Wind Blows Deeply

Hrmph. My box of chocolates states best eaten within 8 days. Considering they were likely purchased last Thursday, perhaps even Wednesday, I best eat them all now. It’s tough but I think I can handle it.

So as part of being on the committee for the conference in Banff this past weekend, I was privileged to plan the Saturday evening banquet and entertainment. I booked Johnny Bagpipes. I also got to MC the event. Introduced folks. Drew door prizes. I even juggled (we had been taught how earlier that day). Folks said I had good stage presence. That I must enjoy that sort of thing. That it seemed natural or at least superbly comfortable for me. That I should come back next year. Guess I faked things pretty darn well.
What I realized is that I don’t see the crowd when I’m in the spotlight. I realize they are there, sure. However, for all intents and purposes, a room of five is about the same as a room of five hundred. Except for the mic stand. And maybe the juggling.

Really, that’s all one can do in a situation like this. Smile and laugh. Last night there was a humongous snow storm in town. As such, the planes from Calgary couldn’t land. As such there were no planes to transport yours truly in the Calgary direction this morning. When I arrived at the airport at 5:30 (think 4am-ish wake up), after not checking my flight status, I was told I was rebooked on the 2pm flight. I went home and slept.
Now, in Banff, my bestest pharmacist friend and I choose to chat all night and get caught up on things. Bright and early this morning, we wake up to a strange sound. Could that be the fire alarm? No. It doesn’t really sound like the fire alarm. Is anyone else leaving their rooms? Do you hear fire trucks? (Think hot firemen.) OK, well, lets not get out of bed. “Fire alarm” increases in frequency of tones. OK so maybe we do need to go. Feel the door. Not hot. Look through peek hole. No smoke/fire. OK, leave room. Hunh. Looky-there. Water. Lots of water. Coming from the room next door. Interesting. Hang out in lobby. It’s a false alarm. But then, why all the water. Ah. Silly girls had tied clothes lines to sprinkler head. Wait a sec. If water is next door and pooling in the hall, it’s only a matter of time before it enters our room too. Back in room, water is pooling at door. And, oh look, through the wall. Get luggage off floor. Take pictures. Back to bed? Maybe have a shower and get ready for the day … who knows when that might happen otherwise.
And the thing to top it all off is that I’ve just begun to read the following book: The Weather Factor: How nature has changed history (Erik Durschmied). The irony.

Last night I hung out with some of the youth (i.e. the girls) at a local spa … the one with the natural hot springs. The kids were great but I also remembered all the things I really didn’t like about high school.
I was sitting beside the pool when a middle aged lady, unknown to me, suddenly begins to act just a little differently than normal. Her head drops back, her eyes start to roll, skin starts to pale, she is unresponsive. Her husband, in a panic, picks her up and starts walking around in a circle — not knowing what to do. I get him to put her down, my towel under her head. By this time a person, who identified herself as a nurse, is checking for a pulse and trying to get some response out of the lady. Still no meaningful responses, some vocal utterances, varying muscle tone in the extremities, occasional failing of arms, eyes open and close. Physician appears just as woman begins to regain consciousness and then regain meaningful responses. Despite the doctor, the nurse and her family trying to convince her to go to the hospital – she refuses. Paramedics eventually come. Woman and family leave pool. I really hope she is ok.

OK … so this happened a ways before Christmas, but for those who care, Garth is engaged to Danielle. And I have managed to track down the photos.
The story goes that Garth went with Danielle’s family to Hawaii to see U2. That weekend he took her off to a beach somewhere. The same beach that he had arranged for a photography buddy of his to hide out and secretly take photos while he popped the question. Hooray for Google Earth. If I recall correctly, I think the wedding is in May.