From This Valley They Say I Am Going

• This morning I will once again board a Greyhound Bus, once again be on the road and once again leave Winnipeg behind. It is more than 16 years since I crammed my most precious possessions into my Honda Civic, watched the city shrink behind me in the rearview mirror and, with a huge smile on my face, drove west toward my unknown destiny in Victoria.
  


• During this past month, I've spent a lot of time driving around the city, visiting with family and old friends, and thinking, thinking, thinking, thinking; a lot about the past (what would my life be like if I had stayed in Winnpeg?) and even more about the future (which once again seems certain only in terms of the magnitude of change ahead). One thing for sure: I have no regrets about leaving this old town and only excitement about what is yet to come.

• The side photo is the Girls from St. Mary's; high school friends with whom I meet for dinner when back in town. They are beautiful, successful women. Although our lives were once so much the same, so much has changed and continues to change for all of us. Whereas we once would have dedicated an entire evening to talking and giggling about cute guys, we now talk about children and grandchildren. Ok, ok, I admit it - we did talk about guys too; though perhaps a little lighter on the giggling.

• Back in the 80s when I decided to learn to paint watercolour, I joined an art class at a local high school and found incredible friendship in the form of Lorna, Don and Sandy, all artists whose talent far exceeds my own. This trip, we had a reunion dinner. Though there was little to report on painting achievements for which we all lamented "not enough time", we had a wonderful catch-up on all aspects of our lives. Memories! Memories! (Yes, it is disgusting that I, who have had 8 months to do exactly as I please, do not feel I have enough time for painting.)

• A highlight of my visit was having two of my children, Jodi and Jamison fly in from Vancouver for their own whirlwind visit with their Grampa and Gramma. Naturally we went to the Sals House for dinner and laughed about the good old days when a big night out for my little family was sitting on the high stools for counter service of grilled cheese sandwiches and cokes. Those were the days!

• I've had a wonderful time here but am ready to be heading home. One more stop, in the small town of Lipton, Saskatchewan (population around 300) with a friend I met many years ago in Mexico. More reminiscing to be done!

• Yes, I'm once again on the road and once again making my way home to Victoria. Spring has sprung in the 'Peg and I'm sorry to be once again saying good-bye to the people. As for the place .....well, I just don't belong in the Red River Valley any more.