More Rain Before I Leave

Oh yes, it's raining. Again. But you know, I've actually always liked the rain. (Oh my goodness, I just had a sudden flashback memory of saying that to my friend Kathy on Canada Day last year, as we walked down the street to the park, just hours before we got struck by lightning - yes, it actually happened! But anyhow, there's no thunder and lighting here right now. Yikes, famous last words!) But yes, I like the rain. I like getting wet too - I don't believe in umbrellas, never really have. I also like the fresh smell of rain. I like the medium-ness of the temperature that rain is typically a symptom of... I remarked to my friend Sarah today that Vancouver is the land of the perpetually "inadequately dressed" - niether of us were wearing coats this morning!

So it's raining again, and I'm starting to feel wistful because I have just one more day in this city, before I get on yet another plane at an ungodly hour of the morning, and return home to Toronto (for just 5 short days before I head to New York City!). I'm wistful because, of course, I feel slightly regretful that I didn't see more of certain people, that I didn't get in touch with some of my friends sooner, that I've been away for over 2 years and I'm slightly worried that I will let that much time pass again before I come back. But I won't. Or at least I'll sure try not to let that much time pass before I'm back here again. I have an almost 3 year-old ("step") nephew now, and it was such a pleasure to spend time with him. We got along swimmingly. And I think he needs a little bit more of my slightly stern, yet still fun(!) self around because it seems like practically everyone else spoils him rotten! But he's great. Hilarious. As I said goodbye to him this afternoon, I jokingly told him I would see him when he's six. But that's not really funny. These early years fly by, and I don't really want to just be an image in a photograph and a vague memory...

Hmmm, so I'm feeling thankful for lots of things that I did manage to do on this trip, things I set out to do... In addition to doing the job that brought me here (and doing it pretty well, I think - Tracey and I got a lovely email from the Artistic Director of the Chutzpah Festival telling us that we were a pleasure to work with and that we will always get rave reviews from them!)... I spent time with my family, I visited the gravesite of my grandparents and my mother, I did some personal research that I needed to do here, I saw some good old friends (Roselle, Sarah, Graham), I was able to attend the celebration of my friend Emily's life...

They say, or maybe it's just me that says this, but I do believe that the things you regret the most are the things you never do. So I guess I am most thankful that I am here, and I am alive, and I am doing the things that I want to do. I'm still feeling slightly wistful that I have just one more day here, but I'm also reeeeally looking forward to getting home to Toronto and having some time in the place where I feel most at home, the place where I have built my life...

See you soon T.O!