have a shot of whiskey. You can take the girl out of Ireland, but you can’t take the Ireland out of the girl. She was always making everyone laugh with her quips. One thing is for sure: she had her wits about her right until the end.
My favourite memory was whenever I asked, “Grandma, where were you born?” she would always reply, “I wasn’t born, I was found under a rock by a leprechaun.” And you better believe I bragged about that to all my friends. I have always loved Ireland, but I think I loved it more because of that little bit of fairytale.
My great-grandmother will be dearly missed, though I am lucky that she gave birth to my grandmother, who I am very grateful for and wouldn’t know what to do without. So I will continue to honour my great-grandmother by spending as much time with her oldest daughter, my wonderful grandmother, and cherishing every damned moment of it.
Rest in peace, and may you be dancing with grandpa in heaven.
