Album of the Unexpected

Sometimes you have to be really fast.

When you’re holding your camera, you don’t get to hesitate or you could miss it. Some of my greatest pleasures in 2012, were the Unexpected images captured on the road. The smiles, the “wows”, the just plain “that is so crazy great!” moments. We need to be aware, because pleasure is as fast as your shutter speed.

Come along for the ride:

Mexico in March – a flamenco group from Germany playing while we ate dinner

Sign in a glass blowing shop, small town in North Western states – what you can do when you're the boss.

Bloomsday Run, Spokane, WA. – participants discard their “warm-up” clothes for the needy

Fernie, BC – the best bagel breakfast…ever!

Band on the sidewalk, Pike Place Market, Seattle, WA.

Community garden on a side street, Victoria, BC

Chained Up Tree, Elbow Falls, Kananaskis Country, Alberta

Look back on your year, whether you have photos of your journey or not. A calendar and a cup of Bengal Spice tea comes in very handy for this exercise!

What were your Unexpected moments? Look back and remember. Why does it stand out? Were you alone or who was with you?

Should you have done something differently? Should you have stayed for another cup of coffee, or talked to that interesting looking stranger?

Why was this moment special? What was it that touched you so much that you still remember it?

What do you wish you had captured on your camera? Was it the place, the person, the feeling?

How did this event change you? Did you have a moment of clarity about what is truly important to you?

Then, store these memories in the Album of your life. It is an important page of the whole You.

In the wee hours of our Life

When I was raising children a few decades ago, a dad wouldn’t have woken with a vomiting child.

I entered the staff room today as two young dads were commiserating with a third. Dad number 1 was talking about the 1am event that had occurred at his house this morning. It involved a 2 year old vomiting everwhere, the washer and dryer running at that gawdawful hour and the 3 month old now thinking it was morning. Ah, those were the days! Their conversation then didn’t skip a beat as they went on to discuss how bright, hilarious and talented their children were.

Victoria, BC

I was so impressed at the openness and sharing of these young males, the stories they shared and how they shook their heads with the absurdity of it all. When I was a young mother, we did it all, especially and including the 1am shift. Times have changed, thankfully.

The imprint we want to leave in this world is left by our children's feet.

A Time for all Things - Painted in Flowers

Oh my gosh Hydrangeas, Victoria

When I gave up my Adirondack chair, the garden gate I rescued from an alley, my favourite perennials, and the birdhouse, my friends asked me "Won't you miss your garden?".

Somehow, I knew that I would always be blessed!

Victoria community garden

Kamloops, BC

Whistler, BC

Whistler, BC

Butchart Gardens, Victoria BC

Butchart Gardens, Victoria BC

                                   

Pike Place Market, Seattle Washington,

Two Magnificent Vs in five days

OK, I admit it. I love big cities! My brief stop in Vancouver, BC gave me everything I needed in a few short hours. Good food, great views, excellent shopping choices and fabulous people watching.

View from the 28th

The best photo I missed (because I was deeply enamored with my Spanish Latte at Caffe Artigiano's): elderly man crossing busy street with his walker...holding up a fire-truck! Irony at its best.

Morning sunshine

                     

What I wish I hadn't been witnessed to: 55 year+ man with "significantly" younger woman, canoodling in the waiting line, and for the duration of their dinner. Facing me, giving me very mixed emotions and a wonderfully colourful story in my head!

Windy Ferry Ride

 Victoria was awesome! A chance to unwind, walk and photograph, smile at strangers from all over the world and eat (but more on that later). We never quite realize how fatigued we are in our everyday lives until we get away. Then, the who we are has the chance to get out and play. Remove the cell phone, the work timetable, and the calorie counter and be a child with the entire, endless day ahead of you.

Empress Hotel, Victoria on left

St. Ann's Academy, Victoria

We took the Haunted Tour one early evening as dusk set. They say that Victoria is the most haunted city in Canada, surrounded by water helps it seems.
Take a close look at the windows, maybe you will see someone.

Busker Week, loads of sidewalk entertainment

Playing like a child should be done more often! We need to dedicate the time to stop our work and slow down to see what is going on around us. I have been given the gift of a holiday away from home after many years of not straying far due to many reasons.

Seeing a new location is invigorating and has re-energized me to get back to my daily world. If you can today, dangle your feet in some water, pick up the book that you have neglected, bake some cookies, head to a library, do something just for YOU. It will do your soul good.

More about the sights we saw and the food we tasted next time...