BABY STEPS
Saturday Dec. 6, 2014
Been a week.
24/7
Returning to -31C wind chill last Saturday was a stirring wake-up reminder to the reality of winter in Canada though this week has become milder and today is downright balmy…
With much aloha, returning from Maui and landing back in Calgary was weather shock (100F degree swing in 10 hours), and re-stabilizing normal here, on the ground, grounded in reality.
For years I’ve talked a lot, and written some too, about my feelings, about that tug to make Maui home. Or, at least, to make it a place I spend a lot of time …
I’ve researched it – not simple for Canadians to easily move across the border to live, to make a living, to deal with tax and citizenship issues, to deal with healthcare issues – my primary reason for not advancing from research into action, the last five years, was because of my dad.
He very kindly counselled me to not let him stand in the way of my ambitions or plans. I would have none of that … but now that he is gone, now that issue is no longer a factor, what do I do?
That question, part of every morning’s beach walk in Maui, part of every warm night where a t-shirt and shorts were all I needed to be comfortable, on an early morning trek to Kula to enjoy the stars at 4AM, hear the roosters crow at first light and appreciate the view at 6AM.
I asked more questions: would I get island fever, feel too closed in by the smallness? can I make that transition?
More research needed.
Baby steps …
Mark Kolke
column written/ published from Calgary, AB
morning walk: -1C/30F, cloudy, light breeze; mushy snow in early morning silence. Gusta missed a rabbit by a nose by not using hers … she looked so surprised.
Reader feedback:
Once again you have broadened my horizons. Thanks ever so much for introducing me to Jake Shimabukuro and his delightful talent. I was always drawn to the music the Fab Four created together and individually. Not so much a fan of the collective as I thought them to be a fad. Their music, however, was eternal. It was thoroughly enjoyable to sit and listen to the music while the words drifted through my brain. Catching up on this week's musings. Welcome back to the great white north. GW, Bon Wier, Tx.
