I find myself thinking about and drafting these lists when I'm supposed to be preparing a funding proposal for work. If I am out of work next year, I blame you, Internet.
- SH: Although I did "live" there, I consider it more of an extend visit, as I never intended to stay. That's the definition of a visit, right? If you have read this blog circa 2004-2005, you'll know why it was so memorable. It was a weird little village, with as many progressive people as there were absolute nut-jobs. But everything about it was memorable: my cute little house on the river, the hospital where I'd put out condoms every week, the one bank, and the ice floes which contained frozen and dead otter carcasses.
- My maternal grandparents' house: It seems we spent many summers there, but in reality, probably not as many as I think we did. I have vivid memories of many areas of the house, and I often still dream of them. There were the very narrow stairs that led upstairs to the 3 bedrooms. Having 10 children, I don't understand how they lived in that house, but they somehow managed. In the bedroom at the end, the one me and my sister usually slept in, there was a grate from the wood stove. Each night I would peek down through the grate into the kitchen and watch the adults play cards, drink tea, and smoke cigarettes. I remember the rusty bed/swing/hammock type thing that sat on the 'cool' side of the house. My cousins and I would spend house playing around that thing, miraculously never once contracting tetanus. I remember my grandmother's plants and flowers, and the crab apple tree. I remember the circular driveway, with a constant stream of visitors. I remember the small bathroom that always seemed to have pee on the seat. I remember going through the medicine cabinet, marveling at the powder puffs and mason jar of "May Snow Water". I still don't know what it was for. I remember laying on the floor next to my grandmother, listening to the "woosh-thunk, woosh-thunk" of her glider, watching hockey or "Down Home Tonight" on the CBC.
- Florida: This was the first time I flew in a plane, and was really the only 'big' trip me and my family made. I was about 12 and my sister was around 16, so was obviously too cool for all of us. But we made many memories. And my sister and I got to ride a giant bee in front of a green screen. I also think I saw Linda Dano at a mini-putt.
- The Lake: My family spent nearly all our summers camping in a small tent-trailer at a lake about an hour and a half away from our house. Each year we'd set up the trailer in the driveway and begin the process of packing everything we'd need for a few weeks. We'd have those plastic plates that had their own compartment, and the tiny boxes of cereal, and all the Kraft Dinner you could eat. We bring our giant barrel for water, a tarp, and our inner tube. And Trivial Pursuit. And for two weeks, we were happy. We never got bored, but even if we did, there were walks up the hill and across the highway to the diner for homemade french fries and ice cream. It's amazing to me that 20 years later, my family has returned to that exact same spot - only with a much nicer trailer and many, many more comforts of home.
- The Train: I love travelling by train. I love the gentle rocking, the constant din of tracks passing under your feet, the freedom to move around, and the ability to mingle with other travellers. It seems like trains are the only mode of transportation where people seem much more open to chatting and sharing this experience. The last time I took a train, I splurged and upgraded to a sleeper car. I'm a bit spoiled now, I fear, because having your own little room while you travel is just fantastic. But either way, it's one of my favourite places to be.
- The Waterfowl Park: When I was in university, I'd often visit this park to reflect and to think. I remember a few of these visits quite distinctly.
- The Other Side of the Lake: Technically speaking, it is the same lake, however I'm talking about a different spot on the same lake. This was a recent visit - last summer - but we have a retreat for work there and it was a perfect weekend. The weather was absolutely amazing, the beach was sandy, and the company was fun. I created a lot of memories at that place, and I hope to return.
- My Mother's Arms: Aww, I know, right? I guess I'm just a big baby, but damn, my mom gives the best hugs. Even if she is annoying the snot out of me, there's always at least a piece of me who always needs a hug from Mom.
- The Internet: So, maybe this one is a bit abstract, but I think that in 2011, we can define the Internet as a 'place', and I 'visit' it very often. I have been plugged in since I was about 15, so I have many, many memories that occurred in a virtual space. Some of them are good, some of them are just awful. Most of them were just very awkward.
- MW's Stomach: I enjoy watching TV with MW, with my head resting on the side of his stomach. I press my ear against it and listen to the glurbles as we watch Say Yes To The Dress. It's a comfortable place where I feel most at peace.
