In Love with the West Wind

The beautiful Tofino harbour

Kids, I fell in love in Tofino. And look who I fell in love with (she also fell in love with me). Excuse the wood chips on my socks!

Her name is Soupy, and she totally "got" my vibe. She attached herself to my front, under my chin, laid her little head on me and our conversation went something like this:

Hello.

Hello.

Hello. Hello.

Pretty birdy.

Okay.

Okay.

Hello.

I said to Chris, "Finally, I have met someone on my conversational level." Cackling.

My friend, Christine Lowther,  noted West Coast poet,

environmental and animal activist,

and lover of the earth. With Soupy.

Where to start? Four GLORIOUS beach walks. Waves. Varying weather. Including a wonderful storm Saturday night. Add to that chocolate, yummy vegetarian food, a great friend, a bird and a dog - what more is there? Take a peek:

Sophie, with the toy I brought her

She kind of liked me, too.

Tuff City girl, and friend

Beach walks were heavenly. The waves were wonderful, and we enjoyed sunshine, sunset, grayness, light rain - an array of much gentler weather than is usual here in winter. 

Behind those trees is the world class destination resort, the Wickaninnish Inn, which brooked enormous local opposition when it was first proposed, but which seems to have fitted itself into the landscape  as unobtrusively as possible. We've gotten used to it.

How I have missed sunsets at Chestermans. Years of missing!

Next day was beach gray, and lovely, with

wave action that delighted the surfers.

This is a wonderful place for young people....and dogs.......

..........and birds! This man strolled the shore with a band of crows  and a couple of large ravens hopping alongside him very sedately. Every twenty yards or so, he would stop, they would sit,  watching him expectantly, and he would share with them the contents of his pockets. Friend of crows and ravens! I decided I will be another one,once I am back there.

Happy dogs are everywhere.
This was Pup's favourite beach. 

Sophie is lucky, as she lives at Chestermans.

You can see Lone Cone in the background.

I was delighted by the waves,and could not get enough of them.

At the house, I could still hear them,

and slept better than I have in years.

"Downtown" Tofino - overlooking the harbour

Upstairs in this building is a wonderful art gallery  full of West Coast art.

Downstairs is the Whale Center, my first job - selling tickets to whale tours - 

when I first moved to Tuff City.

The Village Green, center of festivities for such events  as the Whale Festival in March,

and farmers' and artists' markets in summer.

This is the heart of the village center - the eclectic shops, galleries, post office and bank

are all within a four-block radius. I love that about it. Village life is just my size - so friendly. The energy of this place is amazing. It is a power place. The ley lines intersect in a way which draws certain of us to her: artists, environmentalists, writers, poets, seekers and dreamers. I am among my people there.

A gust of wind

wraps around me

like a hug,

sings joyously in the tops of the trees,

It's like the place itself

has missed me.

I'm so in love

with the westerly.

Take a left at Brown Rice Corner.

Hang my heart

on the topmost tree.

A deep sense of homecoming

fills my heart:

I'll be back -

make a place for me.

Faiza's Joy

Well, kids, this morning was special. Faiza called me to come and be with her while the ambulance brought Bill home. When I got there, she had Christmas music on, all the lights were on to cheer the place, she had ordered a massive bouquet of flowers, enough for three vases, "to welcome Bill home", and the house was singing with joy.

While we were waiting, I told her the story of the woman who died and came back to life, that I posted the other day, and Faiza said she had chills listening.

The sun came out to celebrate the day, and Faiza pronounced, "Now we will all have a happy Christmas. I prayed to God from my heart, and He heard me. My beloved Bill is coming home." Faiza's faith is so strong and her heart so pure, I know God answers her prayers.

Lara, his faithful Doberman, stood on the sofa, nose pointed out the window, watching for him.

When they arrived, my heart sank. They rolled Bill out on the stretcher and his face was yellow, and pale. He looked grim. He was not able to weight bear at all, transferring from stretcher to wheelchair, or from wheelchair to his special recliner. I was worried. He is a big man and Faiza is tiny, under five fet tall.

Right after they got him settled, hooked up his oxygen, and  left, Bill decided to go to the bathroom. He did manage to get up onto his walker and his tiny wife went right beside him, encouraging him, directing him to hold onto railings, helping him navigate. I fluttered alongside, moving tubes out of the way of their feet.  (Now they both have to be extra careful not to trip over the oxygen tubes that follow him wherever he goes.) He made it, and I let my breath back out again when he was safely back in his chair. I suggested to Faiza that he try to make these bathroom trips when the home support people are in the house - they come four times a day. He really is not steady on his feet and the effort exhausted him. But knowing that he had to, and with Faiza's strong will for him to be home and okay, he somehow managed the feat.

When it was all right for me to leave, Faiza told me, "Your presence here was a blessing. I so deeply appreciate your coming." I told her it was a privilege to be there for Bill's homecoming.

Faiza has such faith, she needs Bill to be home so much, that I hope, for both their sakes, that Bill will manage being at home (where he smiled for the first time in 21 days).I pray they have a happy Christmas together.

But as I drove away, I was pretty worried.