Blog#3...Revelling in Revelstoke

Living in a big city has its advantages.  There's no shortage of tings to do, things to buy, things to see and things to pursue.  You can spend years going from one thing to the next, filling up the spaces of your life with distractions.
I grew up in a small town, an island off the east coast of Newfoundland.  Having lived and worked in large cities for a number of years, something inside seemed to have diminished.  Something else took over - a sense of separateness, of being apart from, instead apart of, something.
When the company in Calgary that had employed me for a decade made me an offer I couldn't refuse, I decided to follow my dream to drive across Canada.
One April 1, I left Alberta, headed west and arrived in Revelstoke, B.C. April 3.  I spent Easter with my good friends, the Takkinens (and company) who had gathered at the home of their matriarch, Jean.
My plan was to stay a week, maybe two then head to the coast.  But here I am!  I wondered why.  Why, when I was so excited to hit the road, did I still find myself in Revelstoke?  It's been three weeks and I think I've figured it out.
Revelstoke has been the balm on the wound inflicted by big city life.  The time I've spent here has allowed me to unwind, to shake off the residue of my old existence and prepare for the adventure ahead.
But it's more than that.  It's a small town thing - simple living, knowing your neighbours, chatting with the gal behind the checkout at Cooper's or being acknowledged and spoken to by a woman passing you on Track Street.
As I writer, I observe, I ask questions, I try to figure things out.  What I've figured out here is, I am and always will be a small town girl.  I'm comfortable in a small town.
I love the fact that there are no fences in this neighbourhood, that the guy next store can drop by to turn the garden soil; or the woman, two doors down, will stop by, with homemade tarts, for tea and a chat.
Since I've been here, I've taken a gondola ride at the ski hill, gone for coffee at Conversations, had lunch at Grizzly's, attended the Hillcrest for the Red Hat Society's almost-monthly birthday celebration and made pancakes for a 7:30 a.m. breakfast date with the neighbourhood ladies.
I've read three books, walked the bike trails above the tracks, got pushed around by that wicked wind two weeks ago down by the river, watched the light change over Mt. Begbie from Jean's kitchen table, and wondered at how very lucky I am to be here.
I've gotten an education on HST and learned about the wine bar controversy (loved the cartoon by the way?) and spoke with a woman at the jewellery store, that's slated to close, who said "I couldn't have asked for a better boss".
So thank you Jean for your hospitality and friendship.  Thank you to the neighbourhood ladies for including me in your special group.  Thank you to the Romoli night gals for the laughs and the Red Hat Society for inviting me to your lunch and thanks to the mayor for being a good sport and saying yes to the photo.
Thank you Revelstoke for making me feel at home, for bringing me back down to earth and for your simple pleasures and beautiful scenery.
Now that I'm done revelling in Revelstoke, I'm outta here!